Boston Common
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Boston Common offers a unique blend of historical significance and natural beauty, making it a highly-rated destination for families. Its distinct value proposition lies in providing a free, expansive urban park where children can engage with literary landmarks (the 'Make Way for Ducklings' statues), enjoy seasonal attractions like a carousel and winter ice skating at the Frog Pond, and explore an integral part of Boston's history (Freedom Trail start) all within walking distance of other major city attractions.
Key Highlights
- ✓Iconic 'Make Way for Ducklings' statues which are a prominent spot for children's photos and connect to a beloved book.
- ✓The Frog Pond transforms seasonally, serving as an ice rink during colder months, offering a specific winter activity.
- ✓A charming carousel provides a specific ride attraction for kids.
- ✓Beautiful, well-maintained park with delightful walking paths around a pond, shaded by weeping willow trees, perfect for family strolls.
- ✓Rich historical context with numerous statues, plaques, and its role as the starting point for the Freedom Trail, offering educational opportunities.
- ✓Proximity to other key attractions like the Public Gardens, Charles River Esplanade, Chinatown, Quincy Market, and the Harbor area, making it a central hub for exploration.
Standout Features
- ⭐Specific photo opportunity with the 'Make Way for Ducklings' statues, directly linked to a popular children's book.
- ⭐The Frog Pond's transformation into an ice rink in winter offers a unique, seasonal activity, especially relevant for New Year's Eve visits.
- ⭐Historical significance as the oldest public city park and the start of the Freedom Trail, providing a rich educational backdrop.
- ⭐The 'Embrace' statue dedicated to Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King provides a meaningful landmark.
- ⭐Paved walkways throughout the park are ideal for strollers and easy walking.
- ⭐Presence of local musicians adds to the pleasant atmosphere.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan to visit the 'Make Way for Ducklings' statues for memorable family photos.
- →If visiting in winter (e.g., New Year's Eve), check if the Frog Pond is open for ice skating as it's a popular activity.
- →Consider a leisurely walk around the pond's perimeter to enjoy the scenery and shade.
- →Leverage its central location: it's a short walk to Chinatown, Quincy Market, and the Harbor, making it easy to combine with other sightseeing.
- →Explore the Public Gardens and the Public Foot Bridge which are connected and offer additional beauty and activities like the carousel.
- →Bring comfortable shoes for walking, as the park is large and connects to other extensive walking paths like the Charles River Esplanade.
Price & Value
Entering Boston Common is free. Specific attractions like the carousel would likely have a small fee (not specified in reviews). The value is exceptionally high as it offers extensive, well-maintained space, historical education, and specific kid-friendly attractions at no or minimal cost.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Paved walkways throughout the park suggest good accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific food policy mentioned in reviews, implying general park rules; families should assume bringing their own snacks is permissible for casual visits.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific parking information mentioned. Its central location suggests reliance on nearby city parking garages or street parking, which may incur costs and require planning due to proximity to popular city attractions.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Regularly busy with a nice atmosphere, suggesting it's a popular destination but not necessarily uncomfortably crowded.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features like staff supervision or entry tracking were mentioned in the reviews, typical for a large public park.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Do not rely solely on the Frog Pond for specific activities (e.g., wading) without checking its current seasonal status, as it can be closed or used as an ice rink depending on the time of year.
Pricing/Package/Events
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Carol West
a week agoWhat a beautiful part of Boston to take a stroll! There is a beautiful statue called the "Embrace" dedicated to Martin Luther King and his Coretta Scott King, in honor of their love, as Boston is where they met. The park is beautiful! One of my favorite parts is the pond. It is delightful to walk around the perimeter that is surrounded by beautiful weeping willow trees and others that tunnel sidewalks or provide shade for people to sit and enjoy the local musicians who entertain! A tour guide I heard on one of the Trolleys noted that one hasn't visited Boston if they don't take a SWAN boat ride on the lake. I tend to disagree. Walking the park would be my suggestion! And perhaps buying a copy of Robert McClosky's book, "Make Way for Ducklings"! This book has made the Boston Commons a most popular park for children around the world. A page that I remember from childhood is the policeman crossing the duck family through the Boston traffic! Statues of the ducks in the parks are a prominent spot for parents to take photos! The Massachusetts State House is on one side of the Commons along with Beacon Hill. The area is part of the Freedom Trail walk and is right in the middle of all the Boston history! And also on top of the Charles River Esplanade--which is a three mile long park alongside the Charles River! There is just so much to enjoy in this area--so say "CHEERS" (yes, the CHEERS bar is at the foot of the park) and go enjoy!
Vignesh Gopinath
a week agoIt's my first time visiting this place. Beautiful well maintained park with kids friendly attractions. Definitely worth visiting. It's pretty close to China town and Quincy Market and Harbor area. It's just a short walk
A R
a week agoBoston Common is a beautiful park located near the Back Bay of Boston. We arrived at the park today to run the Boston 5k, which is where the race started. The whole event was very well done, and the new course route through the city is fantastic. This is the best 5k we have all ever ran! The bus pick up that gets you to the start of the Boston Marathon was also at this location as well. Overall, it was just a great weekend of races!
Kendall Grizzaffe
3 months agoOne of the most beautiful historical parks I have ever been to! Boston has been a dream trip for me! The weather was beautiful & you can learn a lot walking around this park. Sadly the Frog Pond was closed which was understandable due to how green it was. But we took a ride on the carousel, walked through the Public Gardens & on the Public Foot Bridge, & enjoyed going through history reading all the statues & plaques. I feel like we didn't touch a lot of the park so I would love to go back one day! Highly recommend this park for any of your future visits!
Lorraine
3 months agoIt's a huge park with an interesting history, and it's Bostons oldest public city park. There's a lovely lake, monuments, plenty of paved walkways, and the bandstand. The Frog Pond was an ice rink when I visited. The park was really busy each time I walked through and always had a nice atmosphere. There's also the starting point for the Freedom Trail, where you can buy maps and information booklets. Also, other merchandise.