The Public Garden is literally and figuratively the heart of the city, a beautiful fairyland of weeping willow trees and flower beds located in the center of downtown. For young children, a ride aboard the pedal-powered swan boats is mandatory, as is a visit to the bronze sculpture commemorating Robert McCloskey’s beloved children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings.” Older kids will appreciate all of the dramatic public art, including an iconic statue of Washington astride his horse, while teenagers will swoon at the couples romantically sharing park benches, and wedding parties inevitably posing for photo ops at sunset.