The Emerald Necklace: Olmsted's Masterpiece

Nine parks chained from Boston Common to Franklin Park, seven miles of connected green that Olmsted designed in the 1880s so you could walk through nature without crossing a major road. His masterpiece.

Start at the Back Bay Fens — salt marsh restored from a polluted tidal flat, community gardens in chaotic proficiency, red-winged blackbirds sounding like rusty gates. The path follows the Muddy River south through Olmsted Park to Jamaica Pond, where beeches and oaks were planted because Olmsted knew what they'd look like in 140 years. He was right.

Arnold Arboretum is the crown — 281 acres of labeled trees from around the world. In May, 400 varieties of lilac bloom on Lilac Sunday and the city converges with picnic blankets. The full Necklace walk is seven miles. Pick a section if short on time. The Arboretum alone justifies two hours.