Boston Travel - Visiting Faneuil Hall Marketplace

For more than 350 years, Faneuil Hall (1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston) has been a gathering place for Bostonians seeking food, entertainment and social activities. We first visited several years ago when our daughter was a student at nearby Boston University. We've been back often since, and each time we find something new and unique at Faneuil Marketplace to enjoy.

History Originally built as a meeting center and market in 1742, Faneuil Hall's early history included rousing gatherings, featuring speeches by John Adams and other patriots calling for independence from England. The original building was partially destroyed by a fire several years later, and was restored and enlarged several times since. When British troops occupied the building in the 1770s, it was used as a theater for officers and their wives. The hall's second floor still serves as a popular site for meetings and TV debates when political candidates campaign for local, state and national office.

The Marketplace The original building is now part of a large complex of buildings called the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Today, the buildings house more than 100 retail shops, including restaurants, food stands and other commercial activities. There's frequent entertainment in the balcony area above the shops, the most popular provided by the Boston Classical Orchestra. Whether you're a tourist or local, it's a fun way to spend a day or an evening.

Outside The Hall On our visits, we've often joined the crowd of adults and kids next to the hall on the cobblestone walkway to enjoy the free daily shows. Entertainers there include magicians, jugglers, clowns, singers, musicians, cartoonists and others.

Nightlife at Faneuil Hall There's a lively restaurant and bar scene every night in the Faneuil Hall area. It's a fun place to bar-hop and has many pubs and taverns. For foodies, there are a huge array of international food vendors inside the Quincy Market Colonnade.

Legal Sea Foods, Long Wharf When in the Faneuil Hall area, our favorite place to dine on Boston's famed fish dishes is this branch of the Legal Sea Foods (255 State St., Boston) restaurant chain. We always start with Legal's creamy New England clam chowder, followed by Anna's baked Boston scrod or Legal's crab cakes.

Millennium Bostonian Hotel We've stayed several times at the Millennium Bostonian (26 North St., Boston), a conveniently located downtown hotel. Just a very short walk from many historic Boston landmarks, including nearby Faneuil Hall, it makes a comfortable base for visiting everything the city has to offer. Rooms are available for under $200.

Follow travel writer Ted Sherman on Twitter @travel4seniors and check out his blog, travel4seniors.com.