Arnold Arboretum

Why we love it: There are 265 lush acres at the oldest public arboretum in North America. Plus, the Arboretum's collection of bike paths, gardens, lawns and ponds is the second largest link in Boston's Emerald Necklace. What's not to love?

People-watching score: 1. With so much space, visitors seem to seek out their favorite spots and take a break from the world. A mom and her daughter biked slowly down the path as two men walked their respective pooches, but that was the extent of the action.

Closest MBTA stop: Forest Hills

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain. Open daily sunrise to sunset. arboretum.harvard.edu