Going to be in Boston at the end of Feb for work. We (co-workers) tacked-on another day and half for some kick around time before flying out. A few of us are looking to dig into the American Revolution hot spots around the Boston-area, because we have such a short amount of time, is there a historical tour operator of solid reputation or, a reasonable historical itinerary to follow?

Having grown up in a tourist town, tour operators are a dime-a-dozen, the vast majority regurgitating what's found in pamphlets with melodramatics. Looking for either self-guided tour itineraries or, willing to hire-out a guide for several hours.

Not sure if you can, but the Sig place on the old Pease Air Force Base is about an hour from Boston. I'd also try to stuff as many Maine lobsters as I could.


Tinyman

Freedom Trail downtown is definitely worth it. You can self tour with pamphlets or get a guided tour. If you are a revolutionary war junky then Lexington and Concord are a must see. USS Constitution is spectacular if you have the time. I've received some very private tours of the ship, very interesting checking out the technology of the day.

I grew up around there but left 25 years ago. I'll reach out to some buddies and see if they have any tour operator suggestions.

I second the Freedom Trail. If you have the time Minute Man National Historic Park, where it all started.

Freedom Trail and the Park where it all started. Very humbling experience.

PC

springfield armory if you have time

#1 should be the USS Constitution. The Science Museum is great, still has one of the largest Van De Graff generators.

Best part of the freedom trail is Paul Reverse house. Mostly because they are handing out flyers that describe WHY Revere did his ride. See, the British had banned firearms, and were on the way to John Adams house to grab the guns he was stockpiling. Revere was alerting Patriots to this horrific attempt from the gun grabbers.

True story, and I'd never heard that part despite having heard the version with no guns no less than hundreds of times.

A great book about the freedom trail, Bunker Hill and all the patriots of the time is Bunker Hill, A city, A siege, A revolution It would be fun to read the history and then walk the actual trail covered in the book.

The Constitution is #1 with no close second, A mushroom cheese steak sub from any sub shop in Medford (pronounced Med-fa) is my second. On the west side of the commons is my favorite statue of Washington on his horse depicting the day he rode in and took charge of the Continental Army.

If you like museums the Science Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Boston Aquarium are all great places to visit.

Freedom Trail, Duck boat ride, Sam Adams Brewery,

Eating in the North End for Italian, or China Town for Asian food

The biggest attraction in Boston is Faniel Market which is mostly shopping.

If you can't make it to the USS constitution, you can check out the tea party ship, a ship from the same era, but much smaller.
Watch fake Indians throw tea overboard and pull it back in for the next tour.

If you tell us what you are interested in there are lots of other things to do depending on your interests

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
If you tell us what you are interested in there are lots of other things to do depending on your interests

Just looking at American Rev-era points of interest and it looks like the Freedom Trail works for our needs and time. Got dining and museum interests locked-in.

Look up the Duck Tour and where it goes. It’s a bit pricey. If you have a car, maybe go to the SIG shop

Freedom trail is fantastic, but you'll definitely need to bundle up as late February can still bring bitter cold and snowstorms. Italian food in the north end is simply fantastic almost anywhere.

I was in Boston earlier this year for a day. Did parts of the Freedom Trail. We used the metro system for parts of our travel. Where thinking of using rental bikes but the weather was a little cold.

USS Constitution is definitely worth a trip.

My daughter attends BC so I am up there quite a bit. I really like Boston. Old Ironsides is a must as well as the Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill. Aside from AR sites I really enjoyed Quincy Market when I was younger but not so much now although you can get some great NE clam chowder there.

quote:

Originally posted by funnymech:
Look up the Duck Tour and where it goes. It’s a bit pricey. If you have a car, maybe go to the SIG shop

The duck tours all loop central boston. The "SIG shop" is a solid 2 hour drive with no traffic.... C'mon guy.

My wife and I went up to Boston in October of 2017 after my Dad passed away to see the sights and visit the house in the town of Milton (south of downtown Boston) where my Dad grew up.

Doing the Freedom Trail guided downtown tour starting in Boston Commons is a must. You have to buy tickets, but the guides are VERY well trained, give you information and little-known historical facts that you would have to dig for elsewhere, and dress in period attire.

If you're up to a little exercise, you should also consider walking the portion of the Freedom Trail that takes you to Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, Bunker/Breed's Hill, and other cool places.

The Fenway Park tour is a must. So is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum a few blocks south of Fenway (she amassed a huge amount of art, some of which was stolen 30 years ago by thieves posing as police officers).

Sam Adams was an important historical figure back in the day and he has a brewery too. I’d tour the brewery