"Cambridge: The other side of the Charles " a Cambridge Travel Page by sarahandgareth

Like the majority of visitors, we started our explorations of Cambridge in Harvard Square - with Harvard University, lots of nightlife and abundant dining opportunities, it hardly made sense to start elsewhere. Now, we are in the process of expanding our knowledge of Cambridge by working our way out from that starting place.

Much of the city of Cambridge seems to be built around a series of squares. (The term 'square' being applied liberally to any intersection of roads thought to be worth visiting!) Venturing away from the best known square, Harvard, you will likely end up near Kendall, Central, and/or Porter Squares. Each area has its distinct character and all of them have convenient T access making exporation both worthwhile and easy.

Kendall is MIT-land. What isn't part of the university is filled with sleek science-company offices. Although, this part of Cambridge is earily quiet in the evenings and on weekends, it has a few interesting eateries, a great independent cinema, and a variety of shopping options.

Central Square is grungier, with more than its share of street characters, but also contains some of the funkiest stores in Cambridge as well as a number of good restaraunts.

Harvard Square is tourist central, of course, but there are also plenty of interesting museums, stores and restaurants within walking distance. Like Central Square, Harvard Square (especially near the T-stop) is also a gathering point for some alternative types.

Porter is more of a typical suburban square, with supermarkets and brand-name stores, but it's also the heart of Cambridge's Little Asia. The Asian influence is obvious, in the best possible ways, in the eating places nearby.