I Was Part of the Elite - My Cambridge Day Trip

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Cambridge is a city founded in 1630 which is right beside Boston, Massachusetts across the Charles River. It is well-known for being the home of the two most prestigious and elite universities in America and the world: Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). So ethically diverse, it has so much international array of shops, museums, bookstores, coffeeshops, food, and restaurants.

When I knew I was going to be in Boston, I definitely wanted a day trip to see these amazingly well-known universities and feel like a university student again. Well, I didn’t feel like a student but it was like I stepped foot in a different league. It made me remember my exchange moments back in Leeds at the University of Leeds. Even more, it was so great to feel like I’m part of an exclusive school!

As an individual that had a chapter in my life in university where I had one of the best moments in my life, I feel like I’m back to that chapter of my life again. For you who is looking for a quick day trip around Boston, you should definitely go explore Cambridge. Here’s an amazing itinerary in Cambridge starting in Harvard then to MIT then back to Boston!

Harvard Square

When you get off at Harvard metro station, you’ll immediately see Harvard Square. This is where most of the Harvards students, staff, visitors, and scholars first set foot in the elite area. It has a character on its own where the square is alive during the day all the way until midnight catering to more than 28,000 students from all over the world both local, national, and international. John F Kenndey (JHK) St. has an array of seasoned cafes like Black Sheep Bagel Cafe and Capital One Cafe. Great food places like Shake Shack and Greek Boston local chain Saloniki Greek. Tons of souvenir shops and Harvard spirit wear too!

If you’re here early to start your day, grab yourself a bagel and coffee at Black Sheep Bagel Cafe. This cute coffeeshop at the basement level on JFK St. is a good fuel before walking around Harvard campus.

Black Sheep Bagel Cafe Harvard Square Cambridge — You cannot go wrong for bagels and coffee for breakfast. Get yours at Black Sheep Bagel Cafe.

Then, after exploring Harvard, grab more food in the square. I grabbed great Greek food at another local Massachusetts chain Saloniki Greek before heading to MIT in the afternoon.

Harvard University

After exploring Harvard Square, walk back to the train station and continue walking Massachusetts Avenue to reach the campus. The campus grounds was very vibrant the trees and grass are still green even fall has already started. You can walk around the beautiful campus grounds and buildings specially when the weather’s perfect. The library is in an amazing Roman architecture great for chilling in the steps while reading a book!

There’s a free campus tour that runs every hour by students for visitors to know more about Harvard and its rich history. So rich in history, awards, and educated many notable people that contributed to society. I really liked my time walking around Harvard.

Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts — Harvard campus grounds on an fine sunny Autumn day.

Sematic Museum

There are many museums in Harvard University so you can definitely spend the whole day just in Cambridge yourself. I went to the Harvard Semitic Museum, part of the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. It’s a free museum in a colonial red bricked 2-floored building where you can spend a good half an hour to 45 minutes. They host ancient archeological artefacts from Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Tunisia. I highly recommend to visit this place when you’re in Harvard University to see amazing ancient artefacts of Near Eastern countries and how they lived back in the day.

Harvard Semitic Museum Harvard Unviersity — Nazareth Exhibit at Harvard Semitic Museum at Harvard Unviersity

Continue being an elite and venture to the MIT grounds. After you’ve explored Harvard campus and done being a Harvard elite, go back to Harvard Square to catch the Red line in the Harvard Metro Station two stops inbound to Kendall Square where another elite school is located.

Harvard Library Harvard University — Me chilling at the steps of Harvard Library.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

From old architectures jumping to modern campus buildings, MIT represents innovation and technology visible when you walk around the vicinity. It even is a fascinating campus with a mix of both old and new buildings like the Great Dome, Kresge Auditorium, and Koch Institute For Integrative Cancer Research Center.

Eula Esguerra MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge — I walked around MIT grounds in the afternoon.

Personally, this campus reminded me of my university in Canada: the University of Waterloo where I spend 5 years of my life studying engineering. A technical modern school with modern buildings and often compared to the prestigious Canadian school University of Toronto. Both schools are known for technical programs like engineering so I felt more like I belong in MIT.

The campus is in a great location right beside Charles River so there’s amazing trails and sidewalk to enjoy for running, biking, and walking. You can get good Boston skyline photos across the river from Cambridge!

Massahusetts Avenue Willian Barton Rogers MIT — Massahusetts Avenue Willian Barton Rogers – founder of MIT.

More Seafood

After all that walking, you definitely want a good drink and enjoy some happy hour. Luckily one of the great Boston seafood chain Legal Seafood has a location in Kendall Square. Voted as the #1 Seafood Restaurants in a national wide poll by USA Today, you definitely want to grab seafood dishes in this restaurant. Order yourself the legendary New England Clam Chowder. For me, I was here right on happy hour where they 6 oysters for good value of $6.00! It’s such good value and with a drink, it was the perfect combination to relax after all that intellectual walking.