To me, summer in Boston is so wonderful because there has to be something to wipe away the memories of what February is like (aka the month when I think we need to move to an island in the tropics). New England has so much to offer in the summer, but you can really do a ton of fun things without ever leaving city limits (or having to get in a car)! I narrowed it down and these are the five things that I think everyone, tourist and local alike, need to do during the summer months in my fair city:
Get a lobster roll. Bonus points for eating it outside with a local beer. We like Yankee Lobster for convenience and deliciousness, but you really can't go wrong with your choice when in New England whether you're a cold with mayo or hot with buttered bun type of person.
Hit the beach. Since this is about what to do in Boston, I suggest going to Carson Beach in Southie. For a long time I thought it was probably pretty dirty with its view of a water treatment facility and proximity to the city, but it actually has an incredibly high rated water quality (thanks, gentrification of Southie!). After you swim around make sure to continue down the Harborwalk to Castle Island to watch the planes and get fries and ice cream at Sullivan's. And don't forget the playground, which is one of our favorites.
Take advantage of all of the free things going on. From yoga in Post Office Square to Shakespeare on the Common, there are things to do literally every night during the summer. Movies on the Esplanande (or the waterfront), Red Sox viewings, Free Fun Fridays, the Landmarks Orchestra: you could fill your calendar for three months just trying to hit up all these events.
Stroll down the Greenway. Every day there are food trucks parked from Haymarket to South Station and there is just something so awesome about strolling among the lush green trees, sandwich in hand, knowing that you are on what used to be a highway, and is one of the longest construction projects ever. Extra fun to be had if you linger around Faneuil Hall and watch some of the tourists try to navigate the madness that is Boston traffic.
Give back. If you are lucky enough to have time off in the summer, or even if you have a full schedule, there are organizations here that make it really easy to volunteer. Boston Cares has tons of different projects in all sorts of impact areas (kids, the environment, the elderly) and you can pick projects around your schedule via their on-line system. It is seriously SO easy and such a fantastic organization that is involved in so many great projects.
If you are an early riser like me, I also suggest checking out Back on My Feet, which is another organization I am proud to be a part of. Volunteers run with individuals experiencing homelessness at a number of shelters around the city. 45 minutes of running or walking is what most people do for their daily workout, so why change some lives and have a blast while you are at it?
Happy summer, y'all!
Get a lobster roll. Bonus points for eating it outside with a local beer. We like Yankee Lobster for convenience and deliciousness, but you really can't go wrong with your choice when in New England whether you're a cold with mayo or hot with buttered bun type of person.
Hit the beach. Since this is about what to do in Boston, I suggest going to Carson Beach in Southie. For a long time I thought it was probably pretty dirty with its view of a water treatment facility and proximity to the city, but it actually has an incredibly high rated water quality (thanks, gentrification of Southie!). After you swim around make sure to continue down the Harborwalk to Castle Island to watch the planes and get fries and ice cream at Sullivan's. And don't forget the playground, which is one of our favorites.
Take advantage of all of the free things going on. From yoga in Post Office Square to Shakespeare on the Common, there are things to do literally every night during the summer. Movies on the Esplanande (or the waterfront), Red Sox viewings, Free Fun Fridays, the Landmarks Orchestra: you could fill your calendar for three months just trying to hit up all these events.
Stroll down the Greenway. Every day there are food trucks parked from Haymarket to South Station and there is just something so awesome about strolling among the lush green trees, sandwich in hand, knowing that you are on what used to be a highway, and is one of the longest construction projects ever. Extra fun to be had if you linger around Faneuil Hall and watch some of the tourists try to navigate the madness that is Boston traffic.
Give back. If you are lucky enough to have time off in the summer, or even if you have a full schedule, there are organizations here that make it really easy to volunteer. Boston Cares has tons of different projects in all sorts of impact areas (kids, the environment, the elderly) and you can pick projects around your schedule via their on-line system. It is seriously SO easy and such a fantastic organization that is involved in so many great projects.
If you are an early riser like me, I also suggest checking out Back on My Feet, which is another organization I am proud to be a part of. Volunteers run with individuals experiencing homelessness at a number of shelters around the city. 45 minutes of running or walking is what most people do for their daily workout, so why change some lives and have a blast while you are at it?
Happy summer, y'all!
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