When it comes to May and blossoms in Greater Boston, it’s not just the flowers coming to life.
As most of the city’s amazing seasonal activities swing back into action the coming days and weeks, May is a perfect time for a day trip or overnight to visit or revisit.
While the college graduation season crowds are there, the post school year summer crush is still a way off, leaving the fun things the city offers to those smart enough to visit now.
Consider these for a fun day, weekend or more as we push through May toward summer.
Do you even know Boston if you cannot at least partially recite “Make Way For Ducklings?” A great way to celebrate that classic – or get to know it – is by joining in on the annual Duckling Day Parade on May 14 (https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/events/ducklingday/). Whether you’re a kid who wants to dress up and parade along or a kid of any age who’d enjoy cheering on the parade, this is a Boston tradition worth building a visit over.
This year, the 30-plus year parade steps off from The Boston Common’s Parkman Bandstand at 2 p.m. and heads over to the Common’s famed Make Way for Ducklings Sculpture.
Parade participants must register in advance (there’s a $35 donation per family that goes to support the Common and other gardens). Decorated strollers, costumes and all things ducklings are welcome.
This year, there’s more: From noon to 2 p.m. you can have all kinds of fun at “Playtime on the Common,” with a creative play area, magician and other performers, interactive circus games and live music. Picnics are allowed and encouraged.
The parade itself will be led – as always – by the Harvard Marching Band. This year, there will also be a performance by young lion dancers from the Woo Ching White Crane school.
Bonus activity: The Swan Boats (https://swanboats.com) are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in May; no reservations are needed for the affordable 15-minute ride.
From May through October, local residents and visitors alike love to meander along the Greenway and take in this diverse and fun artisan’s market (www.greenwayartisanmarket.com).
The Market, operated by the popular Somerville Flea, is open Saturdays as of now and Sundays as of May 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features 50-plus vendors each week – over 200 total unique vendors through the season.
And just as great is the setting. The Greenway is tucked between Boston’s waterfront and sky scrapers. It has fountains, fun bench swings, art installations and often, a bevy of food trucks for noshing.
The Greenway’s Artisan Market is steps from the Boston Public Market, another great spot to see, learn about and purchase Bay State curated products, as well as the North End, a fun spot for people watching and of course dining.
As if more than 400 types of lilacs in bloom isn’t enough reason to plan a trip to and around Arnold Arboretum; on Lilac Sunday, you’ll find special tours and lessons hosted by the Harvard University team that oversees those blooms and more.
Even better, Lilac Sunday (https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/lilacs-at-the-arnold-arboretum/) is the only day of the year the Arboretum allows picnics, which means it’s time to pack the charcuterie board or the PB&J’s and head out.
Lilac Sunday takes place on May 14 (Mother’s Day; perfect for an outing) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the bulk of the blooms located near the edge of Bussey Hill Road, in the center of the landscape.
The Arboretum’s lilac collection is considered one of the premier lilac collections in America.
The Arboretum has more blooms too, and lots of space to breathe in the scents and take in the scene in one of the city’s most beloved green spaces. They ask that you register in advance. There’s no cost but getting a feel for numbers helps the planners be ready for the day.
For all these, your best bet is taking public transportation to and from; to cut down on parking stress. Should you need to drive in, plan ahead and search out parking spots that allow advanced reservations.
