Tour the nation’s top spots, honor America’s freedom this summer

If the thought of Fourth of July approaching makes you want to explore America’s history a bit more this summer, there are plenty of opportunities. Grab your kids, spouse or friend and pack your red, white and blue for a trip that will top the charts.

To discover the history of the American Revolution you must first stop in Boston, Massachusetts, where it all began. Several of our country’s founding fathers called this city home, and as a result, many of the initial meetings and actions that sparked the fight against the British took place in Boston.

The best way to immerse oneself in history is to walk Boston’s Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile route that leads you to 16 historic sites along the way. The trail traverses through downtown, the Government Center, the North End and ends in Charlestown at the USS Constitution. The entire Trail is marked by a red line on the sidewalk, either painted or bricked at points along the way. Top sites along the Trail include Faneuil Hall, Old North Church, Bunker Hill Monument, Benjamin Franklin statue, the Granary Burial Ground and the Park Street Church. Find information you need at Freedom Trail information centers throughout Boston at Boston Common (Tremont Street), Faneuil Hall and Building 5 at the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center.

The Freedom Trail Foundation offers a daily schedule of public walking tours featuring several sites along the trail. Purchase discounted online tour tickets in advance and save time and money. Tours are led by 18th-century costumed “Freedom Trail Players” and feature a bit of drama to make the walk a memorable one. The foundation’s mission is to market and help preserve the Trail. Find the official Freedom Trail brochure and so much more at freedomtrailfoundation.org.

For the full story, see the June 6 issue or subscribe online.

By Carrie Dunlea