Underrated MBTA Line: Blue Line

I have come to the conclusion that Boston college kids pick one MBTA line and stick with it.

That's why you have the BC, BU and NU kids always riding the Green Line. The Harvard and MIT kids always riding the Red Line. And the, uh, Bunker Hill kids always riding the Orange Line. Seriously - ask kids at these schools if they've ever seen a part of the city not tied to "their" line and they'll answer with a resounding "No, sir or madam - I have not ever seen a part of the greater Boston/Cambridge area that was not a stop on the T line that runs through my school. What an odd question. Do you have a smoke?"

That may help explain why the Blue Line is Boston's most underrated T line. No, the Blue Line may not have any fancy stops at places of higher learning, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth riding.

For one thing, it's just as slow and delay-prone as the rest, so you won't feel out of place. For another, it gets just as packed with sweaty riders as the Green Line or Red Line at their busiest - at least until Maverick, when 95% of the riders get off. But there's plenty of reason to stay on the train past Maverick (unless you want really good pizza, which everyone knows you can find at Santarpios).

Here's just a small number of places the Blue Line can take you:

• The beach. Revere Beach, to be exact. No, it ain't the Cape - unless the cape was dirtier and in New Hampshire - but, it is a beach, with water and (what some people might consider) sand. And barring some of the equally unappealing options to the south, it's the easiest beach for a Bostonian to get to. Making the trip even more worthwhile, it also features...

• ...Kelly's Roast Beef. The original location, I might add. Now, no one will deny that this isn't the same place it was 30 years ago. Or even 10 years ago. And the prices aren't that great anymore. And the service was never that great to begin with. But trust me, eating a $20 lobster roll on the boardwalk while watching 70 year old women in one pieces tan is really one of Boston's subtle pleasures - especially if you're lucky enough to be attacked by and/or shat upon by a Revere seagull (most of which are as large as a medium sized dog).

• The airport. It can get you away from the city. Need I say more?

• No fewer than 347 Dunkin' Donuts. Seriously. Look out the window of the train once it goes above ground after the Airport stop. You pass 3 or 4 a second. Sometimes, they outnumber the houses on a particular block. And if you need a tire change, there's almost an equal amount of shops that do that. Maybe everyone goes to Dunkin's while they wait? Beats the heck out of me...

So, you see, while some of the other lines may take you to fancy squares, professional sporting events, trendy shops or expensive museums, the venerable Blue Line takes you to the places you really want to go. And as an added bonus, if you hurry before the ban takes effect, you can put some money on the puppies while you're there! Blue Line for the win!

Government Center MBTA Station

1 City Hall Plaza

Boston, MA 02201

(617) 222-3200