This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

Welcome to the real world and welcome to the vibrant city of Boston. As a recent college graduate or senior deciding where you want to live following graduation, the city of Boston offers an incredible place to begin the next chapter of your life. Whether you went to school in this college rich city or whether you are brought here by the prospect of a new job, you will be sure to find just what you need here. Before you know it, it will have a hold on you so strong you will never be able to leave. Explore the city and see all that it has to offer by checking out this inside guide to everything Boston.

Where to Go

You are in Boston, a city rich in history and full of culture, and there is no better place to take in the city in its entirety than from the Skywalk Observatory located in the Prudential Center. With a view that stretches out 100 miles beyond the city, interactive exhibits, and delicious cuisine from the appropriately named Top of the Hub restaurant, this place allows you to experience Boston with all of your senses.
Eight blocks of boutiques, salons, restaurants, and cafés that is unparalleled by most other commercial districts, need I say more? The architectural design of Newbury Street, combined with the modern fashion, highlights a unique quality of Boston: its ability to be modern while still holding onto the history of the city. There is a wide-range of shops from independent boutiques to popular high-end stores, which allows Newbury Street to cater to a larger variety of people.
What greater way to experience and explore the city than to drink your way through it with a Boston Brew Tour. Each tour includes 12+ different beers, a beer themed lunch, entrance fees to 3-4 breweries, and round-trip transportation. What more could you ask for? Forget the Freedom Trail tour and immerse yourself in Boston’s rich beer history. The beer culture of Boston is something that must be experienced. How else would you know if you were meant to live in this city?

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Where to Eat

After you have taken in all that Newbury Street has to offer in terms of shopping, Stephanie’s on Newbury is a must. Offering a sophisticated take on traditional comfort food, Stephanie’s menu contains childhood favorites such as macaroni and cheese and chicken pot pie, only elevated in a way that satisfies your now adult palate.
Crema Café, located in Harvard Square, is “one of the only independent, neighborhood cafes in the area where locals and tourists come together and enjoy handcrafted beverages and fresh pastries,” says owner Marley Brush. The sandwiches all made fresh to order are the perfect combination of fresh and savory and can be accompanied by the most delectable homemade sweet potato chips.
Located in the North End, Bricco offers incomparable Italian cuisine that combined with the atmosphere will transport you to Italy. The menu boasts an extensive wine list and the menu features items like wood oven pizzas to the lightest gnocchi baked with fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes. The aroma of garden fresh tomatoes, basil, and cheese fills the air leaving your mouth watering both as you enter and leave this exquisite restaurant.
Any Food Truck in Boston will allow you to get a feel for the city and experience the city through various cuisines. With a wide variety of treats and savory options offered, Food Trucks are examples of the various cultures and customs that Boston has to offer. Frozen Hoagies (gourmet ice cream sandwiches) and Roxie’s Grilled Cheese are a few local favorites.

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Where to Stay

With sweeping views of Boston’s cityscape and its breathtaking waterfront location, the Boston Harbor Hotel offers classically furnished rooms with views that will make you never want to leave your bed. Beginning at $240 a night, it may break the bank, but if you still have any of your graduation money in your pocket then it is completely worth the splurge.
The Charlesmark at Copley, situated in the heart of Back Bay, is a European style hotel that is within walking distance of many of Boston’s main attractions. This hotel will be sure to offer you a memorable experience beginning at $199 per night.
Boston Park Plaza, located near Boston Commons, is a historically rich hotel that offers classically styled rooms with a fair price of $141 per night.
The Chandler Inn, offers simple and chic rooms in Boston’s sought after South End. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful architecture and brick sidewalks that transport you back in time. Within easy walking distance to Boston’s finest restaurants and shopping, this hotel is a steal at $99 per night.
The Courtyard Cambridge Hotel located in between Harvard and MIT, this hotel provides those of you who aren’t quite ready to leave college completely behind with the feel of a college town. You will be able to explore Cambridge and Harvard Square and transport yourself back to your not so distant college days. Situated right next to the Charles River, the view that many of the rooms offer is remarkable. With rooms beginning at $141, that is only a small price to pay for a trip down memory lane.

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What to See

Beacon Hill, with its beautiful brick buildings and cobblestone roads, is a charming location in Boston that will have you wishing your first out of college job paid more so that you could afford the luxury of saying you live in this adorable neighborhood. Walking down the streets you will feel as if you have been transported back in time to when historic figures of Boston roamed these streets. Along the walk you will encounter enchanting antique shops and quaint cafes. Simply walk down Charles Street and you will find yourself charmed by this small but captivating neighborhood.
Boston Common, the oldest and one of the most beautiful parks in the nation, is the quintessential spot for an afternoon picnic on the grass or a stroll with friends. As the leaves turn in fall or the swan boats move across the water in summer, you are sure to enjoy every second you spend taking in this part of the city.
Faneuil Hall is steps away from the water and is home to over 70 retailers and a variety of Boston’s finest street performers. Visitors can enjoy the local art, performances, and music as they move from shop to shop before visiting Quincy Market to enjoy a variety of cuisines or to one of the local restaurants. It functioned as a central meeting place historically and still continues to do that today.

Suburb to Check Out: Brookline

This charming suburb is full of character and its beautiful architecture combined with the young hipster crowd makes this place the perfect new home for a recent college graduate. With everything from a creperie to charming boutiques to theaters and local bookstores, this place does an amazing job at even making people who are just passing by feel at home. Anything you would need is within walking distance and it is just a short trip down the green line from the city, which makes it the quintessential suburb. Not only is it worth checking out, but the beautifully designed apartments in the area are worth taking into consideration when you decide where you want to live.

Hidden Gem: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

A beautiful cultural experience awaits you at the Isabella Gardner Museum. Though not as popular as the famous Museum of Fine Arts (which is also worth visiting), this museum offers the visual splendor of an indoor courtyard that is not present at the MFA. The museum itself is a piece of art in its totality, not in just the beautiful pieces of art it showcases. Housing a collection of more than 2,500 objects – paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, rare books, photographs and letters – from ancient Rome, Renaissance Italy, 19th century France, and much more. Happen upon the Isabella Gardner Museum on a Thursday and you will be greeted by the smooth melody of Jazz coming from the courtyard as the museum host local musicians throughout the week to provide its visitors with an even greater artistic experience.

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