walking routes

[watersword]

For the past year or so, I have not been taking public transit, and have been going for walks in the Inman Square area. I feel like I have seen every house in walking distance of my house a billion times; once I have my second shot (plus two weeks) and would feel okay about a short masked T ride (probably on the Red Line), does anyone have recommendations for nice places to explore on foot? I am especially interested in vernacular architecture, gardens, and window shopping that is not Newbury Street, but mostly want something NEW to look at.

Comments

[jadelennox]

If you're up to a longer walk from a station, I love tromping around the Fells, but most of the walk part is getting there from any station.

I have been meaning to check out what they've built of the new Watertown trail. And there's all the newer bits of the Alewife path. Like, get off at Alewife, walk toward Watertown. Though, like the fells, that's less architecture and window shopping.

Have you been up around Huron St? I almost never go up there so it's always new and interesting when I do.

You know the rich people parts behind Harvard? They're gorgeous, and fun to walk through. First of all there's the more accessible parts near Inman, like Irving Street and the greenhouses and the rhino carvings on that building... which school is it? The one not far from the div school, but I can't remember which one. If you've been walking around Inman, you're probably used to those, though? But anyway, the other side of Harvard, west of the square, where BB&N is and I think Liz Warren and all the rich Cantabrigians. Really neat houses with gorgeous gardens, at least the ones you can see behind the rich people walls.

[watersword]

The Fells are a great idea, I'll have to figure out how to get there.

I am definitely planning on taking the T to Alewife and exploring the Minuteman trail from there, I have already been over the community path between Alewife and Lowell St.

Thanks!

[fenicedautun]

Have you tried walking up to Union Square and taking a look at all the happenings there?

I live near Magoun Square, so I've been exploring the area around and past Tufts, as well as Medford St down to Sarma. But I'm less picky about my architecture and care more about new and gardens :)

[watersword]

Yeah, I'm up there a lot because of the farmer's market!

[rmd]

Is Boston too far a ride on the subway? The Freedom Trail seems an obvious suggestion, if so. (Plenty of interesting architecture around there.) Also, if you've never taken a walk around the Christian Science mother church down behind the Prudential building, it's really nice. If you're good with indoors, the Maparium there is an interesting piece of art and acoustically remarkable. The Fenway can be a nice area, too.

[kathmandu]

Cambridgeport, south of Mass Ave on the side streets around Pearl and Magazine, has some nice bits of gardens and outsider yard art. I wouldn't exactly recommend it enough to make a special trip, but if you're already down there it can be pleasant to gaze around.