The 7 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Wellesley MA
If you are looking for the quintessential New England Town, then Wellesley, Massachusetts is the place to visit. Just a 30 minute drive from Boston, Wellesley is New England living at its finest. We love it so much that we wanted to share our experiences with you. Godspeed and enjoy!
1. Lake Waban
If you like the outdoors, then Lake Waban is a great place to visit. Located on the campus of Wellesley College, Lake Waban is where college personnel and town residents have historically crossed paths. However, since COVID-19, visitor access and use has been meaningfully restricted. For example, visitors, no longer have access to campus restrooms and athletic facilities. Moreover, a portion of the walking/running path around the perimeter of the lake has been blocked. Parking is also limited. Visitors may only park in the Distribution Center Lot #2. We hope these restrictions our temporary because of what the lake means to this community.
2. The Gardens at Elm Bank
If you fancy yourself a Gardner, then the Gardens at ELM Bank, the headquarters of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, is a must-see place to visit. Located in Wellesley, MA, ELM Bank is said to be the horticultural (gardening) jewel of Greater Boston. We, of course, do not disagree. The variety and the beauty of featured gardens is bound to “wow” nature’s staunchest critics.
3. Wellesley Town Hall
If you are a fan of ancient architecture, then put Wellesley’s Town Hall on your bucket list of places to visit. Located in Hunnewell Park near the town’s central business district, this Romanesque stone building was designed by Shaw & Hunnewell and built between 1881 and 1886. Visitors should be forewarned that starting on April 5, 2023, this historic Town Hall building will begin a planned 18-month interior renovation.
4. Wellesley College
Sometimes it’s best not to try to reinvent the wheel. That’s why we grabbed this excerpt from the Wellesley College website which describes the beauty of this place. “Our 500-acre campus includes our Science Complex, the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, the Davis Museum, buildings of sublime Gothic majesty, buildings of sublime postmodernity, a lake with actual sailboats, narrow stone stairways, handsome playing fields, expansive lawns, and an observatory which, at Halloween, gets dressed up as a giant pumpkin. Also, people are crazy about our lampposts.”
5. Morses Pond
If you like recreation, outdoor fun, and adventure, then Morses Pond is the place to visit. The pond, about 100 acres wide, offers visitors a boatload (no pun intended) of water activities (swimming, boating, and fishing) to do. You can access the Town’s beach area and parkland trails via Turner Road off Weston Road. Season passes are available for residents and non-residents. Daily passes are available to residents only. Check with the Wellesley Recreation department for more details.
6. Centennial Park
Located at 150 Oakland St., Wellesley, MA, Centennial Park was purchased by the town of Wellesley in 1980. It is a great place to find wildlife such as deer, coyote, turkeys, raccoons, squirrels, and a wide variety of birds. It also offers visitors an easy to walk ~1.2-mile trail which takes about 30 minutes to complete. The trail is great for cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
7. The Wellesley Town Square
If you like shopping or you just want to pass the time of day, Wellesley Square is a great place to visit. The Square features more than one hundred “mom and pop” shops, eateries, and local businesses for all to enjoy. Visitors can access a variety of parking options such as metered on-street parking, off street parking in Wellesley’s commuter and business lots and free parking near Church Square. So, what are you waiting for, get out there and check it out.
About TEAM COYLE
Team Coyle, a professional group of real estate agents at Compass, has more than ten years of experience helping individuals and families buy and sell real estate in the Greater Boston Region of Massachusetts (primarily MetroWest).
