Boston (And Nana!)

"Look at his little eyeballs!"

Nana got to join us in our New England adventures this past weekend! We started off her stay by bringing her along for a classic boiled lobster dinner. The girls were very excited about having a whole lobster plopped in front of them to split. They all agree: Lobsters are indeed delicious!


The highlight of the weekend was our day trip to Boston. We left first thing in the morning, and spent our first hour in the city exploring the Boston Public Garden: the Make Way for Ducklings statue as well as the real ducks, the other statuary throughout the garden, the bridge, the swan boats, the real nesting swan, the glorious tulips, the street musicians (playing fascinating unfamiliar instruments), the variety of dogs, the weeping willows, and other climbing trees, etc. etc. Beautiful.

"Make way for ducklings!"

Then we crossed Boston Common to meet up with our guide for the Freedom Trail tour. "Josiah Quincy" in full colonial attire was there to meet us along with 30 or so other tourists. He was an entertaining and knowledgeable guide, so we decided to join him again after lunch (clam chowder at Quincy Market) for the second trail tour.

Having trouble keeping up with the tour?
If you couldn't see "Josiah" with his brass topped cane,
you could usually find Daddy topped by an inquisitive girl.

By following Josiah around for most of the day we got to see and learn about all of these places:

•  Boston Common
•  Massachusetts State House
•  Park Street Church
•  Granary Burying Ground
•  King’s Chapel
•  King’s Chapel Burying Ground
•  Benjamin Franklin Statue & Boston Latin School
•  Old Corner Book Store
•  Old South Meeting House
•  Old State House
•  Site of Boston Massacre
•  Faneuil Hall
•  Paul Revere House
•  Old North Church
•  Copp’s Hill Burying Ground

The tour ended across the river from Bunker Hill, and we settled in to hear the tale of that battle before setting off on our own to visit the Charlestown Navy Shipyard and the USS Constitution. Unfortunately, the old ship herself was closed for renovation, but the museum was fantastic. The upstairs in a hands-on, kid-friendly exhibit that walks you through what it was like to be an enlisted sailor, an officer, or a marine in early America. Among other activities, the girls answered recruitment questions, examined the contents of a sea bag, swung in a hammock, "cooked" in the ship's galley, and watched a video about the battle that earned "Old Ironsides" its famous nickname. The downstairs of the museum involved more traditional exhibits about the ship's construction and history. 

They were sad not to get to board the USS Constititution,
but that didn't keep them from being recruited to the crew! (center)
And, who could resist hoisting the goat aboard. (right)

The new sailors try out their hammocks, climb the rigging, and tie down the sail.

We can build boats too!

Next we set off on the long walk back to our car, but not before a fortifying stop at an ice cream parlor before crossing the river and climbing Beacon Hill. Crossing the Charles River proved much more entertaining than expected when we happened upon the Charlestown Bells, a melodious installation by Paul Matisse. I think we about wore Nana out (Daddy estimates we did at least 5 miles of walking), but we had a great day! And thanks to Nana, it was even well-documents with photos!