Boston trip is New England adventure
By Rhonda Dedyne
It’s impossible to do justice to a city like Boston in an extended weekend, but we gave it our all Oct. 19-19. The “we” being yours truly and my tour guides, the Charlevoix grandkids and their parents (not necessarily in that order).
Even 3 a.m. wake-up calls and 6 a.m. flights both to and from Boston’s Logan Airport didn’t faze us hardy Midwest folk. I’m lying, of course, but we did survive none worse for wear.
History was central to the trip – which, other than enjoying time with Ella, Jack and Joe, was the primary reason for my inclusion. I had never been to the city or adjacent areas that played such a prominent role in our nation’s birth. Walking the streets where events actually happened in that time period was fascinating.
We began Thursday at mid-day by driving to the Minute Man National Historical Park near Lexington where we traced the route of Paul Revere’s warning ride in advance of the April 17, 1775 Battle at the North Bridge in Concord that marked the start of the Revolutionary War. A misty rain did little to dampen the ride/walk that included an opening stop at the park’s visitor’s center and ended at the Minute Man monument near the bridge – where the British Army was turned back and sustained significant losses on the long, bloody retreat back to Boston.
A bonus for Grandma was a quickie stop along the Lexington-Concord road at the childhood home of Louisa May Alcott. I have no idea how many times I read and reread “Little Women” and Alcott’s other books when I was a young girl – always picturing myself as Jo, of course, an aspiring writer.
Friday was a full day in Boston, starting with a ride into the city from the Beverly Depot on the commuter rail line. It was highly entertaining “people watching” both on the train and the MBTA subway lines that make getting around Boston relatively easy – probably because I don’t have to do so to get to and from work/school on a daily basis like most of our fellow riders.
A trolley provided additional transportation along the Freedom Trail in and around Boston, allowing us to walk specific sections and re-board and ride to other destinations. Walking stops included the Paul Revere House and nearby Old North Church. We took our time – and lots of photos – walking on the narrow streets, soaking up history and working up an appetite. Since we were in North Boston’s Little Italy, finding fantastic food was not a problem.
More walking led us back to the Freedom Trail and an assortment of other discoveries – some planned and others not. We happened upon New England’s Holocaust Memorial by chance in the downtown area – six, 54-feet high glass towers, etched with 6 million numbers – each representing the tattoos imprinted on victims’ arms. A solemn memorial, but so very fitting to be part of the Freedom Trail.
More walking found us crossing the Congress Street bridge which provided a wonderful water view of the cityscape near the Boson Tea Party Museum. The grandkids and Mom opted to visit the nearby Boston Children’s Museum, while Dad and I hailed a cab for an unscheduled side-trip to the JFK Presidential Library & Museum located on another part of Boston Harbor at Columbia Point.
Visiting hours were drawing to a close, but we managed to view exhibits in each of the museum’s 21 areas. Wonderful presentations of a presidency that was short-lived, but never forgotten or diminished in the years since Nov. 22, 1963.
Saturday a.m. featured an early start to catch the train back into Boston and a planned half-day visit to Harvard University. Warm, autumn sunshine sparkled on the leaves of trees in Harvard Yard with its multi-colored chairs for reading and relaxing. The grandkids – and adults – enjoyed time spent at the nearby Harvard Museum of Natural History with more rooms filled with treasures than could possibly be explored in several days, but we did our best in a two-hour block of time.
People watching was in full force back on the MBTA, riding through various stops back to North Station and enroute to Beverly Depot where we loaded back up in the rental car for a trip north – goal of eating Maine lobster for dinner on that state’s Atlantic coast.
Purely by accident, we discovered Fort McClary near Kittery Point, Maine. The State Historic Site provided a picture-perfect view of the harbor taken from the 17th century fort that was built in defense of the Piscataqua River, and saw much action during the War of 1812.
A bit further north we were rewarded by perfect sunlight for photographing the Cape Neddick Lighthouse near York Village, Maine. High waves brought out some surfers, while the grandkids, Dad and Mom skittered along the rocky shoreline and dipped their toes in the Atlantic.
It was a busy trip – but most enjoyable.