Massachusetts, NE
The bustling streets of Boston just steps outside our hotel.
“I just want a New England summer,” she said.
New England—a truly all-encompassing collection of states and cities along the East Coast. Home to beaches, mountains, history, culture, and (dare I say) some of the best seafood in the country. With a yearning to experience the Tiktok-trending “New England summer,” my sister, mother, and I traversed the country with hopes of creating our own memorable summer experience in Boston and Cape Cod.
Flying into Boston Logan International at nearly 1 a.m., we were off to a grumpy start. The night was long as we trekked across the airport in search of rental cars, followed by an hour-long line that resulted in us piling our suitcases into a dirty white minivan. I knew my navigation skills were slightly below average, but in Boston, they are an absolute catastrophe. After many missed exits, wrong directions, and U-turns, we made it to our home for the next two nights. I’ll spare you the rest of the story, as it was accompanied by even more seemingly endless waiting.
Waking up refreshed, I requested a traipse around the city before we embarked on our adventure south. As a girl who once dreamed of attending the infamous Berklee College of Music, it seemed time for me to finally experience the highlights of Boston.
After a coffee stop and stroll along the pier, we made our way to Beacon Hill—a Victorian-style neighborhood of cobblestone and brick (my absolute dream). Home to Boston’s Public Garden, our tour began at the park. A charming inner-city space, the garden was reminiscent of Central Park on a smaller scale—offering a place of respite for tourists and locals amid the bustling city just outside the towering gates.
A stroll through Boston Public Garden provides peace amid the towering city surrounding it.
My favorite part of traveling is the spontaneity, which proved lucky for me this day. On our way to Acorn Street, we stumbled upon a vintage market with goods ranging from clothing and accessories to art and decor. Here, I so kindly gave my money to numerous local vendors as I walked away with new clothes and jewelry that I can now say I purchased on the streets of Boston.
Red brick adorns the buildings throughout Beacon Hill.
The main area of Beacon Hill was a true marvel—a transport back in time as you take a few steps onto the old cobblestone road. I can’t explain it, but the vibe was equivalent to that of black coffee and cigars. Of course, I had to stop for a book along the way at the most wholesome shop I’ve ever seen.
The hidden entrance to Beacon Hill Books & Cafe.
And we can’t forget about Harvard. Blanketing myself in a sweatshirt from the Ivy, we took a self-guided tour about the crimson campus. I have to say, while still immensely impressive, it’s not nearly as intimidating as the many decades of history would make you think.
Tucked inside historic gates, Harvard University boasts its legacy.
Checking my trip request off our to-do list, we began the journey to Cape Cod so that my sister could experience her “New England summer” at last. Though our sojourn in Centerville did not exactly present that vibe, we did everything in our power to make the best of it.
Being an overcast day, we thought it best to skip the beach, and instead, explore the downtown streets of Chatham. Though apparently, everyone in the area had the same idea. After sitting in traffic and aimlessly driving around various parking lots for over 2 hours, (and let’s not forget getting in a hit-and-run), we found a pay lot nearly a mile away and started the trudge back to the main strip. At that point, we had to make the most of it. We explored all the shops offering antiques, stationary, and endless tourist apparel. I walked back at the end of the day with a new shark shirt, because in Cape Cod, shark week is every week.
In Cape Cod, Shark Week is every week.
The next day, our trip to Martha’s Vineyard was all planned. However, when stopping for coffee just outside the port gates, we were met with a flood of rain. The downpour lasted a matter of three hours, and we began losing hope of a travel day outside. However, after hours of contemplation in the little coffee shop, the weather granted us the favor of sunshine.
We then ferried to Martha’s Vineyard, and the Gilmore Girls fanatic in me was fawning over the show’s infamous vacation destination. Assembled of colorful streets and beautiful beaches, my sister was finally in her prime. Once again taking it upon ourselves to spend our day shopping, my sister was able to add three sweatshirts to her ever-growing collection.
Gorgeous views outside of Spanky’s Clam Shack (ironically).
On our way home, I asked my sister if it was everything she thought it would be. She replied, “I know we didn’t get to do everything we wanted, like go to the beach or see Nantucket, but I’m still glad we came.” I think for me, this was a really good reminder to embrace the unknown. I’m a planner, I will admit, but there’s no way of ensuring that everything will go to plan (ie: a record-breaking rainstorm). But what came out of that? My sister, mother, and I got a chance to sit in a coffee shop, enjoy each other’s company, talk about life. We’re grown now, and don’t always get the chance to simply enjoy each other. I’d say that was a stark benefit amid Mother Nature’s damper on the day.
Though unforeseen circumstances prevented some of our plans, we got one day of a true “New England summer”—and I am ecstatic to have crossed another state off my list.
Skyscrapers surround Quincy Market.
