I love the Canal District. Make sure to stop at the Queen’s Cups for the best cupcakes and treats. Birch Alley is a nice store too. The Woo Sox baseball stadium is fun in the summer.

Near UMass: if you’re a runner, you’ll like Sneakerama. They have a Thursday night fun run year round that anyone is welcome to join. El Basha is next door and has great middle eastern cuisine. Across the bridge on Rt 9 are all the chain stores and fast food places as well as some more good restaurants.

There are lots of great parks and outdoor spaces in and around the city. The Tower Hill Botanic Garden is lovely. There’s ice skating at City Hall. Rowing on Lake Quinsigamond. Tennis courts, fields and trails along the water.