I'm In Love with Massachusetts

by Will Murray

All photos taken by Will Murray

It is common knowledge that driving in Massachusetts is no walk in the park. As a resident student at Salem State, I drive back home to Carver, located on the South Shore, at least once a month to stay connected to my family. While I enjoy visiting my family, it feels as though I am being tested by God during those brutal drives. Every time, I am dangerously close to experiencing extreme road-rage. Back in December, my ETA shot up from 8:00 to 9:00 once I entered a flooded Ted Williams Tunnel.

A 2025 AAA study reported that 96% of drivers have experienced road rage at least once. Since my freshman year, there has not been one drive without an ounce of traffic. So, over the years, I have tried to stop complaining about it, because that will not help me in any way.

I have tried to admire the juxtaposition of natural terrains mixed with the gritty industrialism of New England. Instead of punching my steering wheel after sitting in the same spot on I-93 for fifteen minutes, I illegally, yet quickly, snap a picture of whatever landscape that I was looking at. I genuinely believe that people could benefit from this. This series of photos highlight how we can find beauty during the aggravating treks through Boston. There is a sense of mindfulness in stopping to smell the roses – or in this case, fumes coming from cars.

This South Boston evening skyline was taken during a traffic jam on I-93 South. Some of my favorite pictures on my phone were taken through a car window.

It may not look like it, but this was taken behind the Five Guys in Swampscott. I had to pull over to fix my side mirrors. What I love about Massachusetts is that you could find an awe-inspiring landscape behind any corporate establishment.

This was taken on North Shore Road in Revere, MA (the worst road of all time). There is one stoplight that has made me lose my mind many times before, and I was stuck at it when I snapped this picture.

A benefit of driving through Revere is how close it is to Logan Airport.

Even with traffic, I have always liked driving through Lynn Shore Dr. If I’m stuck behind a car, I can always admire the size of the beach itself. People-watching also turns into a pastime of mine on this road.

This church is one of the first landmarks I see once I enter Carver. It has the quintessential aspects of a small town. This church is a reminder that the journey is nearing its end.

Wherever we find ourselves, we can still take time to express admiration for our surroundings, even if you are behind hundreds of cars glued to the pavement.