The trick with people-watching along Jersey Street is to do it on a game day at Fenway Park.

The stretch of the street next to the immortal ballpark is closed to vehicles on such days and teems with people headed to the game or just hanging out.

If the 32-acre, 1.3-mile expanse shooting through Back Bay feels like a grand Parisian boulevard, that’s intentional—it was designed as such in the 19th century.

Yes, it’s basically a mall. But that’s kind of the point: Its shops and restaurants and just generally central location draws in locals and tourists. 

One of Boston’s truly grand public spaces, Copley Square serves as a crossroads for the city.

It sits amid the historic Trinity Church, the 200 Clarendon skyscraper (Boston’s tallest), and the main (and very beautiful) branch of the Boston Public Library.

There is plenty of seating and shade.

The 24-acre Public Garden right next to Boston Common abounds with colorful foliage during fall.

America’s oldest public park teems with people year-round, and is easiest to take in during the fall (no summer crowds).

Its 50 acres offer several comfortable vantages for viewing the natives, but we would suggest the benches along the run back and forth from the Park Street T station or at the concession next to the Frog Pond.

The green-hued slice of the Financial District is supposed to serve as a model for smaller public spaces in Boston. Its location renders it absurdly perfect for soaking up the city’s energy.

The 1.5-mile ribbon of parkland was born of the Big Dig and sits at such a strategic spot—between downtown Boston and much of the city’s waterfront—that it’s impossible not to take in a wide range of passers-by.

There are plenty of attractions along the park and plenty of benches, steps, walls, etc., for sitting a spell.

Wanna see people hustling and bustling, to-ing and fro-ing, cursing the congestion and blessing the ease? Stop by the busiest train and bus station in all of New England.

Sure, you’ll see a ton of tourists along this span from downtown to Fort Point, but it’s also a main artery for locals not commuting via car.

Plus, on either end are busy, busy areas of Boston.

Pick any point along the 43-mile HarborWalk and get on with the people-watching.

Or, better yet, peruse the park and all its myriad attractions while you do so.

The transit hub shares property with TD Garden and is near Beacon Hill, downtown Boston, and the North End.