BOSTON — A foggy autumn day, Boston’s very own Beacon Hill sits burrowed between equally well-known neighborhoods of the West End and Downtown.  

It’s a “solid 55 degrees out,” said Nicholas Gregoire, a sports marketing major visiting in Boston for the day. “With a crispness in the air that wakes you up when you go outside.” 

Beacon Hill offers an immense catalogue of things to do within this charming neighborhood, regardless of the season. If you ever find yourself in the Boston area, make sure to travel to the area of Beacon Hill where you’ll find lush gardens, iconic restaurants, and photographic boulevards.   

ACORN STREET 

Dubbed as one of the most photographed streets in the country, Acorn Street’s narrow cobblestone pathways are lined with vintage-looking lampposts and history-filled brownstones with fenced-in gardens. 

Western New England University student, Avery Gorhan takes three selfies with her two friends and eventually asks one of them to take a picture of her… which turns into five after disliking the first four.  

“You can’t really see the beauty of it all,” she sighed to her friends who are already taking their own pictures. She rolls her eyes before taking pictures herself of the scenery around her. 

The entire lane, which only takes less than five minutes to walk, is constantly crowded with tourists and travel-bloggers. 

“I love taking road trips to Beacon Hill on weekends,” said Gorhan. “One of my life goals is to get a brownstone [on Acorn Street.] Most of them are three-stories high with marble floors and an elevator inside. Perfect.” 

The residents who do live there ask visitors to keep their voices down, take your pictures, and move along quickly. 

THE FREEDOM TRAIL 

This historic 3.7-mile trail starts inside Boston Common in Beacon Hill.  

The Common is a vast green city park that was founded in 1634 and is home to many historic American events, like housing the British Redcoats in 1768 and Civil War recruitment and anti-slavery meetings in 1860’s, and during 20^th century, Anti-Vietnam War and civil right rallies were held, including one led by infamous Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Boston Common holds ballfields, a “tot lot” and the Frog Pond, which provides skating during the colder winter months and a splashing pond for children in the summer.  

The Freedom Trail itself passes through 16 historic locations throughout Boston, including museums, meetinghouses, churches, Revolutionary War era historic sites and burying grounds. 

“I occasionally hangout by the African Meeting house,” said former Beacon Hill neighborhood professor, Aisha Densmore-Bey. 

The entire route encompasses history of more than 250 years and takes about three hours to walk and completely soak in that history, ending at the U.S.S. Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. 

Follow the brick-lined pathway to your destinations along the trail or take a tour led by guides wearing 18-century costumes reenacting history as you go along. 

BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN 

America’s first ever botanical garden is located just adjacent to the Boston Common, right next to Newbury Street and Downtown. Established in 1837, the extravagant and floral public park offers Victorian accents and hybridized plants, carefully grown in a Greenhouse or imported from exotic locations. 

With more than 80 species of plants, you can currently find tourists, students, and both young and wealthy professionals walking the park with their dogs and talking on the phone. 

Wellesley College student Olivia Hatten said Boston Garden is an area of immense luck for her.  

“A lot of good things have happened to me there [at Boston Public Garden],” she said. “I had a super cute first date with a Harvard boy and then an interview for my very first job in Boston there.” 

Hatten says the garden is the perfect place for first dates as there are usually live performers playing old instruments, like Chinese mandolins and accordions or “bland indie covers.” 

Gaze upon the rich, gorgeous, and unique plants; the duck-filled Lagoon; rich monuments and fountains; and the Swan Boats “created and operated or more than 100 years by the Paget family.” 

CHEERS RESTAURANT AND PUB 

Founded in 1969 and originally named the Bull & Finch Pub, Cheers Beacon Hill became the original inspiration for the setting of the hit TV sitcom, “Cheers.” The show, which premiered in September 1982, remains one of America’s most beloved comedies of all time.  

Nestled in the lower level of a large Bostonian mansion called The Hampshire House, the pub itself features live music, a lively ambiance, great service, and delicious American food and drinks.  

Although take-out is available, many cannot resist the great urge to dine-in. 

“It’s always super packed,” said Aubrey DeCaro, a student originally from Palmer, Mass., and who is interning in the area. “You may have to wait for a table but there’s a replica set bar on the second level.” 

Nostalgia surrounds the emblematic façade with a gift shop and an iconic “Cheers wall”; you can’t miss wining and dining at Beacon Hill’s finest. 

“It’s an experience you can’t miss if you’re in the [Beacon Hill] area,” said DeCaro. “It’s one of Boston’s gems.” 

CHARLES STREET 

Visiting Charles Street in Beacon Hill is no mere errand-run, rather a full-on shopping experience.  

Nuzzled between Longfellow Bridge and the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro, Charles Street, offers a scenic outdoor spending spree with an array of upscale “mom and pop” boutiques, jewelry stores, and home accessory shops. 

As shopping is almost always accompanied with good eating, Charles Street also holds intimate restaurants and homey cafes. 

With over seventeen restaurants and bars, 15 clothing boutiques, 10 beauty salons, a gourmet grocer, a chocolatier, and a specialty nut store, the delightfully pleasant street runs for four blocks and is lined with cobblestone sidewalks and picturesque store fronts. 

Boston resident, Sydney Avtges, who formerly worked at JP Licks, an ice cream parlor located on Charles Street says her favorite shoppes on the block consist of Crush Boutique, a small store with contemporary flair, and Beacon Hill Wine & Spirits Co. 

“It’s a higher-end part of Boston,” said Avtges. “You’ll see all walks of people, though. From young to old either window-browsing or in-store spending. It’s a really popular street here [in Beacon Hill.]” 

If You Go 

Acorn Street: 

• Visitors are asked to move about quietly as it is an active residential neighborhood. 

The Freedom Trail located inside Boston Common: 

• 139 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. 

• For tours, check website for hours and availability:  https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/tours 
• Boston Common Map: https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Boston%20Common%20History%20&%20Map_tcm3-30691.pdf  
• Boston Common Frog Pond: https://bostonfrogpond.com/  

Boston Public Garden: 

• 4 Charles St., Boston, Mass. 
• The Friends of the Public Garden, a non-profit citizen’s advocacy group formed in 1970 to preserve and enhance the Boston Public Garden, Common, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall in collaboration with the Mayor and the Parks & Recreation Department:  https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/ 
• Boston Public Garden Map: https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Public%20Garden%20Map_tcm3-30692.pdf  
• Swan Boats: https://swanboats.com/ 

Cheers Restaurant and Pub: 

• 84 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. 
• No reservations; first come, first-served basis 
• Hours: Open daily at 11 a.m. (except Christmas Day); Children allowed until 10 p.m., then 21+; Closes at 11 p.m. 
• For more information, visit the website: https://cheersboston.com/ 

Charles Street: 

• Visit individual store websites for hours and regulations.