The oldest landscaped cemetery in the US, est. in 1831

Talk of the town: Famous figures buried here include poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, art patron Isabella Stewart Gardner and artist Winslow Homer. Maps include information on other dead denizens.

Back in the day, cemeteries weren’t just for vampire slayers or goth girls writing poetry - they were popular grounds for those wishing to stroll upon elegant lawns and lush garden paths while contemplating death and picking out desired gravestone fonts. Mount Auburn is one of the most beautiful of these public cemeteries, featuring a landscape of 175 acres of hills, dells, ponds, and enough mausolea and vaults to satisfy the morbidly sensitive or those who just enjoy a brisk morning jog over burial mounds.

The Washington Tower offers an amazing aerial view of the surrounding city for those who climb the tight spiral staircase to reach the turreted top. For horticulturists, the landscape includes over 5,000 trees from 630 taxonomies as well as plants from other parts of the world. Architecture and sculpture buffs can enjoy monuments representing Egyptian, Neoclassical, and Gothic styles.

From Harvard Sq. Station, take either Watertown or Waverley bus, #71 or #73.