5 Great Places In Boston That Can Be Accessed By MBTA

Boston has a lot of great places for people of all ages to visit. What’s better is that the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) is inexpensive and easily accessible. Here are 5 great places in Boston that can be accessed by the MBTA!

1. The Boston Harbor

The Boston Harbor can be accessed by the Orange Line or Red Line at the South Station Stop. It’s the perfect place in Boston to visit in the late spring or summer, any earlier or later is difficult given the brisk Atlantic sea breeze. It’s great for evening walks or dates, and the night time view of the ocean from the harbor walk is gorgeous. There are a few bike routes that allow one to scope out an even closer view of the sea, and numerous Blue Bike Rentals in the area make it possible even if you don’t own a bike!

There are lots of great seafood restaurants such as the Barking Crab, Yankee Lobster, and the Meritage Restaurant. There are hotels and lots of boats (in the event you’re lucky enough to ride one). There are also historical locations such as the Tea Party Museum, and artistic venues such as the Institute of Contemporary Art.

2. The Boston Common/Down Town

This can be accessed by the Green Line at Park Street or Boylston stops. There are lots of things to do here, it borders the Suffolk and Emerson campuses. The Common and the Public Garden, which are great locations to visit in Boston as a local or a vacationer year-round, have lots of little booths that sell trinkets and souvenirs. I’ve made many fine memories in these parks, as there are events/festivals there constantly. Surrounding these parks, are numerous bookstores such as Brattle and Commonwealth Books, record shops such as F Nice Records, famous restaurants, and historical sites such as the Paul Revere House, The North Church and the Franklin House.

The Freedom Trail and the Black Heritage Trail are worth taking if you’ve never explored them. The elegant gold-domed statehouse is also located here. There are numerous Playhouses and music venues such as the Orpheum or Wang Theaters. The Commonwealth Mall that leads to the Common and Public Gardens is worth seeing in the fall. There’s also the gorgeous Beacon Hill residential area that’s a nice location for a stroll. I’ve gone to dozens of political demonstrations of the Common to celebrate the historic legacy of Free speech and political dissent in the United States.

3. The Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum can be accessed by the Orange Line at the Forest Hills stop. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, architect of New York City’s Central Park, and with far less dog excrement, The Arboretum is a great place to visit in Boston year-round, but particularly in the fall, where one can observe the gorgeous changing of the leaves the New England is famous for. In the spring, there is a famous harvest festival of Lilac to celebrate Mother’s Day, and the park smells of Lilac for several weeks before and after. There are a number of hills that make this park a top choice for biking, hiking, sledding and exploring. It is managed by Harvard’s Horticultural Society, and displays hundreds of different kinds of flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses.

It has a healthy amount of wildlife that can be safely viewed from a distance. There is a great walking/biking trail that begins at the Massachusetts Avenue Orange Line stop in Back Bay that leads all the way to the Arboretum. there are a number of great restaurants on the way to the Arboretum such as Oriental de Cuba, Yely’s, and il Panino Café and Grill, on Center Street, near the Jackson Square Orange Line stop.

4. The MFA/Fens

The MFA/Fens can be accessed by the Green Line at the MFA stop on the E (Heath) Line. It borders the Mass Art and Northeastern Campuses. There are lots of great exhibits in this museum and as a college student, you get a 100% student discount. They’ve got a room full of vintage instruments, a great collection of Native American Art, of ancient Greek and Egyptian Art, a fine collection of Ancient Chinese Art and superb collections of modern art. I’ve been lucky enough to see some great visiting works by Frida Kahlo, Rembrandt, and Whistler.

They at times have had all-night events where, if you’re of age, for a small fee, you can drink wine and eat cheese with the cultural elites of Boston. The staff are also very knowledgeable and care a great deal about the cultural education of the city. I once stood out in a Blizzard on strike with the staff. The surrounding area is also a nice place to walk, and the exterior of the museum is a great location for photo-shoots for professional or promotional purposes.

The Fens is a great place for walking and recreation during the day time, but due to being poorly lit, it’s advisable to stay away from there, if possible, in the Dark. There are great restaurants in the Fenway area such as Woody’s Grill and Tap, El Pelon Taqueria, Regina’s Pizzeria, and the University House of Pizza.

5. Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill can be accessed by the Orange Line at the Community College stop. Bunker Hill is a great summer and fall Boston location to visit. Like the Boston Harbor, any visitors coming earlier or later may encounter the unforgiving Northern Atlantic Sea Breeze. There are a number of choice museums in the area such as the high climbing Bunker Hill monument celebrating the famed Revolutionary War Battle, the USS Constitution and its’ museum, The Boston National Historic Park, and Bunker Hill Community College, which is a great place to register for non-musical credits in the event one may need them.

There are also a number of great mom and pop shops and affordable seafood places such as Brewer’s Fork, The Warren Tavern, Charlestown Tea and Treats, and the Navy Yard Bistro. The local architecture is very typical of New England, much more so than Back Bay or Downtown and has an excellent view of the coast.