# Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780 "2012-09-25T15:06:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/21 "2012-10-04T00:18:28Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Tell that to your Troop. …Or were you just planning on feeding the Great Whites from bayside once you were done? > > Aww hell… just dress them in anything slightly resembling pin-stripes & watch the city population morph. “Homo Lupus?” “…Its Never Lupus…!” My troop knows I don;t have kids. I have no idea what your going on about. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/22 "2012-10-04T14:45:56Z")
Sorry, man. I was just saying that for you, while on that trip, those scouts in that Troop are your kids. You’re teaching them & helping them grow. Never mind my ‘off’ sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/23 "2012-10-04T17:07:40Z")
I’m on this trip as well. Look for me. I’ll be the guy in green pants and tan shirt! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/24 "2012-10-05T10:18:49Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > I’m on this trip as well. Look for me. I’ll be the guy in green pants and tan shirt! You and 200 others. ha ha ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/25 "2012-10-05T10:19:54Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Sorry, man. I was just saying that for you, while on that trip, those scouts in that Troop are your kids. You’re teaching them & helping them grow. Never mind my ‘off’ sense of humor. I still am not there dad. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/26 "2012-10-05T12:53:52Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > You and 200 others. ha ha More than that, I’d guess. It’s a national thing, right? There’s 200 going from our Council alone. 6AM tomorrow won’t get here fast enough. See you there. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/27 "2012-10-05T14:28:35Z")
So, what I’m hearing is, I should avoid Boston on Sunday? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/28 "2012-10-05T14:42:24Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > So, what I’m hearing is, I should avoid Boston on Sunday? > 😃 It depends. If you need help crossing the street, I’d say it’s _the_ place to be. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/29 "2012-10-05T16:24:19Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > I still am not there dad. No, but you are acting _in loco parentis_, and that’s enough for the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/30 "2012-10-05T18:03:26Z")
If I had a group of Scouts and was going to walk the Freedom Trail, I’d make the USS Constitution your first priority. It’s by far the “coolest” thing on the trail for boys that age- the cemeteries will probably also be a hit. Things like the Old State House and the Park St. Church are going to be total snoozers for them. I think 8 hours may be a little optimistic with lunch involved to walk the entire trail and see the sights, so figure out what you want to see ahead of time and prioritize those things. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/31 "2012-10-05T23:08:33Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > More than that, I’d guess. It’s a national thing, right? There’s 200 going from our Council alone. 6AM tomorrow won’t get here fast enough. See you there. Oh, you really are going? Thats kool man. My names Jason, from Troop 366. Whats your name and troop? And this is a council event. Other councils might be going there as well, but it wasn;t organised together (as far as I know). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/32 "2012-10-05T23:13:17Z")
Additional question. Is it legal in Boston to carry a pocket knife? I always have my Swiss Army Knife with me, and I will have my Buck 112 folder in my daypack. Should I remove them? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/33 "2012-10-06T00:37:01Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > Additional question. Is it legal in Boston to carry a pocket knife? I always have my Swiss Army Knife with me, and I will have my Buck 112 folder in my daypack. Should I remove them? > > Thanks. I’ll tell you if you stop using a semicolon instead of an apostrophe in the word “don’t” because it’s driving me batty. Concealed blades must be less than 2.5 inches. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/34 "2012-10-06T01:03:27Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’ll tell you if you stop using a semicolon instead of an apostrophe in the word “don’t” because it’s driving me batty. > > Concealed blades must be less than 2.5 inches. If the ; gets in the way of my finger, oh well. And thanks. I hate to do it, but I took the Buck knife out, as well as the one from my first aid kit. They are both slightly over 2.5". I don’t want any problems. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/35 "2012-10-06T02:28:36Z")
The Skywalk Observatory is a great place where you can see all of Boston and cool your heels a bit. There’s also a huge food court in the same building. [http://www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop\_detail.php?id=64](http://www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop_detail.php?id=64) ---
**Author:** ![zhoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c4cdca/32.png) [@zhoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zhoen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/36 "2012-10-08T00:40:42Z")
Oh, get a good map, shoes and rain gear. Stop wherever, accept that you will get lost, ask for directions, have sore feet, and have fun. The USS Constitution is amazing, there is an MBTA ferry from there to Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall is the best fast food mall anywhere, despite the (sometimes overwhelming) crowds. Know that there will be crowds everywhere. Get on the MBTA site, but getting on the T with twenty kids can be as much of a challenge as just walking to the next stop or two. The Freedom Trail is a great way to get a tour of the city, just follow the red line. And there are guides for hire, at Park Street on Boston Common. If you have the money, do the Duck Tour - we lived there three years, and went four times (by ourselves and with various guests.) Not cheap, but really worth the trouble and expense. Let them run around Boston Common, or along the Promenade by the Charles River. Find the Snoots on Harvard Bridge. It’s not that big a city, you’ll be exhausted walking all day, but you will see everything. Places to eat all along, just avoid the more obviously stereotypical “Irish” pubs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/37 "2012-10-09T03:59:59Z")
Just got home and took a shower. We had a great time. We were dropped off sunday by the Constitution at around 10:00AM. We did the guided tour of it, then went to the Bunker Hill monument and walked to the top (I did it 10 years ago too. It was much easier then). That took us till 11:30. Then we headed to town. Some of the highlights were going in the Old North Church and King’s Chapel, walking through Faneull Hall and the markets around it. We walked through a few cemeteries and saw some other sights I don’t remember (but did enjoy). I also remember walking past the Green Dragon Inn. We ate lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe at around noon, and were finished with the trail by 4:00. So we took the over the the Sox field and looked around in the team store before having supper and a little pizza place around the corner from it. And I did run into Casey1505 and his troop. Then on monday we did the Minuteman trail. We all had a great time, and came back with as meany people as we left with. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/38 "2012-10-09T04:07:49Z")
And a few people from my group split off and walked to Cheers and then walked to the Sox field. They said it wasn’t a bad walk at all. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/39 "2012-10-09T13:45:11Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > And a few people from my group split off and walked to Cheers and then walked to the Sox field. They said it wasn’t a bad walk at all. Nope, it’s not (I assume you mean the Bull and Finch pub – or are you referring to some other place?) if you’re not shepherding a large group. A few people are much easier to keep together and on-track. My vearlier suggestions that this might be a big undertaking asumed you were starting at the Constitution with an entire troop. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780/40 "2012-10-09T17:29:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Nope, it’s not (I assume you mean the Bull and Finch pub – or are you referring to some other place?) if you’re not shepherding a large group. A few people are much easier to keep together and on-track. My vearlier suggestions that this might be a big undertaking asumed you were starting at the Constitution with an entire troop. They stayed with us till King’s Chapel, then cut down Beacon St. So they did walk from the Constitution to almost the end of the trail. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walking-the-freedom-trail-in-boston/635780.md?page=1)