Boston's Emerald Necklace Trail

On the way to the Copps Hill Cemetery, you'll pass the Old North Church where upon instructions from Paul Revere, Robert Newman hung lanterns to alert the Patriots that the British were coming! First stop: Copp's Hill Burying Ground. The burying ground is the second oldest in Boston and named after William Copp, who previously owned the land. Looking out across the water you can see the Charlestown Navy Yard which houses, what appears to be a pirate ship. The pirate ship is actually the USS Constitution. The ship was built in 1797 and has fought in three wars. The first was the Barbary War where the ship protected American merchants from pirates in the Mediterranean. The second war was the infamous War of 1812 between the United States of America and the British Empire. The third was the deadliest war in American history, the American Civil war. In conclusion to the civil war slavery was abolished and the Confederacy ended. The ship was never defeated in the forty plus battles it participated in. Also across the river to the left of the Navy Yard, is a very Egyptian-looking obelisk. Standing at 221 feet tall on Breed's Hill, the Bunker Hill Monument commemorates the first major battle between the Patriots and the British during the Revolutionary War.

At this scenic spot, gaze out at the famous Charles River. Looking over the river to Cambridge, to the right you can spot part of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Farther to the right, you'll witness the Museum of Science. And within the park that is behind you, is the dome shaped, outdoor concert venue, the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell. Also known as the Hatch Shell, this building is used as an outdoor concert venue, most notably by the Boston Pops' performance on the Fourth of July.

The Fens was a marsh, which was drained and filled in, and then turned into parkland by Olmsted. It is fun to walk through the Victory Gardens, the nation's oldest remaining WWII gardens. There is also a rose garden- absolutely stunning in bloom-and myriad pathways to explore. A playground at Mother's Rest is a great spot for kids.

Peanuts! Peanuts! Get your Peanuts! Behold the world famous baseball park, home of the Boston Red Sox and Green Monster! Fenway Park was built in 1912 and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use. After venturing down Yawkey Way to see the stadium, take a roll down Lansdowne Street to see some of the many bars, clubs and music venues that keeps the Fenway area full of life. Detaining some more "green monsters" is the Back Bay Fens. Also known as "The Fens" or "The Fenway," the park is a charming area that was once a saltwater marshland. Unlike the Olmsted park, the land needed to be sculpted to create a picturesque landscape that we can appreciate today.

The Riverway connects the Fens to Olmsted Park and offers shady paths, a gazebo and charming little stone bridges to cross. Photo: Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Ponds, trees, and ducks, oh my! Olmsted Park is a series of ponds, athletic fields, and babbling brooks. Named after Frederick Law Olmsted, the park was established in 1891. In building the park, not many changes needed to be made to the landscapes because the land itself was already so lovely. Thus, the park was designed to enhance the natural wonders of the land.

Few neighborhood parks are so well used and well loved as Jamaica Pond, and for good reason. The grounds are well maintained, the vibe is relaxed and friendly, and glimpses of nature are everywhere to be enjoyed, right in the middle of a city neighborhood. It also happens to be the site of America's first reservoir. In every season and at just about any daylight hour, the pond's paved trail is occupied by people of all ages and from many walks of life. It's a place to kick back and enjoy the small pleasures of childhood: watching the ducks and geese; tossing sticks and rocks; spotting a majestic swan, a shy turtle, numerous dogs; walking, running and riding; having a picnic and meeting old or new friends. You can rent sailboats July through Labor Day; rowboats, April through September.

The arboretum offers more than 250 acres of open space to bike, in-line skate, run or just stroll among the walkways (but you can't picnic here). It is North America's first public arboretum and has meadows, forest and ponds with 15,000 trees, shrubs and vines. Head to Peter's Hill for the highest point in the Emerald Necklace with a great view of Boston's skyline. Photo: Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. --- Address: 125 Arborway Phone: 617-384-5235 Admission: Free Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Here you can find one of the finest 19th century cemeteries in the country, as declared by the National Register of Historic Places. The famous writer, E.E. Cummings is buried here. The Forest Hills cemetery makes up a large portion of the Forest Hills area. Parks and another arboretum make up the remainder of the hills. Next to the park is the Arborway Station that once was the final stop of the "E" train of the Green Line. In 1985 the terminus became the Heath Street stop and the remaining tracks to Arborway were paved over.

The 527-acre Franklin Park has an 18-hole course, a pond and a 100-acre woods (not the Hundred Acre Woods, alas), plus playgrounds, walking trails, tennis courts and a bandstand for summertime entertainment.

While not technically park of the Emerald Necklace, the 72-acre zoo sits in Franklin Park and makes for a great way to end your day of tour. Check out the giraffes, lions, gorillas and more. If you've got an appetite, there's the indoor, southwestern-themed Giddy-Up Grill concession stand and, in season, the outdoor Kalahari Kitchen with hamburgers and hot dogs. --- Address: 1 Franklin Road Phone: 617-541-5466 Admission: Adults $16, Seniors 62+ $13, Children 2-12 $10, Children under 2 free Hours: April 1 - September 30 Monday through Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm; October 1 - March 31 daily 10am - 4pm

This is a park, a walkway, and a bike path! The Southwest Corridor stretches for 4.7 miles and takes up 52 acres of land from the Back Bay to Forest Hills. The park connects the South End, Back Bay, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. It's like a mini-highway for cyclists and pedestrians! It is a good thing that the State decided against a 12-lane highway back in the 60's because we wouldn't be able to enjoy this gorgeous park today.

The Boston Public Gardens, established in 1837 by philanthropist Horace Gray, is an excellent place to appreciate the aesthetic and calming qualities of nature. Just across the street is the Boston Common, Boston's central public park. The Common dates back to 1634, making it one of the oldest city parks in the United States.