Being a Tourist in Your Own City
My argument to take yourself on dates + a mini Cambridge guide. By Ally Quirk
An unoriginal concept, one I’ve seen ad nauseam on social media, is being a tourist in your own city. Which I loosely defined as: you do not need an excuse to do fun things where you live. For instance, when I visit a new city for a weekend, I fill the itinerary with options from morning coffee to nightcap. On a free weekend at home, I go in the opposite direction, laying extremely low as if on generous house arrest, confined to my neighborhood. I mean, why would I leave? My favorite coffee shop is two blocks away, the dog park is around the corner, my couch is right over there and Sex and the City is on. But then, there I was, graced with another 60-degree March day and completely plan-less. With the day to myself, I felt compelled to zip — nay, crawl (I took the T) across town to Harvard Square to hit a cluster of untouched spots on my Boston Google Maps list.
“-when I visit a new city for a weekend, I fill the itinerary with options from morning coffee to nightcap. On a free weekend at home, I go in the opposite direction, laying extremely low as if on generous house arrest, confined to my neighborhood.”
My recipe for any good solo day is as follows: a good outfit, tote bag in tow, a sweet treat, a good book, and a great spot to read it. Tucked away on a Harvard Square backroad, the laptop-free haven, Faro Café has warm artsy vibes with an ample outdoor seating area (my kryptonite). I got my oat milk latte and popped my pistachio croissant cherry (big fan) to sit in the sun and read my new book, Intermezzo by Sally Rooney1. The audiobook, although snail-like, was voiced by the silky-tongued Irishman Éanna Hardwicke, which made for a great addition to my reading experience adding a certain… something special (take my word, ladies).
After about an hour of reading and sunshine, I walked 5 minutes over to the Harvard Art Museum where I was mostly very excited to see Degas’ Little Dancer sculpture. I spent lots of time wandering around and taking it in and even on a Sunday it wasn’t too busy at all. I love going to museums alone so I can go at my own pace and not have to talk to anyone. Truly a delight. I listened to my meringue playlist on Spotify as I roamed.
Afterward, I sat outside and read my book some more before popping into the Harvard Book Store for a looksie. An unfruitful visit as I didn’t need anything and it was a little too busy for my easily overstimulated self. And with that, I was on my way home, reading my book as the T inched toward the South End, swarmed by a green sea of day drinkers for Saint Paddy’s.
A Solo Day in Cambridge Guide:
Stop for a coffee and a pastry at Faro Café. If it’s nice out sit outside and think of me. No laptops welcome. Walk over to the Harvard Art Museum and explore 3 floors of Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and tons more. It’s free! All museums should be free. Check out the Harvard Book Store, a classic bookstore filled with new and used books. About a 20-minute walk away is We Thieves, one of the two locations of my favorite vintage stores in Boston! Small but mighty, and always with a great selection of vintage Levi’s. Right next door is Dear Annie, a precious little wine bar with a small menu of light bites, great service, and dare I say it, outdoor dining.
Happy touristing!