The Freedom Trail doesn’t refer to one attraction, but rather to a series of 16 attractions, all related to the American Revolution and connected by a brick pathway. Some of these sites, such as Boston Common, Faneuil Hall, and Old North Church, appear further down this list. Other popular destinations along the trail include the site of the Boston Massacre, the Paul Revere House, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Address: Freedom Trail, Boston, MA 02114

Founded in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the U.S. Over the years, it’s hosted Colonial and British Revolutionary War forces, anti-slavery meetings, WWI victory gardens, speeches by Charles Lindbergh and Martin Luther King, Jr., and a Mass by Pope John Paul II. Today it includes ballfields, a tot lot for younger children to play in, and the Frog Pond, where guests can ice skate in winter and kids can splash in a spray pool in summer. 

Address: 139 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 635-4505

A city as well-known for its harbor as Boston ought to have an impressive aquarium, and the New England Aquarium doesn’t disappoint. Take in the vivid beauty of the Indo-Pacific coral reef exhibition, let your child stroke the back of a cownose ray at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank, or see the fur seals perform. You should also make time to say hi to Myrtle, the sea turtle who has lived in the Giant Ocean Tank since 1970. 

Address: 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 973-5200

If you’re a Red Sox fan, chances are you’ve already been to Fenway Park. If you’re not, you should visit anyway, because this stadium overflows with history and one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Completed in 1912, Fenway is the oldest stadium in Major League Baseball and is known for the Green Monster, the 231-foot-long, 37.2-foot-high left field wall that most right-handed hitters aim for.

Address: 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (877) 733-7699

Established in 1837, the Boston Public Garden was the first public botanical garden in the U.S. (You may be noticing a pattern here. Boston likes to be first.) Influenced by the style of Victorian gardens, the Public Garden overflows with imported trees and colorful flowers as well as monuments and fountains. Don’t miss Thomas Ball’s statue of George Washington, one of the city’s most famous icons.

Address: 4 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 635-4505

Meander through a garden filled with vibrant butterflies, watch cotton-top tamarins frolic, or gaze at the bones of a real Triceratops at this diverse and interactive museum. Into physics? Learn about the properties of light and space. Raising a budding mathematician? Kids can play in the Math Moves! exhibit. The museum also features an IMAX theater and a planetarium.

Address: Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 723-2500

This historic harbor is much more than a place to dump tea. (Seriously, don’t let your revolutionary spirit prompt you to throw tea here. Think of the poor fish!) Boston Harbor has become a popular site for sailing, sunset cruises, and whale-watching. If you get seasick, you can always take in a panoramic view of the beautiful waters from the edge of the city. 

Address: 1 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 227-4321

Built in 1723, Old North Church is Boston’s oldest standing church and the most-visited historical site in the city. On April 18, 1775, Robert Newman and John Pulling, Jr. held up two lanterns in the steeple to indicate the British army was arriving by sea. A statue of Paul Revere stands outside the church to commemorate that historic night and his legendary ride. 

Address: 193 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 858-8231