What to do while in Boston
Boston is truly a beautiful and diverse city. There are adventures for everyone no matter what you’re into both in and within a short drive from downtown Boston. I’ve spent the last two days wandering around and found quite a few really cool things:
1. Cambridge – MIT has some incredible architecture that will floor you. Shown here is the Strata Center.
2. Harvard – TONS of old (and new) brick structures adorn the campus. Annenburg hall was definitely my favorite (main dining hall).
3. The Fenway Victory Gardens on Boylston St cover a 7-acre greenspace which include 500 garden plots measuring 15′ x 25′ – MORE than enough to grow lots of fresh organic fruits and veggies. Rent a Hubway bicycle and stroll the paths in and around the Fenway greenspace for a nice afternoon stroll.
4. Institute of Contemporary Art – There’s a wide variety of exhibits (changed routinely) here for the right-brainers. I didn’t go in because they were closing soon, but maybe I’ll get to go back before I leave Boston.
5. Concord – Lots of farmers’ markets throughout the week and weekend (during the growing season). This is a great place to go for a country-side drive as well. Wild turkey and white tail dear frequently cross your path and there are plenty of yellow leaves in the fall-time that would even make Aspen sigh in awe. And if that isn’t enough transcendentalism for you, you can always visit Walden Pond.
Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement during the 1830s and 40s in the Eastern region of the United States as a protest to the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian church taught at Harvard Divinity School. Core beliefs were the inherent goodness of both man and nature. “Truth in Nature” is the most simplistic description commonly used. Transcendentalists believed that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—ultimately corrupted the purity of the individual. They had faith that man is at his best when truly “self-reliant” and independent. The major figures of the movement were of course Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau anonymously published Nature (1836) in which he stated his belief that one could transcend the materialistic world of sense experience and become conscious of the all-pervading spirit of the universe, and that God could best be found by looking into one’s own soul – very similar to zen and Buddhist believes (seek answers within).
6. Sudbury – For all you baseball fans, drive by Babe Ruth’s house when he played for the Boston Red Sox.
It’ been a whirlwind couple days, but there’s still so much more to see. Stop back again soon to see what other gems I was able to find.
Be well. And Namaste.
Do you have any recommendations for me of place to visit or things to see in Boston? I’d love to hear about them so I can add them to my list.
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