The Back Bay is a man-made neighborhood, taking its name from the body of water
that was filled to create one of the city's most active and well-known districts. With boundaries
roughly defined as Massachusetts Avenue on the west, Arlington Street on the east, the Charles
River to the north, and the Prudential Center and Copley Place developments on the south, the
Back Bay has carved its own niche as a shopping mecca and an upscale residential area.
In addition to shopping along trendy Newbury Street, visitors to the Back Bay
area are attracted to the beauty of the Commonwealth Mall, which is a park that runs down the
center of Comonwealth Avenue. Other sights include the architectural landmarks in Copley Square,
including the main branch of the Boston Public Library, and the serenity of the Esplanade along
the Charles River.
Parking in Back Bay is difficult to come by, but the neighborhood is easily
accessible to the MBTA's Green and Orange Lines.
