Strawberry Hill - Cambridge, MA

The start of Strawberry Hill dates back to the 1840s, when transportation extended into this western Cambridge area, giving residents access to Harvard Square via the Mt. Auburn Cemetery stop. That, along with a Watertown Branch railroad depot right on Mt. Auburn and Belmont Street intersection, caused further development. The community's name came when subdivision plans arose in 1857. Supposedly, wild strawberries grew in some parts, hence the unknowingly Beatle-like name.

With Harvard University sitting just over one mile from Strawberry Hill, residents can visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Harvard Art Museums. Travel the seven miles to Downtown Boston for the ultimate in culture; this city is practically a living museum itself. In addition to a wealth of historic site that include the Paul Revere House, the Old North Church, and Faneuil Hall, you can visit the Orpheum Theatre, the New England Aquarium, Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, the Boston Common, the Boston Opera House, historic Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Boston Children's Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston.

While the majority of Strawberry Hills contains multifamily houses and a few apartment buildings, it still provides a small commercial area lining Mt. Auburn Street. Residents head farther down St. Auburn into the Watertown area, and Harvard or Porter Square for a wider range of dining and nightlife.

Hit up Sofra Bakery and Cafe in the morning or lunchtime for some Mideastern food, fresh baked goods, and coffee. Residents recommend the spinach falafel and chicken shawarma, both fresh and perfectly spiced. Everyone flocks to the Village Kitchen for its unpretentious, high-quality American-Italian cuisine. Lunch diners can sink their teeth into a chicken Parmesan sandwich, crisp chicken and broccoli pizza, and the flavorful porcini mushroom and artichoke saffron risotto.

For a different international flavor, the House of Chang serves both American-style and authentic Chinese dishes. Order delivery, pick-up, or dine-in to try the freshly made scallion pancakes, General Gau's chicken, or Shrimp Chow Foon, all in heaping portions.

Nightlife not being one of the strong points in this residential community, locals look nearby to Watertown, Porter Square, and Harvard Square for options. Check out Harvard Square's Noir for an upscale lounge with a classy atmosphere, fresh oysters Sunday through Thursday, and sophisticated cocktails during happy hour. Those into a more relaxed neighborhood pub venture to Raider Tavern in Watertown, where customers enjoy the best burgers and beer while checking out the football game. Music lovers jam out to Toad in Porter Square with the latest local bands playing Americana and root rock.

The main roads of Strawberry Hill consist of Mt. Auburn and Belmont Streets and Huron Avenue, providing access to other parts of Cambridge. Residents can hop on either a bus or trolley right in the neighborhood, with trolley numbers 71 and 72, or bus 73 and 75, servicing the area. Residents can reach Harvard Square in about 10 minutes by bus.

A short 1.75-mile drive or bus ride to the Alewife T stop provides a way to zip down to Harvard Square or other parts of Cambridge such as Watertown and Porter Square. Take this subway to Harvard to get across the Charles and into the heart of Boston in about 30 minutes. With plentiful bike lanes and flat-as-a-board lay of the land, the area is highly bike-friendly. Enjoy plenty of public parking free of charge in this quiet residential neighborhood.

Fresh Pond Reservation, Strawberry Hill's neighborhood park, features a 2.25-mile paved trail around the pond, ideal for walking, jogging, and bicycling. The park also offers tennis courts, basketball courts, ball fields, and playgrounds. Annual events at the park include Fresh Pond Day, which includes food and marching bands.

Nearby Boston contains several notable parks, such as Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park. This park includes gardens, waterfront views, and a playground. Of course, no visit to Boston would be complete without a visit to Boston Common. This 50-acre park once housed British troops during the American Revolution. Today, it is the starting point of the Freedom Trail. As the oldest park in the nation, Boston Common is the anchor of the "Emerald Necklace," a system of connected parks that wind through Boston's neighborhoods. Until 1830, farmers grazed their cattle on the green space. Public hangings were held on the common until 1817.

Today, the park contains the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture and other public art, the Boston Public Garden, a large lake with swan boats, a bandstand, a visitor's center, a baseball field, and the Boston Common Frog Pond. The Common is also home to the Central Burying Ground, which dates back to 1754. The cemetery was established to relieve overcrowding at other burying grounds. The cemetery contains British soldiers killed during the Revolutionary War, patriots who died during the Battle of Bunker Hill and at the Boston Tea Party, and composer William Billings.

While small and cozy, Strawberry Hill hits at 13 percent above the average cost of living for all of Cambridge. The typical rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Strawberry Hill is around $1,697 a month. Plan on paying $2.10 each way to Harvard Square and $4.75 each way to get to Boston's center by way of bus to the subway, or "T" as locals call it. Look to pay 11 percent above the national average for gas.

While Strawberry Hill has a few small shops mostly along Mt. Auburn Street, most residents head to Watertown, Belmont, and downtown Boston for a day of shopping. From vintage clothing at Porter Square's Raspberry Beret to the exclusive Forty Winks boutique in Harvard Square, you're sure to find hidden gems sprinkled throughout the area.

For a truly special shopping experience, head to Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Extending along Market Street from Faneuil Hall, this unique destination is made up of Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market, and South Market. The markets line the cobblestone promenade that has attracted residents since 1742, when Peter Faneuil donated the hall as a gift to the city. It's where merchants and fishermen gathered to sell their items during Colonial times, and it's where colonists first protested the Sugar Act of 1764, giving voice to the "no taxation without representation" mantra. Today, this marketplace contains more than 100 shops, pushcarts, and more.

The nearest farmers market, the Cambridge/Harvard Farmers Market, is held on Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and offers fresh, local produce and meats.