I was thrilled to visit Boston with my family this summer because this city has it all – incredible sights, friendly people, and delicious food. We focused our itinerary on Boston’s North End and the surrounding historic sites, because my 6th-grader is a huge history buff, and I never wanted to be more than a few blocks from an Italian bakery. Priorities, right?
On our way into the city on Thursday afternoon, we stopped for a quick tour of Fenway Park. We didn’t have time to see a game on this trip, but if we could go back for one, I would definitely want one of those Green Monster seats! This is the view from up there:
We wanted to cover the entire Freedom Trail on our trip, so our first stop was the USS Constitution. I was pleasantly surprised by the USS Constitution Museum, which has plenty of hands-on activities for the kids. If you missed the War of 1812 in history class, this is a great place to learn about it! The Constitution has over 200 years of history, and is an impressive sight to behold.
We decided to try Regina Pizzeria for dinner. Some say Regina’s is the best pizza in the world, but I’m sure those people have never been to Italy. The pizza was tasty, but I’m not going to rave about it. On the other hand, I am gushing over Bova’s Bakery down the street. They’re open 24 hours a day, and their sweet treats are amazing!
On Friday, we started with a yummy breakfast at Theo’s Cozy Corner Restaurant. We continued on the Freedom Trail with Boston By Foot, a tour company that offers a walking tour called Boston By Little Feet. This tour is less than two hours long and is geared toward ages 6-12, so it was perfect for our family. Our guide really involved the kids and made it memorable for everyone! We walked by Faneuil Hall, the Boston Massacre Site, the Old State House, the Old Corner Book Store, the Old South Meeting House (where the Boston Tea Party was planned), the Benjamin Franklin Statue & Boston Latin School, King’s Chapel, and the King’s Chapel Burying Ground.
At lunch time, we wandered through Quincy Market and stopped to watch some street performers, including an escape artist who astonished the kids. We opted to walk up Hanover Street to Mike’s Pastry for a bite to eat. Some rules go out the window when we’re on vacation. Our “lunch” is pictured below.
After lunch, we took the T (subway train) to the Prudential Center where we boarded a Duck Tour — a ride in a WWII-style amphibious landing vehicle with an entertaining tour guide. We drove past four more Freedom Trail sites on the tour: the Granary Burying Ground, Park Street Church, Massachusetts State House, and Boston Common. The Duck Tour was a delightful mix of colonial history and modern-day stories. We learned a lot about Boston and thoroughly enjoyed cruising the Charles River. The kids even got a chance to drive the boat!
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Boston’s Public Garden (stopping on the way to gaze at the ornate Trinity Church). The kids read several books in preparation for our trip, including Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Of course, we stopped for a visit with Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings in the Public Garden.
At dinner time, we took the T back to the North End for a fabulous Italian meal at Antico Forno. We stopped at the gelato shop around the corner for dessert, then headed back to our hotel for a well-deserved rest.
On Saturday morning, we grabbed some Dunkin’ Donuts (a Boston staple) and began our day with a trip to the Museum of Science. With countless learning and doing opportunities, this museum can keep both kids and adults occupied all day. For example, this all-terrain wheelchair prototype demonstrates how technology can help overcome disabilities.
After lunch in the museum’s cafe, we went to the fascinating Lightning! show in their Theater of Electricity. Unfortunately, the museum became increasingly crowded in the afternoon. Most of the exhibits seemed appropriate for elementary school age and up, but the place was overrun with parents pushing strollers and chasing toddlers. We left in favor of hitting the Freedom Trail again.
I was unsure whether we should bother going inside the Paul Revere House, but I’m so glad we did! I found it interesting to learn about his various professions – everything from dentistry to manufacturing church bells.
From there, we walked a few blocks to the Old North Church and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground. The Old North Church also charges admission to go inside, but in retrospect, I don’t think it was worth the expense. You can see what it looks like in the photo below.
We went to an early dinner as lines were starting to form outside the restaurants on Hanover Street. We enjoyed a meal at Trattoria Il Panino and dessert across the street at Modern Pastry.
Since our hotel was across the river in Bunker Hill, we ended our time in Boston by strolling through the charming Charlestown neighborhood and visiting the Bunker Hill Monument, our last stop on the Freedom Trail.
I’m so glad we chose Boston for a family weekend away this summer! It has all the excitement of a big city, but without many of the challenges. Visiting Boston with kids was wonderful because we found it to be safe, friendly, and easy to navigate. I can’t wait to go back someday! In the meantime, I’ll be dreaming of the North End and its incredible Italian bakeries!