Given that Boston is surrounded by rivers and ocean, there are many times when we find ourselves traveling over bridges to reach a destination. Some of these bridges are far more than utilitarian structures. They offer incredible views, span improbably long distances, or make a striking visual impression. That's true of these 7 Boston bridges:

1. Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge

Zakim Bridge, which was built during the Big Dig, is one of widest cable-stayed bridges on the planet. Its obelisks deliberately mirror the nearby Bunker Hill Memorial and serve as an homage to those who lost their lives while fighting for their freedom.

The bridge is named after Leonard P. Zakim, a man who built bridges through his work as a civil rights activist. Zakim served as the regional director of the Anti Defamation League of New England, worked to strengthen ties between people of different faiths, and fought against poverty and racism.

2. Lagoon Bridge

The country's first botanical garden features this gorgeous bridge that stretches across the lagoon. Finished in 1867, the pedestrian bridge is a National Historic Landmark. Originally a suspension bridge, the structure has since been reinforced and the cables are now ornamental.

3. Tobin Memorial Bridge

Tobin Bridge, which opened in 1950, links Charlestown to Chelsea. Rather than moving side-by-side, northbound traffic travels on the lower level and southbound traffic on the upper level.

This toll bridge spans the Mystic and Little Mystic Rivers. Its full length is 2.25 miles and the bridge's highest point is 254 feet above sea level.

4. The Longfellow Bridge

Also dubbed the "Salt-and-Pepper Bridge" because its towers resemble salt shakers, this bridge joins Beacon Hill to Kendall Square in Cambridge. Cyclists, pedestrians, cars, and trains all use the bridge. A major reconstruction project that started in 2013 has run long, but it's expected to finally end in 2018 (we hope)!

5. John W. Weeks Bridge

Weeks Bridge is an accessible footbridge that straddles the Charles River, connecting Cambridge to Allston. This arch bridge first opened to pedestrians in 1927 and it leads from the main Harvard Campus to the Harvard Business School.

6. Storrow Lagoon Bridges

While the bridges over the Esplanade's lagoon aren't as remarkable as some of our larger bridges, they offer tranquil views that blend lush greenery with vistas of the Charles River in an unforgettable way.

7. The Boston University Bridge

The BU Bridge dates back to 1928. The CSX Railroad Bridge carries freight on a railway bridge below. The point where the two cross ensures this is one of the few spots in the world where it is possible for a boat to pass below a train that moving under a car that is traveling under an airplane!

Share your favorite Boston-area bridge in the comments, as well as any photos you may have!

If you're up for a day trip, you may also want to check out some of New England's quaint covered bridges.