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10 Tips Boston Freedom Trail with Kids- Where to Start, Park, Eat, and More

Are you planning a trip to Boston? Are you planning to take the kids on a walking tour on Boston’s Freedom Trail? Planning to do the tour yourself? Here are 10 useful tips for families planning a self-guided walking tour on Boston’s Freedom Trail. This is a beginner’s guide for families planning to go on the Boston Freedom Trail.

1. Where to Start Your Freedom Trail Tour?

I suggest starting and ending your Boston Freedom Trail tour from Faneuil Hall. Faneuil Hall is located in the middle of the Freedom Trail. It is a good central starting point on the Freedom Trail.

From Faneuil Hall, you can head to Boston’s North End towards Paul Revere’s House. Or you can head towards Boston Common to see the Old State House, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, King’s Chapel, Park Street Church, and Granary Burial Ground. 

Fanuiel Hall
Fanuiel Hall

Plus, Faneuil Hall is also where Quincy Market is located so there are lots of food vendors, shops, and restrooms. There are also lots of street performers at Faneuil Hall so it’s a fun, bustling place to go to with kids. Faneuil Hall is the perfect starting and ending point for families walking Boston’s Freedom Trail.

2. Where to Park on Boston’s Freedom Trail?

If you are starting at Faneuil Hall, I suggest you park at the 75 State Street Garage. The parking garage is a one-minute walk to Faneuil Hall. It is the official parking garage of Faneuil Hall so you can even get parking discount coupons from Faneuil Hall Marketplace vendors. 

Parking near Faneuil Hall
Parking near Faneuil Hall

3. How do you know you are on the Freedom Trail?

The Freedom Trail is marked by a red brick line on the sidewalk. Just follow the red line and it will lead you to the Freedom Trail’s 16 historical sites. If you get lost or if you take a detour, just use google maps to help you navigate back to the closest historical site. It will take you back on the Freedom Trail. Don’t worry, Boston is a small walkable city and the Freedom Trail is only 2.5 miles long so it’s really difficult to get lost. 

Boston Freedom Trail
Boston Freedom Trail

4. Start a National Parks Passport Stamp Collection

Get your kids excited about the Freedom Trail by starting a National Parks Passport stamp collection. Your kids will enjoy collecting stamps from the Freedom Trail sites you’ve visited. You can buy the passport book and get the stamps from the gift shop at Faneuil Hall. 

Things to do with kids in Boston
National Parks Passport

You can also get your kids excited about the Freedom Trail before your trip by reading to them children’s books about the Freedom Trail. That way they know about the historical sites on the Freedom Trail. 

5. Give Yourself Time to Explore the Freedom Trail

Don’t rush and don’t pack too much in your agenda. Give yourself time to stroll and explore the historical sites. The Freedom Trail is 2.5 miles long. Even though you can technically walk the Freedom Trail in an hour, I don’t recommend it. This is especially true if you are traveling with kids. You need to give yourself time to do some exploring and to visit the sites. I suggest giving yourself an entire day or break it up into 2 days so it’s not too tiring for the kids. 

6. Wear Comfortable Shoes on the Freedom Trail

Make sure everyone is wearing comfortable shoes when exploring the Freedom Trail. You will be doing a lot of walking on uneven brick sidewalks. Have everyone in the family wear sneakers.

7. Bring Water, Umbrella and Wear Sunblock

Be prepared and bring bottles of water when you do your walk on the Freedom Trail. Especially if you are touring Boston during the summer months. Also, bring an umbrella in case it rains since you will be mostly outdoors when you go on the Freedom Trail. Wear hats and put on sunblock since you will spend hours outdoors.

8. Grab lunch or snack at Quincy Market

Plan to grab lunch or snack at Quincy Market. Quincy Market is on the Freedom Trail. It is the food hall at Faneuil Hall. There are a lot of kid-friendly food options at Quincy Market from pizza to burgers to bagels to ice cream. You can also get classic New England food such as New England Clam Chowder and Lobster Rolls. 

Fanuiel Hall
Fanuiel Hall

9. Know Where the Public Restrooms are on the Freedom Trail

Plan ahead and know where the public restrooms are on the Freedom Trail. Public restrooms are located at Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Boston Common Visitors Center, Navy Yard, and Bunker Hill. 

There are no free public restrooms at the North End of the Freedom Trail, near Paul Revere’s house. However, there are lots of Italian restaurants in the North End so you may have to eat there or buy something from the restaurants to use their restroom. 

You can also use the restrooms at some of the Freedom trail sites but be prepared to pay the museum admission fee to get in. 

10. Know the Hours of Operation of the Freedom Trail Sites

Before you go on the Freedom Trail, know the hours of operation of the Freedom Trail sites. Most Freedom Trail sites are open from 9:30 am to 5 pm, seven days a week but you should check each historical site to verify their hours. 

Know that the USS Constitution is closed on Mondays in the summer and Monday and Tuesdays in the winter. 

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