Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Free
The Arnold Arboretum is one of the area's truly great places to get away during the spring, summer and fall. The two-mile-long main walking trail is paved and allows for leisurely stroller walks. Plant, flower and woodland life is labeled according to species.
Blue Hills State Reservation, Milton, Free
With its scenic views, varied terrain and 125 miles of trails, the Blue Hills Reservation offers year-round enjoyment for the outdoor enthusiast. Great trails for any level.
Breakheart Reservation, Saugus, Free
Breakheart Reservation is a 640-acre hardwood forest with an extensive trail system, year-round ranger programs, and summer fishing and swimming.
Castle Island and Fort Independence, Boston, Free
Free tours of the Fort run every Saturday & Sunday from 12:00 noon to 3:30pm. Tours last approximately 30 minutes, but can be longer depending on your guide. Strollers can not be accomodated on the tour.
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport, Free
An exquisite place for walking, biking, and informal picnics. Walk through fragrant evergreens and keep your eyes peeled for the wishing well and the pet cemetery, hidden in the magnificent rhododendron forest.
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, Sutton, Free
This unique natural landmark, Purgatory Chasm is different than any other state park around. Instead of just walking through the woods, it's about climbing rocks big and small. Lots of free parking. Grills and picnic tables, bathrooms, as well as a terrific playground for the little ones.
Walden Pond State Park, Concord, Free
Henry David Thoreau lived for two years at Walden Pond in the mid-nineteenth century and wrote of his experiences in the well-known book Walden. The area offers swimming, hiking, fishing, boating for car-top boats and canoes (w/life vests), cross country skiing, marked trails.
Agassiz Rocks, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Free
Ascend a small hill to where a massive granite monolith juts into the sky, then pass a swamp where another huge boulder has sat as silent witness for millennia. Big and Little Agassiz Rocks are dramatic examples of giant boulders plucked from bedrock and carried far away by the last glacier
Appleton Farms, Ipswich, Free
Wander among crop fields and livestock pastures, wetlands and forest, at America’s oldest, continuously operating farm. Family and dog friendly, easy hiking and cross-country skiing in a beautiful location.
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Natick, $
Nine miles of walking trails guide you through a variety of field, woodland, and wetland habitats. See beavers, otters, and wood ducks in the marsh.
