With spring well underway in Boston, a whole new set of activities have become available and popular among ELC students. While some of these things may be fun all year long, I’m here to give you ELC’s guide to the top 5 things to do in Boston and Cambridge in May.
Boston is a city separated from its close neighbor, Cambridge, by the Charles River. This river wraps around the edge of Boston proper, and provides visitors to the city with beautiful views when walking along the esplanade. While walking the esplanade is fun, kayaking along it is better!
Charles River Canoe and Kayak rents out two-person kayaks for only $20 for two people for an hour! Kayaking is a great way to get some exercise and a little sun while enjoying all that both sides of the river have to offer. With locations scattered throughout the city, you can even kayak your way from one end of Boston to the other!
Boston is America’s past time. While other countries around the world enjoy a fast-paced game of what we call soccer, Americans like to kick back with a hot dog and a beer and watch David Ortiz hit home runs. Last season, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, and the city celebrated for days!
Baseball season can be a bit cold in the beginning, but if you cheer loud enough, you’re sure to stay warm! Here, some students enjoyed a game against the Rays a few weeks ago. We won this game 7 – 4!
What is a Duck Tour, you ask? The duck (actually spelled DUKW, which stands for Designed in 1942, Utility, Front Wheel Drive, Six Wheel Dual Driving Axels-a code used by the makers of the DUKW boats) boats pictured above were used as a form of transportation during World War II. The vehicles are able to travel on land and in water, and were used to transport goods throughout the country. Today, they are used as a tourist attraction! Riders can board and duck boats and travel around the city, before gently slipping into the Charles River! If you’re lucky, your driver will let you drive the boat! Quack Quack!
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a museum rich in very interesting history. Ms. Gardner was a “patron of the arts”, and a huge fan of all things bostonian, including the Red Sox and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Most important to her was her vast collection of art, and her support of the art community. She travelled all over the world to collect pieces and her museum holds one of the most beautiful collections of art in the city. furthermore, the museum houses a remarkable courtyard which is, of course, most beautiful in the spring.
The most fascinating part of the museum is it’s scandalous history. In 1990, over 10 of the museum’s most prized pieces were stolen. The crime has never been solved, and the location of the paintings is still unknown. Visitors to the museum will notice empty frames scattered across the walls where the paintings were taken. Another fun fact — admission is free for anyone named Isabella!
Boston’s neighbor, Cambridge, is home to one of the world’s most prestigious universities, Harvard. Boasting graduates like JFK and Bill Gates, this school houses some of the most extensive libraries and more so, some breathtaking courtyards. The ivy covered gates are open all year round for visitors to come in and see where some of the most brilliant minds of our time have been molded, but the courtyards are particularly beautiful in the spring when everything is in bloom.
Just outside of the university is Harvard Square, where visitors can enjoy wonderful restaurants, numerous bars and pubs, and countless shops. Be sure to stop by Mr. Bartley’s Burgers, for what some of our students would argue are the best burgers in Boston!
