In the Venture Out portion of the Patch Passport series, we show you some of the best places near JP you can visit in less than a hour's trip in the car or by train. 15-Minute Drive or T journey Fenway Park 30-Minute Drive Hammond Pond in Newton 1 Hour Drive Peabody Essex Museum in Salem

You're a Bostonian. You've been to Fenway. That much we can safely surmise.  And of course you've heard of the Fenway Park Tours. You probably recommended them to your friends from out of town. But have you ever actually been on one? No? Well, you should get on that asap and here's why: 5 Reasons Why Fenway Park Tours are Awesome: 1. Backstage pass to special parts of the park including the press box, Green Monster seats, luxury boxes and more. 2. Super-knowledgeable tour guides. 3. Really good Yankee jokes. 4. Cheap tickets- $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for kids. 5. You're going up …

One of the oldest exhibit halls at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is filled with maritime curiosities from around the world, while a haunting, curious melody spills into the room from the speakers. PEM curators place contemporary art or music next to the older pieces from their collection. The goal of this is to make unique connections between the past and present by placing two unrelated things in context with each other. Click on the video above to see more of the museum. The museum began as a place for sea captains to store and share trinkets and curiosities from around the world. Over …

Ever wonder what that body of water is behind the parking lot at The Chestnut Hill Shopping Center? It's one of Newton's hidden gems: Hammond Pond, and it's a short drive from JP. With the towering retail businesses and busy Route 9 nearby, most people may not pay attention to modest pond and trails behind the shopping center. The recreation area offers scenic views of the pond and wooded trails around the water. Some locals enjoy the area for walking their dogs, cooling off under the shade of a tree or trying to catch a bite on a quick fishing trip. 

Do you want to get out of the kitchen, but are bored of the same old places you always go to? Want some fresh ideas for tasty meals? Then the Patch Passport can help. We have assembled a list of local places with international flavors. Bon Appetit! Note: Some places are tough to categorize, like Ten Tables (American? French?) or Miami Restaurant (I put it under "Cuban" but you'll get great Dominican fare there, too.) Take issue with any of these in the comments section, please. Chinese Charlie Chan's 658 Centre St. 617-983-1306 East Ocean Restaurant 3704 Washington St. 617-524-1551 Food Wall …

No journey is complete without scouring the local stores for unique trinkets or picking up a gift or two for friends and family back home. Today, get out and explore the unique local stores and all they have to offer. On Centre Five years ago, Philip Celeste decided to take a chance on Centre Street. Both an artist and lover of the retail industry, he wanted to open a fun store where he could work with customers, and be part of the community. A friend suggested he open in Jamaica Plain. Celeste, who had lived in JP for eight years prior to a move closer to his South End studio, was unsure. "I…

Ladies, if you’ve ever gotten a manicure, you know the story. After sitting patiently while your nails are painstakingly lacquered, you are vigilant as you leave the salon — backing in and out of doors, gingerly grasping keys and purses — yet somehow, without fail, those once-perfect nails get dented, dinged or distorted. It’s frustrating, right? But there may be a new solution in sight, and it can be found in Jamaica Plain at the new Soleil Tan & Spa, at 708 Centre St. Shellac manicures are getting buzz in the manicure and pedicure world, promising chip-free fingernails for two-plus weeks, …

Jamaica Plain has a rich history. But to explore it, you have to start somewhere. That place, undoubtedly, is the Loring-Greenough House. This beautiful Colonial-era mansion celebrated its 250th year last fall. And the house continues to be a vibrant part of the Jamaica Plain community.  Originally constructed as the home of Commodore Loring in the 1760s, this mansion became a wartime hospital when the house was commandeered during the revolutionary war. It is the only surviving Revolutionary War hospital in the Boston area.  In 1784, after a string of owners, the home was purchased by Anne …

JP is known for its abundance of playgrounds. Two of special note are the Southwest Corridor Park, which has several outdoor play spaces all along its length, and Mozart Park. For more advice on kid-friendly places to go, check out these archive editions of the JP Patch Moms Council discussing the topic: Best outdoor places for kids Best indoor places for kids

Rock climbing, watching outdoor movies and enjoying a little-known orchard meadow are among the hidden joys of Nira Rock. The urban wild, snuggled behind the Hennigan School, has seen a rebirth in recent years. According to the Friends of Nira Rock Web site, 300 million years ago (when Jamaica Plain was on the Earth's equator and connected to what is now Western Africa) conditions were ripe for a very particular brand of stone. When early Americans settled Jamaica Plain they noted it looked like a fruit-infused Christmas pudding popular in England, and as a result dubbed it puddingstone. The …

Whether you're new to JP or want to explore the neighborhood  you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see. We hope this weeklong project of stories encourages you to shop local, eat local and be local. Patch wants to show you how much our neighborhood has to offer. And although everything ran the week of July 25-31, we hope this page will remain a resource for you all year long. Whenever you're hosting visitors or need a Saturday activity, come back to this page.Your 7-Day Itinerary: MONDAY: For the Monday Passport, Patch set out to discover a Hidden Gem in your …

Whether you're new to JP or want to explore the neighborhood you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see. Starting tomorrow, come back to JP Patch daily to see what excursion is next. We will feature stories, photos and videos showing off the best of Jamaica Plain. And you can tell us what you love about JP, and we'll include it as part of the project. We hope this project encourages you to shop locally, eat locally and be local. Patch wants to show you how much your own neighborhood has to offer. And although everything will appear this coming week, it's not going …