I came here on a Friday night for a candlelight concert honoring Imagine Dragons and Coldplay. The…read morechurch is a short walk away from the train station and around the corner from Newbury Street. It seems like this building is multipurpose since there was a lecture taking place in one room, and the concert in the main sanctuary. The inside is super nice, with wooden pews, stained glass windows, and beautiful art all over including the ceiling. There are three sections of seating on the main floor - the center floor, and two small sets of pews on either side. There is balcony seating upstairs, but only on the sides. We sat on the right-side balcony, and it was still a great view. They did a good job of decorating the church in candles, especially the altar where the musicians are. The temperature inside was perfect as well as the acoustics. Since the concert started at 7:00 pm, for the first 15 ish minutes, the room still felt bright since the sun was coming in through the windows, but it slowly got darker throughout the night. I know they have bathrooms, but I personally did not use them. There were ushers helping people get to their seats which I thought made things run a lot smoother, especially for the latecomers.

Though services were not being held at this Old South Church on this Sunday, the inviting sign "all…read moreare welcome" swept us in to see the chapel. There is a glowing simplicity to this sanctuary yet there are so many intricate details to take in from the architecture, to the windows, and organ (I love the window and organs). Not everything was available to see at the moment we were there, but they do have tours available. This beautiful historic landmark and spiritual edifice is worth the stop.

"Built a fort out of sheets I finally found you…read moreMy missing puzzle piece I'm complete" (Katy Perry) Overlooking Marblehead Harbor, this coastal fort dates way back to 1644, and was one of the oldest English sites of seaside defenses in North America. It came under American control during the Revolution, was rebuilt in the early 1800's when a battery of big guns were added to defend the harbor from enemy attacks. It served an important defensive role in the War of 1812, transitioned into a town park in 1892, and even returned to military duty during the Spanish American War in 1898. Today, it's a public park and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. The park offers you stunning views of the harbor and the hundreds of boats crossing the waters. The Fort Sewall grounds are loaded with historical sights - maps and markers and plaques and remnants of the old fort including underground prison cells are everywhere. Some of those big guns that defended the harbor from enemy attack are still there, others are gone but there are ghostly markers on the stone walkway showing where they once proudly stood. It's a glorious place to walk around, enjoy the scenery and imagine those big guns blasting away to defend the harbor two centuries ago.

Nice little historic park. You will need to find parking down the street with a short walk up a…read moresmall hill. The park is well maintained with a path that wraps around the fort. Beautiful views and the fort has been maintained with replica living quarters.

Enjoyed a nice walk across the rocks, beautiful view…read more Parking is free and nice to watch the boats going bye Nice looking at the homes literally on the water

Lovely place to stop and grab some photos of the coastline and lighthouse. History buffs can read…read morethe plaque telling the story of the sisters but just know the cottage attached to the lighthouse is privately owned - if you need to pee, there are two Porta Potties by the entrance. Lots of parking when we came on a beautiful, not too hot Saturday afternoon. I really didn't see much of a beach area but loved the rocks feeding out into the water. With small kids, the rocks may be a little challenging but they're pretty flat and easy to walk on otherwise.

King's Chapel Burying Grounds is the second cemetery on the Freedom Trail and probably the smallest…read moreto visit. Very easy to find, in downtown, next to King's Chapel! It dates from 1630 and it's the oldest in the city. It was pretty crowded the day I visited, but I lingered, took my time and managed to see everything in less than half an hour at my own leisure. John Winthrop, who was the first governor of Massachusetts is buried here and Mary Chilton, the first woman who got off the Mayflower. There's also a metal ventilation shaft in a corner connected with Boston's subway - Tremont street stop, my husband was fascinated by it and started to look into it. Very interesting historic site, great to visit and free!

Strolling into King's Chapel Burying Ground felt like stepping directly back into 17th-century…read moreBoston. Founded in 1630, it's the oldest burying ground in the city -- the grounds where the earliest colonists of Boston found their final rest. Even though the name is "King's Chapel," the burial ground was always municipal, not church-owned -- the adjacent King's Chapel was built later (starting in the late 1600s) when colonists parceled out a chunk of the grounds for it. Walking among the weathered headstones and slate grave markers -- many carved with the iconic Puritan "death's-head" imagery (skulls, hourglasses, angels) -- really hits home the fragility (and the boldness) of early colonial life. One reads "Memento Mori" and you can't help but reflect. A little history deep-cut: who you're standing beside If you lean into the headstones and read the inscriptions, you're literally next to some of the founding figures of early New England: * John Winthrop -- the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. * Mary Chilton -- believed to be the first European woman to set foot in what became New England. * William Dawes -- yes, that William Dawes who rode alongside (but different from) Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride. You get this weird -- but powerful -- mix of reverence and tension: the stories of Puritan settlers, colonization, early governance, and the messy complexity of history. Ambience & layout: small, somber, surprisingly peaceful It's a small plot -- under a half-acre -- sitting wedged into downtown Boston near Tremont Street. The grounds are surrounded by a granite wall and wrought-iron fencing, and inside there's a quiet, parklike feel. Paths run through, and the stones are arranged in rows (though those rows were moved there in the 1800s -- the stones don't necessarily lie over the remains they mark). Final verdict If you love history, cemeteries, colonial America -- or just want a quiet moment reflecting on the roots of Boston -- King's Chapel Burying Ground is a gem. It's small, maybe easy to walk right past if you're distracted by city bustle. But once you slow down and look at the stones, the place becomes as much a respect-filled memorial as a living history book. Do yourself a favor: go there at a quiet hour, maybe early morning or late afternoon light, read a few stones, and let yourself imagine what early colonial Boston might have felt like.

Despite the word "CLOSED" in the description of this church, St. Mary's of the Annunciation is very…read moremuch alive and well. Google their web site and you'll see photos, the parish bulletin, photographs, contact information, Mass schedules, etc. The interior of the church, built in 1867, is lovely.

What an impressive historical site. This family's home was crucial to the Underground Railroad. It…read morewas pretty fascinating to see how this historical site really believed in abolishing slavery to help those two go into freedom. I didn't realize how important this site is to history but it was really nice to see letters and photographs of that time and about Newton area that nobody really thinks about. It was pretty cool to see all the old fashioned toys and clothes of the time. There is a lot of literature posted on the exhibitions. I really recommend going here.

We planned a field trip to the Jackson Homestead with our homeschool group. We had nearly 30 people…read morebetween the ages of 7 and 50, and everyone enjoyed the visit. The attraction is reasonably priced for individuals visiting at $6 per person. The field trip was also very reasonable for up to 30 children and up to 10 adults. The foyer explains the background of the owners and their involvement with the abolition movement and the underground railroad in the 1800s. The children were able to look at source documents and work in teams to make inferences on the information and draw conclusions. Next, we moved to the lower level which is professionally outfitted with plaques explaining the history and a lot of fantastic artifacts. There were several interactive and "please touch" areas, which all the children (and even the teens enjoyed). There were boxes they could climb into to show what it was like to travel across the ocean as a captured slave, and the interesting story of Henry Box Brown. There was even an excavated well (covered with a grate, of course) that may have been used to hide fugitive slaves. On the main floor, the children were able to explore some of the other areas of the house, like "Newton's Toy Box," information on stained glass, and an extensive time-line of the house and history makers. Upstairs was a small area open to the public (due to their offices being on that floor) that had a flag on display from the civil war era. and envelopes used for propaganda during that time period. There were also pictures of the original rooms and textile samples with information about the dress at the time. The main floor also has a lovely little gift shop with a good variety of souvenirs. The staff was friendly and helpful. A most wonderful trip!

Saturday September 19, 2026 was a day of Remembrance and Celebration of life for Sandra Leone who…read morelive in the North End as a child and was a prominent figure for all her life within at St. Leonard's, she also was Married at this beautiful restored Church on Hanover Street! Many memories were made right here! The Service was a special service to celebrate Sandy by her Son! The Majestic Sprays of Fresh Flowers that Adorned the Alter were Gifts from Sandra Leone's Son! The Readings from Friend and her Eulogy was a testament to her whole life revolving around the North End with family and friends! She will always be remembered here at St Leonard's! What a blessing to have her Service here among where she loved to me so much! Pray for her and this congregation!

This is a beautiful church I happened to stop in because I was attending the Italian Festival at…read morethe North End. It is open to the public which is very nice. It's peaceful, and you sit in the pews and can pray. Lots of people come. The lights, icons, statues are breathtaking. I would come again when here. Please visit when you are in this part of Boston.

7:00 am and 11:00 am daily mass, conveniently located near Fenway Park in the Back Bay part of…read moreBoston. This is the national headquarters of my favorite holy order in the Catholic Church, The Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV). They have a strong devotion to the exposition of the Holy Eucharist. For those of you that don't know what that means it's when literally a communion wafer is enshrined in something called a monstrance and it is set on the alter and the faithful adore it with song, prayer, or mostly just silence and reverence. Perpetual adoration takes place here, I believe, meaning the Host is always exposed (except during the sacrifice of the mass). For people into Ignatian Catholic meditation it's a great place to do your daily holy hour. Since I'm from California this place looks like Sleeping Beauty's Castle but I'm sure even to someone used to beautiful old buildings this structure is exceptional. The seminary where the Oblates get their remarkable devout formation is next door so this place should be on your list of "must sees" for Boston if you are a Catholic, or interested in what makes Catholics tick.

Love this Church. I often come for the Sunday night mass at 8pm led by Father Peter. He is spot…read moreon with his homily's and speaks from the heart. Almost each time I come I am moved to tears. The Church itself is gothic style with large stone pillars (which obscure the view from some pew seats), and has an openness that doesn't take away from the warmth of the environment. Parishioners range in age from young to old, and there seems to be a large college-aged community. The location is also great, although parking can get tricky and the meter-maids will not hesitate to tow you from a residential spot, even though you are at Church ;)