Public Garden

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