Historical U.S. Cities You Must See *
As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I have a strong love for travelling, the U.S, and history. With that in mind, getting the opportunity to combine all three is one of my ultimate travel goals. But because the States are so vast, it would be virtually impossible for me to see every place I find interesting. Some of the oldest cities with the most history, however, are located along the East Coast and can easily be seen by train or car. Just remember that you’ll need to pack travel essentials that can easily be transported abroad. For instance, the U.S. Transportation and Security Administration has certain requirements for travelling with liquids, so smaller carry-on kits with clear plastic bottles are ideal. As written by one reviewer at M&S, travel kits like this “help to reduce the need to take an entire bottle of shampoo, shower gel, etc. or buy the travel size products.” In other words, it can save you some time, money, and even frustration.
For the history (and travel) buff, a tour of the historical cities that sprinkle the eastern part of the United States is the perfect trip. Here are the best historical U.S. cities on the East Coast that any history lover would be apt to explore.
Boston
Commonly referred to as “Beantown,” Boston is famous for being the heart of the American Revolution with events like the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill taking place in the city, as noted by Lonely Planet. After the revolution, Boston continued to be a major port and manufacturing hub in the U.S. and was the center for education and culture.
Today, Boston is known more for its baseball and hockey teams, world-class restaurants, theaters, and opera houses. It’s also home to some of the best educational institutions in the world, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). From taking in the city’s history through a walk along the Freedom Trail to shopping on Newbury Street, Boston is fantastic starting point for a historical city tour.
New York City
New York City truly is one of the greatest metropolises on the planet. It has everything and I mean everything you could possibly need or want. It is a world influencer of the arts, entertainment, commerce, finance, media, fashion, and technology, and as it’s known as the melting pot, the Big Apple can easily be pegged as the cultural capital of the world.
Due to its vastness, it would take some time to see the entire city and visit every borough, so a trip to New York City must be planned wisely. Spend a few days touring the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the 9/11 Memorial, as well as museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) and Central Park. Take in a matinee showing of Wicked on Broadway or venture across the Brooklyn Bridge for a live music show. I could go on for ages about what there is to see and do in NYC, but I suggest you go and experience it for yourself.
Philadelphia
Few people outside of the U.S. think of Philadelphia as a travel destination, however, if you’re looking for some history, this is the town to explore. The City of Brotherly Love is similar to Boston in its size, cultural and artistic influence, and charm, but its historical clout goes a bit further as it served as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States and was the location where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed. Naturally, there are plenty of historical sites to see in this old city, including the Liberty Bell. Stroll through the narrow, cobblestone streets in Old City, climb (or run) the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art made famous by Rocky Balboa, and visit the pubs and bars along South Street.
The city is also known for its abundance of food and is home to the cheesesteak a sandwich on a sub roll with sliced pieces of steak and cheese and the soft pretzel. In addition, Philly is a short drive to Amish Country where many Amish and Mennonite families reside. Tourists frequent quaint areas like Lancaster for freshly baked breads and pastries, as well as jams and preserves. Not only can you purchase these goodies, but you can learn how to make them yourself.
Washington, D.C.
One cannot do a historical tour of the U.S. without visiting the nation’s capitol. With its monuments, the White House, and other government buildings, a visit to D.C. could be rather expansive, and with its high level of tourism, could be pretty busy. While most tourists stay in the vicinity surrounding the National Mall, there are many other cool and interesting neighborhoods in the District and the outer areas of southern Maryland and northern Virginia to see. For instance, Arlington, which is located right across the bridge from the Mall, is where the famous Arlington Cemetery is. The Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, is also located in this area outside of Washington.
Besides sightseeing, D.C. is terrific for shopping with many noteworthy shops strewn all over Georgetown. The city also boosts the cleanest and safest subway system, or metro, in the U.S., so travelling about the city is safe and easy. Wait until the spring to visit the U.S. Capitol and you’ll be able to catch the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a beloved D.C. tradition.
5 Comments
Rachael
Seeing as those are all on the East Coast an Amtrak trip would make seeing all those ideal. Still there’s some great and old American cities away from the East Coast – Pittsburgh – a very old city with a lot of fort history and even in recent history a city that has reinvented itself (and possible somewhere we might move to in a couple of years), Detroit for automobile and social history through to Chicago.
Out of your list – the one city I *really* want to head to is Washington DC and mainly for all the museums.
Beth
Loved my trip to New York, I really hope we can go back one day. I also really want to go to Boston! x
Clare Brown
I’m off to NYC for New Year then on 3rd we are going to Washington DC – so excited! Gonna enjoy the planning just as much as the actual trip – got a long wait but gonna be well worth it!
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Emily TheladyandtheBlog
Im going to NYC, Philly and DC in the summer and this post has made me even more excited! 🙂 xx
aravind joshi
Nice post and really interesting one to read. thanks for sharing this amazing info with us
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