I’ve lived in Boston since late August and between the persistence of people, and the never ending stream of cars on every street, I had become somewhat depressed by the whole experience. It wasn’t until I began taking walks around the more lush areas of Boston that I was able to see the beauty of this city. Now that spring is here, it's time to head back outside!

Coming to Emerson, I was a bit uneasy about not having a campus. Being right in the middle of the city is a large change from living in the suburbs 20 minutes south of Boston. While most colleges with campuses have quads, we have the Common and the Public Garden.

The Boston Common is a lush space to walk through with a number of things to see or do. You can embark on the Freedom Trail, walk up the path to the State House or sit by the fountain. You can also utilize the massive amount of lawn to play sports, run around or picnic. What I am forgetting to mention is the fact that people frequently bring their dogs around the Common, so that should be reason enough to stop by.

The Public Garden, just across the street from the Common, is contradictory in being prettier and less inclusive. Stepping on the lawn is not allowed, as signs dot the area, saying “Stay off the grass!” That doesn’t stop the hundreds of squirrels from burrowing their acorns into the green. In the Garden, squirrels are nicer than most of the inhabitants of the city of Boston. They come to you when you kneel and hold your hand out, and answer your calls.

Squirrels aren’t the only adorable creatures in the Garden. There is also a quaint duck pond, which, when filled up, is beautiful to sit by and watch as the ducks swim around and quack among themselves.

But if you’re looking for a body of water, look no further than the Esplanade. Just past the Garden, and after crossing a bridge, you arrive at a path running parallel to the Charles River. Now, this is a gorgeous walk down the Charles River. The waves undulate and the wind blows through the low hanging leaves on the branches of newly awakened trees. For the young at heart, there is a playground, though it is usually occupied by the actual young.

The Esplanade has a dock with several lawn chairs, which is great for peaceful relaxation with a book. It also features a pond which flows through the mid-section of the park. It’s my favorite place to walk around, and it’s always beautiful, even if it does get windy at times.

If you’re anything like me, the already grim city is only made bleaker in the winter, an emotionally stifling time of the year. It’s cold, it’s dark and the once-verdant patches of the Boston Common and Public Garden are either gray or covered in snow. But, thankfully, spring is here, and we can comfortably go back outside!