TRAVEL TIPS FROM CAMBRIDGE AFICIONADO, MEICHELLE FERGUSON
Tue Aug 31, 2021
Expert is an understatement when it comes to Hilton Realty owner, Meichelle Ferguson, and her Cambridge knowledge. Meichelle’s Central Square real estate firm is a Black-owned and woman-owned business that specializes in market research. The Hilton team knows the city inside and out, which was clear when Meichelle toured some of her favorite attractions with us. At Paddle Boston, Alewife Brook Reservation and Magazine Beach, Meichelle revealed what makes Cambridge one of a kind.
Q: Describe Cambridge in a few words.
Meichelle: Creative, intelligent and welcoming!
Q: What do you like best about Cambridge?
Meichelle: The synergy. There’s a bunch of really smart people there in one location. [And] I really love the diversity of it… Lastly, I’ll say the location. Having the Charles River right down the street for those moments when you need to take a break or go for a walk, that’s pretty beneficial as well.
Q: On that note, why should people check out the Charles via Paddle Boston in Kendall Square?
Meichelle: It’s one of the best kept secrets because everything you need is right there. Paddle Boston itself is an attraction, but aside from that there are so many restaurants on that strip… You go, you paddle down the Charles, when you get back you eat, so it’s really great.
Q: Over in North Cambridge, what makes Alewife Brook Reservation a noteworthy spot?
Meichelle: For starters, it’s just a beautiful location... Secondly, [with] the amount of amenities, you can really make a day trip of it… There are plenty of places to eat so you could take your walk that day and go get some lunch. Maybe go right over to Fresh Pond Reservation and continue a walk.
Q: Then in Cambridgeport, how is Magazine Beach an important part of the community?
Meichelle: A lot of people don’t know but they have three sites at Magazine Beach. You can go swimming. You can workout. You can exercise… Between the three parks, it’s really wonderful to be able to get that health part [in] that is so important.
Q: What other places do you consider to be “hidden gems” of Cambridge?
Meichelle: The Porter Square community is another one that’s really great and everything’s within walking distance.
Q: What would you recommend a first-time visitor sees in Cambridge?
Meichelle: I’m going to go straight to the Cambridge Local First website. There are a number of businesses there that people should definitely support... I go there, I find a business and I’ll say “This is my plan for today. I’ll go have lunch here; then I’ll shop there and then by the end of the day, I’ll go check this out.”
Q: What are your favorite things to do in Cambridge?
Meichelle: I absolutely love to sit with some friends and either eat or have a cup of tea. I’m a bit of a thrift store [fanatic]. As real estate agents we do a ton of staging, and I’ve found some of the most beautiful antiques all over Cambridge.
Q: What do you think makes Cambridge special?
Meichelle: It’s definitely the people in my book. They are so wonderful, so welcoming and so intelligent… They’re creative, they’re spontaneous [and] innovative. It’s beautiful when you can get that concentration of people together.
Q: Speaking of our community, does Hilton Realty participate in community events?
Meichelle: We just hosted an event. It was called “Women Owned Businesses and How They Pivoted During COVID & Their Resources.” We had the honor of helping organize that event and being one of the sponsors for it.
Thank you to Meichelle and Hilton Realty for your contributions to the business community here in Cambridge. We appreciate you sharing your expertise with us!