There are excellent opportunities to tap various interests to balance your life outside of the hospital. These include the outdoors and sight seeing, arts and culture and sports.

The city of Boston

Downtown Boston is a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides: the harbor on the east and north, and the Charles River on the west. Unlike many cities, much of the waterfront is recreational space. The city of Boston is made up of some twenty unique neighborhoods with Cambridge and Brookline as bordering communities. It is diverse, with a vibrant variety of people and language and cultures. There are over 27 hospitals, 3 medical schools, and some 65 colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education that attract more than 200,000 students, making it an ideal place to learn and explore.

The Outdoors

The Charles River is lined by the 17-mile Esplanade, a green space for all to enjoy. The harbor offers boating of all kinds, fishing, and a number of community beaches. There is a Harborwalk with many parks and other venues.

The Harbor Islands are part of the National Park system and are accessible by ferry for day trips and picnicking. Through the heart of the city, a red line designating the famous The Freedom Trail brings you through the history that is central to the founding of our nation. You can venture onto a Duck Tour to get a land and water view of the city. Parks such as Boston Common and the Public Garden are easily accessible green spaces to enjoy.

You can explore the best hiking in New England in the White Mountains through the Appalachian Mountain Club or visit the more local areas of the Blue Hills or Middlesex Fells. During the summertime, enjoy the beautiful beaches of the North Shore, Cape Cod, or Martha’s Vineyard.

Arts and Culture

Boston offers an energetic nightlife, from clubs surrounding Faneuil Hall to cafes and coffee houses. Restaurants abound as do a number of live music venues to the Boston Symphony Orchestra at which Latin, classical, jazz, and popular music are performed.

The Boston is also home to top-quality museums including the Museum of Science , the Children’s Museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Institute of Contemporary Art and theatre.

Notable annual city events include the 4th of July celebration with the Boston Pops and fireworks, the Head of the Charles Regatta, and the First Night New Year celebration.

Sports

Bostonians are tried and true fans and truly enjoy game day, cheering on the local favorite Red Sox, Celtics, New England Patriots, and Bruins. You can also get involved yourself in a city league through various community organizations like Boston Ski and Sports Club, Community Boating and Community Rowing.

Getting Around

Public transportation including the MBTA subway system, bus system, and commuter rail provides extensive access to many nooks and crannies of the city as well as the surrounding area. This makes accessible nearly any neighborhood as well as many free and low-cost social opportunities throughout the year. staff working 20 hours or more a week and without a parking deduction are eligible for this public transportation subsidy, which is only available through the payroll deduction. Employees with monthly parking privileges are not eligible to purchase a subsidized T pass. With many locations throughout Boston, Cambridge and Brookline, Zipcar offers easy access to cars short term.

Cities such as New York City and Montreal are also easily accessible by train or bus, making for a fun, urban weekend excursion.