Boston is a historic city with connections tracing back to the founding of the country, which is as historic as you can get in the USA, considering it isn’t that old. It is one of the most epic cities in the country, is essentially a large Beantown that has a metropolitan city feel to it. It has a huge savvy student population and amazing student accommodation options. Boston is pretty much always a whirlwind of activity, with famous sites at every turn and a single lifetime not being enough time to explore the city inside-out.
The bottom line is that you’ll never find yourself twiddling your thumbs on weekends, burning in the agony of boredom. This is a list of all the imperative things all college students in Boston need to do. Most of these things are free or cheap or offer student discounts.
Run along the Charles River
Have your own personal movie moment of the immortalized jogging scene along the Charles River. With the Boston skyline on one side and the city on the other, you cannot have a more classic Boston experience than running along the three-mile leafy path of Charles River Esplanade. It is a completely free hotspot, and you can have a picnic, play some sports, or even rent a sailboat.
Check out the Observation Deck at Independence Wharf
This is the way to go if you want to get a bird’s eye, panoramic view of the Boston Harbor, the Seaport, Fort Point, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway without paying the pretty price tag for it. It is located on the Boston Harborwalk in the Independence Wharf building and is free of cost. You only need your id for entry, and you can take as many pictures for the ‘gram as you like, as there’s no time limit.
Catch a movie at Coolidge Corner
A retro-looking theatre dating back to the 1930s, playing cheesy classic and cult favourite movies at late night, is Coolidge Corner theatre captured in a sentence. The awesomeness level is off the charts and is a classic Boston experience for the uni students. Don’t forget to load up on the snacks and get a sugar rush!
Keep it hush-hush at the Mapparium
The Mapparium is a 30-foot glass dome and is way cooler than it sounds. Spanning three stories, it is a stained-glass globe with a world map on the inside. It provides the most accurate perspective of the scale of the continents and countries, better than any map can, well, sans the whole not having updated borderlines cuz it is super old. But, what makes it unusual and freaky is the echoes of people talking. Everyone in the dome can hear everything, literally! Even the smallest whisper echoes, keep that in mind if you don’t want to air out your dirty laundry.
Let Nature do its Thang
When you need to take a breather, soak in some nature and peace, hit up the Boston Public Park or the Kelleher Rose Garden. Boston Public Park is utterly gorgeous with tons of exotic trees, lush plants and colourful flowers. There is plenty to see, and taking a ride on the cutesy swan boat is a must. The Kelleher Rose Garden is a hidden gem near Fenway Park and Back Bay Fens. This secluded park has over 1,500 roses, is open from mid-April to October, and not many tourists know about it.
Free Concerts Galore
Hatch Memorial Shell has free concerts, movies and performances throughout the summer and is stupefyingly awesome on the Fourth of July. So, grab your friends and head out to have a great time.
Freedom Trail and Duck Tour
These are a Boston must-do! The trail is a 2.5-mile pathway that will take you past 16 historical sights. Just follow the red line on the road, or take a walking tour. The duck tour is another Boston classic. It is very touristy and super cheesy. You get to explore the city and see more than 30 popular places for around 80 minutes while screaming “Quack!” a million times without feeling embarrassed.
What are you waiting for? Get yourself out of your student accommodation Boston nestles, and get exploring.
