Charles River Esplanade and Charlesbank Playground

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Cambridge Common nature playground (Alexander W. Kemp Playground)

Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

🛝 Playground · Boston

2 hours · Free · No reservation needed

age fit

0–1 yr

★ 4.0

1–3 yrs

★ 5.0

3–5 yrs

★ 5.0

5–10 yrs

★ 4.0

🚗
About 20 min drive
From Newton · Parking: Easiest is the Red Line to Charles/MGH and a 3-minute walk; by car use the MGH garage (expensive) or the temporary Esplanade spaces under Storrow Dr
🍼
Stroller-friendly
Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
🌳
Some shade
Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Handles heat · Wind-OK
⏱️
Typical visit: 2 hours
Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall

3 miles of riverside park on the Boston side of the Charles: Charlesbank Playground has climbing structures and summer sprinklers, hundreds of small sailboats and rowboats come and go on the river, a 2-year-old can sit on the grassy bank watching ducks and boats for ages, and the Hatch Shell hosts free outdoor concerts and movies in summer.

💡 Tips

The paved riverside path is easy for strollers and scooters; Charlesbank west to the Hatch Shell is about 1 mile. Summer evenings are the most pleasant. For time on the water, Community Boating runs family boating programs in summer.

What this place offers

✓riverside

✓playground

✓sprinklers

✓sailboat watching

✓paved path

✓free concerts

✓restrooms (seasonal)

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 · 40–61°F · 69% rain

☀️

Sun 10/18

Sunny · 38–58°F · 3% rain

Location

Boston, Massachusetts

Charles River Esplanade and Charlesbank Playground

🛝 Playground · Boston

What this place offers

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Boston

Location

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Cambridge Common nature playground (Alexander W. Kemp Playground)