The Ocean Lawn is a scenic open space on a small peninsula overlooking Kettle Cove and the Atlantic. It is the remnant of a park surrounding a former mansion built in 1902 by Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, the son of a wealthy Boston businessman and politician. It has the feeling of a well-maintained garden space and the rigor of some of the rockiest parts of the New England coast. It is arguably one of the most scenic and peaceful places around Boston to enjoy a warm afternoon in the sun and gaze at the ocean.

From the parking lot, you will first follow a trail crossing Bungalow Hill, which, with the Ocean Lawn, makes up the Coolidge Reservation. The right branch of the trail is a bit longer as it actually climbs over the hill. The left branch goes around it and is a straighter way to reach the Lawn. Don’t be discouraged by the few rocks and boulders along the path, as it quickly transforms into a nice trail along Clarke Pond. At the other end of the pond, continue straight through the gate up to the private drive that crosses the small peninsula. Cross the drive and follow the path that leads you directly to the Lawn.

Though the Lawn is best enjoyed over the summer, you can also get there in the winter or in the spring, during which you are likely to observe seals. Look for them on and around the rocks below the Lawn and at the entrance of Kettle Cove.

Coolidge Reservation is owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations.