Frog Pond

Are the little tadpoles looking for a nearby watering hole to splish-splash away the heat during the warmer months? The Boston Common’s Frog Pond officially opens its popular six-inch deep wading pool and spray fountain on July 1. The family friendly summer hot spot will remain open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day.

While the youngsters are cooling down in the Frog Pond, parents can chill out at the Lily Pad Café located next to the Frog Pond Pavilion in the heart of the Boston Common. The outdoor dining venue serves up tadpole-inspired creations including the Frog Salad ($8) with chicken and seasonal lettuce and the Lily Pad Burger ($8) which includes fries and a pickle.

Meanwhile, the recently opened Frog Pond Carousel continues to be a Boston Common favorite and, this season, is slotted to run through the end of October. After a successful test run last year, the Frog Pond Carousel on the Common is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $3 for a three-minute ride with no charge for adults who are not riding but want to stand next to their children on the ride.

The hand-carved wooden carousel designed by the Allan Herschell Company is a 20-seat antique that features horses, animals, a frog and a teacup.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino says the recent addition of the carousel helps make the Frog Pond a year-round, family friendly destination.

“The Frog Pond now offers ice skating in the winter, a wading pool in the summer, and the carousel in the spring and fall making it a popular attraction for all seasons,” Menino adds.

Lily Pad Cafe Menu

- by Sam Baltrusis, Boston Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Sam Baltrusis

Sam Baltrusis has worked for WHDH.com, Spike-TV, VH1, Independent News, Seventeen, Newsweek, and as a regional stringer for The New York Times. He's currently a full-time freelance editor and writer in Boston, where he's an instructor for Mediabistro.com and contributes to various regional publications including Boston Spirit Magazine. Sam also publishes a successful pop culture site, LoadedGunBoston.com, and was recently featured on WCVB-TV's "Chronicle" and Boston's NPR affiliate WBUR.