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”
Tag Archives: family hikes
NORTON – Paddle with Norton Kayak Company
Dave Lennon, a long-time Norton resident, founded the Norton Kayak Company in 2008 so that he introduce others to kayaking and help locals appreciate the Norton Reservoir. He is also a parent, Tri-County Saints hockey coach, and outdoor enthusiast. We find Dave to be a knowledgeable, gracious, fun, and personable host who is great withContinue reading “NORTON – Paddle with Norton Kayak Company”
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”
PLYMOUTH – The Harbor, Brewster Gardens, and Court St.
When we were kids, our dad would mark the end of every school year with a last-day-of-school trip to Plymouth. After eating a mile-long hot dog at Lobster Hut (no fish for us as kids!), we’d make our way to the beach for a late afternoon swim and some playing in the sand. We cherishContinue reading “PLYMOUTH – The Harbor, Brewster Gardens, and Court St.”
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.
NORWELL – Jacobs Pond
Jacobs Pond is a 60-acre body of water with 189 acres of surrounding conservation land. This property is one of our favorite discoveries–it’s a place we’ll return to again and again, for many reasons. First and foremost, Jacob’s Pond is just seconds away from our favorite ice cream place: Hornstra Farms. More about this amazingContinue reading “NORWELL – Jacobs Pond”
FALL RIVER – Copicut Woods
Despite its location just outside the heart of Fall River, this property had the feel of a much more rural destination–we could have been in Vermont. We didn’t see everything that the Trustee’s side had to offer because we wanted to check out the Bioreserve as well. The Bioreserve turned out to be a fairlyContinue reading “FALL RIVER – Copicut Woods”
LAKEVILLE – Betty’s Neck
Betty’s Neck is a beautiful property that snakes long the shores of Assawompset Pond (the largest freshwater pond in Massachusetts) from above–you’re high above the water while on the trail, and this provides some amazing views of the pond and the opposite shore. The trails also provide a challenging workout–the hills will get your heart pumping and your legs burning. We recommend hitting the white blaze loop and the blue out-and-back trail, but if you can only do a short walk, prioritize the blue trail–it has the best views of Assawompset as well as an unmarked narrow single-track trail down to the pond so you can put your hand in the water and skip some rocks. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a bald eagle; this area is known for them.
CANTON – The Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
We are huge fans of the Trustees of Reservations. They do amazing work making nature available to the masses while simultaneously preserving historic buildings and promoting the history of Massachusetts. The Bradley Estate, with its 90 gorgeous acres, is no exception. It’s immaculately kept, convenient, and beautiful. The estate hosts weddings from May to October, features amazing gardens in the spring and summer, and offers a wooden reindeer hunt and holiday light walk-through in the winter. Located near Route 95 and the Blue Hills, the Bradley Estate is easy to get to. Parking is a breeze (although it costs $6 if you’re not a member of the Trustees), and you really cannot get lost here, which makes this property a much less intimidating option than the Blue Hills across the highway. Speaking of the highway, that is the one downside to this spot–you will hear the constant hum of cars during your whole hike. However, after a while, it becomes white noise, and you’ll be more focused on your burning calves–this property has a fair amount of steep hills!
BROCKTON – Stone Farm
Stone Farm was a great find for our families–it’s a beautiful, well-labeled, interesting, easy-to-access spot in the city of Brockton near the Easton line. It proves that nature can be found even in urban areas. The Wildlands Trust/Brockton Audubon manages these 105 amazing acres that, surprisingly, were deserted on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. We had the whole place to ourselves!