Willow Brook Farm Preserve is a fairly standard woodland trail with a few features that set it apart. There is a large open field in the middle, a high wooden tower with scenic views, and boardwalks and bridges over wet areas. There are two main loops (one is 1.1 miles, the other is 1.8 miles) that would be great options for children who are ready for a longer hike but might not be able to handle several miles. The only downside is the limited parking!
Tag Archives: hiking with kids
MARSHFIELD – Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary
This trail is mostly mowed grass and boardwalks, making it completely stroller accessible. The beginning of the trail is also wheelchair accessible (see trail map).
The Fox Hill Trail and River walk are through a meadow and marshland, with no shade. You probably wouldn’t want to hike this trail in the middle of the day during the summer. So either come early or come late… or hike on an overcast day… or wait until spring or fall for cooler temperatures.
The trail is home to an abundance of wildlife, so bring binoculars if you have them. It’s a Mass Audubon property known for the bird watching. You’re likely to see a variety of bird species here.
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”
EASTON – NRT Sheep Pasture Scavenger Hunt
This is a great FREE event that was organized by local Girl Scout Reilly Clark. She designed a series of scavenger hunts for kids of all ages, ranging from easy to difficult. The hunts are a great combination of tasks related to nature as well as social-emotional/bonding questions to foster teamwork and group identity formation.Continue reading “EASTON – NRT Sheep Pasture Scavenger Hunt”
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”
COHASSET – Whitney and Thayer Woods
Whitney and Thayer Woods was a very pleasant surprise for us all. The two-mile, blue blaze trail that we chose to hike is 1. a piece of cake to navigate (as most Trustee’s properties tend to be), 2. easy to walk on with its wide gravel and hard-packed dirt trails, and 3. FUN. The trailContinue reading “COHASSET – Whitney and Thayer Woods”
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”