THE LARGEST GREEN SPACES IN BOSTON
Escape and unwind in Boston's luxurious big parks! They're a rewarding way to experience a city like Boston. A refreshing alternative to being indoors, but also illustrative of a city's history and residential life.
ROSE KENNEDY GREENWAY This wide green swath through the downtown actually covers a highway that was put below ground during Boston's famous 1980's Big Dig project. The park is a fun way to walk from South Boston all the way north to the Charles River.
Harvard University’s ARNOLD ARBORETUM is located southwest of the city center. With 281 acres, it's a horticultural oasis with over 15,000 species of plants and flowers. A short car ride away in the town of Columbia is the JFK Presidential Library.
The BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS afford you a cool way to view of the city's skyline as you experience local wildlife and the fresh ocean breezes off the bay. The islands are also home to America's Oldest Lighthouse at historic Fort Warren.
BOSTON COMMON at 350 years+ is the oldest park in the United States. Rich in history, its location at the center of Boston is where you'll begin the Freedom Trail, think Paul Revere, and the Black Heritage Trail - the later, with the homes and meeting places of the abolitionists, takes you through charming Beacon Hill. Adjacent to the Common is THE PUBLIC GARDEN, designed in 1837, its centerpiece is a lake with iconic swan boat rides that make for a lovely little respite from walking.
BACK BAY FENS is part of Boston's "Emerald Necklace," a continuously greenway of linked organically shaped outdoor spaces; it links to Olmsted Park and Riverway Park. The Muddy River runs through all three. Here you'll find a rose garden and numerous paths circulating around ponds and waterways. Back Bay Fens is close to the Museum of Fines Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Red Sox Stadium.
FRANKLIN PARK with 485 acres is Boston's largest public park. Attractions include the Franklin Park Zoo, as well as the William J. Devine municipal golf course. Nearby is the historic 1848 Forest Hills Cemetery.
OLMSTED PARK the natural features of this park were for the most part highlighted by its designer, the great landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. Its central attractions include Jamaica, Leverett, and Wards ponds. His other works which involved much more hands-on changes include Central Park, the Biltmore Estate, and Louisville's 18 parks.
WHERE TO GET A GREAT BITE
As you walk Boston you're going to get hungry - see Red Maps' guide to Boston's best pizza, lobster rolls, deli, chowder, and bakeries: BOSTON BITE-SIZED.
Purchase the RED MAP BOSTON
