Being one of the oldest cities in the country makes Boston the perfect destination for history enthusiasts, but with a variety of activities available and a ton of unique neighborhoods, it’s also the perfect place for your next family trip.
The first, and probably most obvious, activity you should participate in is a Red Sox game. No matter if aren’t a Sox fan, or even a fan of baseball, this experience is one you should not miss (if you’re in town during the season, of course). Because once you spend an afternoon at Fenway Park, you’ll understand exactly why this city is so synonymous with America’s favorite pastime. On game day, the party starts blocks away from the baseball park.
Every bar and pub within walking distance is crowded with patrons ready to cheer on the Sox. And right outside the park, you’ll find something like a block party, with street vendors surrounding the field and fans milling about. Inside the park is even more exciting. For one, Fenway Park is more than 100 years old. Which means, almost every part of the stadium has history. Take for instance, the seats in the Grandstand section. They’re wooden bleacher seats from the 1930s and are unlike any seats you’ll find at any other stadium. If watching the actual game isn’t really your thing, you can head below the bleachers for classic, delicious ballpark food and a ton of activities to entertain children. But I would truly encourage you to sit up in the stands and watch the Sox play. The energy the crowd gives off is unparalleled to any baseball game I’ve ever attended.
Another thing Boston is undoubtedly known for is the Boston Tea Party, the historic political protest against Great Britain for raising the tea tax in American colonies. It’s something we all learned about in grade school but have probably forgotten the details. Luckily, the Boston Tea Party Museum has found an exciting, interactive way to remind you, or teach your little ones. In the form of a re-enactment, tour guides take you through the fateful night of Dec. 16, 1773. You’ll begin at the “town hall” where they’ll give you characters and explain exactly why you (as a 16th century colonist) are so angry about Great Britain’s taxes. After, you’ll demonstrate that anger by dumping replica tea boxes into Boston Harbor. Then, you’ll get a guided tour of an exact replica of the ships that brought the tea (that was destroyed) to the colonies.
The ships are fully staged, as if they were still in use by the colonists. You’ll get to see the crew’s quarters, the captain’s quarters and even the cargo hold. And that’s only the start of the hour-long tour. The guides will continue to explain the importance of the historical event through artwork, figurines and even a film. By the end, you’ll feel that you have a better understanding of the Boston Tea Party because you’ll feel as if you lived it. This museum is a must!
Almost everything in Boston has some kind of historic context, and one of the places where that context is most evident is on the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a two and a half mile long walking path through downtown Boston that passes 16 historically significant sites. You’ll find things such as Paul Revere’s house and the site of the Boston Massacre. But, near the Massachusetts Statehouse, the Freedom Trail breaks off into a different kind of a trail—the Black Heritage Trail. Along that path you’ll find 14 locations significant to African-American history. There’s the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, the George Middleton House, The Philips School, John J. Smith’s house, the Charles Street Meeting house, Lewis and Harriet Hayden’s house, John Coburn’s house, the Smith Court Residences, the Abiel Smith School and the African Meeting House.
The rangers of the National Park Service: Boston African-American National Historic Site offer guided walking tours Monday through Saturday, free of charge, during the spring and summer. However, self-guided tours are always welcome. This trail is the perfect opportunity to learn more about our history and witness how African-Americans triumphed during a time when everything was against us.
The most astonishing activity we found in Boston was the New England Aquarium’s whale watching tour. The aquarium, in conjunction with Boston Harbor Cruises, takes visitors on a high-speed catamaran through Massachusetts Bay to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary to view the majestic creatures. That area, home to whales, dolphins and sea birds, among other marine life, is one of the world’s most active marine sanctuaries. So much so, the aquarium guarantees whale sightings on every trip, or you’ll get a free ticket to return on another day. Ticket prices range from $16 for children 3 and under, to $53 for adults. The tour lasts for approximately three hours (sometimes longer), and the rides can be rather cold (even during the summer), but it was beyond worth the discomfort. The two little boys I went with couldn’t stop talking about it for the rest of the trip.
Megan Pinckney (@shadesofpinck) is a retired beauty queen turned lifestyle blogger who loves exploring the world and writing about it.