Liberty! But First, Coffee: Food Tour and Walking Tour of Back Bay and Beacon Hill

When people discuss Boston's importance in the American Revolution, they often highlight the early battles, the writing about revolutionary political ideas, and the aggressive protests. Rarely do people ask, "How did they have enough food for these efforts?"


In addition to stories about food history and enjoying great local food, you'll experience a selection of Boston's most aesthetic and visually stimulating areas: popular landmarks and well-hidden gems that most people living here don't even know about (if you like taking interesting photos, get your camera ready, you're in for a treat)!

Speaking of treats, 10 am - 12:30 pm are prime hours for coffee and snacks, so we'll make 2-4 food/beverage stops with many local options at reasonable prices, from baked goods to ice cream to sandwiches and lunch-type items, each with its own interesting story. The amount and types of food you want are up to you! 

In Boston, we drink more coffee and eat more ice cream per capita than anyone else in the USA. But, it's okay if you are less interested in the food and beverages. You are welcome to join the walking tour and will still get a lot out of the experience!

"Feeling transported back in time, while also walking into the future" is a common experience in Boston, and this timeless style is one of our city's main attractions. In this tour, you'll hear of the Bostonians who have created this signature style over the centuries, including architects, artists, activists, athletes, and more! You'll also hear can't-miss stories about the early stages of the Revolution/War of Independence, about the Underground Railroad, and more!

Basically, if I had to design the perfect way to spend a late morning in Boston, you're looking at it! Glad to share it with you and the rest of the group on this tour!

FAQ

• There will be restrooms available at a couple of points, including at the start (inside the Boston Public Library, to the left), except on Sundays, when the library opens at 11 am. On those days, there are multiple public restrooms a little further away at the nearby Copley Place Luxury Shopping Plaza and the adjacent Prudential Center Mall.
• Before the tour, or later in the day on Sundays, you're encouraged to explore the Boston Public Library (our "Palace for the People"). The library staff run their own tours of the art and architecture within the building, and don't allow outside tours of its interior, so I won't be giving a descriptive tour of the interior. Some days, we may have reason to walk through the building to get to the other side, and so you may see some of the building in that case, but it's really worth exploring fully with more time if you can!
• On a layover in Boston? You can get here easily from Logan Airport! There is a free shuttle, the "Logan Express Back Bay"! The first stop it makes is at the Back Bay Station, one block away from our meeting point. You can find the map of this area at the end of the tour description photos. 
• The Green Line (Copley) and Orange Line (Back Bay) Metro Stations are very close, and the regional train (Commuter Rail) and interstate train system (Amtrak) can also bring you to Back Bay Station.
• At the end of the tour, we will finish at a beautiful overlook on the Charles River Esplanade. If you want to get back to where we started at the library, it's a stunning 20-30-minute walk along the river and straight down Dartmouth St. 
• Exploring other areas, you can take the Red Line Outbound from Charles/MGH to Harvard and MIT (the MIT Museum is within walking distance across the Longfellow Bridge as well), or you can join me taking the Red Line Inbound to South Station, where I will be leading an afternoon tour of Downtown Boston most days!
• Near the end, there's a lot to do, too, which I highly recommend: the Museum of African American History is a short walk away, as is the MGH Museum of Medical Innovation, the Music Research Library (a small but mighty records store focused on rare vinyls) and many more lovely local eateries and craft souvenir shops you could return to along Charles Street.