BOSTON FREEDOM TRAIL: A RESPONSIBLE “DIY” TOUR – CIAO VALENTINA
All the tips and advice you need to better enjoy the Boston Freedom Trail Tour on foot, without a tour guide.
I spent a week in Boston, and I loved it! There are so many things to do that if you have limited time it’s difficult to choose one. However, I recommend you start with the Freedom Trail Tour and learn the history of Paul Revere (the famous revolutionary patriot), see the buildings where key meetings and discussions took place leading to the events that sparked the famous American Revolutionary War. This tour has fascinated me so much that not only have I decided to create this blog post but you will find a dedicated video on my YouTube channel. Click here to watch the video
The Freedom Trail Tour is not a guided tour, instead you follow a route-map yourself (hence I’ve called it a ‘DIY’ tour). I recommend you wear comfortable shoes as the tour is 4km long, allowing you to discover 16 sites that were important during the American Revolutionary War.
The walk begins at Boston Common and ends at the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill, or vice versa depending of the direction you choose to travel. On the way you will visit historic churches (including my favourite, King’s Chapel), cemeteries and old bookstores that today is a fast-food restaurant.
How to get organized for a “DIY” walking tour of the Boston Freedom Trail?
There are many organized tours, but why spend money when you have all the resources available to do it yourself with your own timing? Wherever you go, from the tourist office to the reception of your hotel or hostel, you will find paper maps that show you the path to follow, marked in red. If you want to go “paper-free“, consider the Freedom Trail Walking Tour App – easy to use and you will save a tree! Just follow the path marked on the ground by a line of red tiles, you can’t go wrong! This connects every single place and all you have to do is follow it. You will also find a rather large plate in the ground in front of each individual site.
How long does it last?
This depends on how long you spend in each individual place and whether you come for a quick visit or for an organized tour and so on. It took me half a day to do it all, leaving from Boston Common and finishing at the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill.
What will I see?
Below you will find a quick guide to the sites you will see during your “DIY” Freedom Trail Walking Tour.
BOSTON COMMON: it is the oldest park in America built in 1636. Initially used for grazing cattle, it was later commandeered by the English army which occupied Boston in 1770. Nowadays it is a wonderful park where people come to relax and walk.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE: the oldest building in the Beacon Hill area. The government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seated here today.
PARK STREET CHURCH: this is where many reforms began, such as prison reforms, women’s suffrage and protests against slavery. These are just some of the events that took place right here.
GRANARY BURYING GROUND: this is a typical American cemetery with perfectly aligned tombs. Many well-known American citizens were buried here such as Paul Revere, Peter Faneuil and Benjamin Franklin’s parents.
KING’S CHAPPEL: This site was one of the most beautiful for me – like entering a movie set. The chapel was founded in 1686 as an Anglican church, then became a Christian church in 1785. Photos taken – too many, but not enough.
OLD CITY HALL AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STATUE: This was the first American public school for boys and Benjamin Franklin was a student here.
OLD CORNER BOOKSTORE: initially built as a pharmacy in 1718, it then became the centre of literary production in the mid-1800s when Boston was considered a “literary mecca”. Today the fast food restaurant “Chipotle” is located here.
OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE: a famous place for discussions and debates such as the protest against the Boston massacre, or the decision not to add taxes on tea that came from overseas. Here the first African American published a book and today it remains an important place for debates and discussions.
OLD STATE HOUSE: This was the seat of British colonial power in 1710. Right here, fire was opened on a mass of Protestants in an event called The Boston Massacre. From the large balcony on the main facade, the people of Boston heard the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
BOSTON MASSACRE SITE: here you will find a metal plaque on the ground between Corner of State and Congress Street representing the Boston Massacre.
FANEUIL HALL: located in the historic park of Boston, this has always been a place of free debate. Stop here and taste the famous Lobster Roll. Delicious!
PAUL REVERSE HOUSE: Used as a guesthouse by many Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants. Today it is a museum that displays typical Boston life in the 17th and 18th centuries.
OLD NORTH CHURCH: Here, on the night of April 18, 1775, the sacristan of the church hung two lanterns to alert the patriots that the British were advancing from Lexington and Concord by river.
COPP’S HILL BURYING GROUND: another revolutionary battlefield that is now marked by a typical American cemetery.
USS CONSTITUTION: the locals call it the “Old Ironside”. The view when you cross the bridge is really beautiful. There is also the opportunity to visit the USS Constitution Museum to learn more about warships.
BUNKER HILL MONUMENT: this is the last stop and the place where the first war of the American Revolution took hold and remembered by the famous obelisk. You can enter the obelisk and climb the 294 steps if you still have the energy.
If you want to have a more detailed idea of this tour, watch the video
Other useful tips:
- Wear comfortable shoes, you will walk for 4km.
- The tour can be started from both directions.
- Stop to eat for a lunch at the FANEUIL HALL and taste the Lobster Roll (I still dream of it at night, delicious!)
- Stop for a snack in Little Italy, and go to Bova’s Bakery where you will find the Boston Cream Pie. (Bova’s Bakery is not known by tourists, take advantage of it).
- Most of the historic sites and museums are open from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening however, this changes according to the seasons. Get informed and plan your tour properly.
My favourite places:
- King’s Chapel, the first American chapel I saw, love at first sight. Unique and authentic.
- The Little Italy neighbourhood where Paul Revere’s House is located.
- Boston Common, a great park, very well kept.
Responsible and Sustainable Freedom Train Tour:
It is not always easy to have an eye on the environment when traveling, but what can be done to make this tour sustainable?
- Use the Freedom Trail Walking Tour App, it’s free and you won’t use a paper map, keeping a tree alive.
- Don’t be afraid of the 4km walk, do it on foot instead of taking public transport and taxis. Most of these sites are close together and once the tour is finished you’ll feel satisfied with the physical exercise done and reduced your CO2 emissions.
- Put a reusable bottle, lunch box and reusable cutlery in your backpack. They don’t add any extra weight to the backpack, trust me. When you stop for some street-food you can ask to put the food in your lunch-box, and the drink in your reusable bottle, thus avoiding the consumption of plastic.
- Avoid popular tourist spots. If you see a pastry shop full of tourists, the prices are probably touristy too. Ask the locals, it is likely that in the small street nearby you will find an equally good pastry. That’s how I discovered Bova’s Bakery! In doing so, you will try something authentic, save a few extra dollars and above all help the local economy.
Read also the other articles below – I’ve achieved much in my month in America, take inspiration from itineraries and how to travel responsibly.
Read also: 1 DAY IN PHILADELPHIA – 11 ATTRACTIONS NOT TO BE MISSED.
Read also: 36 HOURS IN WASHINGTON D.C – WALKING TOUR.
You might also be interested in LAKE TAHOE AS A SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION: SUMMER TOUR.
And remember: Live, Travel, Laugh and Repeat
in a responsible way
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