Boston Trip Day 2

Boston Common with the State Capital in the background

Sunday was probably my busiest day but the least amount of walking as I took the Old Town Trolley. This is one of the best ways to get around Downtown Boston as you get a fully narrated tour along with the ability to hop on and off at 14 different stops throughout the day.

I started my day with a cup of coffee and a bagel sandwich from Bruegger’s Bagels and it was fantastic. The only thing is, I had to just go back to the hotel to eat as they had no seating for some reason. After that, I went for a walk at Boston Common just a couple blocks from the hotel This is such a beautiful park framed by Tremont St, Boylston, Charles, and Beacon. People were out walking their dogs, running, walking and just enjoying the park. Made me wish I lived near something like this. 

Old Town Trolley

Then it was time to ride the trolley, I had purchased my ticket the day before at a booth outside of Quincy Market, so I headed over to Stop 1 at Christopher Columbus Park near the waterfront. Now I have been on the trolleys in St Augustine, but these were much nicer. They sit up high, and the windows can be covered in case of rain. For the first part of the day, the rain held off so the windows were open.  There are 14 primary stops and 4 additional stops available on a shuttle. In addition, if you are arriving by cruise ship, they will pick you up and drop you off at the ship.

I rode the trolley to stop three, the USS Constitution at the Navy Yards. The ship, nicknamed Old Ironside was used during the War of 1812 and you can tour it for free but there is a nominal cost for the museum also on the property.

Acorn Street

A short walk from the Navy Yards is the Bunker Hill Monument. So if you remember, this was the second major battle of the Revolutionary War. Although it was a loss for the Continental Army, the British took huge losses. There is a huge monument and status of Colonel William Prescott. There was construction being done on the monument, so I only saw that. 

After Bunker Hill, I got back on the trolley at the ship yards and headed back across the bridge and got off at stop six Beacon Hill so I could check out Acorn Street. Acorn is considered one of the oldest and prettiest streets in Boston. Its narrow and short and rocky so watch your step. If you want to get a picture without people, I recommend getting there early in the morning. 

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Cheers Boston

I made the short walk over to stop seven which is Cheers Bar Boston, named after the 80s TV Show. The show was not filmed here, just the entrance was used in the opening credits and as vignettes. When you walk up, you can go down the steps below street level to the main bar and restaurant but go up the steps to enter the replica bar and gift shop. I was a little disappointed as it was small but that did not stop me from having a beer and getting a glass. 

My next stop was 10, Copley Plaza as I was hungry, and the mall Prudential Center was there. This was a nice mall with lots of options for food and shopping. You can also find The View Boston here where you can get 360-degree views of Boston. There is a cost to go up from $34.99 to $54.99 per adult depending on the experience you wanted. You will find many high-end brands like Sax Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Loren, and even a Tesla Store.

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Fish and Chips from Beantown Pub

I wanted to wander that area a little, but the rain was starting so I boarded the trolley and headed back to stop number one. As I mentioned, they will drop you off at the ship so since there were ships in port that day, after stop 14, we went to the pier. When you arrive back at stop one, you do have to step off and go to a new trolley even if you are containing on. 

​I highly recommend taking the trolley at least one of the days you are visiting. The tour guides are informative, funny, and friendly. At each stop, you might wait 15 minutes but of course that depends on traffic. 
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That night, I headed just a block from the hotel on Tremont St to the Beantown Pub for dinner. A bar atmosphere with pool tables in the back and plenty of TVs for sports. The menu had a pretty good variety from burgers to salads, but I chose the fish and chips along with a cold Samuel Adams Lager. . I would rate that a 10 as it was crispy, and you could tell fresh and not frozen.

​Ended the night early with some Sunday Night Football in the room. Be sure to come back for Day three and if you are interested in learning about trips to Boston, please reach out to the contact info belo. 

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Michael Miller
​Freedom to Roam Travel
[email protected]
www.freedomtoroamtravel.com