Living in Boston
There are excellent opportunities to explore a variety of 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
Boston offers a variety of wonderful neighborhoods and accessible suburbs. The city has an excellent public transportation system and lots of terrific restaurants and recreational opportunities for all seasons.
Partners employees enjoy discounts for certain memberships and events.
The Outdoors
Along the Charles River is a 17-mile Esplanade, a green space for all to enjoy. The Esplanade is just a short walk from Massachusetts General Hospital. The harbor offers boating of all kinds, fishing, and a number of community beaches. Boston’s HarborWalk boasts a number of parks and other recreational 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 Freedom Trail leads you through the historical locations that are central to the founding of our nation. Duck Tours use amphibious vehicles to provide a land and water view of the city.
Boston's Emerald Necklace consists of a 1,100-acre chain of nine parks linked by parkways and waterways. This linear system of parts and parkways was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to connect the Boston Common, which dates from the colonial period, and the 1837 Public Garden along Muddy River and Leverett, Willow, Ward's and Jamaica ponds through the Arnold Arboretum to the great country part, Franklin Park.
From Boston Common to Franklin Park is approximately seven miles by foot through the parks.
- Boston Common
- Public Garden
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall
- Back Bay Fens
- The Riverway
- Olmsted Park
- Jamaica Pond
- Arnold Arboretum
- Franklin Park
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 and Nantucket.
There's so much fun to be had outdoors! Check out the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Arts and Culture
Boston offers an energetic nightlife, including clubs, cafes, and coffee houses. Restaurants abound as do a number of live music venues and the world renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Boston is also home to top-quality museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science, the Children’s Museum, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History, as well as live theater and opera.
Notable annual city events include the 4th of July celebration that features the Boston Pops and fireworks, the Head of the Charles Regatta, and the First Night New Year celebration.
Sports
Bostonians are tried and true sports fans, cheering on the local favorite Red Sox, Celtics, New England Patriots, and Bruins. Various community organizations like Community Boating, and Community Rowing offer opportunities for recreational sports.
This page was updated on 4/6/18.