Massachusetts Parks, Gardens, & Nature Areas

From scenic beaches, picturesque marinas, and lush parks to exceptional urban recreational facilities, newcomers will discover a world of natural and quality amenities for an active lifestyle. For every imaginable outdoor activity, Massachusetts provides a scenic backdrop and outstanding facilities. Panoramic bike trails, horseback riding paths, miles of hiking trails, camping sites, delightful nature centers, exquisite gardens, and environmental education centers are never far from home. Hikers, walkers, and nature lovers will discover the perfect places to enjoy New England's natural beauty. During the summer months, many residents look forward to visiting Cape Cod getaways.

Cape Cod's Natural Splendor

Stretching nearly 44,000 acres of upland landscape features and shimmering shoreline, the Cape Cod National Seashore claims a 40-mile stretch of pristine sandy beach. Dozens of clear, deep, freshwater kettle ponds add to the water-rich landscape, punctuating a terrain with upland scenes that reflect the way people have utilized the land. A wide variety of colorful and charming historic structures lie within the boundaries of the national seashore, including wonderful lighthouses, a lifesaving station, and numerous Cape Cod homes. The seashore offers six swimming beaches, nearly a dozen self-guiding nature trails, serene picnic areas, and breathtaking scenic overlooks. For more information as you plan a getaway or vacation to the Cape Cod area, contact:

Cape Cod National Seashore
Provincetown 508-255-3421
www.nps.gov/caco

The Emerald Necklace

Frederick Law Olmsted, the nation's first landscape architect, designed a chain of semi-rustic parks called the Emerald Necklace that stretch from the Back Bay to Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park. These lush parks ring Boston with green space from downtown to Forest Hills. The Boston Park Rangers offer tours that focus on urban ecology, architecture, history, botany, wildlife and sailing.

* Franklin Park: Golf course with rural setting and zoo in a 500-acre park
* Arnold Arboretum: World-renowned, international collection of plants and shrubs
* Jamaica Park: 60-acre pond with fishing, rowing
* Olmsted Park: Green space for bicycling, walking, jogging, and nature study
* Riverway Park: Narrowest of the parks, easily accessible via public transportation
* Back Bay Fens: Nearest park to downtown Boston showcases brilliant blooms

For more information on each park in the Emerald Necklace system and available activities, contact:

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy
Brookline 617-232-5374
www.emeraldnecklace.org

Beaches & Water Sports
Division of Urban Parks & Recreation 617-727-9547 View Website The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation maintains a separate division for urban parks and recreation. More than 18 miles of beaches are located within the Greater Boston area alone—all accessible by public transportation. Local parks and recreation commissions maintain the suburban beaches
Metropolitan Beaches
Carson Beach, Castle Island Beach, City Point Beach, Pleasure Bay Beach, “M” Street Beach Day Boulevard, South Boston	Constitution Beach East Boston (Orient Heights)
Lovells Island Boston Harbor	Malibu Beach, Savin Hill Beach, Tenean Beach Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester
Suburban Beaches
Avalon Beach, Baker Beach, Manet Beach, Mound Street Beach, Nickerson Beach, Perry Beach, Wollaston Beach Quincy	Crane’s Beach Ipswich
Egypt Beach, Humarock Beach, Minot Beach, North Scituate Beach, Peggotty Beach, Sand Hills Beach Scituate	King’s Beach, Lynn Beach Lynn
Lane Beach, Lake Street Beach, Wessagusset Beach Weymouth	Nahant Beach, Revere Beach, Winthrop Beach, Nantasket Beach Hull
Smith Beach, Sunset Lake Braintree	Wingaersheek Beach Gloucester
Boston Highlights
Arnold Arboretum Jamaica Plain 617-524-1718 View Website Administered by Harvard University, this exceptional 265-acre arboretum features thousands of varieties of blooms, shrubs, and trees. Established in the late 1800s, the arboretum provides a tranquil and beautiful retreat in the middle of a bustling urban environment. Some of the most spectacular scenes are full bloom seasons for rhododendrons, lilacs, magnolias, and fruit trees or the fiery display of autumn.	Boston Common Boston 617-635 4505 View Website Celebrated as the oldest public park in the nation, the Boston Common is considered to be one of the largest and certainly the most famous of New England's many town commons. Dating as far back as the 1600s, the park shares its rich historic heritage with the surrounding city and once served as ground for cattle. Although modern residents still exercise their right of freedom of speech at this site, most visitors just enjoy relaxing, picnicking, walking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the public gardens and green space.
Boston Public Gardens Boston 617-635 4505 View Website Located at Charles, Beacon, Boylston, and Arlington streets, these lovely gardens are distinguished as the nation's oldest botanical garden. Dating from the early 1800s, they showcase some of the finest formal plantings in central Boston. Occupying former salt marshes on the edge of the common, the walkways are lined with large beds that are replanted for spring and summer to ensure maximum color and beauty. In May, the gardens showcase a wide variety of stunningly colorful tulips.	Cape Cod National Seashore Provincetown 508-255-3421 View Website
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy Brookline 617-232-5374 View Website
Massachusetts State Forests
Beartown State Forest Monterey 413-528-0904 View Website	Boxford State Forest Boxford 617-626-1250
Chester-Blandford State Forest Chester 413-354-6347 View Website	DAR State Forest Goshen 413-268-7098 View Website
Douglas State Forest Douglas 508-476-7872 View Website	F. Gilbert Hills State Forest Foxboro 508-543-5850 View Website
Freetown-Fall River State Forest Assonet 508-644-5522 View Website	Georgetown-Rowley State Forest Sandwich 508-888-0351 View Website
Granville State Forest Granville 413-357-6611 View Website	Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest Hawley 413-339-5504 View Website
Leominster State Forest Westminster 978-874-2303 View Website	Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest Lowell 978-453-0592 View Website
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest Martha's Vineyard 508-693 2540 View Website	Miles Standish State Forest Carver 508-866-2526 View Website
Mohawk Trail State Forest Charlemont 413-339-5504 View Website	Monroe State Forest Monroe 413-339-5504 View Website
Mt. Washington State Forest Mt. Washington 413-528-0330 View Website	October Mountain State Forest Lee 413-243-1778 View Website
Pittsfield State Forest Pittsfield 413-442-8992 View Website	Sandisfield State Forest Sandisfield 413-229-8212 View Website
Savoy Mountain State Forest Savoy 413-663-8469 View Website	Shawme Crowell State Forest Sandwich 508-888-0351 View Website
Spencer State Forest Spencer 508-886-6333 View Website	Tolland State Forest East Otis 413-269-6002 View Website
Upton State Forest Upton 508-278-6486 View Website	Willard Brook State Forest Townsend 978-597-8802 View Website
Willowdale State Forest Ipswich 978-887-5931 View Website	Windsor State Forest Windsor 413-663-8469 View Website
Nature Preserves
Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary East Falmouth 508-362-1426 View Website	Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary Mattapan 617-983-8500 View Website
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary Natick 508-655-2296 View Website	Cape Cod National Seashore Provincetown 508-255-3421 View Website
Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Lincoln 781-259-2200 View Website	Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary Edgartown 508-627-4850 View Website
Habitat Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary Belmont 617-489-5050 View Website	Ipswitch River Wildlife Sanctuary Topsfield 978-887-9264 View Website
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Sharon 781-784-5691 View Website	North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Edgartown 508-627-4850 View Website
North River Wildlife Sanctuary Marshfield 781-837-9400 View Website	Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary Attleboro 508-223-3060 View Website
Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Norfolk 508-528-3140 View Website	Visual Arts Center & Mildred Morse Allen Wildlife Sanctuary Canton 781-821-8853 View Website
Whitney and Thayer Woods Cohasset 781-821-2977 View Website	World’s End Hingham 781-740-6665 View Website
Regional State Parks
Ames Nowell State Park Abington 781-857-1336 View Website	Ashland State Park Ashland 508-435-4303 View Website
Borderland State Park Sharon 508-238-6566 View Website	Boston Harbor Islands State Park Hingham 781-740-1605 View Website
Bradley Palmer State Park Topsfield 978-887-5931 View Website	C.M. Gardner State Park Huntington 413-354-6347 View Website
Callahan State Park Framingham 508-653-9641 View Website	Cochituate State Park Natick 508-653-9641 View Website
Great Brook Farm State Park Carlisle 978-369-6312 View Website	Halibut Point State Park Rockport 978-546-2997 View Website
Harold Parker State Forest Andover 978-686-3391 View Website	Hopkinton State Park Hopkinton 508-435-4303 View Website
Maudslay State Park Newburyport 978-465-7223 View Website	Moore State Park Paxton 508-792-3969 View Website
Pearl Hill State Park West Townsend 978-597-8802 View Website	Salisbury Beach State Reservation Salisbury 978-462-4481 View Website
Sandy Point State Reservation Ipswich 978-462-4481 View Website	Walden Pond State Reservation Concord 978 369-3254 View Website
Webb Memorial State Park Weymouth 781-740-1605 View Website	Whitehall State Park Hopkinton 508-435-4303 View Website
Wompatuck State Park Hingham 781 749-7160 View Website