Some people aren’t able to stay in the best city in the U.S. for work, college, or family reasons. But, those who leave still remain Bostonians at heart. We carry our hometown with us through the teams we support, our slang, and our unique driving style. Even if we’re only leaving for a brief time, there is still so much to miss about Boston.

1. You get a warm fuzzy feeling that you can’t quite explain when you see this sign…
Flickr/Nick Ares
...Old Ironsides...
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...And the place where all the magic happens.
Flickr/Wally Gobetz
2. Oh right, we have the best sports teams. You – and your pets – will be rooting for the BoSox, Pats, Bruins, and Celtics for the rest of your lives…
Flickr/www.PlanetDog.com
…no matter where you currently reside...
...Or how young you are!
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3. We have all four seasons. For some people that’s a negative, but when this is the result…
Flickr/Bill Ilot
…it makes winter worthwhile. Almost. Okay fine, what we actually enjoy is complaining about winter; however, we truly appreciate the improved weather during the remaining three seasons.
4. Even though Boston is a major city, we’re surrounded by nature.
Flickr/Leslee_atFlickr
There are 2,346 acres of green space and roughly 125,000 trees within our parks. The Emerald Necklace consists of nine beautiful parks: Boston Common, the Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Back Bay Fens, the Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park. That’s a lot of nature, even without factoring in the Charles River Reservation.
5. Water, water everywhere!
Flickr/Allan Watt
From boating on the Charles to riding the ferry across Boston Harbor, there are so many opportunities for Bostonians to enjoy the water.

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6. A good beach is never that far away.
Flickr/Julie Pimentel
Revere Beach, established in 1895, was the first public beach in the nation. Venture a little further afield and discover great spots like Nantasket Beach in Hull and Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester.
7. We’re old… make that distinguished.
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Events in Boston determined the fate of the nation. Boston was as integral to our country’s past as it is to the future.
8. We have a phenomenal library.
Flickr/Little Koshka
We concede that the Library of Congress might be superior but that’s it. Boston Public Library – the first substantial, free library in the U.S. – has been amazing since 1848. Every adult who lives in Massachusetts is allowed to use it, regardless of where they live in the state.
9. We have an appropriate ratio of Dunks to people.
Flickr/Nick
Bostonians are lost without a Dunks on every corner. It’s our home away from home and we don’t want to find out what people run on in other cities.
10. Two words: cider donuts.
Facebook/Brooksby Farms
The visual cue for fall might be the brilliant colors of the leaves, but it’s not official until the smell of cider donuts wafts through the air and you’re at a farm stand biting into your first cider donut of the season.
11. You can take a culinary journey around the globe without ever leaving the city.
Yelp/David B.
The countries of the world are well represented in the vast array of restaurants in Boston. In the mood for Senegalese cuisine? Australian food? No problem.
12. There are so many festivals and annual events
Flickr/Adam Pieniazek
There’s always something to celebrate in Boston, from St. Paddy’s Day in March to the Haitian Parade in May. We cheer on the Head of the Charles Regatta and, of course, the Boston Marathon. And that’s not even counting the calendar of food festivals!
13. Although Boston's suburbs continue to expand, we don’t have the urban sprawl you experience in other places.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
A relatively short drive – in terms of mileage at least - leads to country or seaside villages. Explore new parks and reservations or head across state lines for an adventure in Rhode Island or New Hampshire.
14. Then again, with so much happening within the city, you never actually need to go anywhere else.
Flickr/Bill Damon
We have museums galore, sporting events, theater, live music… the list of entertainment options is endless.

Have you ever lived anywhere else? What drew you back to Boston or – if you’re a transplant – what made you choose this city as your home? Let us know on the Only in Boston Facebook page.

 

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