The Boston Loop with Sandy

Get brunch in the South End, or go to the SoWa for food trucks. For brunch in the South End, Coppa is delicious, but super super expensive for what it is. I really like Metropolis for brunch. If you want to do a not-cheap-but-cheaper coffee and breakfast sandwich, you could go to Render on Columbus and Mass Ave.

Then just walk around! Seriously.

Before winter sets in, the Tuesday and Friday farmer's market at Copley Square offers a bounty of local produce. In the fall, expect outrageous quantities of apples, cider, and cider donuts.

First, go to Copley Square and walk around there.

Then walk down Newbury, and you could make a stop at the Thinking Cup for coffee or a pastry or sandwich.

From Newbury, where there are a lot of shops, walk over to the Esplanade along the Charles. There's an access point on the Mass Ave. bridge.

Walk down the Esplanade to Beacon Hill.

Walk through Beacon Hill to Boston Common.

Maybe end in the North End and get dinner there.

Italian picnic on the Greenway with Jingying

"Basement wonder bakery" Bricco, where the $6 prosciutto parmigiana loaf will be handed to you piping hot. This hefty meat and cheese-stuffed ciabatta will change the way you think about bread.

Start at Boston Public Market with iced coffee and Union Square Donuts. The vegan ones are so good. I’m not vegan, but the coconut oil adds this chewiness and texture that is really appealing.

Then walk down the greenway and admire the art installations. Maybe even take a ride on the carousel, if you’re feeling child-like.

You can pick up picnic ingredients in the North End to eat on the greenway with the sun shining on your face. Get salamis, cheeses, and olives from the Salumeria on Richmond St. and bread from the basement wonder bakery, Bricco.

On the other hand, if you’re feeling too lazy to assemble any foods, grab an Italian sandwich with everything--everything--from Monica’s on Salem, and if you have a companion, also get the steak bomb from Dino’s across the way. The steak bomb tastes like a much nicer version of a McDonald’s cheeseburger, in the best way possible.

Then walk toward the aquarium, and continue down the harborwalk. You can walk all the way to the ICA. And on the way back, you can stop for a lobster roll. There’s this one place called like, “Amazing Fresh Lobster,” or something just really straightforward like “This is Fresh Lobster.” 

Then go to the Lawn on D, and have some stuff from the food trucks. Sheherazad is the best food truck in Boston. There is cinnamon in the hummus! 

Then walk off your snack along the Charles River. Walking along the Charles isn't the most convenient thing, but you know, at this point you've eaten like four meals, so I think you can deal with it.

Then I’d go to Picco for ice cream, because I just love Picco. Mint chocolate chip ice cream, and dark chocolate sorbet. I insist on the sorbet. I insist.

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I think people like visiting Boston because

1. It's pretty

2. It's quaint

3. It's historic. Honestly, I feel conflicted about this one because one can only call Boston historic by American standards.

4. Universities

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There are giant brains quietly humming together to pull the leading edge of humanity hurtling into the future. If you spend enough time in Cambridge, you start to see and hear that everywhere.

Not in the disrupting industries with technology way of SF. Not in theWe Are Living In Blade Runner way of large Asian cities. In the, this stuff will save our lives without us realizing it for the next century way that is only happening in enclaves of scientific progress.

Also, the summers are pretty nice.

Boston on foot with Emily

One of the coolest things about Boston is that everything is walkable. Not to shit on the T, but you could do the entire day on foot. And there aren’t that many cities like that.

Do the first half of the Freedom Trail, but not the second, because like, the density of interesting spots decreases. In the beginning, you can see the Common and the Public Garden and you should definitely do that.

Then halfway, just end in the North End, where you should get a cannoli. Try both Mike’s and Modern Pastry—it’s the scientific way.

A view toward Arlington St. from the Public Garden offers  layers of architecture from different eras

Walk along the Charles. You have to see the Charles. You have to. It’s beautiful. I think it’s beautiful in the winter, beautiful in the summer. It’s what sets Boston apart from other cities. I mean, I’m biased, because I like to run. My favorite part of the Esplanade is, between the Dartmouth St. and Fairfield St. bridges, there’s that area where it splits, and there’s a little section surrounded by water.

Yeah, exactly, Gisele used to Instagram it all the time!

And if you can see a game, go see a game at Fenway. I was raised a Yankees fan, but I still think it’s the most beautiful, just incredible, baseball park in America. 

Boston's neon sunsets are best viewed from the dock on the Charles River Esplanade. They're even better if it's been a cloudy day.