Location: Boston
Top Things to do in Boston
The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Boston, Massachusetts (MA)
Walk the Freedom Trail the first time you visit Boston and you'll quickly get a sense of this coastal city's revolutionary spirit and history. But make sure you also explore some of Boston's fine museums (try the Isabella Stewart Gardner, featuring masterpieces displayed in their collector's mansion) and old neighborhoods (like the North End, Boston's Little Italy). You can't claim to have experienced real Boston culture, though, until you've watched a Red Sox game from the bleachers.
Restaurants in Boston
1. Little Brewster Island and Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 37 reviews
Voyage through maritime history with a special three-lighthouse tour featuring close-up views of Long Island Light, Graves Light, and Boston Light – America’s first light station. Delve into history as you travel to the edge of Boston Harbor on an exciting 2-hour cruise and encounter three iconic lighthouses, and enjoy onboard narration provided by Boston Harbor Islands park staff and volunteers from the United States Coast Guard. Learn about the maritime traditions of Boston Harbor, enjoy unforgettable views of the park and city, and experience one of the most unique and historically significant ports in the country.
2. Emerald Necklace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Our mission is to restore and improve the Emerald Necklace for all. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy connects people and parks and conserves the Emerald Necklace through projects and programs to enrich the visitor experience and restore and renew the landscape, waterways and parkways. To steward the Emerald Necklace’s 1,100 acres of parkland extending from Boston’s Back Bay through Brookline and Jamaica Plain to Franklin Park in Dorchester, the Conservancy works in collaboration with its partners on advocacy, maintenance and restoration, education and access, and promoting park stewardship through volunteer and youth programs.
Reviewed By kappy26 - Boston, United States
This is a series of hiking paths with nice views. We walked from Brookline to Boston on this beautiful scenic path called The River Way. Check this out but walk here during the day.
3. Castle Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 525 reviews
The site of a fort erected in 1634, Castle Island is a great place to walk, jog or just unwind and enjoy the view.
Reviewed By Northern_Traveler00 - Boston, United States
12 months a year you can find us at Castle Island, enjoying the breezes (and winter winds) taking the approx 2 mile walk around Pleasure Bay and the old fort. Lunch (or breakfast) at Sullivan's is a great and inexpensive stop to enjoy a meal watching the planes and boats and people
4. Boston Public Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,829 reviews
This Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park, famous for its Swan Boats, has over 600 varieties of trees and an ever-changing array of flowers. It is America's first public garden.
Reviewed By M3730ZNsarab
No trip to Boston is complete without walking through these gardens! Located downtown and right beside Boston Commons, this is a beautiful spot to stroll through on a sunny day and stop and sit. You can see squirrels, ducks, beautiful flowers in season, ride the swan boats, see the duck statues, see the fountains, and enjoy the day!
5. George's Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 181 reviews
Georges Island is home to historic Fort Warren, a Civil War-era fort known for its graceful granite archways and reputed ghost, the Lady in Black. The fort and its grassy parade ground are a popular place for a scenic, low-stress walk. Take a ranger-guided tour or visit the new museum with exhibits about the history of the fort. Enjoy a picnic under the shade of a tree. Get exceptional views of the surrounding islands and Boston Light from the ramparts and east sea wall. Georges Island is a frequent stop for the island ferries and provides a jumping-off point for other islands. Georges Island opens upon the first ferry arrival in May and closes in October each year.
Reviewed By cohoman - Sammamish, United States
The visitor center has interesting information and civil war artifacts on display. The fort itself is massive with lots of rooms to explore. Great piece of American history. The ride over to the island but ferry was very pleasant. The only negative thing, was all the mosquitos on the island. My family were bit several times by A LOT of big mosquitos on our exposed legs, arms, and neck. Made the visit not so enjoyable. We ended up buying bug repellent from the gift shop and liberally spraying it all over our bodies. This was in August, so I don't know if mosquitos are a problem during other times of the year.
6. Arnold Arboretum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 657 reviews
Part of Olmsted's famous Emerald Necklace, America's oldest public arboretum has 265 beautiful acres of trees, shrubs and vines.
Reviewed By patriciasS9225TJ
This is a lovely and picturesque part of Boston. If you enjoy nature and walking this a must. Enjoy the beautiful plants and trees while taking a leisurely walk. The aborreumn covers at least a two radius. It is beautiful any time of year.
7. Boston Common
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,419 reviews
Whether it's a summer picnic in the grass or winter ice-skating on Frog Pond, Boston's oldest public park is the perfect escape from the bustle of the city.
Reviewed By JeanneJ739
Lovely green expanse in central Boston. In the past a spot to turn your cows out to graze, site of public hangings, protests, speeches (one by Gorbachev), concerts (a big one by Judy Garland), ice skating on the pond in winter, lots of sports facilities, and an annual Christmas tree from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in thanks for prompt and generous help from Boston after the 1917 Halifax explosion.
8. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,108 reviews
A Venetian palace in the middle of Boston, Gardner's home is now a museum displaying her impressive, eclectic collection of European, American and Asian art, including sculpture, paintings, furniture, ceramics and textiles. Visitors can stroll or rest in a spectacular skylit courtyard filled with plants and flowers.
Reviewed By JacksBack05101 - Westminster, United States
Too much to say to Fit here but... John Singer Sargent’s El Jaleo is amazing, you’ll see the empty frames from the nations most notorious art heist too. This place is frozen in time on purpose. Please visit to find out why!
9. Charles River Esplanade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 734 reviews
A popular path for walkers, joggers, bladers and bicyclists, the Esplanade is also home to the Hatch Shell, where the Boston Pops holds its annual summer concerts.
Reviewed By prospero212 - Hudson, United States
do the whole Charles River Basin- walk the Esplanade and see the joggers, roller blades, performers, Pops, go across any one of the bridges to the Cambridge side and walk back on the Memorial Drive Side, part the Museum of Science (with a stop at Cheesecake Factory?).
10. Thompson Island
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