About Boston: Sports & Weather

Sports

Bostonians are proud of their many professional sports. Some would say the local fans are truly fanatics! Whether you're watching one of the great American sports rivals – the Boston Red Sox play the New York Yankees in Boston, or attending a football game with the New England Patriots, a basketball game with the Boston Celtics or an ice hockey game with Boston Bruins, you will have an experience you'll never forget! All of the major sporting venues are close to the Northeastern campus, including Fenway Park—home of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox baseball team. Learn more about local sports in Boston.

Weather

Because of New England's changeable weather, we often say, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. It will change." However, we do have four fairly distinct seasons of which the average temperatures are as follows:

Boston has no dry or rainy season and the normal precipitation for each month is approximately three inches.

One of the most distinctive features of the New England climate is the change from one season to another. New England is famous for its autumn (or fall) when the late September foliage turns brilliant reds, oranges and yellows before the trees lose their leaves. Snow in the winter can sometimes make getting around difficult in January February, but the weather becomes milder towards April as the days get progressively longer and warmer. Summer in Boston brings periods of heat and humidity in July and August.

The academic year for many students runs from early September to June, and requires three types of clothing: lightweight for warm, humid weather; very warm, lined coats, protective footwear, gloves, and head covering for cold and snowy weather; and raincoats or medium weight wool coats for chilly autumn and early spring days. In September, the temperature can reach as high as 80 degrees so you will still need light clothing.

One of the great joys of living in Boston is its proximity to both the countryside and the seaside. Within a few hours drive you can be in the heart of New England's mountains (great for hiking and biking in Fall, Spring and Summer) and fantastic for skiing in the Winter. And the world class beaches of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are an easy trip, by car or public transportation. Glance at a map and you'll easily discover many other weekend getaways that will clear your mind of academic pressures and have you back in time for Monday morning classes.

It's your choice: four seasons of fun

Boston offers such a huge array of great activities that you'll never be bored. Our classroom/co-op combination means you'll probably spend some time on campus during all four seasons. Here's a look at some of the low-cost fun open to you, whatever the season.

Autumn

• Root for the Huskies in a football game at Parsons Field.
• Watch the Head of the Charles Regatta from the banks of the Charles River.
• Stroll through Boston Common to check out the changing leaves.
• Take the commuter rail to nearby Salem for the annual Halloween festivities.

Winter

• Visit the quirky shops in Cambridge for holiday shopping.
• Lace up your ice skates and take a turn on the Frog Pond in Boston Common.
• Start a snowball fight on Krentzman Quad.
• Take refuge from the cold in the tropical garden courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Spring

• Follow the footsteps of baseball legends in a tour of Fenway Park.
• See spring's first flowers at nearby Arnold Arboretum.
• Sign up for low-cost sailing lessons at Community Boating on the Charles River.
• Join the crowds cheering for runners near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Summer

• Watch the world-famous Boston Pops and fireworks on July 4 (or July 3, the less-crowded dress rehearsal).
• Jog, bike, or rollerblade on the Esplanade, the path that runs along the Charles River, then cool off in the shade of a tree.
• Watch a saint's day parade in the Italian North End, and finish the day with a cannoli from one of the neighborhood's bakeries.
• Take the commuter rail to Manchester-by-the-Sea and spend the day sunning yourself at Singing Beach.