Boston Common Fall Color and a Roof Garden
A three-stop fall walk from the changing trees on the Common to Back Bay landmarks and a garden above Kendall Square.
Three Green Stops Across the River
Boston Common in Red and Gold
Founded in 1634, Boston Common served as a colonial militia muster ground, a British encampment, and a Civil War recruitment site. Today the nearly 50-acre green mixes Freedom Trail paths, ballfields, monuments, and the Parkman Bandstand, with shade trees that turn red and gold in the season. The grounds open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM, early enough for a loop on foot before work. Frog Pond shifts with the calendar, from summer spray pools to winter skating.
Copley Square Between Landmarks
Copley Square, named for painter John Singleton Copley, sits between Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library, with open space to sit and walk between the two facades. It makes a natural Back Bay pause on the walk west from the Common, and a variety of dining options sit around the edges. Trinity Church charges an inexpensive admission for a look inside. A 4.6 rating across 237 reviews reflects a square built for lingering between landmarks.
A Roof Garden Above Kendall
Urban Park Roof Garden sits on top of a Kendall Center garage at 325 Main Street in Cambridge, with open lawns, Adirondack benches, and work tables among vegetable grow beds and varied flora. The lawn carries table tennis and bean bag games for a playful finish to the walk. Reach it by the garage elevators or the Main Street social stair next to the MBTA station. The garden opens daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
