Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, Sightseeing on The Charles River
Boston is famous for its role in the American Revolution. Boston Duck Tours provides an unusual way to see many popular attractions.
Boston Duck Tours offer visitors a novel way to see the city. Amphibious World War II landing craft tour the historic sites, with well-informed con”duck”tors providing an entertaining commentary throughout the eighty-minute trip. The trip is mainly on roads, but for about twenty minutes the boat takes to the water offering spectacular views of the city skyline from the Charles River. While afloat, the young, and young at heart, are offered the opportunity to take the controls.
The trip starts at the Prudential Center, which along with the adjacent Copley Square form Boston’s largest shopping center. The Prudential Tower is Boston’s second-largest building with an observation floor.
The Duck Tour passes Christian Science Center, Trinity Church, and the John Hancock Tower before entering Boston Public Gardens. The gardens, which are the oldest public botanical gardens in the country, are home to Swan Boats on the lake and the Make Way for Ducklings Statues by Nancy Schon
Continuing up Beacon Hill, the tour passes the monument to Civil War hero Robert Gould Shaw and the State House where Samuel Adams and Paul Revere laid the cornerstone in 1795.
Sports fans then see the TD Banknorth Garden, home of Boston Celtic and Boston Bruins, and pass the Museum of Science, which is an alternative starting point for this circular trip.
The bus then turns into a boat, sailing up the Charles River before returning to dry land. The Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution are the next landmarks passed, followed by the Old North Church where two lanterns were hung from the steeple on the night of Paul Revere’s ride.
Six encased glass and steel towers are the Holocaust Memorial built in 1995 and nearby the Union Oyster House is the oldest continually operating restaurant in the United States.
Faneuil Hall, christened the “Cradle of Liberty” after meetings there led to the American Revolution, continues the historical theme. Across the road stands The Old State House where the Royal Governors of Massachusetts held office.
The final leg of the journey passes the King’s Chapel Burying Ground and the Parker House Hotel before crossing Boston Common to the Bull and Finch pub, made famous by the TV Series Cheers. A short trip down the exclusive Newbury Street past the Copley Plaza Hotel and Boston Public Library completes the trip.
The Con”duck”tors make the trip both enjoyable and informative. Despite novel names like Major Tom Foolery, Dr Ima Quack and Paul Reverse, they have a detailed knowledge of history on the route and are willing to answer questions.
The tours are very popular and internet booking is available from 5 days in advance (at an extra charge). If you book on the day you will be given a ticket for a set time but expect this to be at least two hours after booking