Testimonials

On May 25, 2007 our 52 fifth graders left Keene, New Hampshire, for a field trip to Boston's Freedom Trail. We were fortunate to have Ben Edwards as our Tour Guide. He is a passionate about colonial times and the Revolutionary War. Ben's ancestors arrived in Boston over 300 years ago, and Ben has been studying his genealogy and facts about this period of time since he was a child. Ben has a wonderful personality and related to the children extremely well. He asked them many questions so they were able to participate and share their knowledge from our fifth grade colonial unit. We all enjoyed standing at the spots where history happened, and most children agreed their favorite spot was the Old North Church. Our lunch break at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market was entertaining for all. I highly recommend Ben Edwards as a Tour Guide if you are thinking of a trip to Boston. You won't be disappointed.

Donna Cary
Symonds School
Keene, NH

Notes from the students:

- I am writing to thank you for being my classes tour guide when we went to Boston. I loved seeing where the Boston Massacre and where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston. One of the other hundred things I learned about and saw was the Newman Window. My favorite thing that I saw was Paul Revere's house and how any of the Boston Red Sox players could throw a baseball from Paul Revere's house to Governor Hutchinson's house. That was really cool!! Thanks again for being our tour guide. I want you to know that I learned a lot from you. Marcus

- Thank you for being our tour guide on our trip to Boston. I am one of the girls that played a pirate. I really enjoyed the stories you told us about Boston. I liked the Old North Church. It was very different to the churches we have now in 2007. I thought the way Robert Newman got out of the Newman Window was very interesting. I learned a ton of information that helped me understand history more. Thank you again for teaching us so much and showing us the cool sites. Rachel

May 21, 2008

Dear Ben

Thank you for a fantastic trip! The children were so interested in the stories you told and the sites we visited. Your knowledge and expertise and the ability to share so appropriately with the children at their level made this a trip to remember. It brought meaning to their lessons at school. The chaperones were equally impressed, and they had a wonderful time as well. We look forward to working with you again.

Kim Heistand
MaryEllen Logue
Saint Bridget School
Framingham, MA

June 4, 2008

Ben,

Thanks for a wonderful tour. I appreciated your knowledge and ability to relate to the kids. I also appreciated the way you stressed the importance of how things you do as a kid (like the book you wrote at age 10) can relate to your life as an adult. It's so true. I'm recommending you to everyone I tell about the trip!

Sincerely,

Lynn Sloan
Tolland Middle School
Tolland, CT

April 21, 2009

Dear Ben,

Your walking tour of historical Boston was simply "wunderbar!" We learned so much about United States history through your vast knowledge of the subject. Thanks for showing us secret spots of interest, and relaying fascinating stories of your ancestors and their relationship to Paul Revere. Although you did not dress up in costume yourself, we really enjoyed wearing the colonial hats and have the pictures to prove it! Your engaging manner makes the tour perfect for families with children, especially those who want an insiders look into United States history. You were an expert at keeping our son's attention.

The Refeld Family
Munich, Germany

June 13, 2009

Dear Ben,

Well where do we start, first off we thank you for your kindness and the knowledge that you shared with the both of us. The tour from "go to whoa" was full of so much history. Following in the footsteps of your early ancestors Ben was a privilege. We appreciated your talents as a family historian. It made the tour all the more interesting. The audio CD we received was all the better knowing we had been there. Also Ben we thank you for the gift of your book. It's something we will always treasure, and our grandchildren will enjoy. Both my husband and myself recommend your tour and consider it the highlight of our stay in Boston. May our paths hopefully cross again in the not too distant future.

Kind regards,

Catherine & Lindsay Anderson
Levin, New Zealand

June 16, 2009

Dear Ben,

Thank you! We had a grand time and it was the favorite thing we all did in Boston. The audio book was fantastic and it tied so many family and historical facts into an entertaining story! It sure made our 12-hour car ride go faster. I discovered you online as I was exploring options for Boston walking tours. The tour was competitively priced and offered the added bonuses of a free audio book and online access to primary sources. We also thought it would be fun to have a guide with a genealogical connection to Paul Revere. All these aspects sold us on the tour.

You were full of surprises for both the adults and children... interactive, funny, and had our teenagers fully engaged the whole trip. You had the kids solving mysteries, stopping for treats, and earning rewards, all while you answered the millions of questions we asked. We were thrilled to have you lead us around an often confusing maze of streets and focus our attention on the important aspects of each site on the Freedom Trail. We liked how you wove in a bit of your own family history and the goal setting/motivational themes in your book throughout the tour.

My son loved the window of Old North Church and hopes the Ritz-Carlton concierge recommends your tour to everyone! My daughter loved her bonnet and the information about Ben Franklin. My husband enjoyed Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market and I appreciated your patience with all my questions. We highly recommend your Historic Tour of Boston!!

Sincerely,

The Tom Pezzetti family
Traverse City, Michigan