There is a sweet lull between midterms and finals, and I’m trying to use it to fit in a few more visits to Boston. In no particular order, here are some of the things I recommend doing there:
- Check out the Boston Public Library. I’m an English major, so I’m biased, but the library is amazing! There’s a cafe, and a cool courtyard, and I strongly recommend the tour, and obviously there are a million books. On that note: get an account with the library. Even if you can’t make it in and out of Boston often enough to take out physical books, their ebook collection is amazing. Same goes for the local Wellesley library.
- Go to a protest. Not to be that person, but at least give a try. I have been introduced to a bunch of cool Boston spots because someone decided to hold a rally there.
- Go to the Brattle. It’s a beautiful little local theater that’s always showing something interesting. It’s located just off Harvard Square, which makes it easy to reach through the Wellesley shuttle bus on weekends.
- The Museum of Fine Arts is free for Wellesley students. Enough said, honestly. If you graduate without doing this, you will regret having to go back and pay twenty bucks like a chump.
- Wander around Boston Commons. (People will tell you it’s called “Boston Common,” but people are liars.) Go in the winter and try out the outdoor ice skating rink. Check out the adjacent Boston Public Gardens.
- Make it the Head of the Charles at least once. Is traffic a pain? Yes. Is watching the rowers zip up and down the Charles ridiculously quickly worth it? Also yes. At least, this is what everyone tells me. I have not managed this. Don’t be me!
- Go in without a plan. Just wander around. Find a hole-in-the-wall something or other–bookstore, bar, new favorite coffee shop. Whatever. Just try stuff out.
- The Trident bookstore/cafe has lots of cool events (my sister and I went to a Hamilton-themed murder mystery party and it was fantastic) as well as good books and food. Also, it’s less than a ten minute walk from a shuttle bus stop.
- See a show. Boston has a pretty active theater scene, and tickets can be cheap if you grab the inexpensive seats as soon as they go on sale. Currently, Hamilton is touring in the area and my jealousy of people who are going runs deep.
- Drink boba. I will level with you, I am not entirely sure why bubble tea is so popular. But (apparently?) everyone else who goes to Wellesley can’t be wrong, so give it a shot I guess?
- The aquarium isn’t just for kids. They’ve got dolphins and stuff! They do tricks! You are not too old to enjoy performing dolphins! Do not skip it!
- Skip it. There will be a moment when you are digging up a bus punch pass and grabbing your jacket and you will realize that you really, really don’t want to make a trip off campus right now. Accept that urge! Toss your jacket in a corner. Take those shoes back off. Get back into bed. Sometimes that’s just what you need.