From Freedom Trail to Carriage Roads

Part 1 – First Stop, Boston

I’d like to think of it as a sabbatical for Long Point Outfitters to explore coastal life and the wonderful seafood that New England has to offer, but even better it was our first family trip of three. A vacation north to Maine had been on our minds for a while, and we had decided that Fourth of July weekend felt right. With planning the vacation around Independence Day, it only seemed appropriate that our first stop would be Boston.

We traveled on July 4th, flying into Boston from Baltimore, from one historical port city to another. With the flight only about an hour we were able to get into Boston late morning, giving us enough time to check into our hotel and then hitting the streets to explore the city and make our way to lunch. We stayed at the Hilton Boston Downtown Faneuil Hall allowing us to walk the waterfront from our hotel, stroll through Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and grab an early lunch in the heart of Government Center at Bell in Hand Tavern.

While at Bell in Hand Tavern we ordered their specialty Bell In Hand Ale brewed by Sam Adams, along with lobster mac and cheese and traditional fish and chips. Over lunch at America’s Oldest Tavern we confirmed that we were going to spend our afternoon walking the Freedom Trail through Boston. What better way to spend the Fourth of July then to check out some of Boston’s historical significant sites, and where several key events of the American Revolution occurred.

Along the Freedom Trail we stopped at Faneuil Hall, the Old State House, Old South Meeting House, Boston Old City Hall, Granary Burying Ground, Park Street Church, Boston Common, and Massachusetts State House. Although Boston being a very walkable city, after hitting up a majority of the site, we made our way back to the hotel to cool down and freshen up from the mid-afternoon sun and summer heat.

Once recharged, we did a little shopping at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, including grabbing a late afternoon snack at Quincy Market . . . splitting a lobster roll from Boston & Maine Fish Company counts as an afternoon snack right? We walked through Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park and out on the Long Wharf. The evening brought us to a light dinner at Granary Tavern, where we shared a flatbread.

 

 

Finishing out the evening, prior to heading back to the hotel, we decided to hit up The Trillium Garden on the Greenway. While I knew we wouldn’t make it over to their brewery while in Boston for the day, I’m glad we had the opportunity to try a few of their brews on draft before driving north the next day. The beers lived up to their reputation, and the setting was perfect. Sipping some suds outside, with the last bit of sun shining down, and an enormous American flag billowing as it hangs from the arch way of a near by building was a great way to wrap up the day.

While we heard the fireworks from our hotel room, like I stated from the start, this trip was our first family trip of three. This included our one year old daughter, and meant that the theme of this trip was early to rise and early to bed. On the positive side, we found ourselves beating the crowds by finding ourselves doing most events an hour or two prior to most. Also, I’m pretty sure she will grow up to be a pretty savvy traveler.

Next Stop, Maine . . .