When you’re at Harvard, you’ll hear the word “Newbury” at least once. This could refer to Newbury Street, the town of Newbury, or Newburyport.

I can’t count how many times I visited Newbury Street during my time as a student at Harvard. Newbury Street stretches around 8 blocks from Arlington Street (next to the Boston Public Garden) to Massachusetts Avenue, with different stores such as high-end luxury and vintage shops to local boutiques.

It is the perfect place for students to take a break from their studies, as there are hundreds of retail stores, restaurants, and art galleries nearby, including the Boston Public Garden, Boston Common, the Boston Public Library, and Prudential Center. There are so many things to do nearby!


My favorite places on Newbury Street are the little boutiques and cafés, and my favorite dessert place is Levain Bakery! The cookies are so thick and delicious; they’re even better when eaten warm!

Newbury Street is one of those places that becomes part of your Harvard experience, and I always found myself coming back throughout the semester.

Going further away is a cute little coastal town called Newburyport. I was able to visit it this summer on the MBTA Commuter Rail. It is around a one-hour train ride from North Station. To get there from Harvard, you can take the Red Line to Park Street and transfer to the Green Line to North Station, or take the Red Line to Downtown Crossing and transfer to the Orange Line to North Station. The commuter rail ride was super fun because it passed through historic towns such as Salem and Ipswich!

Newburyport had a lot of antique stores that I was able to explore. I went to a place called Oldies Marketplace, which was near the waterfront. It is a 12,000-square-foot building full of interesting vintage, antique, new, and used items. There were so many unique items that I would not have found anywhere else! Another one of my favorite stops was The Candy Man, which sells classic handmade chocolate, homemade fudge, saltwater taffy, and lots of nostalgic candy. It literally felt like I had stepped into Honeydukes from Harry Potter or Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory!

I also took a stroll along the waterfront, and there were boats docked by the wharf. It was such a peaceful place to spend a summer afternoon. If you are looking to escape the busy city and Harvard campus for a day, I definitely recommend taking the commuter rail and exploring this charming coastal town!

I have also heard amazing things about the neighboring town of Newbury. Newburyport is known for its beautiful downtown, charming boutiques, cafés, museums, and waterfront. However, Newbury is a quieter town known for its beautiful beaches, nature reserves, and peaceful scenery. I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, but it is definitely on my list!

At least once during your Harvard experience, you’ll hear the word “Newbury.” The only thing left to decide is which Newbury you’ll explore first.