Fall foliage in Boston

Places to See New England Fall Foliage In & Around Boston

Golden spots for leaf peeping
By Katie Sagal

Leaf peeping is a quintessential autumn activity, and nowhere does it better than New England. People travel from far and wide to soak up the season's changing colors. Here are our favorite spots.

Nothing can quite compare to the beauty of New England's fall foliage, with its vibrant bursts of color. Travelers flock to this area in the hope of capturing their brilliance with film and photography. Boston is also of course a perfect place to enjoy fall activities like apple cider donuts and pumpkin-decorated porches.

Here are our top areas for prime New England foliage viewing.

When is the best time to see New England fall foliage?

Wondering when to plan your Boston visit to coincide with when the foliage is at its peak? This fall foliage map will help you to make sure you catch the peak of color! Each year, the changing of the leaves tends to begin at different times. Generally speaking, you'll start to see splashes of color around mid-September.

Artists Bluff, New Hampshire

By early October, fall leaf colors become more pronounced. Peak season usually comes in about the 3rd week of October. By early November, the most vivid fall leaf colors may unfortunately be gone, so be sure to get here sooner rather than later.

If you're looking for places to enjoy the best of Boston-area fall foliage, then check out some of our suggestions below. We've combined the possibilities for leaf peeping with some other fun things to do in Boston to help you make the most of your fall vacation.

Check out Boston Common and the public gardens

Foliage at Boston Common

Head here to see a rich array of golds, yellows, and reds against the city skyline and manicured walkways, ponds, and statues. The Boston Public Gardens are a short walk from Beacon Hill, a neighborhood full of 19th-century charm.

You can warm up with cider or coffee in any of the coffeehouses along Charles and Cambridge streets. Many of the trees in the gardens change color earlier in the season, so splashes of autumn color can usually be seen first here.

It's an excellent place to snap photos, too, with the contrast of beautiful trees against grand buildings. While you won't be seeing many of the picnickers or frisbee throwers that throng the park in the summer months, keep an eye out for kids flying kites and plenty of excited furry friends.

Plan a visit to Harvard Yard

Harvard Yard

A melting pot of students, professors, dogs, and children, Harvard Yard is a great spot for leaf-peeping. As you stroll through the tree-lined grassy common, stop by the infamous John Harvard Statue, a frequent target of local pranks, to give your New England fall day a collegiate twist (don't forget to rub the statue's feet for good luck!)

Take the Harvard Walking Tour if you've got some free time and you're interested in the school. It's the most popular tour of Harvard University. It's a great opportunity to learn all about the school while taking in the beautiful colors of the changing leaves.

While you're here, be sure to check out the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which contains a one-of-a-kind glass display of over 3,000 plant species. It's bound to amaze botanists and tourists alike. Plus, they've also got a nice little collection of fossils, gemstones, and other natural artifacts.

Enjoy the Boston fall foliage on a bike

Boston fall bike ride

Consider taking a beautiful bike ride around Boston, which is one the best ways for tourists and Boston residents alike to see some of the best sights, smells, and scenes that the Hub has to offer in the Fall. A few areas that you should consider checking out for some great Boston Fall foliage on two wheels include:
 

Take a Charles River tour and discover Boston's charm

Charles River fall

The Charles River Cruise or Boston’s famous Duck Tour in the fall months is especially scenic as the leaves reflect off the water of the Charles River. Both tours are available through October – prime New England foliage time!

The Charles River Cruise is a serene 70-minute excursion around the Charles River Basin. It's filled with great photo opportunities and informative yet engaging narration. This cruise is a lovely way to do a spot of sightseeing.

Meanwhile, the Boston Duck Tour is more interactive but just as educational. Spend part of your time on land, and part in the Charles River for a truly unique sightseeing experience.

New England foliage outside of Boston

Fall foliage in New England

It wouldn't be a proper New England fall visit without a taste of life outside of Boston. Visitors to the area really should experience the rolling New England foliage in the countryside. Soak up all the hues that are produced by a slowly departing summer. Watching the leaves change color while traveling past quiet ponds, historic farms, weathered roadside taverns, colonial churches, and quaint village greens is a charming way to spend an autumn day.

A tour of Lexington and Concord is a great option - it will give you a firsthand view of what this historic region has to offer. The 90-minute tour will take you on a trolley ride along historic Battle Road as you visit some of the most important sites of the American Revolution. You'll visit the Lexington Battle Green, Buckman Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House.

Additionally, you will see Minute Man National Historical Park, Meriam’s Corner, the North Bridge, and many other historic places.

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Things to do in Back Bay, Boston

Back Bay is one of Boston's most affluent districts, with plenty of places to go and things to see. So, if you're visiting Boston and thinking of staying in the area, you'll want to know what's good. Well, we'll tell you what's good. Right here, right now. Read on, and discover the best things to do in Back Bay, Boston! Including: Trinity Church Boston Public Library The Mapparium Boston Marathon Survivor Memorial Places to eat and more! The Holy Trinity (Church) Let's start this shindig with something holy. If you want to explore a fascinating holy place, whether you're religious or not, check out Trinity Church. Even from the outside, its ornate design is mesmerizing. But step inside, and you'll be treated to a feast for the eyes. Practically every inch was handpainted, and the whole thing was overseen by prominent American artist John La Farge. From the pre-Raphaelite windows to the awe-inspiring murals, it's a great place to visit in Back Bay. The church itself does lots of community outreach, so if you're in the area on a Sunday, feel free to go to one of their services. Words are worth it Libraries are the spine of our nation. That was a book pun, and no, we won't apologize. Wordplay is one of life's many joys. And if you like wordplay, books, and libraries, then you'll love Boston Public Library! What a terrible segue! This labyrinthine monument to learning is a frequent hang spot for students and researchers. Visitors will often find students at their laptops, staring at empty word documents with tears in their eyes. But never mind them, they made their bed. Instead, get lost in its many, many aisles. You'll likely find any book you're looking for within its massive walls. But if that wasn't enough, there are also regular talks and readings held there throughout the year, and you can even get a tour of the place if you're too overwhelmed by all the learning. Map it out Mary Baker Eddy was a special person. Not only did she overcome the adversity that came with being a female academic in the 19th-century, but she wrote a groundbreaking book that kicked off the movement that we now know as Christian Science. So, why not find out more about this fascinating woman at The Mapparium? You'll walk across a bridge through the three-story, stained-glass Mapparium globe, enhanced with music and special lighting effects. It will give you a whole new perspective of Earth's geography, thanks to the concave, mirror-imaged view it offers. Explore the library, which has artifacts from her life you won't see anywhere else. You'll learn how The Mapparium was built and take a guided tour of The First Church of Christ. In the original 1894 church building, you'll find one of the world's largest pipe organs too! Image courtesy of Jesse Costa/WBUR To those we lost The Boston Marathon bombing was an event that shook the world. If you would like to pay your respects, you can visit the Boston Marathon Survivors Monument. The artist worked diligently with the families of the deceased in its design, ensuring it captured their spirit and personality. The two installations on Boylston Street are 20ft tall bronze spires that contain light-emitting glass tubes, ensuring the people taken in the bombing will be remembered forever. Where to eat You may need a bite to eat after all that sightseeing. Thankfully, Back Bay has some fantastic eateries that will welcome you with open arms. These are our favorites! If you're looking for interesting Far East dishes, then Uni will fit you like a Japanese glove. This contemporary izakaya restaurant offers a host of street food-inspired plates, as well as Japanese favorites like Sashimi and Nigiri. Take a seat beneath the dim lighting, explore the expansive menu, and find a new dish to add to your favorites! If American seafood dishes are more your thing, don't you worry. Select Oyster Bar brings New England Seafood to your table, with a Mediterranean twist to boot. While you're free to stop by for a glass of wine and some oysters, you'll be missing out if you don't hunker down for dinner. The Maine Lobster Salad is something else, and for a fish joint, they even do a mean rib eye! Speaking of rib eye, if steaks more you scene, Grill 23 is one of the best in the country. This award-winning steakhouse is the go-to site for local business meetings, so bear that in mind if you're thinking of heading there on a weekday. But never mind the white-collar hollering, sit down, stare at their table until they relent, and enjoy some of the juiciest steaks around. Where to drink Let's end this with a look at the nightlife. If you're looking for a drink or three to see out the evening, then Back Bay has many delightful watering holes, no matter your desire. Want something casual? Try The Pour House. This sports bar contains a whopping 17 TV screens, showing a variety of games throughout the week. You'll also find a wealth of affordable beers, bar food, and your standard cocktails. It may be a no-frills kind of place, but sometimes, that's exactly what you're looking for. In the mood for something slightly fancier? City Bar is an elegant watering hole located in the century-old Lenox Hotel. And, given the likes of Babe Ruth and John Travolta have graced its elegant tables at one time or another, it's the kind of pedigree that guarantees you a great cocktail and a great time. Combine that with a hefty wine list, romantic lighting, and swanky decor, and it's the perfect date spot if you're looking to impress that someone special. And finally, if you're looking for something a little louder, then you have to hit up the Bukowski Tavern. Named after famed author Charles Bukowski, who penned the likes of Factotum and Ham on Rye, among many other novels and poems, this is a Boston bar through and through. You'll find a huge selection of delicious beers, brewed both locally and abroad, some high-quality bar bites, and the kind of larger-than-life atmosphere that makes Boston the city it is! And that's our list of the best things to do in Back Bay, Boston!
Dom Bewley
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Best Museums in Boston

Heading to Boston on vacation, or a resident looking for some sweet, unadulterated culture? You've come to the right place. We're all about culture here, and we've plucked the finest of the city's museums out of the ether. So sit back, tune your eyes to reading mode, and prepare for an information overload. These are our picks for the best museums in Boston! Including: Museum of Science USS Constitution Museum Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Harvard Museum of Natural History Salem Witch Museum and more! Museum of Science Science. The ongoing answer to life's many questions. For millennia, it's helped us uncover more and more about our world and the many worlds around us. So, why not get hands-on with over 700 fascinating interactive exhibits at Boston's Museum of Science? Have your brain tickled by humankind's many mind-blowing discoveries, and ponder the things we're still only glimpsing. Walk among the many awesome exhibitions, like the Hall of Human Life, where you'll journey into the human body itself, find out how we work from the inside out, and learn more about how our choices make us who we are. Or, spark your imagination at the Theater of Electricity, a shrine to the wondrous energy found in nature and how we've learned to harness it. Learn all about electricity, magnetism, and the mechanisms we use it for, such as conductors and insulators. All of that, and the world's largest Van de Graaff generator await you! USS Constitution Museum Want to learn more about the country's seafaring history? Do yourself a favor and immediately head to the USS Constitution Museum. This famous ship, completed in 1797, even served in the War of 1812 against those evil Brits. We showed them, didn't we! Inside, you'll find two historic American vessels to explore, interactive exhibits that give you a hands-on with history, and learn about how these vessels worked. How exactly do you unfurl a 200-year-old sail? How did they fire their cannons? What everyday issues did sailors face back then? Find out the answers to all these questions and much more at the USS Constitution Museum, easily one of the best museums in Boston for the nautically curious! Museum of Fine Arts, Boston We all appreciate the finer things in life, whether it's extravagant furniture, meticulously-designed clothing, or a cheeseburger adorned with lashings of bacon. So, why not go look at some fine things at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? One of the world's most impressive and comprehensive art museums, a whopping 500,000 works are held within. Good luck seeing half a million artworks in one visit! This mammoth collection is housed within more than 100 galleries that include paintings, sculptures, and myriad artifacts from throughout human history, as far back as ancient civilizations and all the way through to 19th-century painters like van Gogh. And, when you've explored as much art as you can physically manage in one day, rest your weary legs at the New American Cafe, where you can pick up small bites, a drink, or a fully-fledged meal. Nice. Harvard Museum of Natural History Boston is known for many things; baseball, basketball, its unique accent. But one of the jewels in the state's crown is undoubtedly Harvard University. One of the world's most renowned centers of higher education, it's no wonder they expanded into the museum business. At the Harvard Museum of Natural History, you'll find more than 12,000 natural artifacts, from dinosaur fossils to huge geodes. Given Harvard's renown as an education facility, it's no surprise you'll find so many amazing fossils and artifacts within. Explore the museum's many halls and exhibitions to learn all about Earth's natural history, from primordial ooze all the way to modern man. For inquisitive minds, this is easily one of the best museums in Boston! Salem Witch Museum Salem has become notorious in fiction for being a paranormal place where myths and monsters lurk around every corner. Really, all of this absolute make-believe stemmed from the sadly very real Salem Witch Trials. For those who don't know, here's a quick history lesson. Back in 1692, some bright sparks decided to accuse women of witchcraft, generally out of spite or petty disagreements. This idiocy soon snowballed into the trials themselves, where over 150 women were accused of being witches, resulting in 20 being put to death. It was a dark time in the nation's history, but an interesting one nonetheless. How did it happen? How could it happen? You'll find the answer to those questions and more at the Salem Witch Museum. Explore 13 life-sized sets that recreate the trials, learn about how the hysteria spread, and how perfectly normal people could be driven to such violent ends. Then, discover the fallout of the trials, the communities torn apart by them, and how colonists were left to pick up the pieces. One of the most fascinating and unique museums in Boston; it's best to see it yourself. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum How about seeing some inspiring art in an inspiring building? Look no further than the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Step inside this striking 19th-century building, and you'll immediately notice its Venetian influence. Within these historic galleries, you'll find works from world-renowned artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. The museum contains over 2,500 such works, so you'll be plenty occupied seeing them all! Then, when you're all art-ed out, make sure you wander the fantastic grounds around the museum. Maybe you'll find some inspiration to dig out the watercolors. Boston Children's Museum It's often said that the children are our future. And that was as true in the past as it is today, because the Boston Children's Museum has been delighting and teaching kids for over one hundred years. Inside, kids will get the chance to wall-climb, escape a giant maze, and create their own artistic 'masterpieces,' all while being stealth taught. The perfect way to get them educated is when they don't even realize they're learning. With a focus on science, the environment, art, and health, it's a great platform for your kids to ensure they're the best they can be. And, best of all, it's good fun too. They even have special events going on throughout the year, so be sure to check ahead before you travel and see what's available. For those of you with little ones, it's one of the best museums in Boston. And that's our list of the best museums in Boston!
Dom Bewley

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