Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Belmont, MA

Eight miles from downtown Boston, Belmont is predominantly a residential suburb in the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area.

One notable aspect of Belmont is the ability to explore many attractions on foot.

There exists a compact downtown area along Leonard Street, with Pleasant Street located a block to the west, showcasing grand historical mansions including the Homer House, where the renowned artist Winslow Homer resided.

In line with a theme of exploration, Belmont and its neighboring Waltham offer a rich assortment of conservation areas and reservations, interconnected by the Waltham Western Greenway, a green corridor extending over seven miles through both towns.

1. Belmont Center

Along a brief yet charming stretch of Leonard Street, Belmont features an inviting town center lined with historic structures and tasteful replicas, characterized by brick and clapboard facades.

Prominent are the broad sidewalks adorned with stylish street lamps, recently planted trees, and an abundance of benches for relaxation.

In this area, one can find a comprehensive array of locally-owned establishments, including more than a dozen dining options, as well as shops dedicated to home design, apparel, literature, jewelry, and more.

Leonard Street serves as the venue for anticipated community events, such as Belmont Town Day in May and the Holiday Tree Lighting in early December.

Located just to the east, the Town Center Parking Lot accommodates the Belmont Farmers’ Market every Thursday afternoon from June through October.

2. Pleasant Street Historic District

Running parallel to Leonard Street, Pleasant Street historically served as the main thoroughfare connecting West Cambridge and Watertown during the 17th century, bordered by expansive plots owned by early Belmont settlers.

The farmhouses were renovated in accordance with contemporary trends and rebuilt over time, resulting in an impressive array of grand houses displaying a variety of architectural styles.

Notable examples include the Georgian-style Captain Stephen Frost House (1763), the Federal-style Isaac Locke, Sr. House (1815), and the Greek Revival-style Charles Wellington House (1808) and Edwin Locke House (1841).

This area later attracted affluent Boston entrepreneurs who constructed opulent summer residences, with the Homer House (661) serving as a prime illustration we will discuss further.

3. Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary

Among the numerous natural spaces in Belmont, the standout is the 90-acre Mass Audubon property, featuring meadows, ponds, vernal pools, and extensive stands of both deciduous and evergreen forests.

The Habitat Education Center offers engaging exhibits designed for children, along with a diverse array of programs catering to all age groups throughout the year.

Adjacent to the center is a refined Georgian Revival house dating from 1914, surrounded by meticulously designed formal gardens created by the renowned Olmsted Brothers firm, available for event rentals.

Furthermore, three miles of trails traverse the area, including the Weeks Pond and Turtle Pond trails, leading to picturesque ponds that provide habitats for turtles, ducks, and bullfrogs during the summer months.

4. Homer House

Situated on a rise at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue is an impressive Italianate mansion, constructed in 1853 by William Flagg Homer, the uncle of the celebrated artist Winslow Homer (1836-1910).

Winslow Homer lived nearby and frequently visited his uncle’s residence before relocating to New York in 1859.

Distinguished by its iconic cupola and mansard roof, the Homer House was rescued from demolition by the Belmont Woman’s Club, which undertook restoration efforts in the 2010s and now provides guided tours of the interior, which remains largely unchanged after more than 170 years.

Visitors will gain insight into the lesser-known, idealistic early years of Winslow Homer, discovering how Belmont influenced his formative works.

5. Beaver Brook Reservation

A significant portion of western Belmont is encompassed by this public recreational area, administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

Beaver Brook Reservation consists of a northern section designated for passive recreation and a more developed southern area featuring a cherished spray deck, which will be discussed subsequently.

Spanning over 300 acres, the park has historic roots dating back to 1893, and is replete with water features amidst its hilly, wooded northern section.

One highlight to seek out is a six-foot waterfall and a cascade created by an historic dam on Beaver Brook.

Nearby, the park’s headquarters are housed in the residence of the prominent landscape designer Robert Morris Copeland (1830-1874), who authored his seminal work, Country Life (1859), while residing here.

6. Waltham Western Greenway

One of the remarkable features of Belmont’s extensive natural areas is their connectivity via trails that link approximately 20 individual parcels, both here and in the adjacent Waltham.

This green corridor accumulates to over 1,200 acres of open land, with a diverse range of landscapes, flora, and wildlife, including various bird species and painted turtles.

Beginning at the Storer Conservation Area in Waltham and culminating at Pleasant Street within Beaver Brook Reservation, the Western Greenway measures just over seven miles, yet offers numerous side trails for exploration.

7. Beaver Brook Spray Deck

A defining feature of the Beaver Brook Reservation is the spray deck and playground established in the 1980s, which quickly became a favorite among families and has recently undergone an extensive renovation.

The spray deck occupies a significant standalone area comprising a dry playground and a historic covered picnic space.

During hot summer days, young children can delight in playing in the fountains and sprinklers, while also enjoying the many low boulders scattered throughout the area.

8. Mount Auburn Cemetery

A landmark in landscape design, Mount Auburn Cemetery transformed conventional notions of burial grounds upon its opening in neighboring Watertown in 1831.

Prior to this, burial sites associated with churches or occupying town plots were typically simple and austere.

Conversely, Mount Auburn Cemetery is a rolling arboretum that offers an exquisite walking experience, setting a precedent for numerous suburban cemeteries that followed.

Among the notable structures within the grounds is the 62-foot Washington Tower (1854), constructed from Quincy granite and providing sweeping views of the Boston skyline.

9. Fresh Pond Reservation

One of the several expansive water bodies in the vicinity, Fresh Pond is a 155-acre kettle hole lake situated just beyond Belmont’s eastern boundary.

This lake serves as a reservoir for the city of Cambridge, surrounded by an expansive green buffer totaling an additional 165 acres.

The area features a perimeter trail, a nine-hole golf course (discussed later), various sports facilities, a section of rail trail, playgrounds, a dog beach, and more.

An ideal way to appreciate this picturesque landscape is by walking along the perimeter path, favored by walkers, joggers, and cyclists, which encircles the lake for 2.25 miles.

10. Lone Tree Hill

Adjoining Beaver Brook Reservation is a smaller tract managed by the Town of Belmont and the Land Management Committee.

Lone Tree Hill encompasses 88 acres of serene meadows and woodlands that were previously owned by McLean Hospital, which relocated to Belmont from Somerville in 1895.

A distinctive feature is the elegant Pine Allée, which runs along the northern edge of the property parallel to Concord Ave. South of the Allée, trails belonging to the Western Greenway lead you to the namesake hilltop, offering unobstructed views during winter when the foliage is sparse.

11. Alewife Brook Reservation

This extensive band of protected open space, managed by the DCR, is accessible from Belmont via the Fitchburg Cutoff Bike Path, which commences at Brighton Street on the eastern boundary of town.

The Alewife Brook Reservation features forests and wetlands along the banks of this watercourse.

A section of boardwalk provides a unique opportunity to explore this ecosystem within an urban context.

The wetlands thrive with biodiversity in summer, commonly showcasing swans, geese, mallards, teals, wood ducks, as well as numerous frogs and turtles.

12. Menotomy Rocks Park

An additional locale for enjoying tranquility and fresh air, Menotomy Rocks Park spans over 35 acres of woodland, located just adjacent in Arlington.

A trail provides access points at Spring Street to the west and Jason Street to the east, penetrating deeply into the hardwood forest and looping around the picturesque Hills Pond.

During summer, painted turtles can be found basking on the pond’s banks. A spur trail extending south from the pond leads to a recreational area designed for children, adjacent to a council ring established in 2012.

13. Fresh Pond Golf Course

On Fresh Pond’s western shore lies a 9-hole municipal golf course that is open to the public, offering stunning views of the lake and surrounding landscapes.

Fresh Pond Golf Course measures 3,000 yards from the back tees, featuring a combination of par 3s, 4s, and 5s. It presents several water hazards along with fairways interspersed with dense woodlands and unpredictable slopes.

Considering its prime location, the green fees remain affordable, at approximately $27 for non-residents on weekdays as of this writing.

14. Minuteman Commuter Bikeway

Beginning at Brighton Street in Belmont, one can access the Fitchburg Cutoff Bike Path, which traverses the Alewife Brook Reservation for just under a mile.

At Alewife Station, this spur connects to the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, a ten-mile rail trail that mainly follows the route taken by Paul Revere during his legendary midnight ride at the onset of the American Revolution in April 1775.

This original route later became the Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad, which ceased operations in the early 1980s, leading to the establishment of the trail in the 1990s and 2000s.

The trail passes through Lexington and the site where the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired.

15. Payson Park Music Festival

For over three decades, Belmont’s Payson Park has hosted a series of concerts throughout the summer.

From mid-June to the end of August, these performances cater to diverse musical preferences, with shows commencing at 6:45 PM in June and July, and at 6:00 PM in August.

Unlike many summer concert series, the majority of performers in this festival are genuine artists presenting original music across various genres, including soul, blues, country, and rock. Additionally, there is a series of weekly concerts solely for kids on Friday mornings in July.