I had never heard of the town of Quincy until a friend asked if we could take a day trip there. She’d been reading a biography of John and Abigail Adams and was eager to see the place where they were born and lived.
Just a short drive from downtown Boston, Quincy is a great location for a New England day trip, especially if you love history.
1 Day Itinerary in Quincy
We only had half a day to spend in Quincy, which was the perfect amount of time for a historical walking tour. We started at the Adams National Historic Park Visitor Center*. They had a short film you could watch about John Adams and John Quincy Adams. You can book a trolley tour here, or you can follow the President’s Trail, a walking trail put together by the city of Quincy.
Because we were pressed for time, we decided to see only the two spots my friend was the most interested in: The Old House at Peace Field and United First Parish Church.
Peace Field was home to 4 generations of the Adams family from 1788 to 1927, including both John Adams and John Quincy Adams and fondly referred to as the Old House. The garden is open for self-tours daily and the Old House is open seasonally for guided tours.
The United First Parish Church, also known as Church of the Presidents, is where the two Presidents and their First Ladies are buried. Volunteers at the church gave a short tour of both the church and the crypt.
We kept our tour pretty short, because it was a hot July day and my friend and I were both pregnant.
Other Stops to Add in Historic Quincy
Other stops you could add: Hancock Cemetery, Quincy Historical Society, Dorothy Quincy Homestead, John Adams Birthplace, and John Quincy Adams Birthplace. You’ll also walk right by the Vietnam War POW memorial and Quincy City Hall. The 3 hour trolley tours from the visitor center cover both the Adams birthplaces and the Old House at Peace Field.
What to Eat in Quincy
I couldn’t leave Massachusetts without a lobster roll, so we walked around the block to the Shaking Crab. The signature dish of this Cajun chain is a seafood boil, but this location’s lobster roll is divine!
We cooled down with boba tea on the walk back to the car. The little boba shop we stopped at on our trip is sadly out of business now, but there is a Tbaar just a block from the United First Parish Church.
Some other restaurants within walking distance: The Townshend, Cucina Mia Cafe, Pearl & Lime, Acapulcos Mexican Restaurant, The Fat Cat, Fuji at WoC, Pastry Land, and Craig’s Cafe.
*The visitor’s center is located inside an office building and difficult to find, so I’ll include the address: 1250 Hancock Street #108n, Quincy.
