Five Days in Historic Boston

Boston is the largest city in New England, the capital of Massachusetts and one of the most historic cities in the United States. Founded in 1630, Boston was at the center of the American Revolutionary period; the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773 were key events leading up to the Revolution in 1775. Today, Boston’s patriotic legacy attracts countless visitors each year. Walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail to see historic sites and colonial structures like Boston Common, Park Street Church and the Paul Revere House.

Boston offers dozens of museums, a wealth of historical sites, and several world-class universities and colleges, among them Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston College and the Boston University. More than 16 million tourists visit each year, making it one of the 10 most popular tourist locations in the United States.

Boston is a sports town, and its residents are fiercely loyal fans of its professional teams: the Red Sox (baseball), Celtics (basketball), Bruins (hockey), New England Patriots (football) and New England Revolution (soccer).

Make sure you schedule some time to relax in one of Boston’s many pubs, and sample some fresh seafood, clam chowder or Boston Baked Beans in the city’s restaurants.

Overlooking the famed Public Garden and Beacon Hill, and within easy reach of every notable business, entertainment and cultural attraction, Four Seasons Hotel Boston is characterised by elegant simplicity and old-world Boston charm.

Have a bite to eat, grab a drink and catch up on political gossip in one place. Located on Beacon Hill near the State House, this casual dining establishment is popular with politicians, tourists and residents alike. Savor bar-food favorites in the boisterous dining room or outside. Entrees range from sandwiches, pizza and pasta to baked haddock and fish and chips.

Freedom Trail is a three-mile ribbon of red paint that links 16 historical sites. Most visitors start the trail at the Boston Common. The National Park Service offers 90-minute guided tours starting at the Boston National Historical Park Visitor Center. Maps are also available here. Stops include the Old State House, Faneuil Hall and the Old North Church. You can also discover Paul Revere's house, the site of the Boston Massacre, and the Copp's Hill Burial Ground. At the end of the trail in Charlestown, the Bunker Hill Monument and the U.S.S. Constitution await you.

Park Street Church is a stop on the Freedom Trail, down the hill from the State House. Built in 1809, the basement served as a gunpowder storage depot during the War of 1812. Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison gave his first anti-slavery speech here and the Granary Burying Ground, where many famous early Bostonians are buried, is just steps away. The Federalist brick-and-wood building features a 217-foot steeple and granite steps. The church houses an active Congregationalist parish.

Massachusetts State House—the very name exudes class and elegance. The house is home to the Massachusetts General Court and the offices of the Governor of the state. It is built on 6.7 acres of land. The highlight of the State house is the gilded dome which shines and gives out a warmth of its own. The pinnacle of the dome is a pine cone, a reminder of both the importance of Boston's lumber industry of the colonial period and the state of Maine, which was a district of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The rich embedded past of Massachusetts State House makes it necessary to visit this place atleast once.

With an antique brick facade set among downtown skyscrapers, any passerby can pick this building out as a relic from an earlier time. Now a museum run by The Bostonian Society, the site has a long and distinguished history. The Boston Massacre, one of the catalysts for the American Revolution, took place just outside. The Declaration of Independence was first read to Boston here on July 18, 1776. The structure served as the new state's capitol until 1797.

Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill, where the famous command "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" was issued. Local lore makes much of the battle's misnomer; the battle actually took place on Breed's Hill. To keep the guidebooks simple, Breed's Hill was renamed Bunker Hill, and the original Bunker Hill was flattened. Many visitors end their Freedom Trail tour here. The ambitious visitor may climb the 295 steps to the top.

Launched in 1797, U.S.S. Constitution also known as "Old Ironsides" sailed her way into the history books by taking on the British fleet in the War of 1812. She fought in 40 naval battles, and never lost. The vessel received her unusual nickname after French cannonballs bounced off her sides during an 1815 military engagement. Still seaworthy, the ship is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. Free admission and tours, conducted by U.S. Navy personnel offer a look back in time. An adjacent museum features interactive exhibits.

No.9 Park, located in the shadow of the State House, has become one of Boston's hottest eateries since its opening in 1998. The dark and cool interior has cherry wood and indigo walls for a modern, elegant feel. The menu blends European influences and New England ingredients. Appetizers include Salade de Petite Courgett and Terrine of Foie Gras. Roasted Beef Ribeye is equally amazing. Desserts are superb. Try the Vanilla Creme Caramel or Chocolate & Hazelnut Tart, simply divine!

This boat line offers ferry service, whale watches, sightseeing and chartered boats on Boston Harbor. Whale watches take about 3 hours on high-speed catamarans. Sightseeing options include a 45-minute U.S.S. Constitution cruise, a 90-minute historical tour of Boston Harbor, or a 90-minute sunset cruise. Ferry service includes commuter runs from waterfront suburbs Salem and Hingham, Boston to Cape Cod service, a four-stop inner-harbor city network and service to the Boston Harbor Islands State Park. Ships accommodating up to 550 people are available for private functions.

Learn the history of the Boston Beer Company, brewer of Sam Adams beer, since its beginnings in 1984. Have you ever wondered how the brewing and fermentation process works? You will learn how yeast, grain and malted barley turn into liquid cheer. View the giant machinery that does it all—with a little help from the brewmasters. At the end of the guided tour, visitors get a taste of the famous Boston Lager and seasonal brews. There is a gift shop on site.

Just like the museum itself, this shop offers a wide selection of quality pieces. You will find magnificent jewelry, unique posters, wonderful trinkets and a variety of other items to decorate your home. Aside from posters and other recreations of the beautiful pieces you may have seen at the Museum of Fine Arts, be sure to check out the hand-crafted lamps, woven bags, jewelry boxes and stationery.

There are more than 100 places to eat, shop and drink at Faneuil Hall Marketplace also known as Quincy Market. French merchant Peter Faneuil gave the hall that precedes the marketplace to his adopted home of Boston in 1742. It has been called the "Cradle of Liberty" because of the number of revolutionaries and abolitionists who delivered important speeches here. The hall is now a tourist center, but public meeting facilities are still available.

This clean, multi-level eatery is in the heart of Chinatown. Inside, a casual atmosphere has plenty of glass, neon and aquaria to capture your attention. The food here is both well-prepared and served quickly. The long menu offers many familiar options, but you have to ask about specials to sample the specialties of the house. As the fish tanks indicate, seafood is this restaurant's strength, including shrimp, clams, lobster and eel. The restaurant has a full service bar.

The Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston has several sites significant to the history of African Americans, commemorated by this 1.6-mile trail. From June through August, the National Park Service conducts free two-hour tours that begin at the corner of Beacon and Park Streets. Landmarks include a memorial to the first black regiment to fight in the Civil War and the African Meeting House, the first black-led church in the United States. Many of the historic homes on the trail are still privately owned and may only be viewed from the outside. Call to arrange private tours in the off season.

Steeped in history, this is one of Boston's most beautiful neighborhoods. Always the home of statesmen, artists and intellectuals, "The Hill" is also the site of the State House, which is the beginning of the Freedom Trail. Cafes and majestic brownstone buildings line the narrow cobblestone streets next to the Boston Common, America's oldest urban park. At the bottom of the hill, along Charles Street, are several antique shops and boutiques full of unusual merchandise. This charming neighborhood has managed to preserve its history without becoming artificially quaint. Another important and most visited feature of Boston is Acorn Street. The street is surrounded by beautiful colonial style houses, giving it an earthy feel, which will import you to the era gone by.

For a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding area, take a trip to this Skywalk observatory. The windows here present a vista of Boston in all directions. On a clear day, visitors can see the mountains of New Hampshire. Museum-like displays offer detailed information on the history of Boston's geography. See their website for information on prices and further details. Open daily 10 am onwards.

Located on the 52nd-floor of the Prudential Center Tower, this ranks as one of Boston's most romantic and elegant dining spots. The views from Boston's second tallest building are stunning, making it ideal for special occasions. Live jazz adds to the ambiance. Entrees such as the venison with wheat-berry pilaf, and the seared yellow fin tuna steak are two of its more popular menu items.

Overlooking the famed Public Garden and Beacon Hill, and within easy reach of every notable business, entertainment and cultural attraction, Four Seasons Hotel Boston is characterised by elegant simplicity and old-world Boston charm.

Boston is the largest city in New England, the capital of Massachusetts and one of the most historic cities in the United States. Founded in 1630, Boston was at the center of the American Revolutionary period; the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773 were key events leading up to the Revolution in 1775. Today, Boston’s patriotic legacy attracts countless visitors each year. Walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail to see historic sites and colonial structures like Boston Common, Park Street Church and the Paul Revere House.

Boston offers dozens of museums, a wealth of historical sites, and several world-class universities and colleges, among them Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston College and the Boston University. More than 16 million tourists visit each year, making it one of the 10 most popular tourist locations in the United States.

Boston is a sports town, and its residents are fiercely loyal fans of its professional teams: the Red Sox (baseball), Celtics (basketball), Bruins (hockey), New England Patriots (football) and New England Revolution (soccer).

Make sure you schedule some time to relax in one of Boston’s many pubs, and sample some fresh seafood, clam chowder or Boston Baked Beans in the city’s restaurants.