My trip was a relatively short flight from Philadelphia as I went to Boston to attend a wedding with my girlfriend. Downtown Boston is about a 20 minute ride from Logan Airport. We stayed in the heart of the city at the Omni Parker Hotel. For the historian, the hotel is located on the Freedom Trail, a walking route of historic sites in Boston. It is easy to follow - just find the red bricks and start walking! The Freedom Trail Walk starts in Boston Common, a beautiful central park in the middle of the city and winds through the city and eventually takes one past the King's Chapel, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Paul Revere House and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. During our walk on Friday afternoon, Boston Commons was buzzing with activity from sidewalk painters to the skaters on the Frog Pond. Of course, our day had to include lunch at one of the biggest tourist attractions in Boston - The Bull and Finch, which was the inspiration for the television series "Cheers?. Saturday was a fun day as we took the "Old Town Trolley? Tour. If you have never done this, it is a great way to learn about the history, culture and general knowledge of a city. Our guides in Boston were great, stopping to make note of historic sites, pointing out facts of interest such as John Kerry's neighborhood, The Ritz Carlton (where the Yankees stay when they visit), the finish line of the Boston Marathon and the historical background of the Boston Tea Party and the legend of Bunker Hill. Passengers were allowed to depart at predetermined locations to do some additional sightseeing. The nice part was that another trolley was coming every 20 minutes so passengers could continue with their journey. The entire tour took about 90 minutes and the guides do appreciate the tips. Later that day, we walked to Faneuil Hall Marketplace and this place had everything from crafts to clothing and from spirits to their famous food court. I highly recommend not eating until you go there! We spent plenty of time browsing in the shops and found ourselves watching various performers in the square. That evening, we had dinner at the Union Oyster House, one of the oldest restaurants in the US. The Inn had a charming and rustic atmosphere and the dinner was fine. Afterwards, we took a 10 minute walk to the TD BankNorth Arena and saw the Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres in a National Hockey League game. The arena is relatively new and above Boston's North Station - a railroad hub for commuters. It was about a 15 minute walk from the Omni Parker Hotel with plenty of places to stop for a break! We took our break at a comfortable little bar called the Hub Pub. The locals were very friendly as the immediately detected we were visitors - by our accents! If you get the chance, visit Boston and you'll come away historical and cultural enrichment. |
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