Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Freedom Trail

 Following our visit to Minute Man National Historic Park, we continued to learn about Paul Revere and the foundations of the country in Boston. 

On Monday we took the train into Boston and first went to the Quincy Market. 

 Had some yummy clam chowder and explored the market while we enjoyed some street performers. 

 
 

Next we went on to visit the Paul Revere house and the oldest church in Boston. We got a taste of how people lived prior to the American Revolution. Lots of walking brought us to the historic sites in Boston including the Old North Church and the cemetery which includes the graves of many famous individuals including, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Mother Goose and Sam Adams. 

We had some delicious cannoli from Mike's Pastry to hold us over until dinner. 




The final stop in Boston on Monday was Boston Common. Once we got back to the hotel, we took a sunset walk on the beach and had dinner at Kelly's. One of the best roast beef sandwiches and THE best clam strips i have ever had! Best part is the beach is right on the flight path for the airport so we got to see lots of planes coming and going. 

We spent most of the day on Tuesday at the Science Museum. This took us on a nice walk through Boston. Great museum with lots to do including the original (and largest) Van De Graph generator in existence. 


After the Science Museum we walked over to the USS Constitution. The oldest ship in the Navy and it is still commissioned! We learned about life as a revolutionary sailor. 

Afterword we walked to a brewery for a quick bite to eat went back to the hotel. Another walk on the beach and some ice cream to end the vacation. 





Overall a great trip! It is always tough to identify the favorites, but we all loved the Tuna fishing, seafood, visiting Mimi and Grampy, seeing Grammy Jeanne, the hikes in Acadia and the history around Boston. LOTS! 
Boston was a neat city and very clean. while it had all of the "Big City" things, we felt very safe and comfortable. Seeing and learning about the foundations of the country were great. It really puts into perspective all of the text of the constitution and Bill of Rights. Seeing how patriotic the colonies were without even having their own identity at the time; Great stuff. 


My favorite quote was from the Mark Twain house. 

My hope is that through our travels our children will learn about our own culture as well as the culture of others. In today's world, it is too easy to formulate opinions through other's eyes. After seeing firsthand all that is out there, though we may not all agree, but we can understand different ideas in the world. 





Monday, June 20, 2022

The revolution

On Father’s Day we visited Grammy Jeanne again and then had a yummy sausage and meatball lunch before heading out to minute man national historic site. We walked through Lexington and concord and the north bridge.  Lots of American history right here. 



The north bridge 



Original 1700’s era house



Site of Paul revere’s capture by British soldiers 



Another junior ranger badge

We walked the path between Lexington and concord seeing some historical sites including where Paul Revere was capture the morning after his midnight ride. We learned about the shot heard around the world and saw some very old buildings including a house that Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in. 
We checked into the hotel and there happened to be a melting pot a block away. So we got the kids some food and headed over to our favorite restaurant to learn we couldn’t get in… uggh 
We had a nice Father’s Day dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and headed back to get some rest. Boston tomorrow…

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Back to Connecticut

Friday was Maggie’s birthday. She became an Acadia junior ranger after we had a really good breakfast (chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream) and took a hike up Gorham mountain. She does like the junior ranger program. 






Then we started our drive back to my parents house in CT. We stopped for some blueberry pie and ice cream and took the scenic route a good part of the way. Lots of cool little towns and things to see. We stopped in Kinnebunkport to see the president Bush’s summer house 


Other than a little late night traffics it was a good drive. 
Saturday we visited Grammy Jeanne who is doing darn well for 92 yrs old and my sister came over for lunch. 



Today we get to spend a rare Father’s Day with my dad before we head to Boston for the last part of our trip.