The Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market area of Boston gives the tourist an unparalleled opportunity to walk through a marketplace that is over 250 years old. If you can’t appreciate the history behind it, many others can as told by the over 18 million visitors this location gets annually. Some call it Faneuil Hall, others Quincy Market, either way the buildings are next to each other and it is the same area for those who are traveling to visit it.

The History Behind It
Built in the 1742 as a gift from Boston’s then wealthiest resident, Peter Faneuil, the marketplace created a hub for commerce in the city and helped blossom it to what it has become today. Not for nothing but if it’s 1742 or 2002 it doesn’t matter much to me, you have to be pretty extraordinarily wealthy to be able to build a building for a town.

Later on in the early 1826, the marketplace was expanded to Quincy Market, named after former Boston mayor Josiah Quincy. The hall has become host to some pretty astounding speakers and attendants, including but not limited to George Washington who toasted to the country’s first birthday here, Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and Susan B. Anthony. For those who are visiting the area, you really can not parallel the history behind this location and its significance in building a city and a state.
*Historical Facts Received From www.FaneuilHallMarketplace.com*

What’s There
The area is still very much a marketplace. Always bustling with people, no matter what time day or night, summer or winter, there are constantly shoppers, tourists, or bar hoppers around the hall. Going in the afternoon will give you a great glimpse of some of the fantastic street performers that all engage the tourists around the halls. From jugglers to balance artists to mimes to statue impersonators, one can really see a wide array of talent here especially on the weekends. Afternoons are obviously the time that all of the stores are open for business. Surrounded by a wide variety of shopping options, one can go to Ann Taylor, Nine West, Victoria’s Secret, Urban Outfitters, Yankee Candle, Crate & Barrell, and Crabtree and Evelyn just to name a few. All in total the marketplace boasts over 100 different choices for stores in the immediate area. The hall also boasts the Bull Market, the worlds first fleet of 43 pushcarts with all local artisans and craftsman from the New England area. These provide a great tourist gift you can’t find manufactured in any store, these are all hand-crafted items. Just outside the area within a 10 minute walk are two other great Boston landmarks, New England Holocaust Memorial and New England Aquarium. Being a central location in Boston, you can find a lot to do in the area just around the Faneuil Hall section.

For you food lovers, here is a chance for you to taste some authentic Boston seafood. Two great options are Kingfish and The Salty Dog, which are both in the hall. Also surrounding or inside the hall are Sam’s Café at Cheers (not the actual Cheers but a replica, the actual Cheers is a few blocks away on Beacon Street), Zumas Tex Mex Café, Dick’s Last Resort (a must attend for those with a sense of humor as the waitstaff makes fun of all of the patrons at the table and give them silly paper hats to wear that are over a foot and a half high), Boston Rocks, Ned Devine’s, and McCormick & Schmicks among others. Providing a total of 40 plus eateries, the hall won’t disappoint with food options and can just about cater to every taste you can imagine. You even have dessert covered with Sluggers Dugout (ice cream) and a gelato shop for those who are interested.

For those who aren’t dining in a sit down restaurant and buying from the many stores that line the inside of Quincy Market, the market boasts a large seating area in the center of the building with plenty of tables and chairs to sit down (or stand) and enjoy your meal.

For any younger people visiting the area, nightlife around here is fantastic. Within a 15 minute walk around the hall you have countless bars and clubs offering a variety of music from live bands, hip-hop, to sports bars. I can say that 98% of the time I head into Boston, my friends and I start our night here. It has all different types of places to entertain any taste and help you have a great time.

Getting There / Parking / Hours
Getting in from the surrounding areas is quite simple so long as you are near the Commuter Rail, which is Boston’s suburban transit system, extending out into the suburbs surrounding the town. This will bring you into Boston where you can jump on the T, which is Boston’s subway system and get just about anywhere you need to go within a block or two. I would highly recommend taking public transportation in for anyone venturing anywhere in town because parking can be expensive depending on where you are.

If you must drive in however I would recommend the Center Plaza parking garage which is just across the street from Boston City Hall (Faneuil Hall is behind Boston City Hall) and its just a short walk down to the marketplace. Or one other option is the parking garage on Surface Road, just before State Street, which is also just a few blocks away from the marketplace. I have never encountered these garages to be full so that shouldn’t be a worry, but I wouldn’t recommend trying to find street parking because it can be tough to tell where you will and will not get towed from on the side streets in town.

If you get there and can’t decide what to do, the good news is that there are numerous kiosks all around the hall that have different pamphlets and guides to different attractions and tour routes all around the city. These should give you a lot of great options to venture around Boston and get to see all of the other fantastic sights that the city of Boston has to offer. Within just a few minutes walk of the hall are the New England Aquarium, Boston’s Waterfront, and Paul Revere’s House, just to name a few.

Overall
This location offers the best of both worlds. It puts you in the hub of the city and gives you countless options to venture around it and take in all of the historical sights around town, but it also provides a little more entertainment than most historical sights, catering to both the historian and the normal tourist out to do some shopping and see some sights. With Faneuil Hall you can appreciate a 250 year old marketplace, grab a bite to eat, watch some street performers, buy locally made arts and crafts, and do some clothes shopping, all in the same place.

© Copyright 2008 - ace3502

Boston Traveler's Series:
# 1 - The Boston Garden
# 2 - New England Holocaust Memorial
# 3 - Fenway Park
# 4 - Lexington, Massachusetts
# 5 - Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market
# 6 - New England Aquarium

Looking for a place to stay around Boston? Try:
Marriott Boston-Burlington Hotel
Marriott Boston-Long Wharf
Marriott Boston-Woburn North Hotel
The Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel

Recommended: Yes