Matt’s Boston

Before he became “Nomadic Matt,” traveling all around the world and documenting his travels online, Matt Kepnes lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Here’s his take on the best that Beantown has to offer. Follow him on Twitter.

Boston is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is on the Freedom Trail, because it gives a great overview of the historical sights and neighborhoods of Boston.

When I crave sushi I always go to FuGaKyu in Coolidge Corner because it is the most traditional (and best tasting) sushi in the city.

To escape the chaos of Boston, I head to Revere Beach. It’s close enough to the city that you can get there by subway.

If I want to shop, I go to Newbury Street because of all the great brands, small shops, and eateries on the street.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum among the various plants and bonsai trees.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with yourself in front of Cheers sign.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Kelly’s it has to be the roast beef dinner.

Faneuil Hall is my one-stop shop for great food.

Locals know to skip Ben and Jerry’s and check out J.P. Licks instead.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped I go to Brighton and Allston to eat or drink at all the student places.

For a huge splurge I go to Legal Seafood for some of the best seafood in Boston.

Photo ops in my city include the Cheers sign, a Duck tour, Boston Common, and the best vantage points are across the Charles River in Cambridge. You get great views of the skyline.

If my city were a celebrity it’d be Matt Damon, for what I hope are obvious reasons (See Good Will Hunting for reference).

The most random thing about my city is that it has the country’s first subway system. It went from one end of Boston Common to the other.

My city has the most tough but friendly men. (Think Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.)

My city has the most tough but friendly women. (Think Amy Adams in the The Fighter.)

In my city, an active day outdoors involves heading out to the Blue Hills Reservation.

My city’s best museum is the Museum of Fine Arts. It’s one of the best art museums in the country.

My favorite jogging/walking route is along the Charles River near Storrow Drive.

For a night of dancing, go to the clubs near Boylston Street. Or, for live music, check out the live music venues in Cambridge.

Rednecks is the spot for late-night eats.

To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends, read The Improper Bostonian.

You can tell a lot about my city from how fast everyone walks.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they love the Red Sox.

In the winter you should go ice skating in Boston Common.

In the spring you should go outside and enjoy the fact that you don’t need to shovel snow every day anymore.

In the summer you should see a concert at the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell (a.k.a. the Hatch Shell).

In the fall you should go apple picking outside the city.

A hidden gem in my city is Tashi Delek for Tibetan food.

For a great breakfast joint try Zaftigs, a great Jewish deli in Coolidge corner. Get there early because if you don’t, you will wait for over an hour for a table.

Don’t miss the St. Patrick’s Day Parade festival in March as Boston celebrates its very heavy Irish past.

Just outside my city, you can visit the Lynn Woods, which is a great place to go hiking and swim in a lake.

The best way to see my city is by walking.

If my city were a pet it would be a dog – cute, friendly, warm-hearted, and loyal.

If I didn’t live in a city, I’d live (where?) on a beach in Thailand.

The best book about my city is The Hub: Boston Past and Present by Thomas O’Connor.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is “I’m shipping up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys.

If you have kids, you won’t want to miss the Science Museum.

Having a public holiday (“Evacuation Day“) to celebrate the day the British left during the American Revolution could only happen in my city.

My city should be featured on your cover or website because it’s historic and beautiful, and filled with things to do, die-hard sports fans, friendly people, and great food. It’s a quiet alternative to New York.

What you love about Boston? Leave the details in the comments section below.

Want to see your city on Intelligent Travel? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses (with any photos, videos or links) to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org.

[Boston Guide]

Photo: Stas Aleksandersson/My Shot