DOWNTOWN. One of the nation's oldest existing public parks, Boston Common encompasses nearly 50 acres and was once reserved as pasture land by Puritan settlers. In 1634, the area was also used by the military. Today, the park is a popular destination for recreational athletes, joggers, and protesters eager to dedicate themselves to a cause. During winter months, the Frog Pond is a favorite of ice skaters as well.

This is a wonderful way to see Boston! Put on some comfortable shoes and experience the 2.5-mile trail full of historical information. The tour starts at Boston Common, but can easily be picked up at any point along the way just by following the signs throughout the city. The path allows you to visit sites that are very important to the city's history, including the Paul Revere House, the statue of Benjamin Franklin, and the site of the Boston Massacre. Should you have any questions, the men and women dressed in colonial attire will be glad to answer them.

CHARLESTOWN. [Closed until April 2, 2007] This 221-foot granite obelisk remembers the Battle of Bunker Hill. Rangers provide details about the history of the crucial battle, and seasonal musket-firings add a note of authenticity. Make the 294-step climb to the top of the monument for breathtaking views of Boston. Two little-known facts: the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill, and the Bunker Hill Monument is actually located atop Breed's Hill. The true Bunker Hill is actually a quarter-mile from the monument.

NORTH END. This graveyard dates all the way back to the 17th century. British troops used the high grounds here as a vantage point to fire on Americans encamped on Breed's Hill during the Revolutionary War. Among the many buried here, are the Reverend Cotton Mather and the man who constructed the USS Constitution, Edward Hartt.

[16 mi from Boston] Located across the street from the harbor at Salem Maritime Historic Site, the Custom House was built 1789 for storing cargo and housing government offices. Nathaniel Hawthorne, who worked here for three years, made the building famous by mentioning it in <i>The Scarlet Letter</i>. Tours of the home are available through the Salem Maritime Historic Site. Call ahead for times.