9 ways to have an amazing fall in Boston

What it is: While Downtown Boston is ripe with bustling big-city vibes, heading just a few miles north or south of the center will get you to secluded, quiet walking and hiking trails.

Why we love it: As the days get shorter, finding accessible day trips is essential to making the most of the fall. The Blue Hills Reservation sits just south of the MBTA Red Line and sports 125 miles of walkable terrain, plus a network of carriage roads and rocky trails for mountain biking. The view from the top of Great Blue Hill will put the beauty of the changing leaves on display for you in a major way. North of Boston, you’ll find Middlesex Fells, a sprawling public recreation area that spans 2,000-plus acres of hiking trails, the Sheepfold dog park and Spot Pond, where fishing and boating can make for a tranquil fall afternoon. For incredible views of the Boston skyline, World’s End in Hingham is worth a visit. Walking through the sparse treescape of the rolling hills makes for a meditative fall afternoon.

What it is: Take it from our local beverage artisans: Fall isn’t only for pumpkin spice lattes. We’re absolutely here for PSL, but it’s also the season where brewers look to traditional German styles, distillers and bartenders infuse intriguing and warming spices, and coffee roasters bring forth seasonal blends aimed at beating the chill.

Why we love it: Boston is stacked with incredible local beverage producers across the board. To caffeinate you, make your way to one of Boston’s many top-notch coffee shops. Broadsheet Coffee Roasters’s head roaster highlights Los Altos, a coffee from Chiapas, Mexico with notes of pecan pie, date and nougat that “pairs exceptionally with the colder fall mornings.” Meanwhile, Pavement Coffeehouse features a curated fall lineup at its many cafes throughout the city, including the heavily underrated combination of cider and chai (“chaider”). 

Time Out tip: After 5pm, head to one of Boston’s many local breweries or distilleries that stay boast outdoor beer gardens through the fall. Think Night Shift on the Esplanade, Harpoon in the Boston Common, Cisco in the Seaport, Trillium in Fenway, and more.

What it is: Each fall, Boston and much of New England come alive with blazes of yellow, orange and red. Leaf-peepers descend upon the area, hoping to catch a glance of the season in its full glory. Whether you stick close to home or travel further afield, get out there and see the best of the changing colors around the region.

Why we love it: You don’t have to leave the city for a colorful display. The Boston Common, the Public Garden, Beacon Hill, Blue Hills, and Franklin park all offer amazing urban peeping. 

Time Out tip: Head to View Boston for a bird's eye view of the city changing. For boots on the ground, check out the Arnold Arboretum. It's so much more than just a park. This living collection of thousands of trees, shrubs, and woody vines is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and best documented of its kind in the world. If you've seen the Arboretum in summer, take an autumn stroll to see the seasonal changes.

What it is: The Alibi Bar & Lounge, the storied cocktail lounge at The Liberty Hotel, is bringing a fresh new concept to its beloved outdoor patio this fall with its Espresso Martini Garden. Moving from its summer vibes into autumn, the patio has turned into a seasonal destination centered on one thing - the perfect espresso martini - alongside string lights and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Why we love it: For the fall, they have unveiled a pumpkin spice espresso martini and a toffee flavored one. Set in the old “drunk tank” of what was the Charles Street Jail, Alibi is a also hot spot for late-night snacking.

Address: 215 Charles St. Boston, MA 02114

What it is: New England is chock-full of spooky moments. From tiny town-driven spooks to huge traveling haunted events, check out our Top Haunted Houses in and around Boston. 

Time Out tip: Salem is the go-to locale for haunted happening, but be warned. You will be hanging out with thousands of your closest friends, so take public transportation into town if you can.  

What it is: Apple picking is one of the quintessential autumn activities in New England. Fresh, crisp apples in multiple varieties taste even better when you pick them yourself.

Why we love it: Head to these farms within an easy drive of Boston to pick apples, sip hot apple cider, and get your fill of fresh cider donuts. Check out our guide to the best local apple-picking near Boston. 

Time Out tip: Most farms have websites with what apple varieties are available that day, so make sure you give them a call the morning you’re about to head out.

What it is: The deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum lures art lovers year-round to its 30-acre spread in the bucolic town of Lincoln.

Why we love it: The only park of its kind in England, it’s the perfect place to get some fresh fall air while checking out world-class art. Current exhibits include Chromatic Portals, three large metal structures shimmering with soft fabric that flow overhead, creating colorful passages of blue, green, and violet hues; and Land Portal, which is an annotated map that draws you to lesser-known environmental sites of the campus, including unique tree specimens, remnants of earlier agricultural land use, and bedrock shaped by glacial sheets.

Address: 51 Sandy Pond Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773

Time Out tip: At any given time, approximately 60 sculptures are on display in the Sculpture Park. The Museum’s inside galleries are closed in anticipation of building renovations but that won’t stop you from strolling the Sculpture Park or snacking in the café.

What it is: While the city boasts plenty of great restaurants with outdoor seating, there's something wonderfully old school about going on a picnic. Especially when you aren't sweating through one of our blistering summer days. 

Why we love it: The best part? You don't need a reservation—just grab a blanket, pack up some food or order takeout and find your way to one of the most peaceful picnic spots in Boston.

Time Out tip: The Boston Public Garden is always a popular pick, but you can find other stunning spots for sitting down with a snack at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, Franklin Park, or Jamaica Pond. A spot on the dock overlooking Charles River is also great, since the boaters have packed up ship for the colder months. 

Why we love it: No sitting on the Sagamore Bridge in bumper-to-bumper traffic? We’ll take it. Everyone heads to the Cape and the Islands in the summer, but they’re also a tremendous getaway in the fall. Grab a beachfront hotel room at an off-season price, or take a tour of a cranberry bog. Not to mention the drive down Route 3 is known for its gorgeous fall colors. 

As summer nears its end, take advantage of the amazing outdoor dining available across the city right now. Savor summer’s bounty at seafood spots or swing by one of the best people-watching perches on the street patios in the North End. Enjoy the sunny days, balmy nights and refreshing sea breezes while the last few weeks of summer roll on in Boston. If you are coming back from a month down the Cape, there has never been a better time to rediscover our city at the best restaurants in Boston.

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Keep the little ones entertained while the grownups have fun too

Nothing warms you up faster than a strong cuppa joe in the winter, or cools you down faster in the summer than a classic, iced coffee (and the true New Englander may argue that the latter kind of coffee is popular in Boston all year round). Though prolific coffee chains (we’re looking at you, Dunks) ensure that you’re never too far from satiating your caffeine craving, there are a number of Boston coffee shops and cafes worth seeking out for a change of scenery. Here are some of our favorite places to grab the best coffee in Boston. And if you take your java with food, be sure to check out the best donut shops, best breakfast spots or brunch spots in Boston.

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During spring and fall, Boston has about the most perfect weather on the planet. But the long hot days of summer, rainy days and brutal winters drive even the most hearty New Englander inside sometimes. When you’ve run through Netflix and HBO Max and really need to get out of the house, there’s plenty of galleries, museums, historic landmarks and more to keep you occupied. Here, find our top activities for crummy days in Boston. Then, when the weather improves, take one of the best walking tours in Boston or hit up one of Boston’s best parks.

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We got together with Jameson Irish whiskey, Ireland’s most famous distiller, to help round up some of our favorite bars to sip on a glass of the best brown stuff. From live music at Druid to indoor food trucks at Coppersmith, we're pretty sure you’ll have the type of night where strangers become friends, and friends become family.

And if you don't feel like barhopping, click here to get a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey delivered to your doorstep. 

When nice weather finally arrives, there’s no better way to spend a sunny afternoon than clutching a cold glass beneath an umbrella in a beer garden in Boston—it’s one of our favorite things to do in summer. Many of these outdoor drinking locales are known for their scenic patio bars, with some set up in taproom parking lots or on rooftops. Once you've snagged a table (you may need to make a reservation), you can order tasty treats to enjoy while you sip beer from top local breweries. (And during normal times, check out the best craft beer bars in Boston to knock hard-to-find brews off your sudsy bucket list.) Find a comfortable spot and settle in for the evening with our guide to the best beer gardens in Boston.

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Apartment living is a beautiful thing, but sometimes, even the most committed of downtown-dwellers need stretch their legs by getting outside and hiking near Boston. Dedicated adventurers may travel all the way to the White Mountains or the Appalachian Trail to get their nature fix, but there are plenty of picturesque hiking spots near Boston that will do the trick for us recreational trekers. Whether it’s climbing scenic wooded preserves or exploring waterfront trails, these local hikes are perfect for walking off the chaos of The Hub. No time to leave the city limits? Try one of Boston’s best parks. Looking to get away for a bit longer? Check out the best weekend getaways from Boston and the best day trips from Boston.

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