I had a friend from home visit over spring break who had never been to Boston before! When I asked what she wanted to do while she was here, she said, “Anything.” So, I decided we would do (close to) everything. Here is how we made the absolute best of a day in Boston and walked close to ten miles in the process!
We started around 11:00 a.m. on Newbury Street. We hit up a few standbys and others that caught our eye. Of course, we spent a long time browsing in Trident Booksellers & Cafe, which features gifts—some serious, some not—alongside an expansive book collection and cafe.
We took a right at Dartmouth Street and used the Boylston Street entrance to the Boston Public Library. Here, we spent time in the courtyard and wandered through the old section of the library, including the famous Bates Hall.
Exiting back onto Boylston Street, we were right at the Boston Marathon finish line and found the 2013 memorial directly across the street from where we were standing.
Next, we got coffee at Blank Street next door and carried it with us as we headed to the Public Garden. If you don’t like Blank Street, L.A. Burdick Chocolates is a block and a half away on Clarendon Street and makes an excellent hot chocolate.
Continuing straight on Boylston, we entered the Public Garden and wandered our way through to the Make Way for Ducklings statue—who were all dressed up to celebrate Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake!
We continued through the Boston Commons, stopping to take in skyline views and note the Statehouse, and exited around the Park Street MBTA stop. We then crossed the street and stumbled into Downtown Crossing. I’ve never spent much time here, but by following along Washington Street, we soon found ourselves at the Old State House and right in the center of the Freedom Trail.
Like many places along the Freedom Trail, the Old State House can be toured for a small fee. However, anyone can access the souvenir shop and read posted signs about its role in the American Revolution. Additionally, the Boston Massacre site is directly outside.
By following the Freedom Trail for just a few minutes, we were soon in the bustling Faneuil Hall Square at the steps of the Faneuil Hall building. There are many options for what to do in this area, especially if you want to eat on a nice day. We started by going through the original part of Faneuil Hall, which has small shops and, in the basement, the Boston Slavery Exhibit. Just steps away, we entered Quincy Market. Here, we surveyed food options, including lobster rolls, free clam chowder samples, and Pizzeria Regina, to name a few. This was also a great opportunity to sit and re-energize after a busy first half of the day.
The far exit from Quincy Market is just a few short blocks from Long Wharf and the waterfront, so that’s where we headed next. On a warm day, this would be another great place to sit, people watch, or even bring a picnic. We walked along the waterfront some ways towards the North End. At this point in the day, around 3:00 or 4:00 p.m., most of the restaurants were quiet or just starting to open up, but we headed towards the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s house to check a few more things off the Freedom Trail bucket list. Having these destinations both in the North End and throughout the day was a great way to see the neighborhood without feeling totally lost. Behind the Old North Church (and, surprise, another gift shop) is the Paul Revere Mall and the Paul Revere statue. I think there is more to see here without paying than at the Paul Revere house, but both are Freedom Trail sites.
Promising to return in a few hours, we left the North End temporarily to see one more quintessential Boston neighborhood: Beacon Hill. On our way, we walked by TD Garden, which was beginning to get busy ahead of that night’s Celtics game.
At Beacon Hill, we did some more window shopping at independent boutiques and, of course, made our way through the iconic Beacon Hill books. Around this point, I started to crash… but luckily, Tatte came through with another pick-me-up.
Finally, we returned to the North End for dinner. I know this is backtracking, but I believe it is necessary if one truly wants to experience the best of Boston!
After a long day and delicious dinner, we took our first MBTA ride of the day back to campus and I patted myself on the back for a Boston tour well done.
Whether you are showing someone else around or just looking to explore the city yourself, I highly recommend this self-guided walking tour!
Good luck and happy exploring!
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