Their wonderful staff gave our clients a great tour and were full of fun knowledge! The Arboretum is a great place for walks and biking any time of the year. read more

Beautiful place to wander and be surrounded by nature. So lovely seeing the wild rabbits run around and the love and care put into labeling each tree. Really nice place - such a gem to have an area like this to relax in for free. My sister and I walked to the top of the windy road. The view was pretty and we just felt so at peace being there. Incredibly well-kept, clean, big variety of trees. Recommend for a casual date/meet up with friend. read more

The Arboretum is a great place to bring your family and pets. There is no better place in the city to go for walks and exercise.

Living near the Arboretum has been my saving grace during the COVID-19 outbreak... the bulk of the park isn't even in bloom yet, but the space is so beautiful, open, and well maintained. It's a really special place with a wide variety of plants and paths to wander down. Lovely break to go for a stroll and see families with their dogs just enjoying the fresh air. :) read more

Truly the best place to fall in love with nature Each walking path is a different from conifers, bonsai garden and more Bird watching paradise read more

Fantastic! All i can say is this is such a gem. I brought my bike here and had a great ride. The fragrance was excellent from all the beautiful flowers. I'll have to go back without my bike because there were a lot of little paths i didn't get to see because they don't allow bikes on them. Working water fountains everywhere. A must see if your in the area! read more

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If you take a straight route through the Arnold Arboretum, starting from the Arborway Gate (northmost point) and continuing until you get to the tip top of all 240 ft of Peters Hill (best view of Boston), you will observe and experience a myriad of beautiful parts of the Arboretum (yes, trees). Stroll through the Shrub and Vine Garden via Linden Path and continue up the open meadow of trees that is Bussey Hill where the summit view is nothing, but great to enjoy and moment with a book or a friend... Head on down the other side where the slopes are covered in pine needles, so it's more like sliding down.. You'll end up under a shade of 100 ft tall pines and amongst a dozen clacking angry squirrels. A gorgeous tree sits on the edge of Beech Path and is supported with a steel support to keep from falling. Continue along and cross Bussey Street to climb the last hill, Peters Hill, a steep hill, for a sweet view of Boston (this hill is not fun to climb with a fixie, but rewarding!). Like any other tree-filled place, the arboretum is especially enjoyable in the fall when maple leaves turn crimson and berried trees are boutiful. Take a trek from downtown and follow the Emerald Necklace (I guess that might take a while), take the T to JP, or drive your lazy butt (like me) and park along sketchy Arborway, to access the park. read more

Arnold Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I grew up on the Arborway directly across from the Arboretum so for most of my childhood I considered it my backyard. I have spent so many days and nights here that I feel so at home whenever I visit again. Actually, now that I am writing this I am being flooded with hundreds of memories. I learned how to ride a bike, climbed my first tree, learned how to do cartwheels, took graduation photos, had my first kiss, pulled my first all nighter and escaped to the Arbs any time that I needed to be alone. I know all of the ins and outs, secret paths, and how to get from corner to corner via the different parts of JP and Roslindale. They make changes to the park all of the time and it looks more and more beautiful each time I go back. My parents live very close still so we always head there for walks with the dogs and for Lilac Sunday. You could visit the Arbs many times and not see the same area twice. I am so grateful to everyone that keeps up the place since I can't imagine what my childhood would have been without it. If you are thinking about going, just do it. Plenty of street parking, an interesting visitors center, bathrooms scattered throughout, tons of friendly happy people and you can even have a great picnic there. Go, go, go! You won't regret it. read more

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Love the arboretum. This gem in Bostons city is a great place for a walk or hike. Not too crowded, but you do need to park on the street. Dogs are mostly leashed. read more

Don't get me wrong it's really pretty but it is just too crowded. I don't like a lot of people but going there, there's too many. You can't get anywhere without being felt like you are going to get knocked over read more

This is an amazing outdoor spot--I live in JP and it always amazes me that this little (but not that little!) oasis is in the midst of the city. Beautiful during Lilac season, rose season, rhododendron season, spots to lay out, smell the flowers, bird watch, pond watch, hike in the trees, learn about different plants, bike around, run--it's just a wonderful spot. Highly recommended. read more

Beautiful and well maintained ! There's some fun wildlife as well. I enjoy biking around

One of my favorite things about Boston is being about to take public transportation to startling displays of natural beauty. The Arnold Arboretum is a wonderful, sprawling forest that is lovingly managed and universally enjoyed. Harvard contributes much to this fine city, but the Arboretum is my favorite Crimson contribution. You can spend the rest of your life visiting this fantastic place and it would be considered a life well-lived. read more

Feed your soul here. Ever-changing Beauty. Trees, shrubbery, vines, and flowerbeds are so well-maintained by staff members who are more than willing to share their knowledge with you. And all of this free to us. read more

Lilac Sunday was fun with my friend. The place was filled with people and vendors. Our guide was a little bit slow and boring but that was ok. We learned a bit about the Lilacs and then move on to do our own things. Overall, we had a great experience and took lots of pictures. Can't wait to come back again when other flowers are in bloom! read more

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Awesome spot to look at nature and walk around with family !!!! Trees are labeled and great trails for running hiking ect

Part of Boston's Emerald Necklace, this 200+ acre tree park is one of Boston's greatest outdoor spaces. A real gem.

Awesome place for picnic!!! Good for a walk or bike. The trees, vines and bonsai are A plus. At the lakes if you wait a little the turtles come to check you out. read more

Arnold Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is my favorite place in Boston. And I'm just lucky that it's within walking distance to my house. I never knew I had a favorite type of tree until I spent a day at the Arboretum! Now I know! By far, the best time to visit is at the climax of fall--right when the leaves are at their most colorful and about to drop. Climb to the highest point in the park and you can look out over all of the beautiful treetops and enjoy a spectacular view of Boston at the same time. It's also gorgeous during spring/summer when everything is in bloom. There are so many different types of trees that there's always something new to discover and enjoy. And though I haven't been during the winter, I've seen photos of it after a snowstorm and it's really quite mezmerizing to see the entire landscape buried in a blanket of snow, without the interruption of cars or other city distractions. Also be sure to check out the bonsai garden. It is a closed off little gazebo, but one is able to walk all around and peer through the wood slats to see the delicate twists and turns of the trunks and branches. (They are put away where you can't see them during the late fall/winter to protect from frost). read more

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Such a great place to enjoy nature. Since I moved to Boston 5 years ago, I unconsciously was longing for a place like that. And just to think - discovered that place only this year. 1) Easy to get and easy to follow directions on the map. 2) Total feel of nature. 3) Perfect place for solitude. But it could be creepy sometimes: during week-days not so many people around read more

Arnold Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Lilac Sunday is always a blast. Great place to go in all seasons, especially when all the flowers and trees are blossoming

Very nice has a lot of nice trees very different from one another, very colorful, and better to go during fall or summer time. You can take great pictures too. read more

It's a great place very beautiful I've been there many times. I know people have weddings there; It changes all the time the foliage and the leaves and it's great for taking walks. read more

This is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Its well kept with great paths to walk through and enjoy the beauty of nature. Our favorite time of year is May & June when the lilacs are in bloom, but we walk here quite often. The grandkids enjoy bringing their bike and of course you see many strollers. There are areas where you can spread out a blanket and have a snack or picnic and the children enjoy climbing some of the trees that have Hugh low limbs that you can just sit on. A truly great spot anytime, read more

Awesome place to walk or run or set up a picnic. It's pretty big and has lots of areas to explore! If you have never been there it is a little hilly and I would also recommend bringing water read more

It's a beautiful place to walk, run, or just read a book! Especially during fall right as the leaves are changing colors. It was wonderful to walk around and just relish in natures beauty! I recommend this to everyone if visiting New England. read more

Arnold Arboretum - Parks Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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What a beautiful and scenic place to visit! I went to the arboretum last spring and am just getting around to writing this now. I loved all of the cool flowers and trees. It is such a great place for a quiet walk. The grounds are very extensive so I didn't make it through the entire place but I hope to return one of these days. The admission is free and they even have some very limited parking. There is a visitor information center near what I believe is the main entrance and they give out free maps of the place and they have restrooms there. It was a bit on the cooler side the day I went so I didn't stay very long but I really am hoping to make it back real soon. This is definitely a place worth visiting! read more

Nice place to go for a walk or a bike ride. We went in the visitors center to get an overview and grab water from the fountain by the bathroom. I think I was expecting something a little more structured along the path... multiple times it was confusing where we were and where to turn to get to a certain location. As first timers to the arboretum it was very difficult to navigate on foot. Otherwise a beautiful place, just thought that engineering better placement of directions would improve the overall experience. read more

Such a nice green space! I love walking our dog here and enjoying trees from all around the world.

This pearl of a space is absolutely heavenly!!! What a treasure to have this "tree library" here in massachusetts!!! Visit the website to learn more Arboretum. Harvard.edu read more

Great place for a walk... dog friendly and well maintained. Paved paths or a walk in the woods. Great place to bring the kids.

Perfect place for a walk and check out the beautiful trails. People walking the dogs are pretty good too! It's a very safe and peaceful sanctuary read more

The arboretum is beautiful and open, with lots of different paths and hills, including wide paved flat paths well suited for biking and rollerskating, and smaller ones through the woods great for walking or running, plus wide grassy areas great for picnics. Many of the plants have nice little placards showing what their scientific names are so that you can identify them, and there are specialized sections like a small bonsai garden or the lilac collection. It can get crowded during peak times, but that's what happens with a park in the city - and it's proof that it's a great park. read more

We are so lucky to have the arboretum here in JP. Delightful in every season, much to explore.

Great place to visit and have a picnic, walk, run whatever your heart desire. Love it

Jeffrey the Explorer. That's what I'd call myself after the "Hounds of Yelp" event not too long ago. Naturally, I had crashed my car into a curb earlier and driving my Escort with a case of the shakes was not on the menu that day. I decided to take the orange line all the way out to Forrest Hills and walk my way through the hills, valleys, and woods that are the Arnold Arboretum. Little did I know that such an overwhelming amount of nature existed merely footsteps away from mass transit and suddenly I found myself lost in the mists of a rainy day in Jamaica Plain. Walking along the winding sidewalks that bend around various bodies of water, I was desperately searching for Yelpers and their hounds. I came across a brick building, where inside there were people reading placards to learn more about the history of the Arboretum...I on the other hand was sneaking past a group meeting in another room merely to use the restroom. Awk is my game. I called Yelper Liz D for answers on their location and I was passed around like a newborn to Damien S and Brian D for directions. Walking up hills and grasping onto trees (the sidewalks were long out of sight my friends) I was told that I was about a 1/2 mile away and would need to find a map. A MAP?! A MAP!? I felt like I was on the Oregon Trail and had just lost my oxen to dysentery - where the H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STIX am I going to find a map!? I stumbled (rolled) down the hill and found myself along a random sidewalk. I ran...to where I don't know...but I ran. Suddenly I found myself along the gates and there it was, a map! And a realization. This place is gigantic and I'll need another oxen (metro cab) to find my Yelpers and their hounds. *snaps photo of map for Yelp post* I call my fellow Pioneers to alert them of my safety and my location - I am then informed that it's time to drink some beers at The Behan. My quest is over - back to the orange line. The Arnold Arboretum is gorgeous, gigantic, and overall a unique place in an urban setting. If you're a Bostonian looking to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown, venture over to the Arboretum and enjoy what nature has to offer. Be sure to bring an extra wheel for the covered wagon. read more

I took my girlfriend here for something fun and active. These are my key observations: 1) There are multiple entrances. It almost doesn't matter where you enter as long as you can find parking. You park along the side of the road and there is no dedicated parking lot (or at least one I could find). 2) The Visitor Center is great. It has a mini display of all the areas and it gives you a sense of the scale and the layout of the Arnold Arboretum. There are also bathrooms here. 3) There are designated areas for certain types of plants and trees. For example, you'll see Birches, Elms, and Lilacs grouped by themselves. They also have areas such as the Chinese Path or the Bonsai collection that are cool to see. 4) There are directories scattered throughout the main walkways. They tell you where you are and show you other major points of interest. I would highly recommend you get a map in case you get lost walking around. 5) Park Rangers drive around in SUVs. Even if you're walking on a small dirt path in the woods you'll be forced to the side or off the path. Just a heads up for elderly, handicapped, or those with strollers. 6) People can, and like to, explore off the main paths. I saw people hidden away all over the place. I typically stumbled upon them while looking for a good shot of some flowers or trees. 7) Wear sunscreen. Don't think that the canopies and shade will protect you. They say it takes about an hour to get from one end of the arboretum to the other. 8) Wear appropriate clothing. Especially in the summer, wear comfortable shoes and prepare to sweat. However, there were a lot of mosquitoes near marshy areas so consider carrying bug spray or wearing sleeves. 9) There are dogs, bikers, runners, rollerbladers, and all sorts of activities going on. Join in on the fun or just be aware of them. read more

I love trees. I know we all do, but I love them more. I do! I've planted them, trimmed them and climbed many many of them. I've even driven til I got a puncture just to see one once. So it was about time I finally saw the Arboretum - and it didn't let me down. Sadly because of the proximity to busy roads and the inability for Boston to have tropical trees it's not the best arboretum in the world but it's still a real treasure in Boston. Even in the snow, with bare trees it was a great afternoon out. The views of Boston from the two hilltops are outstanding and worth the climb. You can sledge down in the snow if you dare. Even without leaves many of the trees were interesting - huge maples, cork trees with interesting bark, eucalypts and probably the best collection of metasequoias in the world (the tree they thought was extinct until 1946). For a homesick European like me there was the urban gem - the London Plain - and the tree-climbers delight - the European Beech. Sadly I saw no Monkey Puzzle Tree. I'll definitely come here again and again. Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to be enjoying one of these PDAs all the other reviews talk about. read more

Large park to walk, bike, roller blade, etc in with friends or family. Very pretty! Make sure you look up the different parking spots/streets before you go. read more

The arboretum, or Da Arbs as it used to be refferred to is truely an incredible place. It is highly slept on by me, because I love going there and I never do. It is so massively chill out, that I usualy end up taking a nap when I'm there, especially after a turkey sandwhich. For the record, it is ALSO the only place in Boston that I'd seen not 1, not 2, but 3 seperate couples, having the sex during the day time... AND only ONE of those couples was in the bushes... woah... read more