For college students on a budget, Boston offers plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy at a reasonable price during a day of warm weather. From free parks to cheap eats, the city has an array of healthy, tasty and fun things to do.
Morning
Start the morning off with light breakfast and a workout on the Esplanade. Shaded by more than 1,900 trees, the Esplanade runs for about three miles along the Boston shore, from the Museum of Science to the Boston University Bridge, according to the Esplanade Association.
The walkways and bike paths are optimal for a light jog or an intense biking session. There are also many grassy areas where Bostonians can do yoga as they watch the sun rise over the Charles.
Early Afternoon
Rent a bike from one of the many Hubway bike stations around the city and explore. Hubway bikes are a cheap alternative for a person who casually rides bikes and does not want to deal with the hassle of owning one. Renting a Hubway bike starts from $5 for a 24-hour rental to $85 for a one-year membership.
Bridgett Chisholm, a senior at Northeastern University, said her job gave her a free one-year membership for the Hubway bikes and she loves it.
“When it gets warmer, it is something to do to kill time,” Chisholm said. “People should get it. It’s fun.”
Another early afternoon activity is walking down Newbury Street and enjoying street performers, such as dancers and bands.
Street vendors line the corner of Dartmouth and Newbury Street on weekends. While there are many T-shirts or paintings of Boston for tourists, other tables also offer clothing, henna tattoos and jewelry.
Lunch
If the weather is too nice to sit inside a stuffy restaurant, many places on Newbury Street offer outside seating with fresh air and a nice view of passersby. Cafeteria Boston at 279 Newbury St. offers an array of options starting from $5, including lamb or “Boston cream” burgers.
L’Aroma Café and Bakery at 85 Newbury St. is a European-style café that offers pastries, salads and sandwiches with Italian espresso and croissants, all under $12.
Late Afternoon
The best place to end the day is Boston Public Garden, where visitors can get lost in the hundreds of flowers and the music of saxophone players nestled between the shrubs. Eight-year-old Ava White, visiting from Atlanta with her six-year-old sister Arianna, said feeding the ducks is a tradition for her family.
“We come up here a lot,” Ava said. “We all come to Boston to visit our uncle and we come here and feed the ducks.”
Ava’s uncle Eric White, who grew up in Boston, suggests playing frisbee and having a picnic or a photo shoot.
For the artistically inclined, the Boston Common is the perfect place to sit under a tree with a sketchbook.
Candice Wai, a fifth-year student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, said she likes to spend nice days in the Common sketching for fun.
“I haven’t done it for a while. It really depends on the weather,” Wai said. “Today has been really nice so I might sketch out here for one or two hours.”
Wai said instead of sketching, just stretching out with some friends on a blanket and reading a good book is the best way to unwind before finals.
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