The Ultimate Homeschool Field Trip of the Freedom Trail!

No Boston Field Trip Offers Homeschoolers Greater Value (Tour Options)

A 5.5-Hour In-Person Tour PLUS Free Exclusive Audio and Video Content

In 2023, Walking Boston is offering one private tour option for homeschoolers as outlined below.

Boston’s Freedom Trail with Ben Edwards lasts 5.5 hours—it includes time for Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls at Parker’s Restaurant at the Omni Parker House hotel, and a lunch break at the midpoint at either Quincy Market or historic Union Oyster House.

The tour covers all the Freedom Trail sites in Boston. You’ll go inside King’s Chapel ($3 per person admission), Faneuil Hall, and 3 historic burying grounds. A visit inside Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Paul Revere House, and Old North Church is optionaladmission fee required.

You’ll receive password protected Smartphone content that enhances your tour experience both during and after the tour as well as Ben’s children’s book One April in Boston (written for ages 10-13) in print, eBook, and MP3 audio format.

After the tour you’ll receive FREE access to our Virtual Field Trip of Boston’s Freedom Trail that Ben has developed for the 5th grade level.

Your private group can consist of up to 10 people. For a limited time (offer ends October 31) you can use the promotion code “2023 Discount” on the Reservation form to receive a $100 discount. The 5.5-hour field trip—normally $550, now $450. Payment options are cash, check, or PayPal. You’ll receive further instructions for submitting payment when your tour confirmation email arrives.

If you’re a homeschooling parent, field trips are surely one of your favorite things. They get everyone out of the house for a day, offering a break from the typical routine of books and computers. Boston’s Freedom Trail with Ben is a field trip that is unlike any you have ever imagined. It educates your children about American history while inspiring them to create goals. On top of that, it’s a field trip that is simply FUN.

On this field trip you and your kids will:

  • Be the guest of children’s book author and private tour guide Ben Edwards—a relative of Paul Revere.
  • Receive Ben’s 256-page children’s book One April in Boston in print, eBook, and MP3 audio format.
  • Learn about the beginning of the American Revolution from a gifted storyteller as you explore the sites along Boston’s Freedom Trail.
  • Hold and read some wonderful primary sources including rare documents and original colonial newspapers from Ben’s personal collection.
  • Enjoy a special treat of Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls that you can purchase when we stop for our reservation at Parker’s Restaurant in the historic and haunted Omni Parker House hotel.
  • Have time for a lunch break during the tour. You may decide on a quick stop at the food court at Quincy Market or a sit-down lunch with Ben at historic Union Oyster House—America’s oldest continuously operating restaurant since 1826.
  • Tour the Paul Revere House (admission fee required) including the Education and Visitor Center.
  • Receive access to the Midnight Ride Artwork Project and a wonderful audio recording of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” by award-winning narrator Phil Rosenthal.
Homeschool Tour Photo
Homeschool Tour Photo
Homeschool Tour Photo
Homeschool Tour Photo
Homeschool Tour Photo
Homeschool Tour Photo

About Ben’s Book

Ben’s book One April in Boston is written for ages 10-13. It teaches American history, the power of imagination, and the value of goal setting. Set in colonial Boston, the story follows Ben’s actual ancestors as they experience the events of Paul Revere’s Ride and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Shortly after the Declaration of Independence is read in Boston on July 18, 1776, the story transports readers into the future with fascinating and moving connections to the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and World War I. The second edition of One April in Boston, was released as an eBook in 2015 and in print form in 2017. The 20th Anniversary Edition released in 2020 contains 47 original pen and ink illustrations created by Cortney Skinner. The audiobook is read by award-winning narrator Phil Rosenthal.

Field Trip Information and Pricing

The Boston’s Freedom Trail with Ben field trip for homeschoolers runs from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The field trip is 5 1/2 hours long plus a half hour lunch break at the mid-point.

You’ll see the following sites along Boston’s Freedom Trail:

Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, Old Corner Bookstore Building, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, plus several secret spots along the way. Learn more about these tour sites.

We go inside King’s Chapel, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and all 3 burying grounds.

Admission Fees: King’s Chapel is $3.00 per person, the Paul Revere House is $6.00 for adults and $1.00 for children, and Old North Church is $5.00 per person. You can purchase a joint admission ticket to both Old South Meeting House and the Old State House for $15 for adults; $14 for seniors and college students; and $8 for children ages 12 and under.

Many homeschoolers elect to tap into their network and combine with other families to reduce the cost per family.

Choice One (Book this Tour)

This option includes all the bulleted items shown at the top of this page: The print, eBook, and MP3 audiobook versions of One April in Boston for up to 3 families, a stop for Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls, time for a lunch break at either the food court at Quincy Market or Union Oyster House, time to tour inside the Paul Revere House, and additional audio products.

One homeschool family: $550 for the 5.5-hour tour (Save $100 off this price – see note below)

Two homeschool families: $275 per family for the 5.5-hour tour

Three homeschool families: $184 per family for the 5.5-hour tour

You can have up to 10 people in the entire group for the pricing shown above.

Note: For a limited time (offer ends October 31) you can use the promotion code “2023 Discount” on the booking form to receive a $100 discount on a homeschool field trip reducing the price to $450.

Choice Two (Book this Tour)

This is our most economical option for homeschoolers. You can have up to 40 people in your homeschool group for the $550 fee. (If you gather 10 homeschool families from your network it would be just $55 per family.) Participants receive One April in Boston in eBook and MP3 audio format. We do not stop for Boston Cream Pie, and the lunch break would be limited to the food court at Quincy Market. Besides that, the other bulleted items at the top of this page are included.

A homeschooling family from Florida

A homeschool group from Connecticut

Testimonials From Homeschoolers

We Loved This Tour!

My husband had a work trip to Boston and we accompanied him. (Wife, teen, & kindergartener.) We were able to spend our first day in Boston with Ben taking this tour. BEST DECISION! Ben is a wealth of knowledge and kindness. Our homeschooling family thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many historical sites as well as a few fun ones that we would’ve never found on our own. We especially appreciated the personal attention Ben gave us and his patience throughout the day. Because of Ben’s excellent tour, the girls and I were able to confidently explore on our own for the remainder of the trip while Dad was in meetings. We HIGHLY recommend taking a walking tour with Ben. You won’t regret it!

Kelli HPosted on Tripadvisor

Incredible Tour!!

Our family of 8 plus my father-in-law spent a day with Ben Edwards on his Walking Boston tour. It was fantastic. The kids range from 2 to 13, he was engaging and funny and had many hands-on materials to draw them in. He was extremely helpful in the days preceding our arrival, helping us with restaurant recommendations – we have a number of food allergies so eating out is tricky. He was just awesome in every way, the kids loved the tour and will never forget Boston. As a homeschooling family this was the perfect way to conclude our school year and bring our American history to life. I cannot recommend this tour enough, it is the best way to experience Boston.

Liz OPosted on Tripadvisor

Fantastic Homeschool Field Trip

Hands down I would recommend Ben’s tour to any homeschoolers who want an engaging, interactive tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Ben is a gifted storyteller who knows how to keep students interested. We were a group of 40 people and he guided our group easily on this 5.5 hour walking tour. At almost every stop he had unique ways of keeping the students involved, and shared lots of original source documents (newspapers, old photos, etc.) from his personal collection. My hard-to-please teenagers really enjoyed this trip. Ben was professional, kind, knowledgeable, and interesting. Absolutely an exceptional, hands-on learning experience!!

Lori K—Posted on Tripadvisor

A Homeschooler’s “Must Do” While in Boston!

As a homeschooling family, we thoroughly enjoyed Ben’s multifaceted tour of the Freedom Trail. He approaches the tour with a personal passion born out of his Edwards family Boston roots with Revere family ties and engaged our children 6, 9 and 17 at every turn with the historical and relevant items he carries with him throughout the afternoon. He maintained our family’s attention with surprise, suspense and competitive interaction on historically related items during the tour. Ben conducted the tour the way we teach our children mixing current state with the past to construct a more complete picture. He encouraged questions and was always patient with our children’s many questions. We especially enjoyed Ben’s behind the scenes knowledge of facts, people, and personal ties along the Freedom Trail.

We highly recommend Ben for his knowledge, perspective and ability to engage our children. We recommend his tour at the beginning of your visit to set the stage for what to experience during the rest of your trip. This may include dining, touring and additional educational experiences. He took the time to personally text and email more activities and historical sites even after the tour.

Sincere thanks from the Knobel family in CA—Posted on Tripadvisor

Homeschoolers Reservation Form

This reservation form is for homeschoolers only. For school groups, please use this form. If you have questions, you may also contact Ben Edwards directly.

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