Summer Friday? Check. Free train into Boston? Check. Beautiful sunny skies and low humidity? Check. The recipe for a perfect day out in Boston! I’ve been taking advantage of the free commuter rail train into Boston on Fridays this summer and today was no exception. The weather was absolutely picture perfect for exploring a new museum, getting out on the water, and enjoying some delicious food.
I took the 7:18AM train from North Beverly into North Station and then navigated the EZ Ride bus, thanks to the Red Line shutdown this week. Soon, I was devouring a stack of baklava pancakes with rosewater syrup at Brookline Lunch in Cambridge. They were absolutely delicious, but even I couldn’t completely finish them.
Next up was a trip to the Harvard Art Museums on the historic campus of Harvard University. I had wanted to visit the museum a few years ago but it ended up being closed on the day of my planned visit, so I made up for it today. The museum is free every day and contains art from ancient times all the way up through the present day. Not being a big museum person, the small size was perfect for getting my fill of culture without being overwhelmed.
I took the (free) shuttle from Harvard Square over to South Station and walked from there to the Seaport district for my afternoon activity: a sail around Boston Harbor aboard the tall ship Liberty Star. The boat was commissioned in 1972 and circumnavigated the globe while owned by a family in Maine. The weather was perfect for being out on the water, with cloud-dappled skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. The trip doubled as a plane spotting expedition, as we traveled directly under the flight path of planes arriving at Logan Airport.
My dinner destination was Monica’s Trattoria in the North End, where I had a delicious meal of chicken parmesan alla vodka and a glass of white sangria made with orange juice. The vodka sauce was very spicy, but oh so good! For dessert I made a stop at Bova’s Bakery across the street for a black and white cookie which I indulged in once I got home. Another successful day out in Boston!
Traveling with Laura 