We followed the 2.5-mile red brick road to freedom, otherwise known as the Boston Freedom Trail . As

My husband is a native of Milton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. When we were living in New York City, we decided to take a nostalgic weekend trip to Beantown. That trip inspired us to move to Boston. We spent nine years there before the mountains of Colorado called to us. While I have no desire to move back now, I highly recommend placing Boston on your "must-visit" list.
It was a cool spring day and the flowers in the Public Garden were in full bloom. We heard the gleeful cries of the children as they mounted the Make Way for Ducklings luxury kensington hotels london statues, and watched swans enjoy a romantic date in the lagoon.
We followed the 2.5-mile red brick road to freedom, otherwise known as the Boston Freedom Trail . As we approach the Boston Tea Party and Ship Museum , Van Morrison s Tupelo Honey   played on  the soundtrack in my brain. In case you didn t know, Tupelo Honey is not a love song to a woman. Consider the lyrics:
Visitors to the Boston Tea Party and Ship Museum will experience one of the catalysts of the American Revolution. The year was 1773. Furious luxury kensington hotels london about a new tax on tea, John Hancock organized a boycott of tea from China that was being sold by the British East India Company. Then, on December 16, 1773, a group of American colonists called the Sons of Liberty went beyond luxury kensington hotels london boycotting. Disguised as Mohawk Indians, they boarded three British ships and dumped 342 crates of British tea into Boston harbor. This stop along the Freedom Trail will be great for kids, who are provided with costumes while they participate in a reenactment. While the museum has an admission fee, most of sights along the Freedom Trail are free of charge.
Inspired by this trip, Mark and I spent a year in the North End, home to one of the major sites along the Freedom Trail: The Old North Church . It s associated with Paul Revere s Midnight Ride, and the famous proclamation, One if by land, and two if by sea. On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere told three Boston Patriots to hang two lanterns on the church steeple. The lanterns would inform luxury kensington hotels london the Patriots stationed in Charlestown of the location of the British army. One lantern meant that the British were marching across the bridge, and two meant that they were arriving by boat.
For an authentic experience, we decided to attend a Sunday service. As former acolytes at the Anglican Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City, little did we know that we were about to experience a completely luxury kensington hotels london different type of Episcopalianism.
The pews at the Old North Church are called box pews. An usher accompanies you to the appropriate luxury kensington hotels london pew. In the past, congregation members needed to purchase their pews. Now visitors can sit where they like, but unaccompanied females are placed in a special pew. On the day of our visit, the church was holding a service for British military officers. The closing hymn was, ironically, God Save the Queen. As we exited the church, Mark looked at me and remarked, Considering the history of this church, that was just so wrong!
The Old North Church is located in the Italian section of Boston. It s a great place to eat lunch or dinner, or enjoy an afternoon cappuccino and pastry. If you re not walking, I would strongly suggest taking the subway to Haymarket, as opposed to driving. Parking is scarce. You ll notice a number of lawn chairs and other pieces of furniture where potential parking would be. They re known as Italian parking spaces. I d strongly suggest that you do not remove this furniture luxury kensington hotels london so that you might park. Enough said.
If you don t want to eat in the North End, you re just a short walk from the Faneuil Hall Marketplace . Prior to the Revolution, Faneuil Hall was the meeting house for orators and others who were opposed to the British occupation. Thus, it is often called the Cradle of Liberty. Today, it s a vibrant area that s filled with shops and restaurants.
To witness another aspect of the quest for liberty, take one of the Duck Tours . They re conducted on amphibious vehicles that date back to World War II, which were code-named DUKW. As such, Boston luxury kensington hotels london Duck uses these restored vehicles to conduct tours that explore Boston by both land and water. luxury kensington hotels london The 80-minute tours are wheelchair accessible.
Group rates can be arranged, but the great thing about Boston is that so much can be done for free. You can get a great workout by climbing the steep hills and checking out the Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian architecture in the Beacon Hill area. Stroll through Copley Square and see how the historic Trinity Church is reflected in the ultra-modern glass Hancock Building.