Arnold Arboretum

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Arnold Arboretum

Photo: Abdalian, Leon H., 1884-1967 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

🌷 Garden · Boston

2 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 5.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 4.0
  • 🚗
    About 15 min drive
    From Newton · Parking: Free street parking along the Arborway and Bussey St; or Orange Line to Forest Hills and a 5-minute walk
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Handles heat
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 2 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall

A 281-acre arboretum run by Harvard, with wide paved roads throughout so strollers roam freely: on Lilac Sunday around Mother's Day in May hundreds of lilacs bloom at once, in fall the maples and ginkgos carpet the ground in color, Peters Hill gives you the Boston skyline, and rolling down the big grassy slope is a fixed ritual for kids.

💡 Tips
Free, open sunrise to sunset. The visitor center has restrooms and kids' explorer packs to borrow. Lilac Sunday is crowded and the only day of the year when picnics are allowed. The giant old trees around the Explorers Garden are the best for hide-and-seek.

What this place offers

✓lilacs
✓big trees
✓paved path
✓hilltop city views
✓free
✓visitor center
✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Boston

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

🌦️
Sat 10/17
Showers · 40–64°F · 79% rain
☁️
Sun 10/18
Overcast · 39–60°F · 1% rain

Location

Boston, Massachusetts

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