Timeline
14:50
Grab a coffee and a popover at Ula Cafe to keep warm as you head toward the park. The cafe is open until 18:00 on weekdays, so you have plenty of time before the sun goes down.
15:37
Franklin Park Overlook Shelter Ruins
Walk 12 minutes north-northwest from the anchor to the Overlook Shelter Ruins. These stone remnants of Olmsted’s original plans stand quiet against the fading sky. The site burned down in the 1940s but the stones remain a stark, beautiful silhouette.
16:07
Franklin Park - Overlook Ruins
Continue 17 minutes north-northwest to the Overlook Ruins. This spot offers a slightly different perspective of the park’s rugged landscape. As the golden light hits the stone around 15:53, the textures of the ruins become vivid before the final sunset at 16:37.
16:57
End your walk 10 minutes north at Drawdown Brewing. It is a pub that opens at 17:00 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or 12:00 on weekends. On January 15, it will be open and ready to serve you a warm drink as the evening sets in.
Local tip
The park is open 24/7, but the viewing spots are in the northern section. Dress warmly in January as the wind can be sharp near the ruins after sunset.
Check before you go
- Ula Cafe is open Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00 and Sa,Su 09:00-16:00. On Jan 15 (a weekday), it closes at 18:00, well after your visit.
- Drawdown Brewing is open We,Th 17:00-21:00; Fr 17:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-18:30. On Jan 15, verify the day of the week to confirm opening hours.
Worth knowing
- Drawdown Brewing is open at 16:57 only on Sa, Su
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Boston (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).