Submitted by Dapper_Chocolate4010 t3_11ddd3w in boston
Hi, my friends and I (especially me) love walking around areas and just absorbing all there is to see. A little while ago we went to providence and Newburyport. What are some places near us or accessible via T or commuter rail that are just nice to walk around and look at? Bonus points if it’s a local neighborhood, I’d love to get to know the Greater Boston area more (Brookline seems nice but idk where exactly to go lol) thanks :)))
Lots of nice neighborhoods to stroll through in Brookline. The side streets between Beacon and Comm or on the other side of Beacon are nice. We also like to walk around the Cambridge/Somerville border, especially by Harvard. Beacon Hill and Charlestown by Bunker Hill are also nice.
Salem is great in nice weather and is awesome in October though very crowded. Newburyport is also another great salking city when its warm. Those are our two favorite places. We went to Rhode Island and there was nothing there but a mall with not much in it. We also have taken a train to Newton and walked to library which is a hike. Were still finding new places.
For Brookline, the Brookline historical society has walking guides if you’re interested in history. Even if you’re not, they do point you to interesting neighborhoods to walk in. They also have a list of all the “secret paths” at the bottom of the walking tours page and I think that’s a good way to explore Brookline. Just be prepared for a lot of stairs!! https://brooklinehistoricalsociety.org/tours/walkingTours.asp
We went to Newburyport for the first time a few weeks ago, but mostly to see the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. We grabbed lunch in town, but didn’t really notice an area that looked like interesting walking. What did we miss?
Not sure we just loved the little shops downtown and we sat at an outdoor pizza place and then we walked by the water. We just had a nice day. Went with my kids 20 and 22 and a few of their friends.
Concord - Accessible by Commuter Rail (5 minute walk to Concord Center). Concord center is a quaint New England town center with lots of unique shops. Orchard House, where Louisa May Alcott lived is nearby as well as the pretty historic site the Old North Bridge (part of Minuteman National Park).
Local: North End, Charlestown (near Bunker Hill Monument and Main Street), walk down Marlborough Street (between the Public Garden and Mass Ave) and loop back via Commonweath Ave, East Boston, Chinatown, Jamaica Plain, South End
Commuter Rail: Salem, Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich
Rent a bike! ride the Minuteman and visit Lexington and Concord
Very crowded is an undersell. Goes from quiet coast town to Disneyland on a busy day.
So true. We usually only go twice in October and we go on a Saturday or Sunday because they have all the tables and I usually buy some candles from 2 places though one has an etsy store I've already bought from twice since Oct. They have some great tables. Now thats all we go for and to eat. We do love to go in spring and summer too.
Take the red line to Braintree, walk down ivory street. Stop in the Dunkin’ Donuts factory for a freshly baked donut. After that head on down to the Ivory plaza and enjoy the great shopping at TJ Maxx and Homesense. And finish it off with a delicious meal at Chili’s (I suggest the baby back ribs)
Tons of great little shops on State, Pleasant, and Water Streets. Also great bakeries and restaurants! Buttermilk Baking Company and Paddle Inn are two particular favorites of mine. There's also a great rail trail.
Fields Corner, red line. The corner itself is not especially beautiful but there's good Vietnamese food. Walking uphill on Adams Street takes you to Ronan Park with views over rooftops and harbor. A walk from Fields Corner through Wellesley Park, Melville Ave, Tremlett Street gives you a nice tour through a beautiful residential area built up around 1900. Continue on to Washington Street-- you'll find roti and other West Indian treats along Washington by Codman Square.
Savin Hill, red line. Walk over the bridge and all around the gorgeous and cute neighborhood there with beaches, beautiful houses, hilly streets and hilltop park in the middle.
Ashmont, red line. Jamaican restaurant right there, Ashmont Grill is still open but maybe shutting down. Beautiful neighborhood on Ashmont Hill-- Ocean, Alban, Mellen, Harley Streets. Or walk through Carruth, Beaumont, etc. over to Adams Village for the Greenhills Irish bakery and more cool stuff. Or take the Mattapan trolley to Milton, check out the Baker Chocolate works area there along the Neponset River in Dorchester Lower Mills. Or stay on the trolley to Mattapan with its Jamaican, maybe Haitian treats plus the locally famous Simco's over-the-bridge. No fare on the Blue Hill ave buses back to Ruggles (thanks to Mayor Wu.)
Green line "D" Riverside cars to Newton Centre. Nice area, pretty, rather upscale many shops. Then walk along Lake Ave by Crystal Lake (where you can swim in the summer time.)
Green line Riverside to Chestnut Hill. Walk up Hammond St or Chestnut Hill Road through a super swank residential area to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir-- very scenic -- then back to town on the green line "B" streetcars along Beacon Street.
In Jamaica Plain, the pond, the 'pondside' neighborhood between Centre St and the pond, various other neighborhoods along Centre St plus all its shops and cafes, the arboretum, Dominican food near Hyde Sq or Egleston Sq, Franklin Park.
go check out rockport or worcester on the commuter rail
- Brookline is absolutely a must-do. Head to Coolidge corner to grab a coffee and check out some of the local shops, but absolutely head off of beacon street to walk through the stunning streets full of historic homes.
- Similarly, I highly recommend heading to Harvard Square and then walking both along the Charles and down Brattle street. If you make it to the Mount Auburn cemetary that is also beautiful. another beautiful, historic area that's great to just enjoy on foot.
- Salem is a great day-trip. Fun activities like the peabody essex museum and historical sites, but another great area to spend a day exploring on foot. I'd avoid October and go from now through summer.
- Jamaica Plain! Go walk around Jamaica Pond and then down and through some of the surround streets. Very pretty, nice historical homes, and some great local businesses.
- You can take the Amtrak downeaster line to Portland, Maine. It's a little bit longer of a trip but certainty doable for a day trip. IT's beautiful and the food there is incredible. I'd recommend waiting til it's a little bit warmer.
- Concord is beautiful and the site of lots of US history! An easy trip on the train.
- Charlestown near the bunker hill monument is great to explore. A bonus if you go to the top of the monument for some fantastic views and/or do a tour of the USS constitution.
- Not one specific neighborhood, but in general the Emerald Necklace chain of parks is a really beautiful area and you could spend all day just walking down part of it.
- Arnold Arboretum in the spring! when things are in bloom there it is one of the most stunning places in the city. They have an app that does guided tours of both the history and all about the plants and trees there.
Fresh Pond is also a great 2 mile loop in that area. Hit the cemetery in springtime, it's amazing
Not commuter rail, but the Downeaster will drop you in Freeport Maine which is great to walk around.
Is it to die for?
Mt Auburn cemetery is truly sublime
I went the weekend after Halloween. Best decision ever. Highly recommend.
I love going outside of october but I really love the tables on the common and they dont have it any other time.
+1 for Portland! So incredibly easy — you just go to north station, park yourself on the air conditioned Amtrak, and next thing you know you’re in Portland. Getting from the Portland amtrak to downtown/Commercial St is a bit of a pain (I walked there and back, and my legs dearly paid for it), but by and large it’s a simple trip and there’s lots of fun stuff/vibes in the summer.
Ah, yeah I saw no tables at all. It was beautiful though.
The tables are all the vendors. They are there on the common only on the weekend during October. I buy my candles from there. A lot of people rent tables during that month to sell their stuff.
Interesting! I’ll have to check it out next year. Will be sure to go like the first weekend of Oct to avoid the peak as best I can. Thanks for the info!
Definitely. They moved the tables a few years ago as it was so crowded and unsafe as the tables were on the street now they are on the common. I buy from one of the women on etsy. Omg she has the most fabulous and fun candles. Just bought my third today since October. There are so many different types of tables but I like the handmade ones best.
Beacon Hill for sure, all the random side streets, Louisburg Square.
The end of the pier thing over by the bocce courts in the North End overlooking the harbor.
Never been but the harbor island islands probably.
Charlestown shipyard.
Public Garden on a nice day.
Have you been to Maparium?
The East Boston waterfront is a really pleasant walk, from Lopresti Park to the Airport ferry terminal area.
Southwest Corridor Park - it goes from Back Bay to Forest Hills. You cover a lot of beautiful areas in the city and there are little neighborhood markets and restaurants near-ish to the route if you need to stop.
michael_scarn_21 t1_ja7wpqv wrote
Brattle Street in Cambridge is great to walk along with a ton of historic houses. Easily accessible by the T and you can walk to the wonderful Mount Auburn Cemetery, explore that and then get the bus back to Harvard.