Where to cry in public in Boston: the 10 best spots

By Tom Acitelli@tomacitelli Feb 28, 2017, 7:04am EST

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By Tom Acitelli@tomacitelli Feb 28, 2017, 7:04am EST

It's rough out there, dear reader, and sometimes you just need a good place to let it all out à la Matt Damon's character in Good Will Hunting. Here are the 10 best spots for crying in public in the Boston region.

All of them are free—or close to it—because you have enough to worry about. And, if we've left a particularly choice spot off the map, let us know. We won't judge.

Cambridge Common Park

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The 16-acre expanse just off Harvard Square never seems to be that full of people. This a quiet outdoor spot, then, for gentle sobbing. Plus, when you're all done, there's quite a bit of history to take in, starting with a trio of British cannon that Washington's army seized in 1776.

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Garden St. and Mass. Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138

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Charles River Esplanade

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This approximately 3-mile-long expanse can be revisited time and again for the purpose of a big cry. It's also perfect for plaintive gazes into the timeless currents of the Charles. Mind the geese droppings, though.

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Boston, MA 02215

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Fenway Park bleachers

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No one will notice the tears in this dense, open, and often rowdy seating area—unless it's a particularly rough game for the Red Sox and most fans split by the top of the seventh.

4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215

(617) 267-1700

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Commonwealth Avenue Mall

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The 32-acre ribbon provides the perfect mix of relatively quiet seclusion and exposure to the urban elements. Plus, it and the surrounding area are very pedestrian friendly.

Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116

(617) 867-9141

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Park Street Station Green Line platforms

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These busy platforms in this busy station are the perfect places for when you don't want anyone to hear you bleating. Never in a crowd do you feel so alone ... and all that. Plus, Park Street is one of the oldest subway stations in the Western Hemisphere.

Park St, Boston, MA 02108

(617) 222-3200

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Bates Hall of the Boston Public Library

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The barrel-vaulted ceiling of this grand room in this grand library provides the perfect echo chamber for your sobs—for when you just want someone to finally notice.

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700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

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Piers Park

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This barely decade-old waterfront park affords fabulous views of the Boston skyline. Weep at the grandeur of humankind and despair of its mortality. Or just gently contemplate the state of things. You won't be bothered.

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95 Marginal St, Boston, MA 02128

Franklin Park Zoo

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In the cooler months especially, this expanse provides a perfect habitat for a kind of rolling, strolling cry. Enter through the park itself for even more buildup. In the warmer months, the laughter of large groups of children might cheer you a bit as you finish.