I visited Boston in early May, and heard from a local that the lilacs would be in full bloom around Mother's Day, so I went to the Arnold Arboretum. They were indeed in full bloom, but there were fewer lilac trees than I had expected, which was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed it well, so it was fine.

Family walk in spring. You cannot drive into the arboretum; all on-street parking. This was manageable on the drizzly day we walked but I imagine it's a problem on a beautiful day. (On the other hand, perhaps it limits crowds...) The park has several entrances and quite a long perimeter on the street, so more parking is available than you might think. Not a bad idea to look at an arboretum map online before you go. - This will show entrances and also various areas of the park. We focused on lilacs, which were a bit past but still amazing, and Bussey Hill. Most "trails" are the roadways now closed to traffic; but there are numerous smaller side trails. The array of plants is fabulous and fascinating. My favorite was the handkerchief tree, which was in bloom. with its hanky-like bracts on full display.

We were here on a crisp fall day, and that is one of the best times to visit. Some leaves had changed color. This beautiful resource is run by Harvard for science purposes, but you can come here for recreation. It is a bit out of the way and a bit hard to get to unless you have a car.

This is one of Bostons greatest gems. The birch, beach and redwood groves take my breath away. The conifer path is amazing in every season but especially after a fresh snowfall. This is my happy place!