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National Park Service
Northeast Region

Suggested Itineraries - Half Day or Full Day

Half Day

Boston's wealth of historical park sites makes it easy to combine education with urban exploration. Take some time to discover the vibrant neighborhoods around Boston’s many NPS sites. Here are three options for half-day trips using public transportation in the Boston area.

Boston African American National Historic Site + Boston Common/Public Garden
Visit the Boston African American National Historic Site and take advantage of its central location in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Relax among the greenery of the nearby Boston Common and Public Garden before heading over to bustling Newbury Street for trendy dining and shopping.

John F. Kennedy National Historic Site + Coolidge Corner
Visit the birthplace of our 35th President and enjoy Coolidge Corner, an ecclectic neighborhood with small shops, an independent movie theater, and a wide range of popular restaurants.

Longfellow National Historic Site + Harvard Square
It's a short walk from Harvard Square to the Longfellow National Historic Site. Once you've visited the poet's home (and one-time headquarters of General George Washington), why not explore the intellectual and cultural heart of Cambridge?

Full Day

Eastern Massachusetts is fortunate to have a dense concentration of National Parks, many within convenient distance of Boston and each other. If you’ve got a full day, take advantage of their proximity. Here are four options for full-day trips, each with a particular focus and a different combination of sites.

American Presidents
Massachusetts is the proud home of several of our nation’s presidents. The homes of John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and John F. Kennedy, as well as The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, are all easily accessible by public transportation.

History and the Harbor
Enjoy a day of history and natural beauty as you travel over the water from Quincy, the home of our 2nd and 6th Presidents, to the Boston Harbor Islands. If you like, finish your day by dining at one of the many restaurants around Faneuil Hall, a marketplace dating back to 1742.

Maritime Adventures
Visit Salem and learn how the sea shaped this unique community. Steeped in almost 400 years of history, Salem was home to the earliest colonial settlers as well as the traders and sailors who revolutionized trade with the Far East and seeded America’s greatest age of industry.

What Would You Do For Freedom?
From the American Revolution to the Abolitionist Movement, Boston has played an important role in advancing freedom and liberty in our nation. This tour combines elements of two self-guided walking tours in downtown Boston: The Freedom Trail and The Black Heritage Trail.