Boston & Harvard

Boston

I decided walking the Freedom Trail through Boston would be the perfect way to experience the city. I’m not the biggest American history buff, but it’s hard not to think of the men and women who fought for what they believed in to found our country, and those who continued fighting to make it great.

The Freedom Trail begins at Boston Commons, and the Massachusetts State House and continues through historic graveyards, churches, and buildings where many of the defining moments in American history took place. It perhaps sounds a little morbid, but some of my favorites spots along the trail were the graveyards. Most of the buildings and churches have been renovated and/or are now museums. The old state house, the oldest building still left standing in Boston, has a T station in the bottom of it. But graveyards tend to be left mostly untouched, which allowed me a more rich experience of the history. Standing at the grave sites of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, knowing that their bones are just below my feet, gives them an essence of humanity. They are not names on a placard or in a textbook, but men who woke up each morning as we all do and made decisions that led me to this moment, to being a woman traveling alone, experiencing freedom. Standing in the graveyard I felt connected, and grateful, to these men in a way I’ve never felt before.

Granary Burying Ground - Final resting place of Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, all five Boston Massacre Victims (in one tomb no less), and up to 5,000 more historic Bostonians! — Granary Burying Ground – Final resting place of Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, all five Boston Massacre Victims (in one tomb no less), and up to 5,000 more historic Bostonians!

Boston and the Freedom Trail boast immeasurable history. To learn more about the Freedom Trail click here.

I did find some of the modern upgrades to old building inventive, like the below examples.

Old City Hall - Now Ruth's Chris Steak House. — Old City Hall – Now Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Old State House, one of the oldest buildings in Boston at over 300 years! Now a T station.

I stopped off in the North End, the Italian district, thinking it the perfect place to grab a cappuccino and a biscotti. Both were delicious, and with a short reading break included, it was a fantastic way to round out my afternoon.

Outside Paul Revere's House in the North End. — Outside Paul Revere’s House in the North End.

From the end of the trail I crossed back over the Charlestown Bridge and hopped on the T back to Arlington. I know that this will mark me a someone not from a big city, but I do always enjoy riding trains in cities like Boston, New York, London and the like. I feel like there’s something oddly romantic about it, but I probably just watch too many movies.

Cambridge
Channeling my inner Lorelai Gilmore, I walked through the arches into Harvard Square hoping to have the chance to use existentialism and kitchy in one sentence. Sadly, I didn’t get hit on by any dashing Harvard men as I strolled around and didn’t succeed in my goal, but did enjoy the red brick buildings and statues around Harvard University. Knowing how much knowledge and how many great men and women have walked through this campus was a bit intimidating. However I think it was parents weekend, which was a good reminder that it’s a University not that much different than any other…right? Either way I’m going to assume I got a little smarter just strolling through here.

Memorial Hall - Harvard — Memorial Hall – Harvard

In the background here, under the American Flag, you can see the statue of John Harvard. People rub his toe for luck. However, after hearing a rumor that freshman pee on the toe as part of initiation, I decided to skip it.

Bonus Photos!

Sandy Neck Beach, Cape Cod