Dining at the Union Oyster House is one of those quintessential Boston experiences to which even the most tourist-trap weary must succumb. America’s oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House was established in 1826 and has been designated a national historic landmark (the building itself dates back to at least 1742.) The place radiates history both indoors, with the original uneven, creaky wood floors, and outdoors, just steps from the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walk through America’s history. There’s almost always a wait for a table, so tourists, businesspeople, and residents vie for a seat at the U-shaped, polished-wood bar to whet their appetites with freshly shucked oysters, shrimp, or other raw bar delicacies, washed down with an ice cold beer. Seafood is the specialty, with an extensive variety of oysters, fresh local lobsters, steaming bowls of chunky chowder, and homemade corn bread that’s to die for. When cracking lobster shells is simply too much work, the “lazy-man style” comes pre-cracked, with the claws served on top. Given the restaurant’s location in the heart of the tourist action, parking can be a challenge, but valet service is available and the Union Oyster House is accessible from the subway.