The Granary Burying Ground is the final resting place of Samuel Adams, Peter Faneuil, Paul Revere and John Hancock. RELATED LINKS Return to Boston City Guide

In 1951, Boston journalist William Schofield began publicly promoting the idea of linking important local landmarks with a pedestrian trail to help visitors find their way. More than 50 years later, the simple red line marked on city streets and sidewalks has become one of the nation's top historical tourist attractions, providing a user-friendly framework for exploring Boston's rich colonial and Revolutionary past.

The 2-1/2 mile route begins at Boston Common and follows a zigzag path from Beacon Hill through downtown Boston, the North End and across the river to Charlestown. Significant stops along the way include colonial-era churches and graveyards, the old and new state houses, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's home and the Old South Meeting House where Revolutionary leaders plotted the Boston Tea Party. The trail also takes in some of the city's charming older neighborhoods, with plenty of options along the way to stop for a bite to eat or a restorative beverage in one of the city's atmospheric pubs.

Whether you walk the entire trail or pick and choose the places you want to visit, it's a good idea to begin your explorations with a stop at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center (147 Tremont St., 617-536-4100) to arm yourself with maps and information. This is also where you can find out about guided tours with costumed docents, or rent a digital audio device that delivers interpretive information without the formal structure of a guided tour.

Additional information is available from the nonprofit Freedom Trail Foundation (www.thefreedomtrail.org) and from the Boston National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/bost/home), which manages most of the major historical sites on the trail.

History buffs also might want to check out other themed pathways including the Black Heritage Trail (www.afroammuseum.org/trail), the Women's Heritage Trail (www.bwht.org) and the Irish Heritage Trail (www.irishheritagetrail.com).