USS Constitution
"Old Ironsides," one of the U.S. Navy's six original frigates, never lost a battle. The ship was constructed in the North End from 1794 to 1797 at a cost of $302,718, using bolts, spikes, and other fittings from Paul Revere's foundry. Constitution played a key role as the new nation built its naval and military reputation, battling French privateers and Barbary pirates, repelling the British fleet during the War of 1812, participating in 40 engagements, and capturing 20 vessels. The frigate earned its nickname during an engagement on August 19, 1812, when shots from HMS Guerriere bounced off its thick oak hull as if it were iron. Today, the active-duty sailors who lead tours wear 1812 dress uniforms.Retired from combat in 1815, Constitution was rescued from destruction when Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem Old Ironsides launched a preservation movement in 1830. The frigate was completely overhauled for its bicentennial in 1997, when it sailed under its own power for the first time since 1881, drawing international attention. Tugs tow Constitution into the harbor every Fourth of July for its celebratory "turnaround cruise" (the vessel must be turned regularly to ensure that it weathers evenly).To continue on the Freedom Trail: Walk straight ahead to the museum entrance.Security On "Old Ironsides"--The Charlestown Navy Yard, home to USS Constitution and the Constitution Museum, is an active military base. Expect to have your bags searched at the gate or at the access point for "Old Ironsides," where you'll probably have to pass through a metal detector. And call ahead if the national terror alert is high; the navy yard closes to civilians at the first sign of a serious threat.

Museum of Afro-American History
The final stop on the Black Heritage Trail, this museum offers a comprehensive look at the history and contributions of blacks in Boston and Massachusetts. It occupies the recently restored Abiel Smith School (1834), the first American public grammar school for African-American children, and the African Meeting House, 8 Smith Court. Changing and permanent exhibits use art, artifacts, documents, historic photographs, and other objects -- including many family heirlooms -- to explore an important era that often takes a back seat in Revolutionary War-obsessed New England. Children enjoy the interactive touch-screen displays and multimedia presentations, and the patient, enthusiastic staff helps them put the exhibits in context. The oldest standing black church in the United States, the meeting house opened in 1806. William Lloyd Garrison founded the New England Anti-Slavery Society in this building, where Frederick Douglass made some of his great abolitionist speeches. Once known as the "Black Faneuil Hall," it also schedules lectures, concerts, and church meetings.

Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
These fascinating museums house the university's collections of items and artifacts related to the natural world. The world-famous academic resource offers interdisciplinary programs and exhibitions that tie in elements of all the associated fields. On weekends, staffed "Investigation Stations" help visitors learn through hands-on activities. You'll certainly find something interesting here, be it a dinosaur skeleton, a hunk of meteorite, a Native American artifact, or the Glass Flowers.The Glass Flowers are 3,000 models of more than 840 plant species devised between 1887 and 1936 by the German father-and-son team of Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka. You might have heard about them, and you might be skeptical, but it's true: They look real. The flowers are the centerpiece of the Botanical Museum. Children love the Museum of Comparative Zoology, where the dinosaurs share space with preserved and stuffed insects and animals that range in size from butterflies to giraffes. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnologyboasts the Hall of the North American Indian, where 500 artifacts representing 10 cultures are on display. This hall is home to the only surviving artifacts positively attributed to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The Mineralogical Museum is the most specialized but can be just as interesting as the others, especially if gemstones hold your interest.

Copley Square Hotel
Perhaps it's the personalized service and somewhat casual atmosphere that encourages writers to describe the hotel as European in style. Though understandable, the hotel is also, undoubtedly, unique to Boston. Owned and operated by the Saunders family of Boston for three generations, the Copley Square Hotel is a local landmark, gracing the corner of Huntington Avenue and Exeter ...

Hilton Boston Logan Airport
Walking From the Airport Terminals: Terminals A & E - From Terminal A & E follow signs for ''bridge to central parking'' and ''pedestrian bridge.'' Take this walkway until the parking elevators. Proceed to second floor and into the Hilton Hotel via skybridge. Terminals B, C & D - Follow the directions from A & E or from the Airport by Hilton Shuttle. From the Airport by Hilton Shuttle: Follow signs to baggage claim area of terminal. Go to courtesy phones and press ...

Seaport Hotel
Seaport Hotel is located in the heart of the Boston's Seaport District overlooking Boston Harbor. It is independently owned distinguishes itself as a deluxe hotel, meeting, exhibition, and function facility located amongst historical seaside attractions. It is swiftly accessible to Logan Airport and Boston's downtown. Whether one yearns for a business retreat, romantic getaway, or family adventure, this responds to your unique needs and attends to every ...