20,000 Steps in Boston: Day Trip Itinerary
Having been born and raised in Massachusetts my entire life, Boston has become a common day trip destination. I have had the joy of going into Boston for musicals, History trips, shopping on Newbury Street, visiting friends, and showing out-of-town guests my all time favorite city in the U.S. & more recently, I found myself driving into Boston just about every week for both business and pleasure.
Sometimes we can take for granted the local beauties we are frequently exposed to, but I am here to tell you all that Boston has to offer starting from Newbury Street all the way to the North End (and back again).
When driving into Boston, I personally find it easiest to park in the Boston Common Garage particularly if I am staying out and about for the entire day. If driving into the city doesn’t interest you, you can always find a local T-station (Boston’s public transport system) stop and park your car for the day for pretty cheap. I tend to avoid this, as I don’t like to be tied to a T schedule, and public transportation is never my preference. My good friend always uses Spot Hero as a way to ensure she’s got a spot saved for the best price when visiting Boston.
Once you find yourself in Boston Commons, you can walk yourself past the Public Garden and head to Newbury Street for some high-end boutique shopping in Back Bay.
On Newbury Street, grab your favorite Italian coffee and gelato from Amorino. Being a conosoiur of European coffee, I highly recommend giving their cozy shop a visit. If Italian delicacies aren’t up your alley, try Jonquils Cafe & Bakery, a cosmopolitan cafe with Instagram worthy baked goods.
Once you’ve grabbed your drink of choice, feel free to mosey your way towards the Boston Public Garden, the first public botanical garden in America established in 1837. With beautiful pathways with seasonal flowers for strolling, this is a popular photography destination. As you continue your stroll through the Boston Public Garden, you’ll make cross the street to find yourself at your next destination:
The Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States. From playing frisbee and enjoying outdoor concerts in the summer to ice skating on Frog Pond in the winter, the Commons never lack activity throughout the year.
For all our history buffs, from the Boston Commons you can begin on the southern end of the Freedom Trail that will take you all the way to the North End. Whether self led or through a purchased tour, the Freedom Trail is an iconic 2.5-mile red line leading to 16 nationally significant historic sites. As you pass through many historic sites, you’ll find yourself at Faneuil Hall where America’s first Town Meeting was hosted. Quincy Center and Faneuil Hall Marketplace are located adjacent to to this building where you can take a quick stop for another bite to eat.
Quincy Market has endless food options from Asian, to Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican and more.
From Quincy Market, by following the Freedom Trail, you’ll make your way into the North End. Be sure to stop at Mike’s Pastry for your very own famous one-of-a-kind cannoli that keeps Bostonians and Tourists coming back from more.
When in Rome (or the North End), I personally love to grab a bite to eat in one of the many authentic Italian restaurants. My favorite is L'Osteria to grab a hot and delicious plate of Italian pasta!
Although this is the point at which I turn back, you could continue your Freedom Trail Journey across the Charles River to see a few more historical sites including the USS Constitution Museum and the Bunker Hill Monument.
On your way back, you can always enjoy some of the sites you missed, the pretty evening lights, and the crisp evening Boston air. By the time you’ve made it back to your car, you will feel satisfied for the day & crushing your step goals!
I hope you enjoyed this Day trip in Boston itinerary! If you found it useful, share it with your friends! For more things to do and places to eat in New England & Beyond, give me a follow on Instagram!
Talk soon,
Mackenzie Thibodeau
