Hotel at a Glance: The Constitution Inn

Nearly every square foot of Boston is loaded with American history, and the Charlestown neighborhood—one of the city’s oldest—is no exception. It’s home to the Bunker Hill Monument and the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat today. Just minutes away from the historic ship is its namesake hotel, The Constitution Inn. The nautically themed property puts guests within walking distance of Boston’s historic waterfront and downtown.

• Freedom Trail: Take a self-guided stroll through Charlestown and downtown Boston, passing 16 historically significant sites along the way.
• Complimentary shuttle bus to the North End, Boston’s charming Italian neighborhood
• Go for a swim in the heated indoor pool or relax in the sauna.
• In-room amenities: coffeemakers, refrigerators, microwaves, and complimentary WiFi
• Squeeze in a workout in the onsite fitness center, which offers complimentary Pilates, yoga, and group cycling classes.

Boston’s Charlestown: Historic Waterfront Neighborhood on the Freedom Trail

Charlestown prides itself as being Boston’s oldest neighborhood, founded in 1628. In fact, it was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. You can experience a bit of the neighborhood’s colonial history along the 2.5-mile long Freedom Trail, which marches across the Charlestown Bridge to stop at two historically significant areas in this northerly neighborhood. The first is the USS Constitution, where Navy sailors run 30-minute guided tours of the 200-year-old ship’s spar deck, gun deck, and berth deck. The impressive 200-year-old vessel was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after British cannonballs simply bounced off its hull during the War of 1812.

A few blocks away is the northern terminus of the Freedom Trail, the Bunker Hill Monument. Here, an obelisk reminiscent of the Washington Memorial commemorates the Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill. The famous war apothegm, “Don’t shoot until you see the white of their eyes,” was uttered by one of the colonial generals during this battle, after an ammunition shortage.

Follow the Freedom Trail across the Charlestown Bridge into the heart of downtown Boston, where you can stop off at the Old North Church. Paul Revere famously hung two lanterns here to warn of the British troop advancement up the Charles River. If your feet need a rest, grab a bite in the North End, Boston’s Little Italy. The North End flourished in the late 19th century and early 20th century as waves of Italian immigrants settled into the quaint waterfront neighborhood. Today, Italian trattorias and aromatic pastry shops—the cannolis at Mike’s Pastry are a local favorite—line the cobblestone streets of Hanover and Salem.

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