Reduce Your Stress in Boston With a Relaxing Day Out
A Day Out Could Be Just What the Doctor Prescribes To Reduce Your Stress in Boston
By Lisa, Guest Blogger
Boston, Massachusetts is an amazing city chock-full of fascinating things to see, do, and experience. There are historical locations around every corner. But sometimes you just want to take a break from the honking cars and hordes of people and find a quiet spot to breathe in serenity. Here are the top five ways to rest, relax, and de-stress in Boston.
1. Museum of Fine Arts
The vast number of beautiful paintings, sculptures, and other creatively exquisite items in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts are staggering. Aside from the occasional school group, you can easily find a number of quiet spaces in the MFA where you can simply breathe in the stunning variety of inspiration.
My favorite room here is the Buddhist Temple Gallery with sculptures from the 9th to 12th century. Everything about this gallery is simply amazing, the aroma of the wood, the soft lighting, and the sense of the continuity of time. It’s the perfect place to meditate and practice mindfulness to reduce your stress in Boston.
2. Arnold Arboretum
The Arnold Arboretum’s serenity level is highly dependent on the weather and calendar date. If you happen to go during Lilac Sunday in May you could easily be wading through thousands of fellow beauty-seekers.
But plan a trip on one of the non-event days and you’ll be sure to find a blissful space all to yourself to tantalize all five senses. Every time of year at the Arboretum offers something delightful, and if you’re able to, visiting several days in a row awakens you to just how spectacular nature can be. It is always changing. Always offering something new.
3. Boston Athenaeum
The Boston Athenaeum is deliberately a place of serenity and quiet. Cell phones must be put in silent mode and cell conversations need to happen in phone booths. This historic location dates back to 1807 and is one of the oldest libraries in the US. The art and architecture here are stunning.
Of course, they have plenty of fascinating books as well. For true bliss head all the way up to the fifth floor, to the silent reading room. And, a silent reading room could be a great way to reduce stress in Boston.
4. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of my favorite places on the planet. Really. This building was the personal home of Isabella. She was an exceptional woman, far ahead of her time. She adored traveling around the globe; along the way she discovered and supported a wealth of ground-breaking artists.
Isabella filled her home with beautiful, thought-provoking artwork. When she passed away, she turned her home into a museum, with the stipulation that everything remain exactly as she left it. The result is breathtaking. One could simply take a seat by the beautiful inner flower-filled courtyard and relax for hours. There are also regular musical events held here with the best and brightest musicians of the region.
My favorite space here? The private chapel. Isabella crocheted the altar cloth herself.
5. Boston Public Library
The stunning high arched ceilings of the Boston Public Library just draw the camera out to celebrate. There are so many spaces in here which tap into a sense of wonder, which can, in turn, reduce your stress in Boston. Add in beautiful sculptures, paintings, and architectural details, and it’s easy to see how this location promotes quiet focus and serenity. Grab your favorite book and turn it into a special treat to be savored.
If the weather’s nice, be sure to take a stroll through the courtyard.
A Few More Ways to Reduce Stress in Boston
For extra credit, pop by some of the other delightful locations in Boston, walk along the Charles River Esplanade, take a ride on a Swan Boat in the Boston Public Garden, or see a show at the Boston Ballet. While the latter two might involve lines to get you started, once you are immersed in the activity you’ll be sure to find that state of bliss that you seek.
And, this might sound odd but have you considered being a seat filler in Boston?
Think about it. Entertainment can take you far away from your to-do lists and problems. And, you don’t have the stress of paying for tickets because you receive them for free!
