Most BWH PCCM fellows live in Boston and Brookline. These communities are close to the hospital, some within walking distance, and provide easy access to the cultural center of the city. The MBTA provides excellent public transportation and there are terrific restaurants and recreational opportunities for all seasons.
The City of Boston
Outside of work, the City of Boston and its surrounding area have fantastic opportunities to explore your personal interests and provide balance to your life outside of the hospital. Whether you are interested in the outdoors, arts and culture, sports, or all of these, you’ll find so much to do in Boston!
Outdoors
There are several outdoor venues to explore and enjoy! The Esplanade is a public park along the Charles River for walking, running, biking, and picnicking. In the warm months, there are music concerts and feature films for the public to enjoy at the Hatch Shell in the Esplanade.
Boston has an active harbor with boating, fishing, and public beaches. There is a Harbor walk for exploring harbor life, parks, and other recreational venues. The Boston Harbor boasts two historic lighthouses and a series of Harbor Islands that are designated as National Parks. The MBTA runs regular boat service to the Islands for day trips and picnicking.
Boston is dripping with history, for the Revolutionary War and birth of the nation. City historians have created a Freedom Trail for visitors. Simply follow the red line on the sidewalk and you see and learn about the many historical locations and events that helped shape our nation. Boston is also famous for its Duck Tours that use amphibious vehicles and comedy to provide a special tour of the city from land and water.
As Boston’s population was expanding in the 1800s, early civic leaders worked with Frederick Law Olmstead to create Boston’s Emerald Necklace. This is a 1,100-acre chain of parks that connects Boston Common, the Public Garden, Fenway, Jamaica Pond, the Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park. These green spaces help to define the Boston outdoor experience!
Be sure to explore the beautiful surrounding area. There are wonderful hikes and bike rides in the Berkshires and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, fantastic sandy beaches north and south of the city and much to explore in Maine and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard (Ask the President!).
Arts and Culture
Just a short walk from BWH is the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Institute of Contemporary Art is on the waterfront and features an annual cliff diving event into Boston Harbor! Music abounds in the city with numerous venues for live music, an active jazz scene, opera, theater, and our famous Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the Museum of Science, the Children’s Museum, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History are some of Boston’s many cultural gems.
Sports
There are many venues for amateur sports enthusiasts, including Boston Ski and Sports Club, Community Boating, and Community Rowing. If you see a heated argument in the hospital or on the streets of Boston, it likely involves a passionate fan of Boston’s professional sports teams. The Red Sox, Celtics, New England Patriots, and Bruins have all won championships within the last 10 years and there winning tradition has inspired a loyal following!
Learn more about life in Boston! From Boston Common to Franklin Park is approximately 7 miles