This serene, verdant community garden at the edge of the city is ideal for long, contemplative walks between the trees or a nice picnic. You can even rent a canoe and go paddling in the calm waters of the Charles River. Designated picnic areas with tables and grills provide the perfect setting for a delicious outdoor meal. Enjoy a picnic lunch with scenic river views, or grill up some burgers and hot dogs for a fun family cookout. Serious volleyball and basketball players can play some ball with their friends at the many playgrounds here, and there is also an amphitheater on-premises, which hosts concerts, shows, and community events from time to time.
Fans of author Nathaniel Hawthorne can take in some of the atmosphere that inspired the Blithedale Romance. Encompassing 180 acres of fields, woods and wetlands, this National Historic Landmark is significant as the site of a settlement of Transcendentalists in the late 1840s. Tours are offered at various times throughout the year, but the park itself is open all the time for those who just wish to browse undisturbed and perhaps catch some transcendental vibes themselves.
