Wellesley

The Wellesley College Botanic Gardens consists of the Walter Hunnewell Arboretum, and the Alexandra Botanic Gardens. There is a 22 acre arboretum with over 500 species of woody plants and a century-old topiary garden. Their collection includes White and English Oaks, lindens, tulip trees, bald cypress and Chinese Golden Larch, as well as azaleas, hollies, weeping cherries, lilacs, viburnums, and rhododendrons.

The Elm Bank Reservation is the former estate of Benjamin Pierce Cheney (founder of American Express.) It got its name from the elm trees that were planted on the Charles River, which surrounds the grounds on three sides. The site has several playing fields as well as a canoe launch. It is also home to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society masshort.org

(Route 16). Daily 8AM-dusk. A 36-acre horticulture and hands-on education center along the Charles River, with trial gardens, children's garden, and a restored 1926 Italianate Garden. Donation.

The town's newspaper, has listings of current events in its "Calendar" section.

A fantastic little beach, perfect for a day out in the summer. $5 per person per day for a beach tag. Children under the age of 10 will have to pass the "slide test" to use the water slide, and children under the age of 12 will have to pass a "deep end test" to swim in the deep end.