Charming: Boston’s Public Garden

If you hit it right-  with no snow or gale winds-the vision of lush weeping willows, blooming tulips, and charming Swan Boats in Boston’s Public Garden will take your breath away. The Public Garden was the setting for Robert McCloskey’s 1942 Caldecott-award winning children’s picture book, “Make Way for Ducklings” and the scene not much has changed since.  Generations of New Englanders and visitors consider a ride on the Swan Boats the quintessential Boston travel experience.

The Public Garden was actually created out of landfill  when the Back Bay was formed in the late 1800′s.  The Public Garden is America’s first public botanical garden.   And the footbridge that crosses the lagoon is said to be the world’s smallest suspension bridge. The Swan Boats are another Victorian-era creation.  The Swan Boats date from the 1870′s when Robert Paget  developed the idea of a Swan-drawn pedal boat based on Wagner’s opera Lohengrin . Each of the graceful Swan Boats seats 20 passengers on five or six benches and are pedaled by a college kid (with very strong legs!) on a peaceful 15- minute figure -eight cruise of the Public Garden lagoon.

With its winding paths, seasonal display of bedding plants and plenty of park benches,  the Public Garden is an ideal rest stop when you are” museumed out”  and is worth a visit any time of year. If you are visiting the Public Garden with your own little ducklings, you can buy a paperback copy of “Make Way For Ducklings” to read aloud before your ride. Afterwards, visit  Nancy Schon’s  “Make Way For Ducklings” statues near the Charles and Beacon Street park entrance. Kids love to hug and kiss the large bronze sculptures. Be sure to take lots of pictures of your brood!

The Public Garden (bordered by Arlington, Beacon, Charles and Boylston Sts., 617-635-4505)(Map).

Th Swan Boats of the Public Garden operate April-September, $ 2.75 adults, $ 1.50 children, $2 seniors.

Image Credit: Greater Boston and Convention and Visitors Bureau, used with permission