Fall in Love with the Beauty and History of Boston – Great Escape-East Coast

by Stephanie Struyck Elgin

Known as the Athens of America, the Cradle of Liberty or Beantown, Boston is famous for everything from Paul Revere’s ride to the beloved Red Sox at Fenway Park.  It is a city rich with history and culture, and one of the oldest in the United States.
A city unlike any other, in Boston you’ll find cobblestoned streets weaving throughout historic neighborhoods, grandiose architecture and stately museums, with the spirit of our Founding Fathers lingering throughout.  
Quaint and compact, you can get around town with a pair of comfortable shoes or the easy to use public transportation system that Bostonians refer to as the T.  
Discover the history of America and take a stroll along the Freedom Trail, the 2.5-mile red-brick walking trail leading you through 16 nationally significant historic sites. Walk along the paths of history and visit the ever so lively Boston Common, Faneuil Hall, the site of the Boston Massacre or the Old State House to name a few.  Granary Burying Ground is a must see stop on the trail.  It is the resting place for Benjamin Franklin’s parents, Paul Revere, and patriots such as James Otis and Samuel Adams.  The graveyard has over 2,000 markers but as many as 8,000 people were believed to be buried here.  
Follow the aroma of delicious Italian foods and discover the charm of the North End, one of the city’s most famous and culturally rich neighborhoods.  Known as Boston’s Little Italy, the narrow streets are lined with authentic Italian restaurants, cafés and locals who maintain their deep roots to their Italian culture.  
A trip to Boston wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the baseball Mecca and home of the Red Sox…Fenway Park.  Built in 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest remaining active stadium in baseball today.  The spirit of baseball resides on Yawkey Lane, with its brick façade and steel frame, old wooden seats, grandstands, and the famed left field wall otherwise known as the Green Monster.  Nothing beats a Fenway Frank on a warm summer night at the stadium.    
Boston’s colleges and universities have often attracted many notable scholars, scientists, philosophers and more.  Rich with history is the private Ivy League university located in Cambridge…Harvard University.  Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and one of the most prestigious universities in the world.  The 210-acre main campus is centered on Harvard Yard just a few miles northwest of downtown Boston.  
A city so rich in culture and history, it seems only fitting to make your stay at America’s oldest continuously-operating hotel, the beautiful Omni Parker House Hotel, located on the Freedom Trail.  Guests at the hotel will experience the historic charm and timeless beauty of this landmark, which first opened in 1855.   Known as a rendezvous for politicians, famed author Charles Dickens made his home at the Parker House for two years.  The hotel is also the birthplace of the Boston cream pie and the Parker House roll.      
Navigate through the streets of Boston, discover one of the most exciting places to visit in New England, and fall in love with the architectural treasures, culinary hotspots, and history the city has to offer.