In Boston’s Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods stands one of the most joyful places in the city: the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, a 281-acre living museum of trees that has welcomed the public free of charge since 1882.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace, the Arboretum arranges its woody plants by family along winding paths and gentle hills, so a walk here feels like a trip around the temperate world. In spring, the famous lilac collection perfumes the air — Lilac Sunday has been a beloved Boston tradition since 1908 — while maples, magnolias and crabapples take their turns in the spotlight through the seasons.
Climb Bussey Hill or Peters Hill for sweeping views that frame the downtown skyline beyond the treetops, a reminder that this green sanctuary thrives inside a busy city. Families picnic on the meadows, birders scan the conifers, and quiet corners invite nothing more ambitious than sitting under a centuries-old oak.
Open every day from sunrise to sunset, the Arnold Arboretum is Boston at its happiest: science, beauty and fresh air, shared with everyone.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
