Field Guide to Boston

A collection of stories from our ongoing series, Field Guide to Boston. The series at wbur.org/fieldguide offers guides and public service journalism focused on how residents can better connect with each other while exploring the city's neighborhoods and rich culture.

An illustration of various attractions in Vermont. (Sophie Stephens and Zoe McDonald/Vermont Public)

Day trips in Vermont: Lakeside adventures, rural curiosities and plenty of creemees

Here's a collection of things to do in the Green Mountain State, from it's most populous area of Burlington and the northwestern region, as well as the Northeast Kingdom, its...

Local Coverage

Jul 1, 2024

A worker at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana takes a piping hot pizza out of a coal oven and places it into a to-go box during a weekday lunchtime rush. The restaurant was founded in 1925 by Italian immigrant Frank Pepe in New Haven, and has since opened locations across the Northeast.

Day trips in Connecticut: 50 fun things to do, from pizza to parks (and a castle, too)

From the southern shoreline to the hills in the northwest, Connecticut's state parks and public gardens offer a break from the hustle and bustle. Its cities are packed with things...

Local Coverage

Jun 28, 2024

A Tuesday evening Zumba class at Boston's Hatch Memorial Shell. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Boston on a budget: Free, fun things you can do this summer in the city

Here's a guide to the free museum days, fitness classes and music festivals happening around Boston this summer.

Local Coverage

Jun 28, 2024

A sign for Geddy's restaurant in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 3, 2024.

Day trips in Maine: 3 itineraries for eating, drinking and adventuring your way through Vacationland

Maine is known as “Vacationland,” and it really lives up to that name. Whether you want a day trip to the beach, a coastal hike or a tour around some...

Local Coverage

Jun 27, 2024

A promotional image for the Peabody Essex Museum's "Werk of Art" Pride dance party. (Courtesy Randyll Collum/PEM)

5 things to do this weekend, including PEM Pride and puppetry in the park

Plus, the two-day BAMS Fest in Boston and Boston GuitarFest in Cambridge.

Arts & Culture

Jun 27, 2024

Donna Summer performs on stage, circa 1975. (GAB Archive/Redferns)

What to expect at the 2024 Donna Summer Disco Party

Roller skating, dancing and other hot stuff to come at the celebration for the “Queen of Disco” at Boston’s City Hall.

Arts & Culture

Jun 27, 2024

Clockwise from left, a composite of scenes from the Cape, Boston, central and western Massachusetts. (WBUR file photos and Raquel C. Zaldívar/New England News Collaborative)

Day trips in Massachusetts: Hikes, history made fun, ice cream and unofficial hot dog tours

From the beach towns of Cape Cod, to the idyllic rural charm of central and western Massachusetts, we're giving you some sweet offbeat recommendations to plan your next epic day...

Local Coverage

Jun 25, 2024

A person walks up to Long Nook Beach in Truro, on Cape Cod in 2018. (William J. Kole/AP)

Not just great whites: Your guide to sharks off Massachusetts' coast

There are over a dozen shark species that swim off the coast of Massachusetts, from the small spiny dogfish to massive whale sharks. Sharks even hang out in Boston Harbor....

Environment

Jun 25, 2024

Dame Judi Stench, a corpse flower, is in full bloom at the Arnold Arboretum's teaching greenhouse. (Courtesy Jon Herman/Arnold Arboretum)

Rare corpse flower blooms at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum

A corpse flower named Dame Judi Stench has bloomed at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The smelly spectacle is rare, as it takes seven to 12 years for the...

Environment

Jun 24, 2024

Boston Landmarks Orchestra with Boston Lyric Opera at the DCR Hatch Shell. (Courtesy Michael Dwyer)

10 ways to hear live music for free this summer

While you’re not likely to see a superstar, revered Latin, gospel, hip-hop, jazz and roots music artists are all slated to play gratis in the coming months, and you may...

Arts & Culture

Jun 24, 2024

The Arlington Reservoir. (Courtesy of the Town of Arlington Dept. of Recreation)

5 freshwater swimming spots around Boston you can get to on the MBTA

Looking for someplace to take a quick dip, but don't want to drive out to the ocean? Here are five freshwater swimming spots you can visit this summer in Greater...

Local Coverage

Jun 21, 2024

In Ipswich, food historian Susan Benjamin was gleeful after filling a quart of strawberries at Russell Orchards. (Andrea Shea/WBUR)

A king, a spy and intrigue: How Mass. helped make strawberries so delicious

Food historian Susan Benjamin takes us back in time to trace the surprising history of strawberries in New England.

Arts & Culture

06:03Jun 21, 2024

Lisa Yuen and Calico Velasco in a promotional photo for Reagle Music Theatre's "South Pacific." (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios)

5 things to do this weekend, including 'South Pacific' and Mission Hill Arts Festival

Plus, The Folk Collective's inaugural pride month event at Club Passim and a festival of plays from Moonbox Productions.

Arts & Culture

Jun 20, 2024

The cast of Barrington Stage Company's "La Cage aux Folles." (Courtesy Jeremy Daniel)

11 theater productions to see this summer

Theater makers near (and sort of far) are staging universally resonant stories with themes of love, perseverance, immigration, vengeance and more. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair shares the plays she's looking...

Arts & Culture

Jun 19, 2024

A woman walks with an umbrella shielding herself from the sun in Boston Common. (Jesse Costa/WBUR file photo)

A heat wave is hitting Boston. Here are tips on how to stay cool and safe

Massachusetts residents are living through a heat wave this week. Here's how to stay safe and cool.

Local Coverage

Jun 18, 2024

Salvador Dalí, "Old Age, Adolescence, Infancy (The Three Ages)," 1940. (Collection of The Dalí Museum. Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

16 art exhibits to explore this summer

From a dystopian video game to an exploration of nature to an artist’s vision of a globe without borders, the season brings a bounty of exhibits that will refresh the...

Arts & Culture

Jun 18, 2024

Tell us the stories you can't stop thinking about from a wedding you've attended or your own. ( David Franklin via Getty Images)

Tell us: Share your funny wedding stories that really take the cake

We want to hear from newlyweds and their guests about their comically juicy stories from wedding season.

Arts & Culture

Jun 17, 2024

Lia Cirio and Sadie Brown in motion. (Courtesy Brooke Trisolini)

8 dance events to enjoy this summer

From Jacob's Pillow to the Newport Dance Festival, WBUR contributor Shira Laucharoen shares a slate of astounding dance events to explore this season.

Arts & Culture

Jun 14, 2024

Literature writer Katherine Ouellette recommends 10 books to read this summer. (Courtesy the publishers)

10 books by New England authors to read this summer

Whether you’re looking for a splashy beach read or you’re eager to learn something new on vacation, WBUR literature writer Katherine Ouellette recommends books by New England authors that might...

Arts & Culture

Jun 13, 2024

Cambridge Arts River Festival in 2019. (Courtesy Cambridge Arts)

5 things to do this weekend, from a river festival to Father's Day at the zoo

Plus, a round up of farmers markets and Arlington Porch Fest.

Arts & Culture

Jun 13, 2024