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It could be argued that fall is the best time to visit Boston. The days are a bit cooler, autumn leaves are bursting with color and there are a few less tourists visiting. Our Boston expert, Chef Concierge Danny Vargas, has pulled together a few suggestions for guests visiting Boston this fall.
Boston Lights: A Lantern experience: Thru 10/23
Experience the wonder of over 55 magnificent displays comprised of hundreds of beautifully crafted lanterns spanning Franklin Park Zoo's 72 acres. Discover luminous scenes from the rainforest, whimsical ocean displays with creatures of the deep, glowing corridors of lotus and bamboo, traditional Asian lanterns, stunning 66-foot-long rose corridor, and a colossal 82-foot-long octopus' tunnel with blinking eyes and color-changing tentacles!
Fall Foliage Cruises by Charles River Boat Company (Friday - Sunday only starting 10/07)
Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage along the Charles River during on this 90-minute cruise! This tour is perfect for soaking up the spectacular fall foliage New England has to offer. Enjoy views of the cities of Boston and Cambridge including the Back Bay, MIT, Harvard University along with countless sailboats and rowers! Indulge in the quintessential flavors of fall with complimentary apple cider available onboard.
Ghost & Gravestones Tours:
Guided by a ghoulish band of the undead and a roguish gravedigger, the Trolley of Terror will go back in time as you relive grisly murders, heinous torch rings and cold-blooded executions like the ones that took place on the Boston Commons. Learn about the paranormal hi-jinks going down at the Omni Parker House, the legend of the Boston Strangler and visit King's Chapel cemetery where the bones of the dead served as currency for a man named Ephraim Littlefield.
Dark Side of Boston by Boston by Foot: (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only)
On this tour through the North End's winding streets and alleyways, you will hear tales of misery, misfortune, and murder. These dark stories are all based on true historical events that have occurred in Boston.
Where to View Fall Foliage in Boston by foot:
-Boston Common: The 44-acre plot where the first English settler in the area built his cabin back in 1625 and a center of activity for Bostonians ever since, puts on a spectacular display of color throughout the fall months.
-Public Garden: In the heart of Boston proper, the Public Garden is where you'll usually spot the bright splashes of foliage on the first fall days, usually on small ornamental Japanese maple trees.
-The Esplanade on the Charles River: The long skinny park stretching along the Charles River from Beacon Hill to beyond Back Bay, turns into a ribbon of gold and orange in October when Boston's fall foliage begins to reach its peak.
-Beacon Hill: A walk through Beacon Hill lets you experience gorgeous leaf colors while enjoying Boston's oldest and most historic neighborhood. Start your walk on Charles Street, and then explore any of the side streets going up the hill where the narrow lanes and alleys blaze with color. A particularly lovely walk is up Mount Vernon Street to tree-filled Louisburg Square.
-Rose Kennedy Greenway: Trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses, extend Boston's fall foliage display in areas formerly devoid of any color other than gray. The brilliant fall hues draw crowds of admirers. An especially gorgeous area is the Chinatown section, where the colorful leaves of peonies, rhododendrons, small trees, and grasses along the stream and waterfall provide an especially lovely spot for a stroll.
-Arnold Arboretum: The Arboretum's collection of almost 5,000 different species put on a fiery display throughout most of the month of October. Located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, the 265-acre Arboretum is open from sunrise to sundown every day of the year, and admission is free of charge. The Arboretum's free Boston Fall Foliage Festival takes place during the afternoon on the last Sunday of October.
