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Boston Day 3, An Intellectual Day at Harvard & Museums ~ Harvard Yard Boston Visitor Guide

Writer: Hannah Nietfeld
Hannah Nietfeld
May 4
4 min read

Updated: May 14

Day 3 Friday Harvard & Museums

Today was a jam-packed day! In a good way, having to make up for the closures yesterday for the holiday. Josh and Michelle had to work so they went to the Boston Public Library which meant that Timmy, Brian, and I set off on our own adventure. Visiting Harvard! I was so pumped to see the most well-known university in the world. I have a special spot in my heart for education and academia, so I was thrilled to be visiting the Mecca of higher education.


I also had visiting Tatte on my list of must-dos. Tatte is a cafe chain in Boston, and they so happened to have a location that looks over the Harvard Yard, so we headed there for breakfast and coffee to start our day. Fittingly, we had an interesting conversation about our experience with education as I dreamed about if I would ever walk the square as a student or professor. What a dream of mine, but one of my many many dreams.



Once we were done at Tatte, we headed to the Harvard Yard to walk around campus. Because it was winter break and very cold outside, it was quite dead, I would love to come back in the fall and see this place in full swing. I still was in awe with Harvard and could feel the energy, opportunity, and ambition, all of which I long to find in my daily life. I was beyond grateful to be here to remind myself of the reward of hard work and dedication. I hope one day I can be a product of those two incredible traits.



On campus is the Harvard Art Museum, free for all visitors. It is another great recommendation, as it contains the most exquisite art at zero cost. Timmy, Brian, and I visited almost every exhibit in the museum, appreciating each piece of artwork our eyes landed on. Here are my favorite paintings from the Harvard Art Museum.



We did have to leave a bit early in order to travel from Cambridge back into Boston so that we could make our lunch reservations with Josh and Michelle. A bus and train ride later, we were in the Boston Public Library, admiring the incredible architecture and slowly making our way to the grand library hall to find Josh and Michelle. If you are looking for another great free attraction, this library is the perfect stop. It is incredibly ornate and feels as though you are stepping into both a historic European estate and Hogwarts long table and lamp layout. We didn't stay very long to take up some reading ourselves, as we were all ready for some lunch.



Across the street from the Library was Cafe Landwer where the five of us enjoyed a Mediterranean-inspired lunch. I got vegan shawarma, with great hopes that it would be incredible, however it didn't have a prominent flavor and of course wished I had ordered the safe falafel. But, I was excited to try the shawarma, was just unlucky this time.



After lunch, we again all went our separate ways. Josh and Michelle went back to the library to finish the work day, I went alone to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as Timmy and Brian both have already been and highly recommended that I did not miss it. I am very glad they had me go because it truly was a wonder. What makes this museum so unique is Isabella Stewart Gardner personally collected all the art in her mansion, arranged it herself, and later donated her home to become a museum where the collection remains unchanged.



Whenever I am solo on travels, I have time to think about my larger goals and contemplate what actions will get me close to achieving them. The next few hours at the museum was no exception. In the courtyard of this home were flowers, plants, and a fountain. I felt in touch with nature in the middle of winter, bringing me closer to a state of deep thought. Going through my mind, as usual, was my desire to relocate. How whenever I am traveling, I feel so in touch with my best self, the person I was meant to be, and when I am at home, I feel stuck in the past and a shell of the person I used to be. I am ready for a big move in 2026, to do something so radical and life-changing. We will see what I concoct.


I spent about two hours at the museum and was able to see everything in her home. I did not tour the newer section of the museum as I was cutting it close with closing time. But, head straight to her home and tour all of that, and if you have extra time, head back to the newer portion and explore the exhibits there.

I walked back to downtown Boston to meet Timmy and Brian at the Prudential Center and we shopped around a bit, hitting up my first Eataly, however I did not purchase anything, but I for sure understand the hype if you love Italian food. Timmy wanted to show us a nearby corner of the city he recently discovered, so us three made our way there, walked around a bit, before finding Josh and Michelle in the city to head back to Timmy's apartment together.



Our dinner plans tonight were in Lexington to meet Timmy's parents. We met in the middle of Boston and Timmy's hometown, Nashua, NH to have dinner at a Thai restaurant. We had a wonderful evening, exchanging stories, getting to know Timmy's family better, and spending quality time around a table, enjoying incredible food and joy filling the air around us. It was a lovely evening and I was so grateful to have met them. Timmy speaks so highly of his family and I can see why.


And that was our day! I felt as though I explored much more of the city of Boston and its surrounding areas. I was grateful to see more of this incredible town and was also looking forward to our history-intensive day tomorrow. Read about it in my next blog post.


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