Kids Will Love the Boston Public Garden

Hello from the Boston Public Garden, one of my favorite places in all of Boston! If you are ever visiting Bean-Town, be sure to plan on whiling away an afternoon in the Boston Public Garden.

It’s easy to find, situated perfectly between the historic downtown (with the Freedom Trail), the Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. It is an arborteum with a giant 4-acre pond in the middle. During the warmer months, the pond is home to a pair of swans that float majestically around its waters, and they are often joined by Canada geese and Mallard ducks. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the pond also features “Swan Boats” that are man-made paddle boats decorated to look like swans that take tourists on rides around the pond. They’re fun to watch from the world’s smallest suspension bridge that spans the pond, even if you don’t take a ride. Here are a few pictures of me and my family (husband Brian and daughter Larkin) at the pond.

And, as you might have guessed since its name has “garden” in it… there are flowers galore! Beautifully maintained by the city of Boston, the garden has a large section filled with flower beds, winding pathways, and historic statues. The flowers make for a beautiful photo backdrop and as you walk around the garden, sidewalk musicians will often serenade you. Here’s a quick snapshot we took of me and Larkin in front of a flower bed as we were walking around.

After pictures by the flowers and a stop by the pond to feed the fowl, you must be sure to stop by one more place that I promise will be a hit with the kids. In the far northeastern corner of the Garden (near Boyston St. and Charles St.) is a series of famous mallard duck statues called “Make Way For Ducklings”. Sculptor Nancy Schon was commissioned to sculpt these statues out of bronze as a tribute to the children’s book with the same name. The book “Make Way for Ducklings” was written in 1941 by Robert McCloskey (who also wrote “Blueberries for Sal”). It’s a Caldecott award-winning book that follows a series of ducks throughout Boston until they find a safe home for their ducklings in the pond of the Public Garden.

These beautiful bronze statues are larger-than-life in size and kids can’t resist climbing up for a ride! The bronze statues are shiny because of all of the little kids’ hands that rub them constantly! Mrs. Mallard (a.k.a. Mother Duck) is the favorite one for the kids to sit on, but for little kids like Larkin, the baby ducks are equally as exciting. Here are a couple of pictures of older girls riding Mrs. Mallard and a short video of Larkin trying out one of the baby ducklings!