I am picking up my favourite walk through Boston at the corner of Boston Common across from the State House.
If you have chosen to visit the Shaw and 54th Memorial, my advice here is to follow the edge of the Common for a block or so and then cross Beacon Street when you find it convenient. You are spoiled for a view here – to your left is the Common, and to your right the start of the beautiful stately architecture that edges Beacon Hill, still one of the most desirable areas of the city.
If you enjoy looking at older and expensive real estate, by all means choose either Walnut Street or Spruce Street to turn right and head up-hill. I would recommend continuing to Mt Vernon Street where you can get a glimpse of Louisburg Square, one of the most picturesque areas of the city that evokes parts of London. Head down Mt Vernon Street to the left/west, parallel to Beacon Street.
In no time at all, you will again reach Charles Street where you can turn left and follow it back towards the Common. There are some charming shops in this area to explore, if you have time. Also, the original Cheers bar is just a bit further along Beacon Street to the right, though remember that the interior of the bar itself does not look like it did on TV. The replica in Quincy Market closed in 2020.
Crossing Beacon Street, you will find yourself with Boston Common on the left, and Boston Public Garden on your right. The land here was originally mudflat, and filled in to create the Garden – and much of the Back Bay – in the early 1800s. If you have any interest in the evolution of the land mass of Boston from peninsula to modern city, I highly recommend the book Mapping Boston.
Stop 5 – Make Way for Ducklings
Most Boston children, at some point I imagine, have read the famous book by Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings, a lovely story about two ducks looking for a place to raise their family. (Incidentally, McCloskey also wrote two of my other favourite children’s books, Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine).
This book was the inspiration for one of the most famous statues – or series of statues, more accurately – in Boston, which are at various times of year dressed in Sports gear, Santa hats, and other such things.
As you walk away from the ducklings and towards the bridge – resist the urge here to go around the end of the pond – you will almost inevitably meet well-fed geese, ducks and squirrels.
The path follows the edge of the water, allowing for excellent views across the pond where swans and swan boats busy the water in summer months.
Stop 6 – Swan Boats and Footbridge
In very little time, you will find yourself at the suspension foot-bridge that spans the pond, and from which there are excellent views of the Garden and city beyond.
Cross the footbridge, and turn left to head towards the far corner of the Garden, where Boylston and Arlington Streets meet. Before leaving the park, you may wish to make a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Garden of Remembrance. Two of the four planes that were hijacked that day left from Boston Logan Airport, and the memorial is a moving spot, listing the names of those lost from Massachusetts and New England.
Stop 7 – Arlington Street subway station
You can exit the Public Garden immediately next to the memorial, or continue to the corner. Either way, you will find yourself roughly in front of Arlington Street Church and with a final choice to make. I generally prefer to walk straight up Boylston Street towards Copley Square, but if you wish to do a bit of shopping you may prefer to detour one block over to Newbury Street. If you’re feeling like you’ve had enough exploration, you can always hop on the Green line at Arlington Station and take it back a few stops to return to Government Centre or Haymarket.
Though not as famous in Boston as Newbury Street, Boylston has plenty of shops and restaurants as well, and it’s only about two more blocks to reach the Trinity Church and Copley Square.
Stop 8 – Copley Square
The walk continues through the square and into the Westin, however before you reach that hotel you will pass several points of interest.
First, the church itself, constructed in the 1870s though the parish had existed for 150 years previous and suffered several fires.
Second (again a bit of a detour) if you continue up Boylston for about half a block, you will find the finish line of the Boston Marathon, painted in blue and yellow across the street. Immediately beyond is the memorial to the victims of the Marathon Bombing in 2013.
Third, the stunning Boston Public Library, which to my surprise was opened in the early 1970s but has the feel of a much older building. Inside are stunning murals and grand staircases, as well as one of the largest collections in the US.
It may seem a touch strange, but trust me when I say that to continue on this route, you enter the Copley Westin and go up the escalator. If you walk straight across and do not enter the hotel, there is a pedestrian bridge across the road into Copley Plaza proper. In the plaza are any number of high-end shopping choices such as Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, Dior and Versace. Needless to say we did not shop here as teens, but there was a cinema at Copley as well, which I have discovered closed in the early 2000s.
If you continue straight through the plaza, you will find signs for the pedestrian bridge to the Prudential Center, for additional shopping and one of my high school friends’ favourite spots, California Pizza Kitchen.
The Pru, as it is sometimes known, is another stop on the Green line, and so you can also do this walk in reverse if you are so inclined. It is worth pointing out, however, that Copley is the last stop on the Green line before it splits into multiple branches, so picking up the subway there can be a bit faster.
And that is it! My favourite walk through the city – not particularly long or challenging, but passes some great spots and brings back plenty of memories. I am sure I will go into more detail about some areas of Boston in the future.
The Wandering Medievalist 