Emerald Necklace

A lengthy green space connecting Boston's downtown to the suburbs was Frederick Law Olmsted's vision more than a century ago. His creation, the Emerald Necklace, which connects more than 1,000 acres in six different parks from Franklin Park to the Boston Common, has endured unaltered.

You can take public transportation or walk the entire seven miles, or any portion of it (nearby stops are marked on the excellent Emerald Necklace map). The route passes the Boston Swan Boats, two significant art museums, the historic Fenway Victory Gardens, a beautiful rose garden, three ponds, a wildflower meadow, the Arnold Arboretum, and a zoo on the way to Dorchester.

The Boston Common and Public Garden mark the start of the Emerald Necklace, which continues along Commonwealth Avenue's center park bordered on either side by elegant brownstone and brick townhouses that served as residences for the "Boston Brahmins."

A 2.5-mile round-trip can be covered by walking the distance between Charles Street and Commonwealth Avenue, through the Public Garden, and the length of Commonwealth Avenue; an additional 1.6 miles can be added by strolling through the rose garden and community gardens in Fenway. While the main trail follows Jamaica Pond's south side, where there is a picturesque overlook, a well-traveled side trail on the Emerald Necklace circles the pond.

Address: Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts