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Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Middlesex County [2025]
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Harvard University
4.7
/5
569 reviews
7.4
Based on 3,216 reviews
Harvard University | 17.8 km from downtown
Phone +16174951000
Address: Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2–5 hours
Highlights:
Stroll along campus paths and enjoy the natural scenery
A picturesque fall scene on the Charles River
164 positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified user reviews
The Harvard Art Museums are an essential part of any Harvard trip. We took our children there twice; the first visit was unforeseen, but the second was a perfect opportunity. While the museums aren't large, the galleries are interconnected, and the exhibits are strategically arranged, allowing you to fully explore Harvard's century-long collection without having to backtrack. Admission is free, but registration is required. There's a small but welcoming dining area on the first floor. It's best to avoid meal times, or enjoy brunch before entering, followed by coffee and snacks between visits. We spent a full day exploring the museums and were deeply impressed by the endless charm of this world-class university. A trip to Harvard offers even more possibilities for our children's growth and development. Here are some authentic world-famous paintings from the museums' long-standing collection, ready for everyone to explore and appreciate.
The Harvard University campus in Boston is very large and beautiful. The buildings inside are very old and green everywhere, like a park. The Harvard University campus in Boston is very large and beautiful. The buildings inside are very old and green everywhere, like a park. The Harvard University campus in Boston is very large and beautiful. The buildings inside are very old and green everywhere, like a park.
MIT Museum
4.4
/5
32 reviews
5.1
Based on 686 reviews
Kendall Square | 20.7 km from downtown
Phone +16172535927
Address: Gambrill Center, 314 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
MIT's historic inventions & instruments
Campus landmark for tourist photos
25% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
My friend from MIT recommended this campus museum to me. I had checked in at the museum on Harvard campus before, and I was shocked, especially the various stones, which were simply too many to take in. So I decisively added the MIT Museum to my itinerary and found a weekend to check in. Compared with the Harvard Museum, the museum here has fewer visitors, and the museum is full of science and engineering atmosphere. Various designs full of technological content are displayed in the museum. It is also very shocking when you come here for the first time. It is more suitable for friends with science and engineering backgrounds to visit. After visiting the museum, you can visit the MIT campus. You can enter the teaching building without a student card.
The MIT Museum is located on the MIT campus. The exhibits are mainly graduation works of students from various classes, and the designs are very conceptual. There are often small competitions on the first floor. When I went there, a competition to build the tallest skyscraper with newspapers was being held. The record was held by a 2.07-meter "skyscraper" built with newspapers.
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Walden Pond State Reservation
4.6
/5
20 reviews
4.9
Based on 699 reviews
5.3 km from downtown
Phone +19783693254
Address: 915 Walden St, Concord, MA 01742, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 3 hours
Highlights:
Nature photography paradise year-round
Walden Pond literary sanctuary
Verified user reviews
Walden Pond State Reservation, located in Concord, Massachusetts, is a serene and historically significant destination. Famous as the site where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote Walden, the pond and surrounding woods offer a peaceful retreat into nature. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking along well-maintained trails and scenic shorelines. The deep, clear waters of the pond and the lush forest setting provide a calming atmosphere for reflection and outdoor recreation. Educational exhibits highlight Thoreau’s life and environmental philosophy, making it both a cultural and natural landmark. Ideal for history enthusiasts, hikers, and those seeking tranquility in nature.
To get to Walden Pond, you need to take the morning commuter train from Boston North Station in Massachusetts to Concord. After getting off the train, walk southeast along Thoreau Street, then turn right at the first big intersection and walk straight toward Walden Street. After crossing a big intersection with a traffic light, continue walking a short distance forward and you will find Walden Pond on the right. The distance from Concord Train Station to Walden Pond is about five kilometers, and there is no public transportation or taxis.
No.
4
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The Harvard Museum of Natural History
4.5
/5
78 reviews
4.6
Based on 1,230 reviews
Harvard University | 17.7 km from downtown
Phone +16174953045
Address: 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Admire 10,000+ precious animal and plant specimens
Explore the mysteries of nature at this multimedia exhibition
30% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
When my friend recommended this museum to me, I didn't pay much attention to it at first. I felt that it was difficult for a museum on campus to create a high degree of surprise. I didn't expect to be slapped in the face when I went there. I was so happy to visit it with my friends that I couldn't stop at all. The various strange exhibits were dazzling. The Harvard Museum of Natural History also has a place on the list of Boston's favorite museums.
Founded in 1998, the museum consists of three exhibition halls with different themes: plant specimens, comparative zoology, and mineral geology. Among them, the plant specimen hall was established first. At the beginning of the construction of the museum, it was established by more than 200,000 plant specimens donated by Harvard University professor Asa Gray. In 1977, the Mineral and Geology Museum was built with donations. The last one is the Comparative Zoology Hall built in 1859.
Each theme pavilion has its own wonderful features. I was so happy visiting each one. The glass flower display in the botanical specimen museum and the various animal specimens in the comparative zoology museum were all amazing. My favorite was the mineral geology museum, which had a variety of exquisite minerals. It feels like I rarely see such a large scale and exquisiteness in other museums.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History was built in 1998 and is the most popular museum on the Harvard University campus. It displays more than 12,000 animal and plant specimens, including specimens of dinosaurs, mammals, birds, as well as rare minerals and Harvard's very famous glass plant models, commonly known as "glass flowers" - the most essential part cannot be missed!
No.
5
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Harvard Art Museums
4.8
/5
7 reviews
4.3
Harvard University | 18 km from downtown
Phone +1617-4959400
Address: 32 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Admire 250,000 art treasures
Browse the collection online to easily learn and appreciate
Verified user reviews
Harvard University's University Art Museum is a very famous museum among American university museums and art galleries. It has a very rich exhibits, and can let everyone know about students' academic achievements through exhibitions.
The Art Museum is a museum worth visiting in Harvard University. The building of the museum itself is very beautiful, with many exhibits, a very artistic atmosphere, and a very good surrounding environment.
No.
6
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Harvard Yard
4.2
/5
69 reviews
4.0
Based on 1,425 reviews
Harvard University | 17.9 km from downtown
Phone +16174951573
Address: 2 Kirkland St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Recommended sightseeing time: 1–2 hours
Highlights:
Touch John Harvard's shoe for luck
Historic gardens at Harvard University
Verified user reviews
Harvard Square is located in Cambridge, Boston. The square is both a community and a part of Harvard University. There are shopping malls, bookstores, and restaurants here. Harvard students can spend their daily necessities here as well as participate in various learning and social activities.
I took the subway to Harvard and came out of the famous Harvard Square. It was not as good as I imagined. It felt a bit dirty and messy. I had the same feeling when I entered the Harvard campus. I couldn't imagine that this was the world's first university founded in 1636 and dreamed of by countless people.
Going to Harvard is probably everyone's dream. Four years ago, I was full of enthusiasm but failed to make the trip. This time, I finally got to see the place I believed in. Boston is one of the few cities that can be walked and traveled by public transportation. Get off at Harvard Square Station, and Harvard Yard is across the street. The red brick buildings are all inconspicuous, but what is precious is this simple and quiet atmosphere. When I arrived in front of the famous bronze statue of Mr. Harvard, I touched his left foot and hoped that I would become smarter!
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