Another great thing to do while in Boston is to walk the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a marked walking path that is absolutely free to walk. There are several sites on the path that request a small fee ($5 or under) or a donation. Our GoBostonCard, included these fees and donations, so walking the trail was a completely free attraction for me.

The trail is marked by a double red brick line or a wide red painted line. It runs for about 2 1/2 to 3 miles and encompasses sights like Bunker Hill, old graveyards, and Paul Revere's home. This was a really neat thing to do and you could spot people following the trail all over Boston. This is the best way to take in the historical sights. What a feeling to walk down streets where patriots like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere walked!

One of the neatest sights on the trail for me was the Old North Church, where the lanterns were hanging to signify which way the British were invading. The church still holds services today and Paul Revere's prayer box is marked and still maintained by his family. As the trail winds its way past monuments, graveyards, and homes of patriots, you can just imagine the conversations and excitement present during the Revolutionary period of American History. It was really an awesome way to spend the afternoon.

This being said... do not forget really good walking shoes. Also my friend, who has a heart condition grew tired on some of the hills along the trail. People who have physical conditions may need to break up the trail into different segments over longer periods of time. Also, we never found a really good map available of the trail to help plan our progression. There are maps available at the Visitor Center, near the Old North Church, but I found it to difficult to handle and read.

Overall, this was a wonderful way to see Boston and to take in a lot of history. It is something I would suggest that everyone do at least some of if the come to Boston. It was nice to tour the streets of Boston as we wandered from sight to sight, and you just can beat the price ---free!

http://www.massvacation.com/

http://www.nps.gov/bost/

You should not start this at the Boston National Historic Park Building on State Street, because that is somewhere in the middle of the tour. We entered Boston on Interstate 90, taking the Stuart/Charles St. exit to Boston Commons, where we used the underground parking. From there is the Boston Common Visitor Information Center, where we bought a pamphlet for a self-guided tour of the Freedom Trail. We made it through to site no. 12, Paul Revere’s House, of the 16 numbered sites. See the tour below...

#1 Boston Common – America’s oldest public park, also the site of hangings, duels, and celebrations.
#2 Massachusetts State House – Built in 1798 at five times the budget, the oldest building on Beacon Hill. The dome was originally wood. In 1802, it was covered in copper to prevent leakage, and gilded in 23-carat gold leaf in 1874. #3 Park Street Church – We were lucky to pass by when the church clock struck at noon and continued to play multiple tunes. Originally the site of a grain storage, it used to be the first thing visitors saw after 1809 as they entered the city.
#4 Granary Burying Ground – Many prominent Bostonians and men of history are buried here next to the Park Street Church
#5 King’s Chapel – King James II order the land seized in 1688 and the first Anglican Church was constructed.
#6 First Public School and Statue of Benjamin Franklin – 1635, the first public school in the U.S.
#7 Old Corner Bookstore – Now a jewelry store. The only way you’d notice is by the barn-like appearance from the street.
#8 Old South Meeting House – http://www.oldsouthmeetinghouse.org 1729, the second oldest church in Boston, used for many public meetings, and the location of many of the historical events leading to the revolution.
#9 Old State House Museum – http://www.bostonhistory.org/old_state_hs_hist.php 1713, Boston’s oldest surviving public building. If you were to enter any one building on this trail, this building should be it. The museum gives a very good history lesson. #10 Boston Massacre – Where five men were killed outside the Old State House in a conflict between Colonists and British troops.
#11 Faneuil Hall – Served as a meeting place and open-air market.
#12 Paul Revere House – http://www.paulreverehouse.org 1680, Boston’s oldest private building in downtown, home to famous Paul Revere.
#13 Old North Church
#14 Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
#15 USS Constitution – Old Ironsides
#16 Bunker Hill Monument

The Freedom Trail is a marked and guided route past all of the key sights associated with revolutionary Boston. Stops include the places where John Adams and other met to vent their anger and plan their next steps, the location of the Boston Tea Party Ship, Old North Church, and many other places key to the early history of the United States. Most of the actual buildings still stand and can be visited. The Freedom Trail not only brings history into focus, but it brings it alive. You can stand where Adams spoke or where Crispus Attacks became the first martyr for American freedom. Not all of the history is quite so serious, either. In the same cemetary as many of the revolutionary heros can be found the grave of the one and only true Mother Goose. A replica of the tea party ship is available for you to climb aboard as well. Although it is a bit away from the main part of the trail, a visit to the USS Constitution, Old Ironsides, is a special treat to anyone with maritime interests and well worth the journey. Nearly all of the Freedom Trail can be covered for free.

Where did this grand nation begin? What are we all about? There is no better place to find out than on the Freedom Trail in Boston. Get a guide at your hotel, at a book store or from a vendor and begin your walk into history. You will see the old North church where the lantern was hung to let the revolutioners know how the British were coming.

Visit Paul Revere's house. There is access to Old Ironsides in the Charleston Harbor. Visit Fanuil Hall and go upstairs to see where many of our famous orators gave their speeches. In this city of bustling newness, there is engrained a marvelous sense of history and wonder at how we came to be as a nation. It will take you about four hours to walk the trail but spend time at each place soaking up the feeling. Bring your children when they are old enough for they will delight in what they see and remember it when the have it in history class.

It's a self-guided walking tour of Boston's most important landmarks of colonial Boston. The starting point is at Boston Common, and to do it you only have to follow the red line painted on the pavement. It takes you past all the sights. It's important to get the free leaflet that explains you what all the places are, though, especially if you are not too familiar with American history.
There are 16 points of interest along the trail, which I'll just list here below. The walk, including visits and a few stops for lunch a drinks will take about a day.

1. Boston Common
2. State House
3. Park Street Church
4. Granary Burying Ground
5. King`s Chapel
6. First Public School Site
7. Globe Corner Bookstore
8. Old South Meeting House
9. Old State House
10. Boston Massacre Site
11. Faneuil Hall
12. Paul Revere House
13. Old North (Christ) Church
14. Copp`s Hill Burial Ground
15. Bunker Hill Monument
16. U.S.S. Constitution