Public Garden
add photosFor information on the Make Way for Ducklings Parade, contact Friends of the Public Garden at (617) 723-8144.
5 Reviews for Public Garden
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"Beautiful!"
The Boston Public Garden is extremely beautiful. Willow trees, ponds, swans, ducks, beautiful blooms and flowers everywhere. Lit up with lights during the winter months. Visit the Swan boats while your there, your kids can feed the ducks. I think it cost about $2 for the Swan boat ride. Great place for professional photos such as wedding photos or prom photos.
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"Swan Boats!"
They do an excellent job maintaining this garden. Make sure you ride the swan boats in the summer. It's inexpensive and fun, especially for little kids. This park is serene and relaxing . You can pick a bench and just people watch. My favorite part of the park was the statue of the famous ducklings. Be on the lookout for the swans: Romeo & Juliet!
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"Go for the swan boats!"
The public garden is beautiful in the spring with all the flowers and trees blooming. On the weekends you'll often find wedding parties getting pictures taken. It's a nice walk. When open, the swan boats are a fun adventure too (not too expensive either!). And you can't forget the Make Way for Duckling statues either-perfect photo opp (you and everyone else will be there!).
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"Fun with the Family"
The Public Garden, founded in 1837, is the first public botanical garden in the country and encompasses twenty-four acres of planted landscape. Walk toward Beacon Street.
Here the kids will find the bronze sculptures of Mrs. Mallard and her brood. Ask the kids to name the ducks (the first one is Jack, followed by Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack). Next, head for the lagoon, where your family may well see real-life cousins of the Mallard family.
Ducklings Day is an annual parade held on Mother’s Day at Boston Common that reenacts the Make Way for Ducklings tale by Robert McCloskey. Call for exact times.
The Swan Boat (617-522-1966 [general information] or 617-591-1150 [group reservations]; www.swanboats.com) ride is
a must. The boats are on the lagoon daily from mid-April through mid-September, open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer, to 4:00 p.m. in the spring and fall, weather permitting. The fare is $2.75 for adults, $1.25 for children under 15; free for children under 2. It’s a short fifteen minutes or so—and people-powered; a boatswain pedals the boat from his or her perch behind a wooden swan. Remember to bring a bag of crumbs or peanuts along.
Before or after your ride, be sure to check out the impressive statue of George Washington astride his horse, at the Commonwealth Avenue entrance to the Public Garden. The beautiful shrubbery, trees, and plantings, along with the picturesque bridge over the swan pond, attract many budding artists.
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"A great rest stop"
While you are moving from old downtown Boston to the Back Bay, the Public Garden serves as a convenient rest stop for a picnic. It is maintained with great pride and is beautiful in all four seasons but probably not for a picnic in January. Most important is the sculpture of "Make Way for the Ducklings" which is based in Boston. Especially nice, if your children have read the story but if not, pick up the book immediately after in a local bookshop (like Curious George in Harvard Square). There are also swan boat rides on the little pond. A bit gimmicky, to me, but probably a real treat for a toddler.
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