From riding the Swan Boats to shopping on Newbury Street,
Panorama guides you through
16 best bets for springtime fun in the Hub
by Panorama Staff
stop to smell
the flowers
Arnold
Arboretum is one of Boston’s most
popular spots in the springtime for nature
lovers, what with its nearly 7,000 varieties
of trees and flowers spread out over 265
acres. But when the second Sunday of May
rolls around, there’s really only one
blossom at the Arboretum that’s on
everyone’s mind—the lilac. That’s because
it’s the annual
Lilac
Sunday, being celebrated this year
for the 100th time at the AA. Lilac Sunday
not only lets people tour the grounds and
see the famous lilacs in full bloom, but the
day is also filled with live entertainment
and it’s the only day of the year in which
guests are allowed to picnic on the
Arboretum grounds. So, pack a lunch, pack
the family and come out to Jamaica Plain to
sample a little lilac life. Refer to
sightseeing listing.
Lick an Ice
Cream Cone
Bostonians eat more ice cream per
capita than anyone else in the country, so
it’s no surprise that the Hub boasts some of
the best ice cream parlors of any city. Try
the delectable delights of
Lizzy’s
(29 Church St., 617-354-2911) and
Ben &
Jerry’s (36 JFK St., 617-864-2828) in
Cambridge’s Harvard Square, or
Emack &
Bolio’s (290 Newbury St.,
617-536-7127) and
JP Licks
(352 Newbury St., 617 236-1666) in the Back
Bay, who include such offerings as Green
Monster Tea, Manny’s Mocha Chip and Cherry
Ortiz among their many flavors as a salute
to our beloved Red Sox. And since Newbury
Street provides so many great
people-watching opportunities, many a
perfect spring day can be had simply licking
and looking.
take the
kids waddling
Boston’s been the setting for a lot
of notable pieces of literature, but perhaps
none so as enduring and beloved by families
as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for
Ducklings. On May 11, Boston
Common acts as the setting for the popular
annual
Duckling Day Parade, in which
youngsters and their families get to play
the part of ducklings, retracing the steps
of the Mallard family through the park, led
by the Harvard University Marching Band.
It’s a tradition that generations of Boston
children have enjoyed, and a true harbinger
of spring’s full glory here in the Hub.
Refer to
kids corner listing.
Dine by the
Sea
As warmer weather approaches and New
England enters prime seafood season, there’s
no better place to enjoy both than on the
outdoor patios at Boston’s seaside
restaurants overlooking Boston Harbor. Enjoy
a romantic meal under the stars, or an
afternoon lunch amid the company of
seagulls, at spots like
Sel de la
Terre (255 State St., 617-720-1300),
Tia’s on
the Waterfront (200 Atlantic Ave.,
617-227-0828) and
Intrigue
(Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf,
617-856-7744), all of which boast menus
packed with fresh seafood like lobster and
shrimp cocktail.
talk
with the animals
Franklin Park Zoo, founded in 1911,
is home to more than 200 species of
animals—including gorillas, lions, tigers
and kangaroos. And spring is the time of the
year when a number of the animals who spend
the winter in hiding make their debut to the
delight of crowds of animal lovers. Visitors
to Franklin Park this spring can see two of
the Zoo’s newer arrivals—babies Tuli (a
Grevy‘s zebra) and Sox (a Masai giraffe,
pictured)—as well as all their furry and
feathered friends. Refer to
wildlife listing.
discover
secret gardens
Boston in bloom is a beautiful thing,
indeed, but the only thing better than
enjoying the city’s bountiful parks and
greenspaces is getting a chance to
appreciate some natural beauty that few
others get to see. That’s why the annual
Hidden
Gardens of Beacon Hill tour,
sponsored by the Beacon Hill Garden Club, is
such an anticipated event by green thumbs
and flower fanatics of all designations. On
May 15, participants receive maps to
more than a dozen private gardens secreted
away in the venerable old Beacon Hill
neighborhood—lush and peaceful spots
situated right in the heart of the city but
hidden away from the hustle and bustle of it
all. See how city folk manage to keep their
gardens growing and enjoy a day of
tranquility and beauty where you’d least
expect to find it. Refer to
special
events listing.
Experience
Hollywood in the Hub
If you’re looking for something a bit
more modern-day than the many historical
tours Boston has to offer, you may want to
consider
Boston Movie Tours. This walking tour
follows the same steps as some of
Hollywood’s biggest stars, leading visitors
to the famous park bench from Good Will
Hunting, to a stroll past where the
runaway car crash scene from Blown Away
was shot, to a refreshing drink at the Bull
& Finch Pub, the inspiration for the TV
classic “Cheers.” The 2-hour tour covers
more than 30 filming locations within 1.25
miles, getting you one step closer to
Hollywood, while still enjoying all Boston
has to offer. Refer to
tours listing.
ride The
swan boats
Perhaps the most toy-like and beloved
fixture in the Public Garden are the
world-famous
Swan Boats.
Owned and operated by the
t family since 1877, the stately paddle wheel-propelled vehicles take passengers on short jaunts around the central Lagoon. The trip, one of the best bargains for visitors in town (only $2.75 for adults, $1.25 for kids), is unquestionably the most relaxing way to take in the Garden and the surrounding skyline. Refer to tours listing.
get out and
rock
A sure sign of spring is the sight of
pale and squinty rock music fans emerging
from a long winter of nothing but indoor
shows in darkened clubs. Beginning this
month, outdoor concert spots like the
Bank of
America Pavilion on the waterfont and
the Tweeter
Center in suburban Mansfield lure
music lovers out into the sun for shows by
the likes of Panic at the Disco! (May 11
at the Pavilion) and Kanye West with Rihanna,
N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco (May 15 at
the Tweeter). Don’t worry—you can still wear
black T-shirts and leather pants, as long as
you’re willing to sweat a bit. Refer to
live music listings.
Wander the
sculpture gardens
The Victorian landscaping of
Forest
Hills Cemetery provides an elegant
backdrop for its nationally recognized 19th-
and 20th-century memorial sculptures. You
can visit the final resting spots of
everyone from Anne Sexton and e.e. cummings
to playwright Eugene O’Neill in this
275-acre cemetery founded in 1848. In
addition, you can attend poetry readings
recited in the spirit of the literary giants
who are buried here. Be sure to also check
out the contemporary sculpture path with its
ever-changing free exhibits. Walking tours
are frequently offered on Sundays at 2
p.m. for $9. Nearby Lincoln, Mass. is
home to another striking outdoor sculpture
park at the
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.
The 35 acres of rolling woodlands and lawns
boast an exhibition of large-scale,
contemporary American sculpture that can be
explored free of charge. Refer to
museums listings and
sightseeing listing.
Cruise
Boston Harbor
Springtime weather may be too
temperamental for ocean swimming, but it’s
still the perfect time to get out on the
water.
Boston Harbor Cruises (refer to
cruise listing) offers various tours of
Boston Harbor, including visits to the
Boston Harbor Islands and the USS
Constitution. If you have the time to
spare, they also offer that New England
favorite—whale watching.
explore the
Charles River Esplanade
The Esplanade is perfect for all
sorts of outdoor activities, including
kayaking, sailing and jogging. The
picturesque, tree-lined asphalt paths that
run along the Charles River are especially
great for bicycling. Try renting a bike from
Back Bay
Bikes (362 Commonwealth Ave.,
617-247-2336).
Shop ’til
you drop
If you’re looking to update your fair
weather wardrobe, look no further than
Newbury
Street. The Rodeo Drive of Boston
features an array of fashionable boutiques,
including the singular footwear creations of
John
Fluevog (302 Newbury St.,
617-266-1079), the sporty yet fashionable
outdoorswear of
Barbour
(134 Newbury St., 617-375-7829), the modern
and trendy creations for women at
up-and-coming boutique
Soodee
(293 Newbury St., 617-236-7888) and popular
and affordable Swedish retailer
H&M
(100 Newbury St., 617-859-3192). Others
shops along this clotheshorses’ dream street
include Urban Outfitters, Marc Jacobs,
NikeTown, Chanel and Louis Boston. And best
of all, instead of being cooped up inside a
mall while you shop, you can be out under
the sun, strolling past the brownstones of
the Back Bay. Refer to
shop listings.
have a
(cannons) ball
With all the attention the Red Sox,
Patriots, Celtics and Bruins get, another of
Boston’s winning pro teams sometimes gets
overlooked. Boston’s Major League Lacrosse
team, the
Boston Cannons, qualified for the
playoffs every year from its inception in
2001 to 2006, winning its division in 2004
and 2005. Cheer on these stick-wielding
gladiators when they play their first home
game of the season on May 17 at
Harvard Stadium versus the New Jersey Pride.
Refer to
sports listing.
tour the
emerald necklace
Landscape architect Frederick Law
Olmsted did us Bostonians a huge favor when
he sought to create a ring of green spaces
around Boston. Because of him, we have an
abundance of parkland to explore when the
weather is right. The actual necklace is
comprised of six parks: the
Back Bay
Fens,
the
Riverway,
Olmsted
Park,
Jamaica
Pond,
Arnold
Arboretum and
Franklin
Park. They stretch five miles from
the Charles River to Dorchester, and if
you’re up for it, Boston Park Rangers will
take you on a walk through all six parks.
Not to be missed, but not technically part
of the Emerald Necklace, is historic
Boston
Common and the
Public
Garden, the nation’s first botanical
garden.
Eat Hot
Dogs at Castle Island
William J. Day Blvd., South Boston,
617-268-5744. This free, family-friendly
destination is perfect for spending a sunny
afternoon. Kids will love exploring Fort
Independence or cavorting on the playground,
while the whole family can enjoy chowing
down on the famous foot-long hot dogs served
at
Sullivan’s Snack Bar. After the kids
work up an appetite running around, order up
enough eats for the whole gang and dig in
while watching planes take off and land at
Logan Airport across the Harbor. Or make
like a local by getting in some fishing or
basking in the afternoon sun on
appropriately named Pleasure Bay. 
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