Regardless of where you’re currently at in your college career at Boston University, you have undoubtedly heard the term “BU Bubble”. This bubble is very much real and I’m sure you have been told the importance of leaving the bubble to explore the city. You should definitely strive to do this and make it part of your routine (I know I need to work on this sometimes), but there’s another bubble present for many of us that goes unnoticed. The “Boston Bubble”.
The city of Boston provides countless activities to enjoy and places to explore, but one thing that many people don’t recognize is its location. As the hub of the New England area, Boston is a great central location to explore outwards into Massachusetts and other neighboring states. There are so many adventures to partake in while here at Boston University, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of that fact.
At this point you’re probably wondering how trips outside of Boston are even possible. Most students don’t have cars and the T only takes you so far. This is very true, but the commuter rail, which is also part of the MBTA system, is the solution.
For those that don’t know, from January 5th to June 30th of this year, the MBTA is providing $10 weekend passes that allow for unlimited travel across Boston’s commuter rail network. $10. Unlimited travel. That right there is the answer.
Now that you understand what amazing opportunity is at our fingertips, let’s take a look at some specific things we can choose to do:
- Visit Providence, Rhode Island
Leave the state entirely and go spend the day in another historic city in the New England area. Check out the Roger Williams Park Zoo, walk around Waterplace Park, or enjoy the famous Providence Athenaeum. You can also just walk around and enjoy the new scenery! It is your adventure so do as you please.
- Hike the Nashua River Rail Trail
Hop on the commuter rail and travel north to Ayer station located in Ayer, MA. If you’re looking for a quick hike in MA, this is just one of many options open to you. The New England area has a multitude of nature locations to explore and the commuter rail makes many of these viable options.
- Snowboard or Ski at Wachusett Mountain
If you’d like a neat winter experience before the season is over, take a train over to Wachusett Mountain. The resort also provides a free shuttle from the T station to the slopes so get over and experience the fun before the service starts wrapping up in March!
With so many other adventures as well, it would be a shame to not take advantage of this opportunity. The deal lasts throughout the entirety of the semester, so try to find a weekend or two at some point to travel around with some friends. It’s always super nice to take a break from the city regardless of whether or not you’re swamped with work. Putting some distance between yourself and your daily responsibilities eases the mind and simply makes you feel better (trust me it does).
So what are you waiting for then? Check out https://www.mbta.com/projects/10-weekends-commuter-rail and get going!
