You don’t need to be new to the city to explore Boston! There are plenty of cafes, museums and restaurants hiding right under your nose, especially if you’re the type of person to stick to old habits. Try out these activities with friends this spring:
The Harvard Art Museums are a set of galleries showcasing art from a wide variety of media: tapestry, sculpture and occasionally wood or metalwork are often on display in this four-floor facility. It’s a fairly large museum near the Harvard Red Line stop, and most importantly…it’s free! Thanks to donations from Harvard’s Office of the President and the David Rockefeller Estate, every ticket printed since 2023 has been free of charge. The Museums are also a 15-minute walk from the Charles River, which makes for a fun picnic spot in the spring and summer. Take your partner on a date, take your friends for a museum trip and most importantly, take pictures! The museums are open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Select holidays are excluded.
Spectacle Island is a 114-acre public park accessible from the Long Wharf ferry. It exists mainly as a hiking and picnicking spot, making it ideal for an easy end to the spring semester. There’s a public beach, self-guided trails and incredible views of the harbor. The most defining features of the island are its dual drumlin hills connected by a quiet sandbar. When viewed from afar, they sort of look like a pair of spectacles! One thing to stay aware of is that it’s a little low on shade, so if you go on a hot day, be sure to pack sunscreen or an umbrella!
A nostalgic favorite for many, Cafe 472 is a cozy little dinner spot located a 10-minute walk from Berklee College of Music. It’s more of an informal restaurant than anything else, offering a wide range of dinner foods (pizza, wraps, salads) in a small, cafe-like setting. Their real claim to fame, however, is their frozen yoghurt. You’re allowed to pick any two flavors to combine (or just one, if you don’t feel like mixing) and pretty much any topping you can think of. All of it is made fresh-to-order, and tastes amazing. Not to mention, it’s usually a very generous, near-pint amount for the relatively cheap $7 price tag.
SoWa Vintage Market is a recurring indoor/outdoor vintage market located in the South End. It focuses mainly on vintage jewelry and accessories, but also sells furniture, clothing and various decor. Vendors constantly switch out, meaning that you’re likely to find something new every time you go. The indoor market is open year-round, every first Friday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m., or alternatively, every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. While the hours are a bit awkward, it makes for a great weekend hangout or date (potentially followed up by a walk at nearby Peters Park or Blackstone Square)! The outdoor version of SoWa Vintage Market only runs from April to October, and usually focuses more on food than vintage products. While clothing and accessories are still sold, farmers’ markets and fresh jams, jellies and other handmade food creations are a staple of this experience that you wouldn’t want to miss.
Carson Beach is the better Revere Beach. Not only is it part of a three-mile park system, but it’s the closest beach to Northeastern! It features a popular walking path, public bathrooms and showers and a few volleyball nets for anyone to use. It’s rarely overcrowded, especially if you have the ability to go on a weekday. Free to enter, free to use and always open. The only downside is you’ll probably need a friend with a car in order to be able to go. The nearest Red Line stop is JFK/UMass, but it’s an unfortunate 15 minute walk from the beach itself (brutal in summer heat while carrying beach gear), so consider splitting an Uber.
Whether you’re a first or fourth year, chances are there are places in Boston you haven’t even heard of yet. These options are meant to be a good jumping off point for beginners, but there’s a lot more out there than what’s on this list. Ask friends, look up travel guides or talk with people who grew up nearby. There’s a reason Boston’s a popular travel spot; make sure you take advantage of it while you’re here!