I recently visited two of my best friends, Francesca and Nick, who live outside of Boston. Fran and I had been close since we attended college in New York City and retained that level of close friendship. Though married now to, let me tell you, the human version of a Disney prince, we still manage to find time to meet up and catch up.

I made my way to Boston on the road, blasting my music, fitting in a few calls and enjoying the time to reflect. Luckily, the weather held out for the trip; as you know, New England this time of the year can be quite snowy. Once I made it to my friends’ place, we settled in and woke up the next day ready to explore.

Francesca recommended the observation deck on top of the Prudential Center, which was quite the view. If you are in Boston, I highly recommend it. It offers a walk-around view of the entire city north, south, east and west. There is a restaurant with a similar view, but we opted to walk around the shops and enjoy some delicious cheese at Eataly. The cheese we savored was called Sleeping Beauty; smooth and mild, it was delicious.

We later went to a quaint restaurant for dinner in Winthrop, Massachusetts, called Café Rosetti’s. The restaurant is BYOB, right across the street from the ocean, and hosts a plethora of delicious Italian fare. I enjoyed the chicken Parmesan with homemade pasta. If you are ever nearby and can try this place out, it is wonderful.

The next day Fran and I had a girls’ brunch date in Salem, Massachusetts, at the restaurant Ledger. It is in the former Salem bank and still has many of the original light fixtures and a vault. It has a chic and hip vibe, and brunch did not disappoint.

Travel is a beautiful venture. It connects us to new cultures, history, sights and, in this case, dear friends. We should never let distance deter us from keeping those we admire and love close. I’m so grateful to have such kind and considerate friends to visit, and it is such a joy to have them in my life.

Happy travels to all!

— Stephanie Makowski, account executive