Furnished Apartments in Brighton

Facts About Brighton

Brighton has a rich cultural and historical legacy of its own. Here are some interesting facts worth knowing about the neighborhood: 

• Brighton is named after the Brighton town within the English city called Brighton & Hove. 
• Brighton was a part of Cambridge in its first 160 years of existence. 
• It was also known as Little Cambridge earlier. 
• It separated in 1807 after a dispute involving a bridge. 
• Boston included Brighton town in 1874 with the Allston area being a part of it initially. 
• It is now taken separately, with the Allston-Brighton marker used for the combined zone. 
• The horticulture industry boomed from 1820 and Brighton became a major gardening neighborhood thereafter. 
• The Boston & Worcester Railroad came up in 1834, boosting the flourishing cattle trade here. 
• Brighton is known for multiple notable people including New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Brigadier General Edmund Rice (Medal of Honor recipient) and Chang Sik Kim, founder of Shim Gum Do and a South Korean Buddhist Master. 

Cost of Living in Brighton 

Brighton is not as costly as New York or San Francisco neighborhoods although prices are not quite cheap. Median home prices hover around $460,300 while rentals start from $,1486 as per estimates for studios. 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units start from $1,696 and $2,103 per month respectively. Utilities will cost roughly $147 each month while food should cost close to $450 each month. 

A meal at a regular restaurant will cost anywhere around $15 while top restaurants can charge as much as $69 or whereabouts for three-course meals. Monthly LinkPass costs are $84.50 for bus and subway lines alike. 

Tips for Visiting Brighton 

Here are some handy tips that you should keep in mind while visiting Brighton:

• You will find numerous historic and famous establishments and structures here. Keep in mind that most of them are really old and need proper care and caution on your part. So that means be careful while sauntering up the stairs or taking the elevator. 
• Expect to walk around quite a bit while in Brighton and other parts of Boston. 
• Have season-suitable footwear since you will require the same. 
• Downtown Boston is quite small at just 5.1 square kilometers, making it completely walkable. 
• You will probably want to leave your car alone. Do not rent a car; parking costs are prohibitive at most places and the vehicle will turn into a burden during your stay. 
• Get hold of a 7-day T-Pass or CharlieCard. The former is an unlimited seven-day pass while the latter is a reloadable card. The former offers good value for extended trips with rides included for the Charlestown ferry as well. The subway, if used sparingly, can be tackled with your CharlieCard. It also offers special discounts on the daily fares along with providing free bus transfers in the bargain. 
• You can avail of water transit options while in Brighton. You can take water taxis and ferries to several places along Boston Harbor. Charlestown is a fast boat ride away from downtown and there are several ferries going to Hull, Quincy, Hingham, Boston Harbor Islands and Winthrop. A 90 minute ferry ride takes you to Provincetown which is at the mouth of Cape Cod. 
• Keep in mind that Boston does not have any happy hours like New York and many other cities in the U.S. Daytime deals are only limited to grub so you will find temptingly priced tacos, oysters and other cheap meals on the go-between 4-6 PM. Do not expect this for the brew though! 

Things to Do in Brighton 

Brighton offers a mélange of fun activities and other things to do. Here’s taking a look at some of them.

1. What are the most popular things to do in Brighton? 

Some of the popular activities in Brighton include paying a visit to the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum and also the Chestnut Hill Reservoir along with the McMullen Museum and the well-known New Balance Factory Store. The Warrior Ice Arena is a perfect option for those into sports, games and other activities. 

2. What are some free things to do near Brighton? 

You will find numerous free things to do in proximity to Brighton. Some of them include the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Coit Observatory and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Other attractions include Central Square, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site and the MIT Museum.

3. What are more family-friendly things to do near Brighton? 

Family-friendly activities near Brighton include trips to the Alexander W. Kemp playground, visiting the Winthrop Square or Minot Rose Garden and also checking out Belmont Kidspace. You can also check out the Artesani Playground and Pool along with the Imagine Playspace and Viking Sports. These are excellent options worth visiting by all means. 

Places to Visit in Brighton 

There are several fantastic places to visit in Brighton including the following: 

• Unbound Visual Arts – Unbound Visual Arts came up in the year 2012 and is a strictly educational nonprofit organization. It has a goal towards enriching the local community and boosting it through several inspiring exhibitions. They also hold art expos in the neighborhood. Original artworks are showcased here and often put up for sale. The gallery space is where you will find thought-provoking and creative works of art galore. 
• Rogers Park – Rogers Park lies in close proximity to Washington Street. It is a wonderful place to get together with your buddies for playing some sports. You can also enjoy the fabulously refreshing sunshine here. There are several basketball courts and baseball fields along with tennis courts too. There is a playground available at this dog-friendly zone too. 
• Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum – The Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum came up in the year 2007 and offers insights into the heritage, culture and history of the locality. The museum lies within the Veronica Smith Senior Center. It features several articles and old photographs that cover the development of the locality. Some of these items go back till the 1600s as well. Another separate gallery comes with rotating exhibits, showcasing scintillating works by local Brighton artists. The museum remains open on Thursdays and Fridays. 
• Boston Public Library- Brighton Branch – The Brighton branch of the Boston Public Library is one of the most peaceful zones in the area. You can catch up on your reading and simply relax amidst a tranquil ambiance. Enjoy the lovely couches here that overlook the serenity garden of the library along with the bean-esque chairs within the story nook. You will love the high-rise table lying in the teen café zone as well. The branch has a diverse and vast lineup of lectures, concerts, books and readings to keep visitors engaged round the year. Find wonderful books relating to the history of Brighton-Allston along with Brighton-Allston Historical Society photographs galore. There are reading materials available in Russian and Spanish in tandem with several book discussions, programs for children and ESL classes. 

Places to Eat in Brighton

Brighton is known for its abundance of places to eat including top restaurants. Some of them include the following: 

• Devlin’s Restaurant 
• Porter Belly’s Pub
• Cafenation
• Little Pizza King
• Daniels Bakery 
• Fiorella’s Express
• Stockyard
• Flatbread Company and Brighton Bowl 
• Article 24 

Street Food in Brighton

Street food is diverse, eclectic and tantalizing in Brighton. You will find numerous styles and types of cuisines from across the globe. Local delicacies are also available aplenty for culinary enthusiasts. Some of the best options include the following: 

• Moogy’s 
• Union Square’s Bow Market 
• StreetFood Revolution
• Brighton Bodega 
• Los Amigos Taqueria
• Twelve Hours
• Mainely Burgers
• Bangkok Bistro
• Jim's | Deli & Restaurant

Shopping in Brighton 

Shopping is a fun activity in Brighton by all means! You will enjoy accessing several top shopping destinations here. Some of them include the following: 

• Union Square’s Bow Market
• Tara Plaza
• Washington St. Plaza
• New Balance Factory Store Brighton
• Watertown Mall
• Arsenal Yards
• The Shops at Chestnut Hill
• Urban Outfitters
• La Sirenita
• Party City

Transportation in Brighton 

Brighton is accessible through the B branch of the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) and its Green Line light railway service. This comes with 11 stops spread throughout Commonwealth Avenue. 

The A branch of the Green Line also goes through the area along with local bus routes like 65, 64, 57A, 57, 70, 66, 501, 503 and 86. There is also the Boston Landing Station upon the MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line. 

Weather in Brighton 

Fall is the best time to plan your visit to Brighton. The peak tourist season is summer although fall is a more comfortable time to make your trip. The weather starts getting drier by September with increasing comfort levels. October is a bright month with lovely foliage. Spring may have some rainfall although the blossoming flowers look spectacular. The city also blooms quite literally for the Boston Marathon and St Patrick’s Day at this time. This is another good time to visit.