Cradle of Liberty – Boston

Uncover the stirring stories inside these historical sites that gave birth to our nation.  From the landing at Plymouth Rock to the Boston Tea Party this tour takes you behind the scenes to highlight the amazing drama, courage and struggles our forefathers endured.

Boston Tour Highlights

Day 1 – Plymouth

Overnight at Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor – Featuring a contemporary coastal ambiance with a new lobby and guest rooms, commemorating the historical significance of its Plymouth Waterfront District location.  

Dinner this evening at the Waterfront Grille. Walking distance from your hotel. This restaurant offers local American cuisine, specializing in seafood with spectacular views of historical Plymouth Harbor.

Day 2 – Plymouth

Plimouth Plantation tells the iconic story of Plymouth Colony. It offers powerful personal encounters with history built on thorough research about the Wampanoag People and the Colonial English community in the 1600s. Their permanent exhibits tell the complex and interwoven stories of two distinct cultures – English and Native.

Enjoy an historic presentation on 1614 Captures, the Plague, 1918 Return of Tisquantum, followed by a guided tour of the Wampanoag Homesite, 17th-Century English Village and Craft Center. And then on to the Plimouth Grist Mill.

Stop for lunch on your own, then travel to Boston.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum – You will relive that historic 1773 night in Boston Harbor during your tour and then sit down with the Creative Department afterwards, with tea.

Continue to the Museum of African American History. National Historic Site Rangers provide interpretive historic talks at the African Meeting House. These programs look at the rich history of the African American community on Beacon Hill in the 19th century with a focus on the abolition movement, the Underground Railroad, and the early struggles for equal rights in Boston.

Dinner on your own this evening.

Overnight at Omni Parker House.

Day 3 – Boston

With a focus on the Freedom Trail, visit important sites in American history with a local historian and author who will guide you.

Old State House – Birthplace of the Revolution. Built in 1713, the Old State House was a seat of British power, and became a point of origin for vital debates about self-government that sparked the Revolution.

Old North Church – Visit the site that launched the American Revolution! Located along the Freedom Trail, the Old North Church & Historic Site is a must see for those visiting Boston. Founded in 1723, the Old North Church is the oldest standing church in the City of Boston, made famous by Paul Revere’s midnight ride and, “One if by land, two if by sea.” Step into Boston’s history as you explore the historic site. 

Faneuil Hall – Located in downtown Boston, steps away from the waterfront, Faneuil Hall is alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation’s fathers proclaimed it “The Cradle of Liberty.” Enjoy unique, locally loved, and nationally recognized shops while indulging in the worldwide cuisine at restaurants, pubs, and in the world-famous Quincy Market Colonnade. The cobblestone promenades are filled with the music and jaw-dropping routines of world-renowned street performers and musicians.

Lunch on own at Faneuil Hall.

Granary Burying Ground – Established in 1660, some of America’s most notable citizens rest here (John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine). Named for the 12,000-bushel grain storage building that was once next door, the historic burying ground has approximately 2,300 markers.

Bunker Hill Museum and Monument – Located on the Freedom Trail, across the street from the Monument, the museum houses exhibits on the Battle of Bunker Hill, the building of the Monument and the history of Charlestown.

USS Cassin Young – Built for speed and capability, USS Cassin Young engaged in seven Pacific battles in World War II, survived two Kamikaze hits, and served another full decade beyond her expected lifetime. Built in 1943 in San Pedro, California, she is one of 175 Fletcher-class destroyers built during World War II. Here in Charlestown, this navy yard built dozens of similar ships during the war. In the 1950s, Cassin Young and many other destroyers received regular repairs and modernization in Charlestown.

USS Constitution – Also known as Old Ironsides, this ship is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. Constitution is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships.

Return to your hotel to freshen up before dinner.

Dinner this evening at Union Oyster House – This is Boston’s oldest restaurant and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S. Their doors have been open since 1826. It is a National Historic Landmark serving seafood and New England specialties in a historic setting on the Freedom Trail.

Day 4 – Boston

Breakfast is included at your hotel.  Meet your guide for a full day of touring.

JFK Museum and Presidential Library – Located in a striking I.M Pei building on Boston’s waterfront is this amazing museum dedicated to the life and legacy of former President John F. Kennedy. The museum conveys his enthusiasm for politics and public service and illustrates the nature of the office of the President. This is also a research library with collections of historical materials chronicling mid-20th century politics and the life and administration of John F. Kennedy.

Boston Public Library – The architects Charles Follen McKim and Philip Johnson sought to create a veritable “palace” with art treasures that include works by Daniel Chester French and John Singer Sargent.

Fenway Park – The park remains much like it did the day it opened on April 20, 1912.

Odyssey Dinner Cruise – Enjoy upscale dining, live music entertainment and stunning skyline views. Cruising from Rowes Wharf, you will see the most breathtaking views of Downtown Boston and its famous waterfront. 

Day 5 – Boston

Breakfast at your hotel is included. Meet the local guide for the day trip to Lexington and Concord. This tour is led by an historian.

Minuteman National Park – The opening battle of the Revolution is brought to life as visitors explore the battlefields and structures associated with April 19, 1775, and witness the American revolutionary spirit through the writings of the Concord authors.

In Concord you will visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, where she wrote “Little Women” (1868–1869). Fortunately, there have been no major structural changes to the house since the Alcotts’ time, with ongoing preservation efforts adhering to the highest standards of authenticity. The rooms look very much as they did when the family lived here, causing many modern-day visitors to comment that, “A visit to Orchard House is like a walk through Little Women!”

Harvard University – You will stroll the country’s classiest campus with an in-depth history of the institution from an objective historical perspective. You will hear the most fascinating tales from nearly 400 years of Harvard history. Discover things you never knew about the Titanic, rebellious pig roasts, and the mystery of why John Harvard’s foot is yellowish.

Longfellow House, Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site – Here you can learn about the famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his impact on the national identity of the United States, and how the home was used as George Washington’s headquarters during the Siege of Boston in 1775-1776.

Day 6 – Departure

King’s Chapel – The Bell & Bones tour explains historic burial practices in their 18th century crypt before climbing the bell tower to visit their 1816 Revere bell, the largest and “sweetest sounding” they ever made made.

Departure

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