Weekend at the Symphony
The lights dim in the concert hall. Silence fills the expectant air as the backstage door opens. Thunderous applause follows the maestro as he walks…
When worlds collide and visitors from home spend time with me at Tufts, my feelings can be best described as one of those trendy green drinks with questionable but somehow pleasant and refreshing combos -- mixing nostalgia and contentment like spinach and ginger. This past month, I was lucky that my parents were able to come visit me on campus, not only because their presences mean motherly love, fatherly fun, and yummy treats like said green drinks, but because they have done so much to raise me to this point that I always appreciate being able to share my ~progress~ with them as we all continue to develop during time apart.
Proud of this Boston snapshot from a moving car
I also got to welcome a friend from high school to Tufts recently, and we spent our few days together reveling in our growth and indulging/embarrassing each other with memories of our roots. I’m always hyper-eager to introduce my friends and family from home to friends who feel like family here on campus. In a way, it feels like introducing different parts of myself to each other. It’s a special thing, getting to connect people who have meant so much to me at different points in my life, and it makes me feel like an important link in this vast and twisted human web. I’m not trying to get too philosophical with this post, but I could really go on about the beauty of watching communities intersect and of getting to know a place well enough to share it with someone else...
Anyway, full disclosure: I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t stressful to figure out what to do with loved ones when they only have a short time in the area. So, for the benefit of us all, I compiled a list of a ten of my favorite things to do with visitors near Tufts, in no particular order. Enjoy!
1. Grab sandwiches from Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Square and take them to the Middlesex Fells for a picnic + hike combo
2. Bike, drive, or otherwise trek over to Union Square for coffee at Bloc 11 and treats at Union Square Donuts, picking up some yummy snacks from Reliable Market while you’re there
While in Union Square, also shop around in Loyal Supply Co. and enjoy Korean food at Buk Kyung
3. Window shop in boutiques along Charles Street and wander down old Beacon Hill streets
Beacon Hill's cobblestone roads are quintessential Boston -- a must-see for tourists and locals alike
4. Stroll along the Charles River Esplanade and lounge on the docks (even visit Mother Juice in Back Bay for one of the aforementioned green drinks)
Did you know the Charles River Esplanade is built on entirely human-made land, as is the rest of Back Bay?
5. Visit Crema in Harvard Square and have your food/drinks the lofted area upstairs, then visit Raven Used Books and Black Ink nearby
6. Grab pastries in the North End and explore the historic area (even go inside Old North Church and de-stigmatize touristy adventures!!)
7. Eat at DigInn and explore Boston Public Library’s famous map room
DigInn favorites include the iced matcha latte and almond butter + banana toast
8. Enjoy lunch at the Boston Public Market (Noodle Lab and Q’s Nuts highly recommended)
9. Get cultured at the Museum of Fine Arts (free admission for Tufts students!) or the Institute of Contemporary Art ($10 student admission, $15 adult)
My amateur photography doesn't do this view justice... let's just say my art won't be on display at the ICA.
10. Generally enjoy the refreshing company of a loved one who doesn’t get to be part of the Tufts scene everyday :)
Whether you’re welcoming a visitor to Boston or visiting the city yourself, I encourage you to check out some of these suggestions and let me know if you find more of your own! I’m discovering new parts of this area all the time, and I’m always looking for more ways to make loved ones fall in love with this place as I have over the past two years.
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