This is a pretty good bridge for a walk being that it is well over two thousand feet long…read more It's also good for a run and if you are into bicycling there is a bicycle lane on the bridge so you can ride safely over it. If you're driving over the bridge during rush hour traffic it can get a little backed up but for the most part traffic moves pretty smoothly going from one end to the other. This is the bridge that connects Boston to Cambridge so if you are doing a walk along the bridge you can get some gorgeous views of the Boston skyline and MIT. I have walked over this bridge many times and I always make it a point to stop for a break every now and then during the walk so I can take in the views. Anytime you can walk over this bridge during a sunset is definitely a bonus!

While the Harvard Bridge offers a nice leisurely stroll, the real beauty comes from the views that…read moreit provides. From the beautiful sunrises and sunsets to the spectacular views of the Boston skyline; you'll be sure to witness some magical sights while on this bridge. As I was riding the bus from Boston to Cambridge, I couldn't help but notice how stunning the views of the city were while it crossed over this bridge. I noticed several pedestrians walking and running across, so I immediately stopped at the next bus stop and headed there to get a closer view. It was the perfect time too because the sun was starting to set. Walked across the bridge and then stopped to admire the colors in the sky. Stunningly beautiful views! Not only did I have the perfect sunset, but the city views were amazing too. The skyline glows at night! If you're someone who enjoys scenic vistas, then you will definitely appreciate what the Harvard Bridge has to offer. The walk across the bridge is pretty delightful as well. There will be other people and of course cars crossing, but it still has this element of peace to it. Maybe I was just too entranced by the sunset to pay attention to anything or anyone else. I did notice that other people stopped and watched the sunset too and took several pictures. I'm guessing that this is a popular spot for it. It felt extremely safe to maneuver even during the night. When in Boston, you're probably gonna have to cross this bridge at some point to reach Cambridge. You might as well make it a point to take a nice little stroll over the Harvard Bridge while you're here. I'd say that it's worth it and so would my pictures too.

One of three islands that you can camp on in Boston Harbor, the others being Grape & Bumpkin…read more Lovell has 3 individual sites & one group site, make sure to call ahead for a reservation. You can also swim on the eastern side but it is fairly rocky. Nice views. The island is fairly small, best combined with a trip to nearby Georges Island. http://www.bostonislands.com/

Awesome little island off of Boston - it seems to contain really cool range of habitats from a…read moremarsh to beaches to forest-y areas. The entire island is probably only a 20-30 minute walk long, and a good amount of it disappears during high tide. There's a lot to explore on the island and a good deal of flora and fauna, and there seems to be a multitude of seashells no matter where you are. The beaches are very rocky and the water tends to be very cold. We saw a large number of birds and reptiles, but there doesn't seem to be any mammals on the island other than small rodents. There are many campsites, from smaller clearings to very large openings that could fit a large event like a wedding. There're quite a few picnic tables and benches as well, but no garbage cans or the like. Walking on the island can be a bit of a pain - there are shells and rocks everywhere, and some of the paths get very hilly and slippery, especially if it's rained recently. Lovells is definitely a camping/hiking kind of island - there are no amenities/stores to be seen and I only saw one public restroom the entire time I was there. The Boston skyline is visible when the sky is clear, and the sunset over the ocean looks amazing.

Brookline is our home for the week as we visit our daughter in Boston, very walkable (though their…read moretraffic lights are confusing, no cars move while pedestrians walk, even in the same direction). People are friendly--2 guys were sitting on our rental stoop chatting and very politely moved out of our way as we left, apologizing though there was no reason to ;). We walked a mile to Whole Foods yesterday carrying our groceries home among the 4 of us. We passed the gorgeous public library and through some amazing residential neighborhoods (the architecture!) Great first impression!

If you want a free line of Coke because you have no money, then what you want is a Broke-line. And…read moreI'm sorry but unless you're a really sexy person willing to put out (in which case is it really free), then you probably won't find one. I don't even do drugs so don't look at me. Brookline is a really nice and fancy and relaxing City to the south west of Boston which is really part of Boston, let's be honest. You'll find lots of suburban niceties here but also some citiness and some cool stuff in terms of food and drinks and just in general I really like it here.

This was probably the number one "must see" on our tour of New England, and it surpassed all…read moreexpectations! (Note: If you have never heard of Dewey Cheetham & Howe, please stop reading now. This review will not enlighten you). We did not know what to expect at Car Talk Plaza since Tom & Ray's retirement. We found the odd shaped building (thanks Yelp!), with the odd shaped elevator, and took it to the third floor expecting at best to find a locked door. However, after tapping on the door, we tried it and it miraculously opened! There was absolutely nobody in the office! Evidently Doug "the subway fugitive, not a slave to fashion, bongo boy frogman" Berman and "John 'Bugsy' Lawlor were not yet back from the Sliced Ham, Razor Clam, Cherry Jam, Rack of Lamb, Grand Slam. We thought for a moment about having a romantic interlude to the sounds of "Are We There Yet Mama?" by Kelly Clark and the Wild River Band (show number 200102). However, we became consumed inspecting all the interesting gifts and memorabilia throughout the office. Once we were sated, we signed the guest book, put a pin in the Visitor's Map, grabbed an autographed postcard (or two), and proceeded back to the odd shaped elevator and back to Harvard Square. A good time was had by all.

The apparently now former office of the Car Talk shell company is still worth a visit. The name is…read morestill up in the window above Curious George...but all things must move on. Go have an espresso or cappuccino at Peet's at Brattle Square (or wherever) in Tommy's honor. Thanks for the laughs!

Every year, more than 8,000 revelers head to North Quincy High School for one of the biggest Lunar…read moreNew Year festivals in the region. 2013 was the 25th anniversary of the Quincy Lunar New Year Festival. Admission to the event is free. As you can imagine, the event is crowded. Personally, it made me feel a little claustrophobic, because there was no organized flow of traffic to walk through the event & look at the vendor tables. (People would pass you by in all directions.) The poster advertises free parking, but when we arrived at 12:15 PM, the lot was already full. Had we known parking would be a problem, we would have taken the T or walked. The lion dance was fun to watch, and I was amused when one of the performers threw candy at the crowd of children gathered in front, making it look like the lion was giving them gifts. This would be a fun event to bring kids to, with a large children's area with lots of games and other fun activities. The food court had about 10 south shore restaurants including Lime Leaf from Weymouth (delicious thai!) & Beni Cafe (sushi). The festival is presented by Quincy Asian Resources and sponsored by South Cove Community Health Center and many other local businesses.

Things that lurk…read morein the sea. The very first lighthouse built on Ten Pound Island was back in 1821. Gloucester was a very important harbor and since the island sits right in the way of the entrance people sensibly figured a lighthouse on the little island would be a good idea. The lighthouse was cheap and poorly constructed and another light made of cast iron was completed in 1881 and still stands. About 39 feet tall it originally had a 5th order Fresnel Lens that is now in a museum up in Maine. Gloucester can be a spooky place with all kinds of storms and fog and people can see strange things in in the mist. And all kinds of odd and bizarre things have indeed been seen out by the lighthouse. The very first sea serpent sighting was back in the 1600's and so many have been seen that this is sometimes called The Sea Serpent Lighthouse. By the early 1820's sightings of the beast were so common that people use to come here just to get a look at it. Many sworn affidavits by very credible people were signed, describing the beastie in detail. The light is quieter now and very few monster sightings are recorded anymore. The famous artists Winslow Homer lived here for a while around 1880 but he apparently was more busy with his painting than looking for monsters. The lighthouse was restored in 1980 and looks almost like new. The only way to get to Ten Pound Island is by boat but it's less than a mile off shore so it's a pleasant kayak trip. Just be careful to keep an eye open for something large and bizarre that still might be lurking out there.

Am I really reviewing a town? I guess I am. Gloucester is an old sea town with real fishermen and…read morefisherwomen! They also have white collar folks that summer here. I love love love Gloucester and recommend you come here for a few days just to take in the sweet salt air and look at the sun-kissed skies. You won't be disappointed when you are here.

Love this historic neighborhood. I could have walked here way longer and I would return to explore…read moreit even more. It is majestic, one of the oldest in the city, dated around 1795. Great restored historic house, nice cobblestone streets, everything is well maintained and elegant. Isabella Stewart Gardner used to live here, you can see her older house, it has a plaque on it. It borders Boston Common and the beautiful Esplanade! If you have time while visiting Boston, definitely stroll on the streets of Beacon Hill. You'll get a better sense of the city. There are museums around, you can take a tour or created yours like I did!

Super fun area to walk around in Boston! Lots of beautiful buildings/architecture to see, as well…read moreas original cobble stone streets. They are known for "Acorn Street" but most of the other streets look similar, so if you're looking for pictures that one particular street may be busy, but just walk around the block! Cute book store, lots of shops and restaurants in the area as well. So many cool photo spots! You can walk here for the inner city or take the metro. Walking is about 15 min from downtown