The Boston Public Garden, one of the loveliest parks in Boston, sits adjacent to the Boston Common, with Charles Street separating the sister parks. This park was the first public botanical garden in the country when it opened in 1837. One of the best seasons to visit the garden is spring, when it comes to life with 26,000 tulips blooming each May and a profusion of cherry blossoms as early as the end of March. The park's roses and other ornamental flowers flourish among the trees and lush grass, and it's a wonderful place to view the city's stunning fall foliage.

The four-acre pond in the Boston Public Garden is perhaps its most famous feature. It is home to two swans as well as other aquatic birds like mallard ducks. Swan Boats are housed here as well. These bench-style boats with open decks cruise around Mallard Island, where ducks' nesting grounds are located, for fifteen minutes.

Watch for swan nests along the banks during the spring and early summer, but keep your distance as these large mothers are fiercely protective of their eggs. Romeo and Juliet, the swans' affectionate names, spend their winters at Franklin Park Zoo.

The Public Garden still operates greenhouses that cultivate more than 80 species of plants used not only here but around the city. Extending more than seven blocks from the center of the park's western side is the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a broad tree-lined pedestrian path dotted with monuments.

• Activities: Walking, boating, appreciating the architecture (fountains, monuments, statues)
• Website: https://www.boston.gov/parks/public-garden
• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 6:00 AM-11:30 PM
• Address: 4 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116

This 50-acre park, which dates back to 1634, is known as the crown jewel of Boston's Emerald Necklace and is the oldest public park in the country. Locals simply refer to it as "the Common"; it is located in the center of Boston and is surrounded by Chinatown and the Back Bay. The Common has witnessed centuries of history.

The Common has served as a hub for Bostonians throughout its history, serving as the site of important civil rights marches and numerous other nonviolent protests. All of Boston's significant parades, including the two Veterans Day parades and the annual Duckling Day Parade on Mother's Day, have their beginnings on the Common.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities during the summer, such as a carousel, playground, and Frog Pond, a splash pool. The park, which has a bandstand and plenty of green space for picnicking, frequently hosts outdoor concerts and performances.

Shakespeare on the Common, a series of free evening performances held in July and August, is one of the most well-liked annual events. The park has plenty of benches and ledges for resting, and there are plenty of trees for shade. Ice skating on Frog Pond and the yearly tree lighting ceremony are two wintertime activities offered at the Common.

• Events: Shakespeare, Veterans Day parades, the annual Duckling Day Parade
• Website: https://www.boston.gov/parks/boston-common
• Google rating:4.7/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 6:00 AM-11:30 PM
  
• Address: 115 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

The Rose Kennedy Fitzgerald Greenway represents an incredible transformation from the dilapidated cement eyesore of the former Central Artery to a gorgeous green space, which is why it represents so much more to the people of the North End and the surrounding areas than just a park. A 1.5-mile stretch of parkland totaling 17 acres was created by this project, which was a component of Boston's "Big Dig," and it is located between downtown Boston and Boston Harbor.

All ages enjoy this park, but children especially adore the Greenway Carousel, a one-of-a-kind design that was motivated by sketches made by neighborhood kids. The illustrations were brought to life by Newburyport artist Jeff Briggs to produce a whimsical ride that is also accessible to people with disabilities. The numerous fountains that were created for both function and beauty and invite visitors to cool off in the spray are beloved by both children and parents.

The Greenway also hosts numerous interactive public art exhibitions. The installations feature a wide range of cultures and media and change on a regular basis. With so many food trucks and shady spots to rest, visitors could easily spend a full day exploring the park.

• Main Attractions and Activities: Volunteering for the Horticulture project, Mother’s Walk, Carolyn Lynch Garden, City Winery, Cornhole by Social Boston Sports
• Website: https://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/
• Google rating: 4.6/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 7:00 AM-11:00 PM
• Address: Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110

The Back Bay Fens are yet another creation of Frederick Law Olmstead, who began his design work in 1878 when tasked with converting a region flooded with stagnant saltwater into a secure and useful green space. This adored park serves as both the neighborhood's and the Red Sox's historic home stadium which is close by.

The appropriately named Mother's Rest is a small children's playground, and the World War II Memorial is the ideal place to take some time to reflect. This is located in the central part of the park next to the Kelleher Rose Garden, a lovely space with rose-trellised arches and a fountain.

The park's Clemente Field, a multi-use athletic field, is surrounded by a track at its southernmost point. With native birds like the great blue heron, indigo bunting, eastern kingbird, wood duck, and red-tailed hawk, this lovely wetland area is a fantastic location for birdwatching. A Japanese Temple Bell made in 1675, the "Duck House," a stone roadhouse built in 1897, the Westland Gate built in 1905, and the neoclassical Fire Alarm Office finished in 1925 are just a few of the historic attractions in The Fens.

The Fens is also home to Boston's oldest surviving World War II Victory Garden, established in 1941, still operating today as a community garden in the northwestern section of the park off Boylston Street. Visitors can learn more about the park and obtain maps at the Shattuck Visitor Center, home of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy headquarters. Back Bay Fens is definitely one of the loveliest parks in Boston.

• Key Attractions: Kelleher Rose Garden, Japanese Temple Bell, Duck House, Westland Gate, Fire Alarm Office
  
• Website: https://www.boston.gov/parks/back-bay-fens
• Google rating: 4.5/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 6:00 AM-11:30 PM
• Address: 100 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02215

The largest open space in Boston is Franklin Park, which is situated in the neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Roslindale, and Dorchester to the south of Downtown Boston. This 485-acre park, another of Frederick Law Olmstead's ecological masterpieces, was conceived in the 1890s.

The Franklin Park Zoo, a 72-acre establishment that debuted in 1912, is Franklin Park's most well-known tourist destination. Family favorites like the African lion, Masai giraffe, two-toed sloths, kangaroos, and lemurs are among the astounding number of animals living there. A butterfly house, two aviaries, and a kids' farm where visitors can interact closely with small farm animals are among the other exhibits available.

In addition, the park is home to many different sporting venues, most notably the oldest public 18-hole golf course in the nation. Additionally, there are courts for basketball and tennis as well as fields for baseball, lacrosse, rugby, and soccer.

The Playhouse in the Park hosts outdoor theatrical productions throughout the summer for the enjoyment of visitors. Ellicott Arch, Scarboro Pond, the Bell Tower, and several playgrounds are additional points of interest.

• Attractions: William Devine Golf Course, Scarboro Pond, Playhouse in the Park, Elma Lewis Playstead, White Stadium
• Website: https://www.villageoffranklinpark.com/
• Google rating: N/A
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 1:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day)
• Address: 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston, MA 02121

The park's 281-acre grounds, which are situated in the Boston neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, are crisscrossed with paths, many of which are completely accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Frederick Law Olmstead, a landscape architect, created the park, a National Historic Landmark, which was established in 1872. Harvard University manages the park and uses it as a living classroom. They also oversee the visitor center, which offers educational exhibits and open-to-the-public workshops.

The Arboretum is home to a wide range of trees, including numerous varieties of maple, crabapple, hemlock, and the extremely rare Franklin tree, that flourish in the southern New England climate. The park also has a huge collection of rhododendrons, some of which date back to 1886, as well as a wide range of deciduous and coniferous shrubs, vines, and perennial flowering plants, such as lilacs, azaleas, and a huge collection of perennial flowering plants.

The Bonsai & Penjing Collection, which features the park's tiniest trees, is one of its most intriguing exhibits. There are a total of 36 carefully maintained bonsai, the most prized being the five extremely rare Hinoki cypress specimens. The arboretum is free to the public and open dawn to dusk year-round; leashed dogs are welcome. Free docent-led tours of the park's highlights are available on weekends. Arnold Arboretum is unquestionably one of the loveliest parks in Boston.

• Attractions: The Arboretum, The Bonsai & Penjing Collection
• Website: https://arboretum.harvard.edu/
• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Address: 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130

The most visited area of the Boston Harbor National Recreation Area is located in South Boston and includes Castle Island and Fort Independence Park. At the tip of a man-made peninsula in Boston Harbor, where the island was joined to the mainland in 1928, the park spans 22 acres. Fort Independence, a traditional pentagonal fortress, serves as its focal point.

The first fortification was constructed here in 1634, and the current structure was finished in 1851. On the weekends, Fort Independence offers free 30-minute tours to visitors. Two beaches can be found on Castle Island, and they both face Pleasure Bay, which is a region shielded from the open ocean by the Head Island Causeway. A playground is located immediately behind the larger of the two beaches, and the beaches share rest and bathing amenities, including showers.

The Harborwalk circles the area and offers breathtaking views of the water, the city, and the nearby islands; kids will especially enjoy seeing planes take off from Logan Airport, which is close by. On the other side of the island, just past the granite obelisk known as the Clipper Ship Monument to Donald McKay, there is a fishing pier where the Harry McDonough Sailing Program conducts its operations. While this is a well-liked location for picnics, there is a good takeout restaurant close to the parking area.

• Restrictions: Pets are not allowed May through September
• Website: None
• Google rating: 4.7/5.0
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun ̉6:30 AM - 7:00 PM
• Address: 2010 William J Day Blvd, Boston, MA 02127

Long before the Greenway sprang from the Central Artery, the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park was the North End's original family park. Overlooking Boston Harbor, the park features vine-covered trellises that provide shade along the central pedestrian path. When not covered in lush leaves, this massive archway is decorated in lights to celebrate the winter holidays. It might be small, but this harborside park is a focal point for the North End and the waterfront communities.

The playground is located in the northern corner of the park, loved by kids for its "crow's nest," which affords little ones great views of the boats coming in and out of Boston Harbor. Next to the playground is the Massachusetts Beirut Memorial.

This park is also home to the Rose Kennedy Rose Garden, a lovely space with a fountain and plenty of shaded benches. The park hosts numerous festivals throughout the year. Winter’s holiday season finds its famous gigantic trellis covered in twinkle lights.

• Activities: Climbing, walking/jogging, picnic, admiring the rose garden
• Website: None
• Google rating: 4.7/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun Mon 6:00 AM - 11:30 PM
• Address: Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110

This three-mile stretch along the Charles River from the Boston University Bridge to the Museum of Science was first constructed in 1910 and was known as the Boston Embankment. There are 17 miles of paths in the park that can be used for walking along the river, rollerblading, cycling, and other activities. One of the many footbridges that cross Storrow Drive will take you to the park.

The Esplanade is a popular retreat for the active set (think joggers, bicyclists and Rollerbladers), as well as those who like to meander along the water's edge on its winding paths while admiring sailboats bobbing in the distance. The Arthur Fiedler Footbridge, which begins at Arlington and Beacon Streets and is named for the renowned conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, is the most notable footbridge. It has recently undergone renovation.

The Hatch Shell bandstand, where the Pops hold court for its renowned July Fourth celebrations, is located on the Esplanade. The Shell offers free screenings of films and performances of jazz, pop, and rock music during the warmer months.

• Activities: Walking along the river, rollerblading, cycling
• Website: https://esplanade.org/
• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Address: Charles River, Esplanade, Boston, MA 02116

Mount Auburn Cemetery is many things: a public park, burial ground, arboretum, and wildlife sanctuary (it’s very popular with bird enthusiasts). The Massachusetts Horticultural Society established this 72-acre National Historic Landmark in 1831, making it the country's first garden cemetery. The use of natural boundaries is magnificent, and the wildlife, from foxes to wild turkeys, is extraordinary for a busy city. Both features were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the father of landscape architecture.

Numerous architectural styles are represented; similarly, the landscape’s intimate spaces and grand sweeping vistas reflect a wide range of styles, from Victorian to contemporary. With more than 5,000 trees representing 630 taxa, the landscape is horticulturally diverse.

It draws a variety of visitors, including those who enjoy the outdoors, gardening, looking for famous graves, and admirers of funerary art. The pastoral setting includes serene ponds, statues, breathtaking mausoleums, and a view of Boston and Cambridge from Washington Tower (check out the enormous Sphinx). Among the notable sites are the secluded Dell, the more formal and modern Asa Gray Garden, the romantic Bigelow Chapel, and the Mary Baker Eddy monument, which serves as a focal point for the Halcyon Lake landscape.

• Activities: Gardening, looking for graves, and visiting funerary art
• Website: https://mountauburn.org/
• Google rating: 4.8/5.0
  
• Opening Hours: Mon to Sun 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
• Address: 580 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138