My heart starts pumping, my hands begin to shake, and I become so excited thinking of what‘s about to happen around the corner. I guess you could say, I’m transported into another dimension. Whatever the reason, I am so grateful. Because no matter what I go through in this life, I will always have those amazing times to reflect upon.

These are my top five favorite places to see when I’m lucky enough to be in the greatest city in the world.

1. Newbury Street

   Newbury Street is where European design influences meets urban sophistication. Outdoor café’s and high end boutiques line this famous street. Newbury Street has been compared to “Rodeo Drive”, but in my opinion, with a warmth and exuberance that the aforementioned lacks.

2. The North End

   In the North End, you’ll find narrow, brick-paved streets filled with Italian culture steeped in tradition. The Italians took hold here in the early 1900’s and it wouldn’t be unusual to see older Italian women sitting on their balconies drinking an espresso. Little Italy is known for the home of Paul Revere, which still stands proud. You can take a tour of the famous historical ride he took that fateful night, and you’ll also find the Old North Church here. There are also many graveyards that hold a mystical presence, their spirits come through here loud and clear.

3. Faneuil Hall

   A glorious marketplace for people who’d like to shop, eat and be entertained by the most quirky and talented of street performers. Millions, for over 250 years, have had the pleasure of walking the cobblestone streets and basking in what many call the “heart” of Boston.

4. Fenway Park

   How can you come to Boston and Not enjoy a Red Sox game? Having been built in 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest field in Major Leagues, as well as being the smallest. There are enough seats to accommodate about 34,000 to be exact, so it makes for an intimate sporting experience. Boston fans have got to be the most loyal of fans in the world. There has been generations of families who have come to watch a homerun being hit over the green giant. It’s rare you’ll meet someone who grew up here that has not been to a Red Sox game. To enjoy a Fenway frank here is know you have touched upon history. A memory even a true New Yorker would have a hard time shaking.

5. Harvard Square

   Although Harvard Square is not directly located in Boston, it is a part of Boston that must be visited. A triangular shaped plaza adjacent to the Ivy-covered Harvard University. It is definitely as unique as it is inspiring, here is where your imagination can run wild. Walking through Harvard Square used to feel like life being breathed back into my soul. It has since become more commercial than I remember it, old mom and pop shops have been gradually replaced with more mainstream mega stores. Still, there’s no place quite as diverse or with the same international feel, and for some reason every single time I’ve roamed the streets of Harvard Square, something unusual and memorable always happens.