Want to get out in nature and see some beautiful trees and greenery? The Commuter Rail’s Needham Line can take you to amazing parks, gardens, and trails if you know the right stops. With the unlimited ride $10 Weekend Pass, you’ll be able to hop on and off of the train all weekend to visit these beautiful places. Plan a picnic, put on your hiking boots, bring your camera and field guide, and come see the greener side of the Needham Line.
Explore the Beautiful Parks and Gardens of the Needham Line
300 Gardner St, Needham, MA 02132
Millennium Park is a beautiful park that received one of the best glow-ups in Boston’s history. It was once a landfill, but dirt excavated from the Big Dig was used to cover over the top, which allowed it to be transformed into a green and lush park. You’ll want to take a quick rideshare so you can spend as much time as possible exploring. There’s six miles of handicapped-accessible walking trails, playing fields, a nature trail, and wonderful views of the Blue Hills, Newton’s hills, and downtown Boston.
For a Mediterranean feeling in Boston, go to Alexander the Great Park. This lovely little park boasts Grecian columns at the entrance and a stone bust of Alexander the Great, which was a gift from Greece to the people of Roslindale. Catmint and daylilies line the paths, giving the park a feeling similar to Macedonia, the area in northern Greece where Alexander the Great was born.
125 Arborway, Boston , MA 02130
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a 281-acre landscape and botanical research institution featuring over 15,000 accessioned plants. Open daily and free for all to explore, it’s also the oldest public arboretum in North America, having been established in 1872. Here you can explore the beautiful park on your own, or you can take a 90-minute guided tour to learn more about the plants and the land’s history. Come see blooming flowers, take a peaceful stroll, and attend special events hosted by the Arboretum.
25 Evans Way, Boston, MA 02115
Want to see a beautiful garden but are worried about inclement weather? The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum contains a courtyard garden that is always in bloom. The courtyard’s glass roof allows sunlight to come in while keeping rain and cold out, making the indoor garden thrive. While already stunning on its own merits, it becomes even more breathtaking through a series of ten dramatic seasonal displays. From orchids to nasturtiums to Japanese-style chrysanthemums, there’s always something new to discover.
73 Park Dr, Boston, Boston, MA 02115
Open from May until October, the James P. Kelleher Rose Garden is truly a secret garden in the city. Home to 200 rose varieties and over 1,500 plants. Among the roses, you’ll find beautiful pathways to walk down as well as statues, a fountain and arched trellises. It’s a magical place full of beauty and the smell of fresh roses that’s simply unlike anywhere else on the Needham Line.