The rest
of Hidden Boston:
The Chestnut Hill pumping
stations
Possibly the most beautiful public structures in America.
Stonybrook
Reservation
Imagine: A 500-acre forest within the Boston city limits.
Museum of Bad Art
A roomful of really, really bad art. In Dedham, conveniently located just a couple blocks from the Dedham Mall and the Norfolk County Courthouse (where Sacco and Vanzetti were convicted).
Tank's for the memories
One of the world's largest pieces of art, off the Southeast Expressway (OK, this one's not exactly hidden, but we bet you won't find it in Fodor's).
The
Jackson Homestead
Classic example of Federalist architecture and a stop on the Underground
Railway in Newton.
Charlestown historic houses
Take an online tour of the neighborhood's houses, which date back to the 1700s.
It's been called "The Poor Man's Cambridge." But that's an insult to both places. J.P., one of Boston's few multi-ethnic neighborhoods, offers offers unique shops and galleries - most owned locally, rather than by large chains. You'll find restaurants of every sort - as well as what is possibly the best ice-cream shop in New England. The neighborhood features a large collection of beautifully restored Victorians, as well as a row of mansions. And Jamaica Pond and the Arnold Arboretum provide a retreat from the stresses of urban life.
Culture
You don't have to go downtown to find thriving nightlife and galleries - just take a walk down Centre Street.
Food
JP has one of the more eclectic collections of restaurants in the area, from vegetarian to traditional Irish.
Recreation/outdoors
Arnold Arboretum
Owned by the city but run by Harvard, the Arboretum consists of acre after acre of tree-shaded hills and paths. The last Sunday in May is always Lilac Sunday, when you can take a guided tour of the arborteum's huge lilac collection, or just wend your own way through the fragrant plants (it's also the one day of the year when you can have a picnic on the grounds).Take the Riverway south from Rte. 9 or the VFW Parkway north from Dedham/West Roxbury. From the north, the Arboretum will be on your left, just past the Rte. 203 turnoff; from the south, it will be on your right, just past Faulkner Hospital.
Getting there on public transportationJamaica Pond
A roughly circular "great pond" where you can rent a sailboat, go for a stroll or take in a free evening concert. On the Jamaicaway side, you'll find a row of mansions, including one built for James Michael Curley, Boston's most famous mayor (think "The Last Hurrah"). The pond, created by a retreating glacier, was the first reservoir in America and is part of Boston's Emerald Necklace - a string of connected parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (yes, the guy who designed Central Park in New York) to ring Boston.To get there follow the directions above for the Arboretum. From the north, the pond will be on your right; from the south, on your left.
Getting there on public transportation
FYI
For more info on Jamaica Plain, check out the Jamaica Plain World-Wide Web