The Best Activities in Boston and Cambridge to Boost Your Dopamine

Have you ever found yourself “doom-scrolling” on your phone — jumping from TikTok to TikTok without getting anything meaningful done? Ironically, a new TikTok trend has emerged to prevent you from partaking in this past time — a “dopamine menu.” This is a list consisting of various activities to get you off your screen curated and supposedly boost your dopamine levels. Here are ten locations and activities in the Boston/Cambridge area to add to your menu.

1. Beacon Hill

As one of Boston’s oldest historical districts, Beacon Hill is known for its beautiful brick houses and narrow cobblestone streets. The streets are lined with old-fashioned lamp posts and the occasional tendril of tree or ivy spiraling down through cracks in the brick. If you could ever make the four-mile journey there from Harvard’s campus — a quick ride on the T, a run, or a Bluebike — you may find yourself daydreaming about a future life in this romantic historic district. One of the best times to visit is late October, as many of the homes go all out on Halloween decorations — and king-size candy bars. Aside from houses, there are many antique shops and high-end restaurants in this neighborhood. If you desire a cozy escape from the chilly winter, look no further than Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, an aesthetic and whimsically designed building that is great for coffee runs, Instagram pictures, and of course, actually buying books.

2. The Charles River

As The Standells once sang, “We love that dirty water!” — once you get past the obvious grime of the Charles River, you can start to appreciate Harvard’s proximity to this beautiful and important body of water. If you’d still like to keep a healthy distance from the river, a Sunday run on the closed Memorial Drive or a picnic with friends along the banks is guaranteed to raise your dopamine level while keeping you dry. However, if you’re more adventurous, and would like to hone new skills, there are many water sports you can partake in. Paddle Boston offers kayak rentals if you’d like to enjoy the cityscape views at a leisurely pace. Or, if you’d like something more taxing — and arguably more aesthetic — rowing with a small group of your friends can get your heart rate up while also allowing you to enjoy the beautiful weather and foliage of Cambridge in the fall.

3. Concerts

Boston constantly has a variety of live music events and cool concert venues. Many artists — big and small — make sure to keep the city on their tour list. In particular, the area around Fenway Park boasts a couple of great venues within a short distance from each other — House of Blues, MGM Music Hall at Fenway, and of course, Fenway Park itself. House of Blues has a wide open space for a general-audience standing room. It’s great for a chill concert or to see a smaller artist perform. In the coming months, David Kushner, Foster the People, and Role Model are performing there. MGM Music Hall is similar in size, but has three levels of seating above the stage with nice leather seats, almost like a movie theater.

If you want a more expensive concert experience with a bigger-name artist, Fenway Park is an aesthetic and historical venue. Its open-air seating eliminates the stuffiness felt at most other concert halls and may provide an excellent sunset backdrop to the performance Some artists may even choose to set off fireworks at the close of their show, as Blink-182 did this summer. And just like in a Red Sox game, delectable Fenway Franks can be bought for dinner. Or, if you’d like something more filling, you can walk on Lansdowne Street where there are many restaurants, pubs, and bars lining the streets.

4. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

If you’d like to be immersed in art and culture, look no further than the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Gardner was an art collector and philanthropist who created the Museum to act not only as her home in her late life, but also as a place to install her numerous acquired art collections to be viewed by the public. It is known as one of the finest private art collections in the country. There are several rooms in the house, each corresponding to and containing a different era, artist, country, or even color. For example, there is a Dutch room, filled with Dutch furniture and many works of Peter Paul Rubens; a Blue room, fittingly containing many blue paintings and furniture; and a Little Salon boasting various pieces from 18th century Italy. All of these rooms surround a beautiful courtyard of flowers and ferns. Suffice it to say that going here will not only visually please the eye, but also enrich your knowledge of art and art history.

5. Toscano

If you need a break from Harvard University Dining Services, look no further than Harvard Square’s own Toscano. Contrary to popular belief, one does not have to venture into the North End for good Italian food — it’s just a walk away! Or, if you also want to head into Boston to hit up number one on this list, you could stop by the Beacon Hill location. The atmosphere in the restaurant is warm and intimate, with chandelier lighting against a dimly lit room and Italian stone walls. According to their website, owners claim that they are the restaurant in New England that most “faithfully reproduces Tuscan culinary traditions,” and it certainly lives up to this standard. Their bruschetta is soft and wonderfully tangy — the perfect starter to a meal. Their Rigatoni Toscano is a satisfying entrée that you just can’t get enough of. Take this opportunity to treat yourself with tiramisu, panna cotta, or any sweet treat that you aren’t getting at the dining hall.

6. L.A. Burdick

Trained as a chocolatier in Bern, Switzerland, Larry Burdick, the founder of L.A. Burdick, started a mission to create real chocolate in America — a product that was not mass-produced, poor quality, or excessively filled with sugar. Around 40 years since he began this mission, L.A. Burdick is still going strong. According to their website, creating these mouthwatering chocolates is a time-honored process — each step in making the chocolate is done by hand, from cooking to garnishing and packing the treats. This sense of care and attention is obvious in the quality of the chocolates they produce.

Located on Brattle Street, the shop is a perfect place to walk to on a crisp winter day and will guarantee you are transported to Switzerland. Their interior is very cozy and decadent, adorned with fairy lights, walls of various assortments of candies, and yes, the sweet smell of chocolate. If it’s cold enough, try out their hot chocolate, with your choice among milk, dark, or white chocolate flavors. You will be sure to find the treat a more delectable and authentic drink than you could get at the grocery store.

7. CambridgeSide Mall

In case you didn’t know, Cambridge has a mall — and it’s making a comeback. No longer do you have to go to Newbury Street and deal with massive crowds to shop. Just a quick T-ride to Kendall Square will provide you with the retail therapy you need to overcome the stress of college. Notable stores residing in the mall include American Eagle Outfitters, Sephora, Victoria’s Secret, and TJ Maxx. If those options aren’t exciting enough, just this fall, the mall is adding Lululemon, Mango, and Zara to their directory. Next time you need a new outfit, try out CambridgeSide!

8. Garment District

If you’re looking to shop on a budget, be sustainable, or just find cool vintage clothes, Garment District is the perfect place for thrifting! Located in Kendall Square, this thrift store is open every day and boasts a great variety of secondhand pieces waiting for you to sift through. The thrill of a great thrift find is unmatched. Going to the Garment District is an easy activity to do with a friend on a Saturday or Sunday morning. You can grab a coffee, Bluebike over, and shop without knowing exactly what you’re shopping for. It’s fun to see what kinds of pieces you’ll end up with. A vintage jacket from the ’80s or a slip dress from the ’60s? More realistically, a tank top from Urban Outfitters? The possibilities are endless.

9. Movie Theater

Sometimes you just need a mental break from readings and problem sets. The perfect cure is to shut your brain off and go to the movies! While there is a perfectly good cinema in Kendall Square, your experience may be better going to AMC Boston Common 19, located conveniently near the Park Street T-stop. With highly-anticipated movies such as “We Live In a Time,” “Wicked,” “Saturday Night, and “Smile 2” coming out throughout these fall months, there are plenty of films that are sure to entertain. Purchase some salty movie theater popcorn or some nerds ropes and get ready for a couple of hours of relaxation!

10. Celtics Games

Boston has often been titled “The City of Champions,” referring to the great sports teams and spirit it cultivates. Its basketball team, the Celtics, is currently returning national champions after winning the NBA finals this past spring. It’s well worth it to journey over to TD Garden to watch them play in an exhilarating atmosphere with loud and passionate Boston fans celebrating all around. Not only is there basketball to watch, but there are also many free events happening around TD Garden if you’re not looking to spend money on tickets. In fact, with the home opener game this past week, American Express hosted an event in City Hall Plaza to live-stream the game and hosted a fan rally, a banner raising, and a free Shaboozey and Benson Boone concert!