Founded in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States. It lies in the heart of Boston and is almost 50 acres in size. The park was originally used as a cow pasture in the 1630’s, but this practice ended in 1830 due to overgrazing. Boston Common was also used as a camp by the British Redcoats prior to the Revolutionary War, and was the starting point for the march to the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Moreover, Boston Common has served as a stage for free speech and public assembly to historical figures, including Charles Lindbergh who promoted commercial aviation, Martin Luther King Jr. during Civil Right rallies, and Pope John II to celebrate mass.

Boston Common is especially popular during summer, with its softball fields, spray pool at the Frog Pond for children to cool off, grassy knolls, and vendors selling hot dogs, peanuts and ice cream. It is also the starting point of the Freedom Trail, a walking path throughout Boston that leads to the city’s most historic sites.

A quick walk across the street takes you to the Boston Public Garden, a beautifully manicured 24-acre landscape. The Public Garden is home to the Swan Boats, a popular tourist attraction in which tourists can sit on an ornamented boat with a white swan at the rear and enjoy a tour around the lake. The colorful summer colors of roses, bulbs, and flowering shrubs, as well as fountains, small bridges, and statues, always make for a relaxing stroll throughout the Public Garden.

On a summer Boston day, there’s nothing like a picnic under the cool shade of a willow tree or soaking up the sun on the grassy field while enjoying the backdrop of the city’s skyline in the distance.

August 20th, 2009