New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Save
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Photo: Daderot · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

🌷 Garden · Boylston

3 hours · $$ · 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 55 min drive
    From Newton · Parking: Free lot inside the garden; admission about $20 adults, about $8 kids, check the website
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Some shade
    Great on sunny days · Good on cool days · Handles heat · Rain-OK · Fine on cold days
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 3 hours
    Best seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

A 170-acre hilltop botanic garden outside Worcester: the children's area, The Ramble, has a treehouse, a boulder scramble, a sandpit, and small water jets in summer, two big conservatories stay warm and humid in winter with fruit on the citrus trees, and the big lawn overlooking the Wachusett Reservoir is made for picnics; the Night Lights show from November to January lights up the whole garden.

💡 Tips
About a 1-hour drive, but it fills half a day. Paved and gravel paths are both easy with a stroller. In winter the conservatories plus the light show make a great garden visit even in the cold, and light show tickets must be bought in advance. There is a cafe on site.

What this place offers

✓children's garden
✓conservatories
✓treehouse
✓water jets
✓lake views
✓winter lights
✓cafe
✓restrooms

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Boylston

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

🌧️
Sat 10/17
Rain · 31–55°F · 73% rain
🌤️
Sun 10/18
Partly cloudy · 31–56°F · 1% rain

Location

Boylston, Massachusetts

More like this

Boston Public Garden and the Make Way for Ducklings statues
Kid favorite

Boston Public Garden and the Make Way for Ducklings statues

5.0

Boston · 20 min drive

1.5 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Green Line to Arlington puts you right there; by car use the Boston Common underground garage (from about $20)

Arnold Arboretum
Kid favorite

Arnold Arboretum

5.0

Boston · 15 min drive

2 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Free street parking along the Arborway and Bussey St; or Orange Line to Forest Hills and a 5-minute walk

Elm Bank gardens and Weezie's Garden for Children (Mass Hort)
Kid favorite

Elm Bank gardens and Weezie's Garden for Children (Mass Hort)

5.0

Wellesley · 15 min drive

2 h · stroller-friendly

$ · Parking: Free lot inside the grounds; admission about $12 adults, kids cheap or free, check the website

Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust)

Garden in the Woods (Native Plant Trust)

4.0

Framingham · 25 min drive

1.5 h · carrier recommended

$ · Parking: Free lot inside the garden; admission about $15 adults, about $7 kids, check the website