Freedom Trail
Boston's Freedom Trail is a walk that takes you and your fur-pup past historical sites associated with the Revolutionary War, leading you with a red line down the center of the street made of brick or paint. Signage is also available, both written words and Braille, to help you stay on track.
The trailhead lies at Boston Common, the 50-acre downtown park, and while the trail itself is accessible 24/7 year-round, the Visitor Center at the Common is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and on Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It's here that you can pick up maps and get information about the guided tours available, led by Bostonians dressed in period costume. Or you can just start out with Fido and do the trail on your own. The walk will take about an hour if you don't stop and linger at the sites.
Walking past quaint historic homes, shops, cemeteries and pubs built centuries ago, and modern buildings made of cement, glass and steel, you get a sense of the changes this city has undergone. Burial grounds where the likes of Cotton Mather and Paul Revere were laid to rest, and the spot where the Boston Massacre site is marked, make us pause and reflect on the people that lived and events that took place there.
The Freedom Trail is known as one of the best dog-friendly urban hikes in the country, and your fur-pup is welcome everywhere except indoors. If you have another human with you, one person can wait outside in one of Boston's many green spaces while the other goes in.
With 16 historic sites along the trail, there's no lack of interesting and iconic sights to see including Boston Common, the Massachusetts State House and Park Street Church, to Fanueil Hall and Old North Church, ending with "Old Ironsides," the USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill in Charlestown across the Charles River. You'll find many places to get scrumptious food and drink along the way, along with restrooms, coin-operated self-service toilets open 24 hours, and water fountains and benches.
Best of all, the trail passes 2 pawsome off-leash dog parks for your dog to let loose! The RUFF North North End Dog Park is located near the north section of the trail, while the Boston Common Dog Park inside the lovely greenspace of Boston Commons at the end of the trail may be the pawfect way to wrap up your adventure!
The Freedom Trail is not only fun and educational, but it also provides all the benefits of a walk for both you and your pup inside one of America's most historic cities! Explore this fuburlous trek today!
This is an urban trail, with both cement and brick sidewalks that can be hard on feet and joints. Be sure to wear good shoes and consider booties for the pups to protect their paws from hot pavement and sharp brick corners. In summer, Boston gets hot and humid, and although there are lots of places to stop for water, it's a good idea to carry some, as well as to wear a hat.
