On our first day there, we headed down to the Prudential Tower to buy tickets for the Duck Tour. It is true what you read online...tickets really do sell out fast!! We were able to get 2 seats on one of the last tours of the day. Since we had time to kill before our tour, we spent some time walking around the city and taking in all the sights. We took a stroll down Commonwealth Ave in the Back Bay area and saw some interesting statues...
Then we headed on to Boston Public Garden. The Garden was beautiful! Upon entering the Garden, you are welcomed by George Washington on horseback...
The trees and flowers were blooming everywhere you looked...
Next, we headed off across the street to Boston Common which consists of 44 acres of open land in the middle of the city. A little known fact about Boston Common...it was here where the town gallows once were and where pirates, witches, and heretics were put to death. Yikes!! Boston Common is where the Freedom Trail begins, a 2.5 mile path that leads to a number of historical landmarks throughout the city. The Freedom Trail is marked by a red line that leads tourists to each of the historic sites.
The Civil War Monument in the middle of Boston Common.
We got a kick out of the frogs at the frog pond...
After Boston Common, we stopped by the next point of interest on the Freedom Trail...the Massachusetts State House. Yes, the dome really is made of 23 carat gold leaf!
Next we were off down Beacon Street to where else but CHEERS! Both being huge fans of the show, we stopped by to take a picture...
On our walk back to the Duck Tour departure, we took a detour to the Charles River and walked along the Esplanade...
Then the moment we had been waiting for arrived...time to go on the Ducks! Our Duck was named Penelope Pru and our crazy driver was Major Tom Foolery. It was nice to take a break from walking and see all the sights via Duck.
By the end of the tour, the sun was quickly setting. So we rushed off to visit mama duck and her ducklings in Boston Common. We were finally able to get a picture since all the kids were home in bed (the kids LOVE these ducks!!)
By now we were starving, so where else would we go to grab a bite to eat and a beer...Cheers of course!
The next morning, we grabbed some coffee and took a stroll through the Beacon Hill neighborhood. 
One of the residents of the Hill had planted something special for the Boston Marathon which had happened shortly before we arrived...
Then we were off to meet up with Faye, my good friend who lives on Cape Cod. She drove into the city to walk the Freedom Trail with us. After meeting up at Boston Common, we were off on our 2.5 mile journey. Our next stop was the Park Street Church...
Followed by the Granary Buring Ground where John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere are buried. A little known fact to share with you (Cliff Clavin must be rubbing off on me!), is the difference between a cemetery and a burying ground. In a burying ground, coffins are not used like they are in cemeteries. Instead the deceased is buried in a hole in the ground. When they run out of room to bury additional people, they go back to the first grave they dug and bury another on top! Needless to say, we avoided walking off the path just in case the graves were getting shallow!!
After continuing on the Freedom Trail and seeing many historic places, we decided to liven things up a bit. In front of Boston's Old City Hall was a donkey just begging to be ridden!!
Our next stop was very sobering...the Holocaust Memorial. The memorial is made up of 6 glass towers representing the 6 death camps. Etched in the towers are 6 million numbers in memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered.
Continuing on the Freedom Trail, we made our way to the North End and stopped by Paul Revere's House for a quick tour. Then it was on to the Old North Church where the lanterns signaled how the British were coming...One if by land, and two if by sea...
It was back to the Freedom Trail for us. Our next destination was the USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides). To get to the ship, we had to walk across the Harbor. It was quite the jaunt!
Next we were off down Beacon Street to where else but CHEERS! Both being huge fans of the show, we stopped by to take a picture...
On our walk back to the Duck Tour departure, we took a detour to the Charles River and walked along the Esplanade...
Then the moment we had been waiting for arrived...time to go on the Ducks! Our Duck was named Penelope Pru and our crazy driver was Major Tom Foolery. It was nice to take a break from walking and see all the sights via Duck.
By the end of the tour, the sun was quickly setting. So we rushed off to visit mama duck and her ducklings in Boston Common. We were finally able to get a picture since all the kids were home in bed (the kids LOVE these ducks!!)
By now we were starving, so where else would we go to grab a bite to eat and a beer...Cheers of course!
The next morning, we grabbed some coffee and took a stroll through the Beacon Hill neighborhood. 
One of the residents of the Hill had planted something special for the Boston Marathon which had happened shortly before we arrived...
Then we were off to meet up with Faye, my good friend who lives on Cape Cod. She drove into the city to walk the Freedom Trail with us. After meeting up at Boston Common, we were off on our 2.5 mile journey. Our next stop was the Park Street Church...
Followed by the Granary Buring Ground where John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere are buried. A little known fact to share with you (Cliff Clavin must be rubbing off on me!), is the difference between a cemetery and a burying ground. In a burying ground, coffins are not used like they are in cemeteries. Instead the deceased is buried in a hole in the ground. When they run out of room to bury additional people, they go back to the first grave they dug and bury another on top! Needless to say, we avoided walking off the path just in case the graves were getting shallow!!
After continuing on the Freedom Trail and seeing many historic places, we decided to liven things up a bit. In front of Boston's Old City Hall was a donkey just begging to be ridden!!
Our next stop was very sobering...the Holocaust Memorial. The memorial is made up of 6 glass towers representing the 6 death camps. Etched in the towers are 6 million numbers in memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered.
Continuing on the Freedom Trail, we made our way to the North End and stopped by Paul Revere's House for a quick tour. Then it was on to the Old North Church where the lanterns signaled how the British were coming...One if by land, and two if by sea...A statue of Paul Revere near the Old North Church
The Old North Church
Near the church was a memorial garden to honor the men and women who lost their lives in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The memorial was made out of the dog tags of lost loved ones. With the breeze blowing, the dog tags clinked against each other like a wind chime...
It was back to the Freedom Trail for us. Our next destination was the USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides). To get to the ship, we had to walk across the Harbor. It was quite the jaunt!
Faye walking the Freedom Trail
Old Ironsides 
Old Ironsides was launched on October 21, 1797 and is still an active commissioned ship in the US Navy. We took a tour of the ship which was conducted by an active-duty sailor. We heard many interesting stories about the ship and saw first hand the EXTREMELY tight quarters that the sailors lived in for months at a time.
Shane manning a cannon
Next we were off to our final stop on the Freedom Trail - Bunker Hill. The Battle of Bunker Hill was a turning point during the Revolutionary War. "It was the first great battle of the Revolution and not only the first blow, but the blow which determined the contest...When the sun of that day went down, the event of independence was no longer doubtful." (Daniel Webster)
After much walking, we grabbed a cab and headed off for drinks and dinner. Shane's friend Dana was able to meet up with us in the North End for some tasty Italian food. We had a great time on our trip and hope to make it back soon!
Dana and Shane
Jess and Faye
Next we were off to our final stop on the Freedom Trail - Bunker Hill. The Battle of Bunker Hill was a turning point during the Revolutionary War. "It was the first great battle of the Revolution and not only the first blow, but the blow which determined the contest...When the sun of that day went down, the event of independence was no longer doubtful." (Daniel Webster)Bunker Hill Monument
After much walking, we grabbed a cab and headed off for drinks and dinner. Shane's friend Dana was able to meet up with us in the North End for some tasty Italian food. We had a great time on our trip and hope to make it back soon!
Dana and Shane
Jess and Faye
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