/ Attractions / Boston, Massachusetts; The Spirit of America

Boston, Massachusetts; The Spirit of America

USS Constitution in Boston Harbor
Brandon Speakman on September 13, 2017 - 2:55 pm in Attractions, Featured Cities, Historical, Places to visit

Things to do in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts is filled with an abundance of history, but to experience that history firsthand and actually take in the historic sites is an experience like no other. Boston has been called “The Cradle of Liberty” due to its part in initiating the American Revolution. Boston is also known for becoming the home to 1,000 puritans who left Europe to escape religious and political persecution in the 1630s and, of course, for Paul Revere’s Ride, which you were lied to about.

Along with the rich history throughout Boston, there are a number of fantastic seafood restaurants throughout the city that all serve up some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. Boston is one of those unique New England cities that will keep you entertained and excited throughout your entire stay. Boston is one of those vacations that when you leave you’ll be thinking to yourself, “I have to come back!”

boston sailboat

Boston Skyline Photo via Wikipedia

Old North Church

Old North Church is known as the oldest church and most visited church in Boston. Old North Church was built in 1723, but received its recognition on April 18, 1775 when Robert Newman and Vestryman Captain John Pulling Jr. held up 2 lanterns from the top of the church’s steeple in inform Paul Revere that the British were entering Lexington and Concord by sea across the Charles River, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution. A half a million visitors travel to Boston each year to experience this incredible piece of history.

old north church steeple

Old North Church Steeple Photo via Wikipedia

The Paul Revere House

The Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End is one of Boston’s oldest buildings and one of the last remaining 17th-century homes within a large urban area in the United States. Paul Revere’s house was built around 1680 on the site where the Second Church of Boston used to sit. The Minister of the Second Church resided in the church from 1670 until it was burned down during The Great Fire of 1676. A larger home was then built around 4 years after the fire.

A wealthy merchant, by the name of Robert Howard, purchased the new and improved two-story townhouse. Howard eventually raised the front roofline of the home by the mid-18th century. It wasn’t until 1770 that Paul Revere bought the home, which seemed like the perfect residence for his family, which included his wife Sarah, five children and his mother Deborah.

Paul Revere was the owner of this home from 1770 until he sold it in 1800. The home eventually became a sailor’s boarding home. Soon after that it became a home for immigrants. The ground floor of the house was later turned into a location for various shops including a candy store, cigar factory, Italian bank, and a fruit and vegetable business. Paul Revere’s great-grandson, John P. Reynolds Jr. purchased the home to make sure it wouldn’t be demolished. Over the coming years money was raised and the Paul Revere Memorial Association was created to preserve the home. In April 1908, the Paul Revere House opened up to the public and has since been known as the earliest historic house museum in the nation.

The third story extension of the house was removed and now the house better favors its late-17th-century look. 90 percent of the home is still intact with its original structures including two doors, three window frames, and portions of the flooring, foundation and inner wall material. The large fireplaces and hallways were rebuilt to better relate to colonial living arrangements. The upstairs portion of the home included period furnishings from the era that Paul Revere lived in, including pieces of furniture that was originally owned by the Revere family. The Paul Revere House is opened year around, with the exception of Mondays from January to March, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

paul revere house

Paul Revere House Photo via Pixabay

The Daily Catch

Paul Freddura, a man born of Italian immigrants in the North End of Boston, started The Daily Catch after learning the seafood trade in Boston. Freddura had always wanted to own his own business. He found a great way to make his dream a reality; by marketing squid and fried clams, which were both selling cheap at the time. (Squid was selling for 15 cents a pound and calamari was selling for $3.50 a box.) Soon after, Freddura opened up The Daily Catch in the North End of Boston on Hanover Street in 1973 in a location that the official website describes as a shoebox.

Paul and his wife Maria are proud to offer the freshest fish and shellfish in New England. The food is prepared with imported olive oils, pasta and vinegar. Their Sicilian-Style recipes that have been passed on from past generations offer garlic simmered seafood, tomato sauces and fresh vegetables. Even their seven sons have worked with their parents in the restaurant and learned firsthand the importance of hard work.

The Daily Catch is a must visit during your next trip to Boston. This cozy restaurant with only 20 seats offers Sicilian-Style Seafood and Pasta that will knock your socks off. Let me be perfectly clear about one thing; The Daily Catch is worth the wait. I found myself in line with a friend of mine for 2 hours; but that 2 hours seemed like nothing once we were seated and able to feast upon the fresh seafood and pasta offered at The Daily Catch. Once you are seated at The Daily Catch, you almost immediately order your food, as the staff wants to keep everything moving quickly, so they may tend to all visitors that wish to dine with them. “This will be an experience to remember” is a statement The Daily Catch has published on their official website. I can personally back up that statement.

In addition to their daily specials, The Daily Catch offers something for all seafood and pasta lovers including local oysters, fresh mussels, stuffed calamari, homemade black linguine made with squid ink, fresh penne pasta, Yellowfin tuna, swordfish, fish ‘n’ chips with pieces of local fish and much more. If you are a seafood aficionado and find yourself in Boston in the future, you’ll be glad that you took the time at dine at The Daily Catch and experience some of the best seafood you’ll ever eat. In addition to the location on Boston’s North End, The Daily Catch also has a location by Boston’s seaport and in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Mike’s Pastry

Get ready for the best cannoli of your life. Just across the street from The Daily Catch is Mike’s Pastry, another line that is worth the wait. Although, this line, that may seem highly disorganized at first, moves quite fast, so don’t worry; you’ll have your cannoli in no time. Mike’s Pastry was founded in 1946 in Boston’s historic North End on Hanover Street. Michael Mercogliano (Mike) created a one of a kind cannoli that, to this day, helps keep a line out of the door. Tourists come from all around the world to try the proclaimed one of a kind cannoli at Mike’s Pastry and Boston locals don’t mind waiting in line again and again, just to get their hands on another cream filled treat. In 1946, Mercogliano retired and handed his bakery over to his stepson, Angelo Papa, who has been running the bakery for years now. Mercogliano moved with his family from Italy to Boston when he was 12-years-old. He worked at his cousin’s bakery and fell in love with baking and began creating the perfect cannoli. Along with the original cannoli, there are over 15 other cannoli flavors offered at Mike’s Pastries including Chocolate Mousse, Nutella, Strawberry, Espresso and much more.

It won’t be hard to spot the others that have already been to Mike’s Pastry in Boston, because they’ll all be holding the signature white box with a bright blue front that is tied with a string bow. Mike’s loyal customers include tourists, presidents and local Bostonians. Mike’s is one of the best-known Italian bakeries in Boston and has recently expanded to Harvard Square in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts.

Union Oyster House

The Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant with continued service in the United States. The Union Oyster House has been opened to diners since 1826. While there is no documentation on when exactly The Union Oyster House was constructed, it is known that the building has been on Union Street as a major local landmark for over 250 years. It has been estimated however that the building was built in 1704. The Union Oyster House has had a fascinating history. The building housed a fancy dress goods business that was operated by Hopestill Capen, the top floor was where Isaiah Thomas published his political newspaper “The Massachusetts Spy,” which was known as the oldest newspaper in the United States for a very long time. In 1775 the building became a pay station for the Continental Army. The pay station was run by Ebenezer Hancock, the very first paymaster of the Continental Army. In 1826 Capen’s Dry Goods Store was no more and the building was turned over to owners Atwood and Bacon, who began The Union Oyster House. On May 27, 2003, the building was officially listed as a Historic National Landmark.

The Union Oyster House was the first restaurant where the toothpick was used. As a way to promote the toothpick, 19-century Bostonian Charles Foster hired male Harvard students to dine at Union Oyster house and ask for toothpicks. Many celebrities and former U.S. Presidents have dined at The Union Oyster House including J.F.K, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Steven Speilberg, Jimmy Carter, Jay Leno, Robin Williams and Meryl Streep.

This is another top-notch, delicious restaurant in Boston that is worth the wait. The dinner menu at The Union Oyster House offers a large selection of tasty eats such as lobster ravioli, Oyster House Clam Chowder, Oysters, Boston Baked Beans, Grilled Swordfish, Lobster and much, much more.

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Union Oyster House Photo via Wikipedia

Legal Sea Foods

Legal Sea Foods is a an east coast chain restaurant with locations in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and even Georgia, but most of the restaurants are in Massachusetts. An interesting fact about Legal Sea Foods is that not all of their menus are the same. This is usually a good thing, as there are more delectable options to choose from if you ever have the opportunity to eat at more than one Legal Sea Foods.

The grand interior of Legal Sea Foods in Park Square will have you mesmerized as soon as you step into the restaurant. The two story dining hall is equipped with a large spiral staircase that leads down to the bar area, as well as seating next to a large window that gives a perfect street view of Park Plaza.

I might suggest attending Legal Sea Foods with a group of people, because after taking a look at the menu, you’re going to want to order more than one item, so you can experience everything that is offered. Legal Sea Foods has everything from lobster and clam chowder to fried fish and surf & turf. There is even a char grilled section on the menu that includes a mouthwatering rainbow trout, swordfish steak, snapper and much more. Legal Sea Foods is a must visit the next time you are in New England.

legal sea foods

Legal Sea Foods Logo Photo via Wikipedia

Whether you’re a history buff, a seafood fanatic or you just enjoy taking in the sights of an old city, Boston, Massachusetts is the perfect city for everyone to enjoy.

For more information on things to do in Boston, Massachusetts check out the official tourism board website.

Boston Mass

Sunset View of the Boston skyline and Charles River Photo via Wikipedia

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