Making the Internet My Accountability Partner

How do you pick a favorite spot in a city that you love? Boston is a wonderful city and I have made so many great memories. I have been making plans for one of my best friends to visit me for the first time since moving here. I have a list of so many places I want to show her, but if I were asked to pick a favorite? What makes someplace your favorite place?

If I were to name the spot I go to the most frequently it would 1000% be the Arnold Arboretum. It’s a beautiful green oasis just 15 minutes from my apartment and they always host the most interesting and informative programming. But I also realize the issue with using frequency as a measure of favoritism is that it is biased by where I am located. I would love to spend more time down at the Esplanade appreciating the wonderful river views, or similarly, the Rose Kennedy Greenway appreciating the harbor views (I really love water if you can’t tell). Unfortunately both are rather far from where I am and so visits are limited to the weekend only.

If I were to choose the place that makes me feel like the protagonist of one of those coming of age in a big city movies I’d choose the rather large path that goes from the beautiful central library turns right onto the shopping hub of Newbury Street and down to the Public Gardens and the Commons where you can once again veer right to the theater district or follow the Freedom Trail to the tourist center of Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, and the waterfront. Which I understand is a preposterous area to try and designate as your “favorite spot”. But yes I am planning to take my friend on that informal walking tour.

However, the spot that I think I have to choose is the spot that I am most eager to return to. The spot that I’ve made incredible memories at and fills me with so much pride for choosing this city as my home. And that spot is Fenway Park. I have always had a spot of soft nostalgia for America’s Pastime. And the fun of Fenway Park isn’t just the baseball, but more so the fan culture. It’s well known that Boston fans are in a league of their own and that really shines through in Fenway.

I can’t wait to share this city that I adore so much with my friend. I know the memories we make will be ones I cherish for life.