Boston is renowned for its revolutionary spirit, colleges, and phenomenally successful sports teams, but it's also a great place for urban exploration. What else would you expect from the city that gave birth to the country's first public park (the 385-year-old Boston Common) and its first regional park system (the 126-year-old Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston)? According to The Trust for Public Land, 17 percent of the city is now dedicated to recreation space, and the metro region has a wide range of attractions ranging from state-managed reserves to street-art-adorned climbing crags.
Jump to:
So, whether you want to soak in skyline views while kayaking the harbour or just enjoy the beautiful summer weather at one of the city's numerous beer gardens, here are 7 of the greatest spots for taking advantage of the Boston area's enormous outdoor areas. You may also get an illustrated version of this guide to aid with your navigation.
1. Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
If you don't have your own boat, you may ride the ferry to this 114-acre island in Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park to enjoy the beaches, picnic spots, and walking paths. Then take to the water on your own on one of the island's ranger-led sea kayaking trips, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to be sure of a trip, sign up for one of REI's guided island paddling excursions or beginning coastal kayaking courses.
2. Arnold Arboretum
It takes approximately half an hour to cycle from downtown Boston to this 281-acre arboretum just south of Jamaica Pond, but you'll feel transported due to its 2,173 plant varieties, including 180 types of lilac and Japanese bonsai trees up to 275 years old. Every weekend, free guided tours depart from the Hunnewell Building, or you may just explore the arboretum on your own. Lys Cianci, visual lead at the REI shop in Boston, adds, "It's a lovely park for walking, jogging, and hanging out."
3. Southwest Corridor Park
This park's protected trail, which runs 4.1 miles from the Back Bay area to Jamaica Plain, is a popular route into the city for bike commuters during the week, and it's ideal for getting out on weekends, whether by bike, foot, rollerblading, or whatever tickles your fancy. Just don't expect to see anything spectacular. The unobtrusive path runs under several of the area's main thoroughfares. The Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, and other attractions along the route make the journey worthwhile.
4. Jamaica Pond Boston
On a calm Jamaica Pond, empty sailboats repose. (Photo courtesy of Kaleb Kloppe, CC BY 2.0)
This isolated oasis's tranquil waters are ideal for learning watersports. Visitors to Jamaica Pond may hire sailboats, kayaks, and rowboats via the charity Courageous Sailing, which is located five miles south of downtown and readily accessible through the linear Southwest Corridor Park. Alternatively, contact the organization's boathouse a week ahead of time to sign up for a sailing session. The pond is surrounded by red and white oaks and a 1.5-mile walking path, and it is part of Boston's famous Emerald Necklace, a 1,200-acre stretch of parks and waterways that runs between Boston and Brookline.
6. Downtown Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway
The Rose Kennedy Greenway is popular for a reason: it's unlike anything else. It's in the heart of downtown, it's well-known, and it's frequently busy. This one-of-a-kind green space, created as part of the Big Dig, replaced the aboveground highways that once snaked through the heart of Boston, providing pedestrians with a prime avenue for exploring the incredible restaurants, historical sites, and waterfront views of neighbourhoods like the North End, Seaport, and Chinatown.
In addition to food trucks and craft merchants, the Greenway offers two beer and wine gardens in the summer, one from the hugely famous Trillium Brewing Company and the other from City Winery, a neighbouring wine-centric concert venue.
7. Middlesex Fells Reservation
In the Middlesex Fells reserve, the leaves are starting to turn beside the river. (Unsplash photo credit: Bonnie Kittle)
Middlesex Fells is one of the few local crags that can be accessed by public transit. Climbing locations like Black and White Rocks, which offers more than 30 novice and intermediate trad, top-rope, and bouldering routes and is located north of Medford approximately 1.5 miles from the Malden Center MBTA station, have lots of boulders and short walls to send. The Fells include almost 2,000 acres of open space, with mixed-use paths, fishing spots, boat launches, and even a zoo. Do you need to learn how to climb first? It's no issue. REI offers a variety of basic to intermediate climbing classes to help you improve your technique.
Leave a Reply