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twowrist t1_je6r2vw wrote

Ten days is a lot for Boston.

The obvious history answer is the Freedom Trail. Most people do it in a day, but I encourage people to plan at least half day for just the USS Constitution, including the guided tour of the ship, some time in the small free museum of the visitor’s center, and some time in the larger, by donation USS Constitution Museum. You can also climb the nearby Bunker Hill Monument. That’s in addition to the full day walking the rest of the Freedom Trail and going into most of the historic buildings on the trail.

There are other historic sites within easy T distance (T being the common term for our subway, though the same authority runs the buses and commuter rail). Taking the Duck Boat tour, while touristy, can be worthwhile.

With 10 days, you could also travel outside the urban center. The commuter rail goes to Salem, where in addition to the tourist-oriented Salem witch trial places, there’s also the House of the Seven Gables and the excellent Peabody-Essex Museum. Salem is very walkable. It also goes to Lowell, where you can find the Lowell National Historical Park, which is about the Industrial Revolution era, particularly the fabric mills in New England. Finally, you can also take commuter rail to Concord, where we started a small war you may have heard of. It’s a pleasant walk from the train station to the Old North Bridge and the Minuteman National Historical Park visitor center, though having a car there would make it practical to also visit some the historic Concord homes (Hawthorne, the Alcotts, and obviously Thoreau).

There are other sites of historic interest that can be done as day trips from Boston, but they really require a car. (Battleship Cove, Old Sturbridge Village, some others). Plymouth Rock is not worthwhile, though Plimoth Patuxet (formerly Plimoth Plantation) is.

May and June are beautiful weather-wise, but bring a lightweight rain jacket and maybe a sweater (jumper?) just in case.

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Ieatflowers68 OP t1_je6tzna wrote

Ah nice one. Yeah I definitely would venture outside of just the city of Boston itself given I have the time to do so.
Salem is a good shout. I studied a module on Middle Ages Witchcraft in England whilst at university, so would be interesting to know more about the witch trials going on across the pond around the same time.
I'll definitely give Concord a visit too.

Lowell is another great shout - thanks for that. I would definitely give a tour of the mills a go, if that was something they offered.

And yeah you're right jumper = sweater.

Thanks for the insightful comment!

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twowrist t1_je6ww5b wrote

At Lowell, the Park itself is free, meaning you can go through the mills and museum at your own pace. But you can also take a guided tour, which isn’t free and we found very good. There’s more info, plus you’re guaranteed that they’ll fire up whatever equipment they can. Typically that will include a handful of the looms out of dozens, which are loud enough for them to hand out ear plugs. I can’t imagine what having the entire floor of looms running would be or how anyone working there didn’t go deaf. There’s at least one other building on the tour where they fire up one of the water-powered wheels. Plus the tour goes on the trolley instead of having to walk.

It’s about a mile from the commuter rail station. I’ve never walked it, but imagine it’s walkable, and certainly cab/Uber/Lyft should be doable. There are also some nice restaurants in Lowell.

I forgot to mention: pay attention to the commuter rail schedules. All of these trips are opposite the usual commuter traffic, so they’re not going to be frequent and the last one of the day can be early.

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Ieatflowers68 OP t1_je70adn wrote

Fascinating! I'll definitely look at doing one of the guided tours then.

>I can’t imagine what having the entire floor of looms running would be or how anyone working there didn’t go deaf

Absolutely. I watched a video on the HistoryHit Youtube channel the other day about mill work life in the north of England and it sounded like a grim existence. Terribly long working hours in unsafe conditions. Hardly a break in the day. Machines whirring all around you and making a racket. Honestly makes you grateful for the world we live in now, despite all its flaws.

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>It’s about a mile from the commuter rail station. I’ve never walked it, but imagine it’s walkable, and certainly cab/Uber/Lyft should be doable.

Noted. I'll bring my running shoes!

>I forgot to mention: pay attention to the commuter rail schedules. All of these trips are opposite the usual commuter traffic, so they’re not going to be frequent and the last one of the day can be early.

Ah that's helpful to know. I wouldn't want to get stranded out of town.

Thanks again.

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