People might not come to Boston for its scenery, but if you’re already here, there are some stunning spots you’re probably overlooking. The Emerald Necklace, a string of connected public parks stretching over 1,000 acres, holds far more than just the famous Boston Common: Its extensive forests, lakes and gardens give Boston residents an excuse to get lost in nature.
Harvard Arboretum
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is, counterintuitively, a 281-acre public park in Jamaica Plain. It isn’t the most convenient to get to, but the trip is well worth it. (I recommend taking bus route 38 to South Street and Bardwell Street because it’s closer to the main entrance than the nearby Orange Line stop.)
If you want to get lost in nature for a few hours on a lazy Sunday, the arboretum is the perfect place for it. Even if it’s a foggy day, friends and families gather for yoga circles and garden parties, and energetic young parents walk the wide paths with their toddlers.
Harvard calls the park a “tree museum,” and the amateur botanists among you might enjoy the labeled plants from all regions of the world. There is also an archival library for hardcore plant enthusiasts.
Back Bay Fens
A Husky’s closest access to nature is the Back Bay Fens. The park is only a few minutes walk from most Northeastern residence halls, and the majority of us have hurried through it to get to Target. It’s easy to take it for granted — it doesn’t have the rolling green hills or perfectly curated gardens of Boston Common.
I always assumed the Fens was a cute nickname related to the nearby Fenway neighborhood, but the area’s ecosystem is actually called a fens — a wetland fed by groundwater.
You’ll be rewarded for attention to detail here. Different kinds of bees zip through bushes at the edge of the water and turtles pop up to breathe. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a day with clear skies and calm water, the reflection on the lake will mimic the layer of treetops broken up by skyscrapers.
Fenway Victory Gardens
A little further from campus, right along Park Drive, you’ll find the Fenway Victory Gardens, a seven-acre park owned by the city that parcels out garden plots to Boston residents.
If you ever have to cross through the Fens and have some time to kill, take the long way through the gardens. There are massive compost piles and, if you look closely, all kinds of fruits and flowers.
Olmsted Park
You might have rushed through Olmsted on the way to a Northeastern soccer game, which is how I first encountered it. It’s an easier trip than the Harvard Arboretum but a lesser reward, especially since it feels exactly like the Fens — the main event is a pond populated by ducks and geese surrounded by a thick ring of trees.
If you like the accessibility of the Fens but want a quiet place to sit further away from the hustle and bustle of campus, you’ll be delighted to hear that you can take the Green Line straight to Olmsted. (Get off at Riverway, walk west and only turn south once you reach Pond Avenue. Apple Maps will instruct you to walk south first and then cross a four-lane road without a crosswalk, which I don’t recommend).
The lake is breathtaking on a clear day. Take a seat and pay attention to the birds calling and squirrels rustling in the trees while the weather is still warm.
I have been trying to enjoy the season’s beautiful weather before the sun starts to set at 4 p.m., and thankfully, Boston’s abundant parks make it easy. To be honest, I will most likely continue to rely on Boston Common and the Fens for most of my outdoor time, but there are still miles and miles of nature to explore right here in Back Bay. Part of the reason I came to Northeastern is that I love the city of Boston, but I’m starting to love all that its nature has to offer, too.
