Massachusetts
Boston: Birthplace of American Liberty
Program No. 5717RJ
In 2026, celebrate America's 250th birthday in Boston, the cradle of liberty. Explore historic landmarks and revolutionary events alongside scholarly experts and friendly locals.
Participant Reviews
Based on 62 Reviews
SHOWING
Great experience with Boston City Tour guide.
Highly recommend the historian who led the lectures on Revolutionary War in the Boston area - Birthplace of the Revolution.
— Review left February 26, 2026
Well done! Very timely with the 250th anniversary coming up. Thank you!
— Review left October 6, 2025
This educational tour of Boston was everything I hoped for, a fun but extremely educational week of exploring and learning about the days of the Revolution. Great instructors and a great tour guide.
— Review left September 24, 2025
Charlie Bahn is a jewel and definitely made this trip phenomenal. His knowledge of the history of Boston and the revolution were exceptional. Shannon was tops in keeping us informed and on schedule. Her enthusiasm shone through from start to end. Recommend 10/10.
— Review left September 22, 2025
This program inspires one to find out more about the events and the personalities surrounding Boston and the birth of liberty. It is well paced and has just the right amount of walking, riding, and free time. Highly recommended.
— Review left September 21, 2025
This program was the perfect introduction to Boston for me. It delved into the origins of the American Revolution and we went to the places where things happened. Shannon and Charlie were great.
— Review left September 13, 2025
The day you go to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution, both are closed. Given the construction on the wharf it’s difficult to see the ship. Overall, still a good program for history buffs.
— Review left June 21, 2025
This tour very very enlightening as well as a lot of fun. Learning about the beginning of the American Revolution is truly inspiring. And Boston is a great city to visit.
— Review left May 18, 2025
Boston : Birthplace ofAmerican Liberty what a program. Do the suggested books to ready. I read three of them and it really helped prepare me for the program.
— Review left May 12, 2025
Very thorough and well-organized trip.
— Review left May 11, 2025
This was our 1st guided tour trip and was such a great experience that I am excited to research the other trip/tours/experiences that Road Scholar offers.
— Review left November 3, 2024
Great city tour - learned a lot - now thinking about other city tours that are being offered.
— Review left October 30, 2024
If you have an interest in the events leading up to the American Revolution, Boston's role in the war, or simply want to experience Boston, this is the trip for you! Shannon Keller was everything you'd want from a group leader - friendly, organized, energetic, helpful, and committed to the tour participants having a wonderful experience. Our main lecturer / tour guide, Charlie Bahne, was a marvel. Having conducted guided tours in the Boston area for decades, he is extremely knowledgeable about the pre-American Revolution years, the early battles of the war, and of Boston itself. His exceptional book, 'The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail', was given to us at the beginning of the program. I saw it on sale at some of the museum gift shops we visited! We used the subway on our trip to the North End. The week-long subway pass we received allowed for travel to a variety of destinations during our afternoon and evening of free time. Our hotel and the restaurants we ate at were great. (You won't go hungry at the hotel's buffet!) In summation, if you want to have a fun visit to Boston and a graduate seminar on this period of American history, you can't go wrong with this Road Scholar trip.
— Review left October 23, 2024
Boston was fantastic thanks to Road Scholar. I would recommend it to anyone. If you want to learn about history with an upbeat fun loving group join Road Scholar.
— Review left October 17, 2024
If you enjoy history presentations, don't miss this one! You learn so much about the American Revolution as well as touring much of Boston as well as Lexington and Concord! I highly recommend it!
— Review left October 14, 2024
If you are interested in American Democracy, don't miss this program. It's a wonderful adventure in a city filled with sights and friendly people.
Anonymous and appreciative!
— Review left October 12, 2024
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational experience. The staff and speakers were wonderful. We highly recommend this and will definitely use Road Scholar again!
— Review left October 12, 2024
Our trip to Boston and the roots of the American Revolution was fantastic! Great guides, wonderful field trips, good food, plenty of exercise, friendly people. And all without me worrying over any details. Couldn't have been better.
— Review left September 17, 2024
This program definitely helps one understand the mindset of the colonists as the conflict that was to become the American Revolution approached and then was upon them.
— Review left September 15, 2024
If you love American history that focuses on the birth of American freedom, this is the course for you!
— Review left June 8, 2024
Great lectures and side trips to the places concerned, a friendly and interesting group, a wonderful group leader - I learned so much from this trip about the birth of our democracy a very timely subject!
— Review left May 21, 2024
Incredible experience!! Lecturer, tour leader, accommodations and tour sites were exceptional. A must do on anyone's list who is interested in history and the birth of our nation.
— Review left May 11, 2024
This was a wonderful program! It was well-designed, expertly-led, with just the right blend of lecture and activities. I would highly recommend it.
— Review left May 11, 2024
This program provided a great mix of the history, geography, politics, and people of the Boston area in the mid 18th century, leading up to the Revolutionary War. It gave me new insights into why the war was necessary and why it started in Boston.
— Review left May 11, 2024
This program taught me even more about our Revolution and Boston's place in it. The leaders were thoughtful, helpful and very informative. I would suggest this program for anyone interested in learning more of this subject.
— Review left October 30, 2023
Great topic, experts and hotel.
— Review left October 16, 2023
Comprehensive, informative, fun and exciting! The best way to learn about the Revolutionary War!
— Review left October 7, 2023
If you're interested in the American Revolution, this is the program for you! So much to see and learn in a fun way.
— Review left September 18, 2023
Boston: Birthplace of American Liberty is a program that allows us to learn about the American Revolution by hearing from an expert and from seeing the actual sites. The Hyatt Regency is in a good location to explore on our own (thanks for the subway pass that was good for 7 days, Road Scholar.) Being a few blocks away from Boston Common meant that the area was full of restaurants and places to walk safely. The trip to the hotel was easy due to the bus system that takes you from the airport to within a few blocks of the hotel for no charge and you reverse the process going back. This system is faster than a cab or car service. Our leader Wolf was very prepared and Charles gave us the historic information. Don't miss the last day's performance by Judith who portrayed a female revolutionary war veteran. Her historic play was superb and she makes the unusual (true) story believable. Her question and answer time afterwards was very enlightening.
— Review left June 25, 2023
Boston is an amazing city for history lovers. This was my second Road Scholar program there and I would like to return.
— Review left June 13, 2023
The visit to Boston, like other Road Scholar trips, was a wonderful use of my travel time and a broadening experience. I would recommend it to anyone with a love of American history.
— Review left June 12, 2023
We have now been on nine RS trips. This is our favorite trip. Everything went right. It was a worthwhile and memorable experience. Well done!
— Review left June 11, 2023
Ambivalent before but realize when I traveled home it was an incredible experience both educationally and socially. This first trip was a “beta test” of Road Scholars and it passed with flying colors
— Review left June 10, 2023
Just returned from my first Road Scholar Program, Boston: Birthplace of American Liberty. I learned soooo much and despite the unwelcoming weather, we had a wonderful time. This said just to highlight the message that this is a people who just keep on going, despite the apparent discomfort, misfortune, or challange. Boston, and our Patriot ancestors are owed our deepest thanks for such an attitude. The value, accommodations, and transportation and location were exceptional both in educational and inspirational terms. Just go, and taste the flavors of Boston!
— Review left June 10, 2023
Loved the trip! It was an informative, inspiring and active learning adventure. However, it's important to note the activity level is KEEP THE PACE. This Boston experience is appropriate for people comfortable with plenty of walking. . . including hills, cobblestones, stairs, and the occasional ladder. We enjoyed staying at the Hyatt Regency. The accommodations were comfortable, staff was friendly and attentive, and the breakfast buffet was a delicious way to fuel up for the day.
— Review left June 10, 2023
Fabulous insructor in Charlie! What a gift he is! Brilliant, exquisitely informed, accessible. He made Old Boston come alive as if I were actually there.
— Review left May 20, 2023
If you love American History this is for you, if you are not a history buff this may convert you. Every day is the perfect balance of short info packed lectures, walking in the foot steps of those who created the history. An exceptional value!
— Review left May 19, 2023
Want to learn more about the birth of our Nation? Want to be “in the room where it happened” and feel like you are a part of the Revolution? This is your trip! Boston is a great town, made even better by seeing, learning and experiencing the early history of the city and region’s part in the birth of our country.
— Review left May 17, 2023
My mother and I had a wonderful time! We had been planning this trip for several years and were finally able to do it. I enjoyed it it much more than I thought I would and learned a lot along the way. The combination of historical learning and fun was just right. We also had a great group of people and really enjoyed their company. A wonderful trip all the way around!
— Review left October 24, 2022
This was one of the best RS programs I have attended (11 total). The organization was excellent, very informative and engaging lectures by noted and published scholars, accommodations the best I've had on RS trips.
— Review left October 23, 2022
Our Boston trip was our first "post Pandemic" travel experience. What a great time! Shannon is an excellent group leader. It was fun, educational and enriching. Highly recommended! Plus the food is yummy!
— Review left October 16, 2022
This program is full of history, visiting major sights and historical buildings. Shannon Keller was a fantastic, energetic, knowledgable, helpful leader. Charlie Bahne had a book full of knowledge and very informative of the history of Boston, revolutionary war and all that lead up to the war. This program is definitely keep your pace program.
— Review left September 21, 2022
One of the most educational tours we have ever taken. Charlie Bahne literally wrote the book about touring Boston’s Revolutionary War history.
— Review left September 17, 2022
If you like history, this is the program for you.
— Review left September 16, 2022
Great program for life long learners!
— Review left September 16, 2022
Awesome!! Shannon was the perfect guide/coordinator and Charlie was a fantastic tour guide. Very much enjoyed the group and made some great new friends. Highly recommend the Boston Birthplace of America tour!
— Review left June 27, 2022
It was one of the best we've had from any source. We recieved an email about a review and have answered about some features that could be better as well as thanks for an overall really excellently presented event.
— Review left June 26, 2022
Fabulous location, timely content and a very fun group! Loved learning about the American Revolution on-site!
— Review left June 25, 2022
A wonderful experience! An all-inclusive program that makes it easy to immerse yourself in history! The Freedom Trail is a trip every American should take to better understand the beginnings of self-government and independence.
— Review left June 25, 2022
It was a compact trip... start Sunday eve,...done by Friday noon. Guide - Charles Bahne and Nancy Coolidge were both very competent and helpful. It was good they gave us a week pass to the T subway.. We used that WED afternoon and Friday AM to see some extra things. (e.g. Museum of fine arts, Fenway Baseball park, Christian Science Center.
Easy to get to Logan. We did Uber for $20 per couple...
Food was maybe too much with a big breakfast buffet at Hyatt Regency every day..
The bus tours in the city were maybe rushed with 30 people on the bus, we could not see what Charlie was seeing. We did get a sense of the traffic issues in Boston - Hence the "Big Dig".
This was our first time to New England so it was good to sense the culture there.
— Review left May 26, 2022
The Freedom Trail trip in Boston was wonderful. It was my first Road Scholar trip and I really enjoyed it. The expert guide was fantastic, and really brought the history to life. The hotel was located close to many of the historic sites. We arrived a day early and explored the area by foot. Boston Common and City Park are beautiful and very close to the hotel.
— Review left May 23, 2022
What a terrific way to learn more about the true patriots of America and what makes our country so special: "We always had governed ourselves, and we always meant to."
— Review left May 22, 2022
Very informative.
— Review left May 21, 2022
This was our first Road Scholar trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I had never been to Boston. The hotel was located near the Boston Common (beautiful park) and there were many historical sites within walking distance. The program was very interesting and the instructor was fantastic. Highly recommend it.
— Review left May 19, 2022
Boston is a walkable town with history on every corner and this adventure covered many of those corners. New England in the Fall was a great bonus feature of the tour.
Jim Carroll, New Jersey
— Review left November 2, 2021
Full historical tour of Boston with professional tour leaders who know this area inside out. Hotel and local restaurants easy walking distance or hop on a subway. We walked, at ages 69 and 76, as the area is mostly flat within Boston. Visited outlaying areas of Lexington and Concord by bus tour. Lots of extra sites described while on bus so you could go back to visit. We highly recommend this tour.
— Review left October 10, 2021
The program was excellent, and the leaders were all professional. Enjoyed every minute of the trip.
Looking forward to our trip in 2022. The Thompsons, Owensboro, Kentucky
— Review left September 16, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this program on Boston; I had a fabulous time. Everything was well organized, and the location/hotel was fantastic. All the different speakers were engaging and interesting; there was a wealth of historical information to be gleaned. I gained a new and more personal perspective on what all led up to America declaring its independence from England, the courage it took for those early colonists to undertake such an action, and a gratitude to them for doing just that. It made me appreciate more fully what the 4th of July represents. So glad I took this adventure!
— Review left July 8, 2019
One of the best 29 programs in which I have participated. Lectures on point, sights and sites historic, important and interesting. Excellent hotel location within walking distance of everything. Luncheons and dinners with special and varied Road Scholar menu. Excellent food. Outstand leader and lecturer.
— Review left June 29, 2019
A must see program for American Revolution History enthusiasts.
— Review left June 29, 2019
Awesome experience! Money well spent. Easy at every level.
— Review left June 28, 2019
A well conducted, organized tour with excellent speakers. This tour allowed me to see all the highlights of Boston, with an educational component that enhanced the whole experience.
— Review left June 18, 2019