Zsh has quite a nice option "auto_cd". If the first word you type doesn't resolve to a command, it tries to change the current working directory to it instead. So just typing ~ will get you to $HOME, and .. will take you up one.
I love this option. I type "/tmp" when I'm about to create some short-lived scratch files. Those saying "you can just alias that" are missing the point. Where do you stop with the aliases?
Yes. Although you get it for free with Zsh where it works with any directory you type. Not just the ones you think to make an alias for beforehand. :-)