Just past Horseneck Beach in Westport is Gooseberry Island. These gorgeous 73 acres are accessible from a narrow causeway that begins across from the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station. You can sit and relax (or play!) on the small rocky beach near the parking lot and then explore the island on foot. The trail isContinue reading “WESTPORT – Gooseberry Island”
Category Archives: Hikes/Trails
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge’s 242 acres have something for everyone. Sachuest Point was farmland before its strategic location made it desirable to the US military. It housed weapons to defend the US against German U-Boats in World War I and then served as a rifle range and communications center for the US Navy duringContinue reading “MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge”
TIVERTON, R.I. – Fort Barton and Fort Barton Woods
This hike was a nice surprise for us when we went in summer 2020. After a short but pretty steep walk along a paved road from the parking area to the fort, we were rewarded with amazing views of Narragansett Bay. Fort Barton Woods itself was beautiful; it consists of 83 acres of heavily woodedContinue reading “TIVERTON, R.I. – Fort Barton and Fort Barton Woods”
HANOVER – Indian Head River Trail
This trail was a pleasant surprise for us. Although our hike got cut short by overtired children (as they sometimes do when you’re hiking with kids…), we still enjoyed the portion of the trek that we finished. If you start at the Indian Head River Trail on Broadway in Hanover, it’s roughly a four-mile loopContinue reading “HANOVER – Indian Head River Trail”
MILTON – Blue Hills Red Dot Loop
Climbing Blue Hills is a rite of passage for those who live in the Boston area. It was our first hiking experience growing up, and one that we requested time and time again. We never got bored of Blue Hills, and, here we are, 30 years later, taking our kids up and down the sameContinue reading “MILTON – Blue Hills Red Dot Loop”
MARSHFIELD – Mass Audubon’s North River Wildlife Sanctuary
North River Wildlife Sanctuary provides short, clearly marked, and well-maintained trails. The signage is excellent, both in terms of trail markers and learning stations that talk about the habitats, animals, and even the solar panels on the property. In general, Mass Audubon is also very conscious of accessibility: the trail we took could be doneContinue reading “MARSHFIELD – Mass Audubon’s North River Wildlife Sanctuary”
EASTON – Stonehill Nature Trail
This is a short (less than a mile), well-marked, fun trail through the woods that is super convenient. It’s a great place to introduce littles to hiking, although it would be treacherous with a jogging stroller (not impossible, just really hard). The trail is labeled with signposts along the way that educate about the natureContinue reading “EASTON – Stonehill Nature Trail”
EASTON – NRT Sheep Pasture
This place is one of our favorites. It’s an easily accessible, beautiful spot to have a picnic, see some animals, climb big rocks, visit the community gardens, sled (behind the old foundation), make forts out of sticks, and visit the “dragon” cave. It’s jam packed with things to do, but it’s a manageable size andContinue reading “EASTON – NRT Sheep Pasture”
BRAINTREE/WEYMOUTH – Pond Meadow Park
Initially a flood control project for Weymouth Landing, the park opened in 1976 and is operated by the Weymouth-Braintree Regional Recreation-Conservation District. The nonprofit “Friends of Pond Meadow” has helped raise awareness and funds to support the park. It oversees the popular Summer Nature Program, which provides a week of nature experiences for children of Braintree and Weymouth. This hidden gem is enjoyed year-round, thanks to the foresight of a few residents back in the 1970s.
EASTON – Borderland
Borderland State Park offers over 1800 acres of beautiful land in Easton and Sharon. The heart of the park is the Ames Mansion, built in 1910. Various movies have been filmed in the park/mansion, including Mermaids, Shutter Island, the 2015 Ghostbusters, and, most recently, Knives Out. Droves of disc golf players and dog walkers visitContinue reading “EASTON – Borderland”