Boston is a bustling city full of history, foodie culture, and world-class museums – but that’s only scratching the surface! Universities, sports fans and beer drinkers all contribute their unique twist to make Boston one of the greatest cities on Earth.
Explore Boston’s rich history on the Freedom Trail, Paul Revere’s House or Salem. Whether you prefer waddling along on a Duck Tour or attending a pops concert at Symphony Hall – Boston offers something to appeal to everyone! You can easily get into the city with Cathay Pacific flights.
Freedom Trail
The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half mile tour that showcases Boston’s historic sites related to the American Revolution and freedom. Visitors can navigate independently using red pavement markings or join one of Boston’s numerous tour operators for guided tours along this historic journey.
Boston is a city of historic neighborhoods, so your experience will depend on where you begin your explorations. Starting at Old North Church puts you amidst cobblestone streets from North End and Charlestown neighborhoods; plus Green Dragon Tavern where Sam Adams and Paul Revere spied on British troops during their revolution against King George.
If traveling with kids, plan a stop at the USS Constitution Museum. Here, you will see “Old Ironsides”, an 18th-century warship popularly dubbed as “Old Ironsides” that played an instrumental role in helping secure independence for America.
Make time to visit the Boston Tea Party Museum and witness an entertaining recreation of this historic event that galvanized an entire nation towards independence. The engaging museum provides an interactive exhibition, restored 18th-century ships, and in-person retelling by passionate historical actors – an essential visit for history buffs visiting Boston! This visit should not be missed!
Faneuil Hall
Since 1780, visitors to Boston have flocked to Faneuil Hall – otherwise known as the Cradle of Liberty – known as one of its central hubs for shopping, eating and tourism. Nowadays it serves as a bustling marketplace full of restaurants and shops popular among shoppers, locals and tourists. Faneuil Hall also boasts an illustrious history which includes speeches delivered by Samuel Adams to encourage independence from Great Britain.
Now a popular tourist spot, its brick sidewalks are often packed with Freedom Trail groups led by sweaty guides wearing Colonial garb. Street performers are an unmissable attraction while carts line the pathways with treats ranging from crepes to ice cream.
Durgin Park provides foodies with delicious dishes such as fish and chips, steak frites and macaroni and cheese. Wagamama provides Asian-influenced noodle offerings such as pork szechuan ramen and chili chicken teppanyaki for another must-visit dining spot.
Quincy Market offers an abundance of restaurants and bars perfect for beer enthusiasts, plus an arcade where you can win prizes by shooting pinball, trivia or shooting pinball! For history lovers looking for something truly fascinating in Boston’s past, make a stop at Edes and Gill Printing Shop; this historic building will take you back in time with live demonstrations of an antique printing press; this place should not be missed!
Trinity Church
Trinity Church stands out in New York with its white clapboards and Gothic Revival architecture, making it one of the city’s most recognizable structures. A National Historic Landmark, Trinity features some of the earliest examples of stained glass in America as well as being the original burial grounds for many notable people such as Alexander Hamilton.
The Trinity Church serves as host to an array of activities and special events, and often serves as the venue for weddings and funerals. Visitors can take a guided tour to see its most striking features like its organ and six demi-relief panel doors. There are also several rooms and galleries within the building including its Trinity Museum with special exhibitions on display.
Visitors to the churchyards may also view two cemeteries, home to thousands of historic figures like Alexander Hamilton who was laid to rest here after being killed in a duel with Aaron Burr and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, and there is also a monument honoring both of them near their graves.
Church is an active developer with its real estate arm managing ground leases and office rentals on buildings it owns. More recently, however, church has taken on high-profile tenants such as City Winery for lease – but these plans have often caused division among members of its congregation who feel more like being treated like tenants than religious institutions.
New England Aquarium
At Boston’s Central Wharf, between Rose Kennedy Greenway and Faneuil Hall, lies the New England Aquarium with over 70 exhibits that showcase aquatic creatures from around the globe. Experience it all yourself in The Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank or discover electric eels, poison dart frogs and anacondas!
The Great Ocean Tank at the New England Aquarium serves as its centerpiece and houses an abundance of marine life such as hammerhead sharks and barracuda. There are also smaller tanks and displays throughout the facility such as an aquarium-in-the-round display and penguin exhibit, providing even further marine biodiversity for viewing pleasure.
The aquarium provides educational programs for both children and adults alike, while its animal care facilities care for sick or injured marine life. Additionally, the aquarium plays an active role in marine conservation efforts by supporting organizations south of Boston who sponsor and rehabilitate dolphins.
The Aquarium of Boston is an attractive local destination that draws many field trips during school vacations and summer, but can become overrun during these periods. To experience less congestion, try going during weekdays or in winter for less-crowded exhibits. Tickets can be bought online to save money, with library cards giving discounted admission prices. Those with CityPASS/Go Boston Cards may also visit at bundled pricing.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The 35th President’s library and museum is an internationally acclaimed tribute to an inspirational leader. Amid stunning geometry of white concrete and darkly tinted glass, visitors explore galleries that trace John F. Kennedy’s life – from his youth through his time in office and back again – through audio recordings of his speeches to feeling his passion for public service that fuelled him and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as they led America together.
Kids of all ages will enjoy exploring the Campaign Trail exhibit, which chronicles John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon’s 1960 presidential race – one of the closest ever. This section contains a reproduction of Chicago TV studio where first debate took place as well as plenty of campaign memorabilia.
Visit Jacqueline Kennedy’s Dress Collection Room as well as an Exhibit about JFK and Project Mercury and Replica of His Attorney General Office at the library bookstore or Cafe to pick up souvenirs and memorabilia!
Occupying an ideal location between Dorchester and Boston’s central business district, the JFK/UMASS Red Line T stop and shuttle bus is easily accessible from Boston’s center. Open daily between 10 am to 3 pm for visitors under 17 years old with discounted admission prices; students, seniors and EBT cardholders receive $2 off adult admission prices.
Adams National Historical Park
Adams National Historical Park (formerly Adams National Historic Site) preserves the birthplaces and country estate of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams as well as their family estate Peace Field. Three houses and flower gardens take visitors back in time to 17th-century America where patriotic leaders worked alongside statesmen and philosophers to form one nation from thirteen separate colonies.
Tours of both presidents’ birthplaces and Adams Family Estate are available seasonally (April 19 – November 10) on Wednesday through Sunday between 9 am and 6 pm from April to November 10 at various times throughout the day, as well as visiting United First Parish Church nearby where both presidents are interred in Adams Crypt – these tours can be provided by congregation members for a small donation; similar to National Park Service house tours.
Peace Field, the historical home inhabited by four generations of the Adams family – including presidents John and John Quincy as well as U.S. ministers Charles Francis Adams and Brooks Adams, historians Henry and Brooks Adams, as well as historians Henry and Brooks — is the centerpiece of this park. From its many original furnishings and decorations (such as John Adams sitting down on July 4, 1826 in order to wave at paraders), to its massive Stone Library with 12,000 historical volumes from 12 languages — Peace Field’s many original furnishings help tell their story.
The park features the Adams Carriage House, an iconic structure which served as home for two of their sons and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.