Clarksburg State Park

November 30, 2019 Cold

Clarksburg State Park is a 368 acre park located in Clarksburg, MA. It consists of northern hardwood forest surrounding Mauserts Pond. The park also has a campground and picnicking as well.

Although the main visitor station and campgrounds were closed, we parked and headed down the access road to the pond, starting the loop trail along the southern rim of the pond, with views to the north.

The scenery here is really beautiful but the day we visited was around 32 degrees with a strong northwest wind.

The trail heads west and hugs the pond, leading past some marshy areas.

Fortunately there are many small footbridges or logs along the path to get past the apparently muddy areas. When we visited this wasn’t a concern as the mud was semi-frozen and icy leaves crunched under our feet.

You can see some wind turbines on the mountains just to the east, one of the few man-made items we saw along the pond.

The views to the northwest (above) and the north (below) look directly into southern Vermont, as this park basically touches the border of the two states. You can see from these how wild it looks. You get the feeling of being farther north.

The views along the pond and to the distant mountains are really striking. The campground sites looked small, however, and we could hear the distinct road noise as cars passed from time to time.

The location feels more wild and remote than it really is, which is a pleasant surprise. Beautiful scenery along the pond.
The trail was long, and we didn’t have a map (and no internet connections either). It would be a neat place to camp in the summer.
A small, wild path around a large lake. No surprise no one was there. It was bitterly cold and Miles had to poop when we were coming back. 10/10 stinky odor, 1/10 for the park overall.
There was so much moss on the ground and the river was frozen 10 feet away from the shore!
I liked the super duper big amount of ice on the lake.

For more information: Clarksburg State Park official site.

Western Gateway Heritage Park

November 30, 2019 Cold

This park consists of a visitor center located in a former railroad yard in North Adams, in Western Massachusetts. The exhibits relate to the role that the town played in the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel, a nearly 5 mile tunnel that was in 1875 the longest tunnel in North America. The tunnel extends from North Adams on the west side to emerge in the town of Florida on the east side.

The visitor center has a wide variety of exhibits and artifacts. Miles enjoyed the miniature of the town.

Much of the museum is devoted to the actual excavation of the tunnel and the machines used to do the work. There are also some samples of different rocks from the excavation that the kids could touch.

The tunnel is still in use mainly for freight trains. While the west portal is in the woods, we heard that the eastern portal is more easily visible in Florida, although we didn’t make a trip to find it (although we did enjoy passing through Florida on our trip). Unlike the Florida of Sunshine State fame, this small town sits on top of a mountain and was fairly snow-covered at the time.

This state park has a good visitor center and could be a fun stop for anyone interested in railroad history and exhibits. It is also close to Natural Bridge, which we visited on the same day.

A quiet visitor center with plenty of exhibits and a few hands-on activities.
This is a small visitor center. While it’s educational, there’s not much else on premise.
The museum was pretty nice but no one was in it. This is because there wasn’t much to see other than the museum.
I learned a lot in this state park. Such as the tunnel is the longest in the east coast back then!
The tunnel was long but in the museum it’s pretty short.

For more information: Western Gateway Heritage Park official site.

Great Falls Discovery Center

November 29, 2019 Cloudy

Great Falls Discovery Center is located in Turners Falls at the intersection of I-91 and Rt. 2, along the Connecticut River. There is a visitor’s center and a trail along the canal called Canalside Rail Trail. We stopped by on a cold fall day.

The visitor’s center is situated at the entrance of the town, immediately after crossing over the Connecticut River and Turners Falls.

Inside the visitor’s center there was an excellent exhibit about the wildlife and the ecosystem of the Connecticut River Valley. There are different dioramas and animal specimens to show the various habitats. It was very well done and very educational. There was also a great view of the fall and the canal.

After the visitor’s center, we bundled up and took the Canalside Trail. We stopped to look at Turner’s Falls and the dam. The water was very swift and high.

We walked for about 2 miles one way on this trail. Near the visitor’s center, the banks of the canal was lined with abandoned industrial buildings and paper mills, and there were many old decrepit bridges across the water. The views were not very impressive.

About 1 mile from the visitor’s center, the canal widened, and mills and other buildings were no longer seen. The metal railings became wood railings, then all railings disappeared. We saw many wild geese and birds, and the scenery became much more rural.

The walk was a long on a brisk fall day. Bike riding would definitely be more pleasant. If time permits, perhaps exploring or walking across some of the bridges might be fun.

We really enjoyed the visitor center. The canal walk had views of churning water flowing past old paper mills.
The visitor center was nicely done. Along the canal walk were full of abandoned mills and abandoned bridges.
It was bitterly cold and a really long walk. I hope nobody rates this 5 stars.
There were so many abandoned bridges along the canal! It was fun.
There was a big, fast, long river! There were a lot of bridges that you couldn’t go across.

For more information: Great Falls Discovery Center official site.

Hammond Pond Reservation

November 28, 2019 Cloudy

Hammond Pond Reservation in Newton is a protected woodland park. It consists of a pond, hiking trails, and formations of sandstone conglomerate and Roxbury puddingstone which are popular with rock climbers. We also visited the adjacent Houghton Garden conservation area as part of our walk.

We arrived first at the parking area, which is basically next to the Chestnut Hill mall and on the pond.

From there we took a short walk north around the pond, stopping first to admire the unusual rock formations that formed sheer faces. It turns out that Roxbury puddingstone (shown below) is the official rock of Massachusetts. In the early 19th and 20th centuries it was used in buildings for the foundations of houses.

The boys scrambled up one of the cliffs along the path.

You can see some of these in the photo below as we continued onward. I think they are about 30 feet high or more.

The path hugs the pond and heads north, crossing the Green Line D branch.

Just beyond the tracks we found Houghton Garden and discovered a local gem. This garden was started by the Houghton family in 1906, fell into disrepair at some point in the 60s, but was cleaned up and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The garden is filled with waterways, bridges, and a lagoon. Along the paths are rhododendrons and azaleas. There is a also a large rock garden with a whimsical stone bench.

After touring the garden we headed back and made a detour to see the peat bog.

Then we continued south and around Hammond Pond once again, just as the setting sun broke through the clouds.

Hammond Pond has a lot of visual variety for a compact area, with the pond, cliffs, and peat bog. Unfortunately you can hear a lot of road noise and the Green Line, so it’s not a great place for solitude.

I enjoyed this walk and its variety. It’s a convenient park to visit and surprisingly large considering that Newton is a dense and busy suburb.
The landscape was varied but the whole thing was pretty small. Can also hear the T and traffic.
There was a dead squirrel hanging from a tree in the swampland, but other than that it was pretty disgusting.
The park was very drab and creepy, but in the spring it would probably be nice. There were lots of rocks that I could climb on.
Muddy muddy rock. Me wants climb!!!

Roxbury Heritage State Park

November 23, 2019 Sunny/Cold

Roxbury Heritage State Park is located a few minutes away from a section of the Southwest Corridor Park, which we visited on the same day. This park was a convenient detour. The main grounds consist the Dillaway-Thomas House, which was recently renovated.

There are two floors to the house. On the first floor, one room is decorated in the colonial style of the 1700s. There were period furniture, toys, and models of colonial era food such as Roxbury Russet apples.

Roxbury Russet apples, the oldest apples cultivated in the United States

The house is situated on top of a hill, with clear views to the Boston Harbor. This location was very strategic during the Revolutionary War. Here, the park ranger was explaining how the house was used as an American headquarter during the War and Siege of Boston.

Here is a period desk with quill and parchment. Miles is Mrs. Thomas writing to her husband Commander John Thomas during the War.

The next room was decorated in the 19th century style. There were different artifacts from the Industrial Revolution, such as this original Edison Phonograph.

We got a demonstration of how this worked. The kids had to crank up the phonograph to start the action. This room also contained some exhibits from prominent Roxbury residents during that time, including a small display case dedicated to Malcolm X.

The upstairs rooms were mostly for community meetings and had exhibits about Roxbury during the Civil Rights movement and the present day. We were in a hurry so didn’t linger.

The house is in good shape and the exhibits are brand new. The park ranger was extremely friendly.

This site is recently renovated and well done, with a few hands-on exhibits that kids will enjoy.
This place has a variety of things to keep kids interested in history.
This building was top-notch, but I expect it doesn’t get too many visitors. What a shame nobody wants to visit Roxbury.
I liked the record player so much!
The tree in front of it, there was only one.

For more information: Roxbury Heritage State Park official site.

Southwest Corridor Park

November 23, 2019 Sunny/Cold

Southwest Corridor Park is linear urban park in Boston that goes from the South End and Back Bay, stretching toward Forest Hills in nearby Jamaica Plain. It’s about 5 miles each way and is situated on land that was originally cleared in the 1960’s to make way for section of I-95 going into Boston. After protests, the work was halted, and this strip of land eventually became a state park in the 1980’s.

The picture below shows how it looked before the land became a park.

We walked about 2.5 miles each way, starting at the Mass Ave station of the Orange Line, heading west toward Northeastern and then west to the Stony Brook station.

Near the Mass Ave station and along the way are tablets with inscribed poetry.

The path is well marked throughout and sometimes diverges for pedestrians and cyclists.

Along the way are numerous parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, and more.

The kids loved the first playground by Northeastern University. Maybe it was the golden arches?

The Northeastern University section is especially well-kept and has all sorts of interesting architecture.

Although the day we visited was cold and clear, the park is largely open and sunny, with great views east towards downtown Boston.

One of the more striking buildings along the way is the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, shown below.

Some of the playgrounds like the one by Jackson Square were really unusual and fun for the kids. This one had a huge climbing structure (the kind you usually find indoors and have to pay for).

It even had dual ziplines, which the kids enjoyed. This was a really cool park and the highlight of the trip.

Continuing west we finally came to the Stony Brook station and looked for a cafe to enjoy some hot drinks to warm up. We found one that’s next to the original Sam Adams Boston Brewery.

After a good rest, we headed back toward Boston, retracing our route, as the sun dipped in the sky. We want to walk the remainder of the trail toward Forest Hills in the spring.

This park makes a good walk on a sunny day, with great views of the Boston skyline and playgrounds for the kids. If your feet get tired, you can always take the T.
Great urban park to walk or bike. We will sure to come back.
It’s this path that runs by the train tracks of Boston, straight into the hood and gangsta territory. Thank you Boston, very cool!
There were so many playgrounds and one had a zip line!
There’s 500 billion parks and playgrounds!

For more information: Southwest Corridor Park official site.

Chestnut Hill Reservation

November 17, 2019 Cold, Flurries

Chestnut Hill Reservoir is located at Cleveland Circle near Boston College, a busy intersection filled with student apartments, restaurants, and shops. The reservoir is an oasis in this crowded area. The DCR operates a skating rink, a pool, and maintains a trail around the reservoir. There is plenty of parking along Beacon Street on one side of the reservoir. Across Beacon Street, there is also a museum – “Water Works” – which is associated with the history of the reservoir.

The trail is gravel packed, flat, and about 1.5 miles. There are many entrances to the trail like this.

It’s very pleasant to walk around the reservoir, even on a cold day with flurries. There are always many joggers and Moms with strollers on the trail. Here is a view towards the museum .

There are islands in the reservoir and swans, ducks, and geese swim freely.

We stopped by the museum “Water Works”.

Chestnut Hill Reservoir with Water Works in the background

This museum is free (suggested donations). It houses three enormous engines that used to pump the water from the reservoir to supply the City of Boston in the 19th century. We took an excellent 1/2-hour tour to see these engines, and learned about the history and steam engine technology.

These engines worked well into the 20th century, until the aqueduct technology improved sufficiently such that Boston can source the water directly from Quabbin Reservoir without pumping. The tour was actually very good, and the museum also has an upstairs viewing area where the kids can play.

The trail, together with the museum, is well worth a visit.

The reservoir is interesting and the museum is a local, underappreciated gem.
The trail is flat and easy in all seasons. The museum is interesting.
It was kind of weird because the museum basically said we were drinking goose poop water. But the machines were kind of cool, and the reservoir was nice and peaceful.
The museum is nice and interesting. And the reservoir was cool.
We saw swans and that’s all.

For more information: Chestnut Hill Reservation official site

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation

November 17, 2019 Cold, Flurries

Belle Isle Marsh is an urban preserve that contains the last of the saltmarshes that were once prevalent along the coast near Boston.

It contains a short loop path of less than a mile, along with some boardwalks and a wooden viewing tower. We started along the flat gravel path and made our way into the marsh.

We visited under gray skies but the contrasting colors were still striking. We were surprised to see other visitors, but it appears to be a popular spot for joggers and dog walkers.

Several sections allow you to look out over the marsh grass and waters.

The short, barren trees made an interesting web against the grey skies.

Although it’s not clear in the picture below, you can even see the Atlantic in the distance.

Looking to the south, you can see the control tower at Logan. And just beyond is the Boston skyline.

Interestingly, the water in the marsh was a light grey/green, but was not murky or cloudy. The color seems to come from the mud or clay under the surface.

Toward the end of the loop path you reach a small wooden bridge that leads to an observation tower.

We climbed the tower for views of the entire marsh, mainly stretching to the east and south of us.

Belle Isle Marsh is a scenic spot, but probably best seen under blue skies. But if you come in the summer, be prepared with high-test repellant containing DEET. The saltmarsh mosquitoes here are especially vicious, as we found out earlier in August, when we came unprepared and were driven out by the bugs.

The unusual salt marsh features make this an interesting and quick stop if you’re in the area.
It is a sanctuary in an urban area. We went on a cold day, but in the spring/summer there were many wildflowers.
A desolate wasteland with nothing but cattails and swamp for as far as the eye can see… I don’t know why anyone would ever want to make this into a Reservation. Poor Belle.
The observation tower was cool and there was a river.
The tower took so short to get up.

For more information: Belle Isle Marsh Reservation official site

Brook Farm Historic Site

November 10, 2019 Sunny

History

Brook Farm Historic Site was a utopian experiment in communal living in the 1840s. It was founded by former Unitarian minister George Ripley and his wife Sophia Ripley at the Ellis Farm in West Roxbury in 1841, and was inspired in part by the ideals of New England Transcendentalism. Founded as a joint stock company, it promised its participants a portion of the profits from the farm in exchange for performing an equal share of the work. Brook Farmers believed that by sharing the workload, ample time would be available for leisure activities and intellectual pursuits. Among the original shareholders were journalist Charles A. Dana and author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who served together as the first directors of agriculture. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bronson Alcott, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Peabody, Theodore Parker, and Orestes A. Brownson were among its interested visitors.

The Site

Brook Farm was named for the brook that ran near the roadside and that eventually went to the Charles River. It was surrounded by low hills and its meadows and sunny slopes were diversified by orchard, quiet groves and denser pine woods. The original buildings were almost all burned down. The only building left standing on the site is the Print Shop, but is not associated with the utopian community. However, even the Print Shop has fallen into disrepair and is all boarded up, although signs of restoration can be seen through the windows.

The Trail

Not a lot remained on the site. A trail leads from the small parking area beyond the Print Shop to the Charles River. A side trail leads to the nearby Millennium Park. The trail is flat and narrow, and we walked past several cemeteries.

Along the trail were fields and swampy areas as we got closer to the river. Eventually, we reached the outskirt of UMASS Mount Ida College campus, and we could see the river from there. The terrain became a little hilly at that point, which gave us good views of the river.

Across the Charles River is actually the Cutler Park Reservation that we visited before.

Brook Farm had a significant place in American intellectual history. It was one of the three important sites related to New England Transcendentalism (the other two are Walden Pond and Fruitlands in Harvard MA). Unfortunately it fell into dissolution, and this site is largely unknown in the general public.

Although once an important site, there’s not much left to visit. Some of the adjacent woods seem scattered with piles of debris, which was disappointing to see.
Historically significant, although not much left on the site. The walk was unexceptional.
The walk was really boring and the overall experience was super lame. Not surprising no one else wanted to visit this deserted wasteland of a state park.
It was very barren and he house was creepy.
The house is cool but we didn’t get to go inside it.

For more information: Brook Farm Historic Site official site

Walden Pond State Reservation

November 10, 2019 Sunny

Walden Pond in Concord, MA was made famous through the writings of Henry David Thoreau in Walden; or, Life in the Woods in which he describes his experiences living on the north shore of the pond starting in the summer of 1845. Thoreau lived a mostly solitary existence there for around 2 years.

Today the pond is a beautiful and popular destination, especially in the summer for the small beach, and in the fall for the colorful foliage.

Our first stop on this November day was a short film at the visitor center. Afterwards, we visited an accurate reproduction of Thoreau’s cabin, a very small one-room structure with simple furniture, a wood stove, and an attached woodshed.

Miles was amazed how barren and simple it was. It’s hard to imagine that what we saw was all that Thoreau owned. Miles stopped at the writing desk to meditate on the visitor log.

We crossed the road and down the path to the small beach, the starting point for our walk around the pond. From there, we continued hugging the shore to the north side of the pond, pictured in the background of the picture below.

Just past a marshy area next to the pond, the path leads away from the shore a small distance to markers that show the original cabin location. Having just seen the reproduction, it was easy to imagine the cabin on this spot, and a stone marked the chimney foundation.

Immediately beside the foundation markers is a striking site – a pile of stones, some plain and some adorned, placed there by visitors over the years. A sign also shows one of the more famous quotes from the opening of Thoreau’s book Walden.

Continuing around the pond offers several great views.

When we visited in the fall, the water was strikingly clear, seemingly invisible apart from the ripples.

Returning to the visitor center, we learned more about the history of the area and the pond. Miles also learned how Thoreau took detailed depth measurements from a small boat, using a knotted rope.

Our last stop was the small gift shop next to the visitor center, which had a great selection of books by Thoreau and related thinkers of his time.

Walden Pond State Reservation has always been a favorite for our family and visitors, who enjoy the history, scenery, and recreation that the pond offers.

Walden is a really lovely and well-kept destination, but can be overrun by visitors during the summer.
One of my favorite places. The visitor’s center is very good at introducing Thoreau’s ideas. The pond is pristine.
We’ve been to this place a bunch of times and every time it’s very boring… just a museum about some guy who lived by a lake because he liked nature. Plus there’s NO CELLULAR SERVICE!!! What a stupid wasteland.
The movie was really cool and the walk was nice.
I like going in the cabin. The pond is beautiful.

For more information: Walden Pond State Reservation official site

Borderland State Park

November 3, 2019 Sunny

Borderlands State Park is a large preserve in the towns of Easton and Sharon southwest of Boston. The natural areas encompass the Ames Mansion (circa 1910), and several movies have used the grounds or mansion for film scenes.

The day we visited, the park was buzzing with families, and appears to be a well-known local attraction. We first stopped by the well-kept visitor center with exhibits and restrooms. From there we decided to walk around Leach Pond, heading first toward the edge of the pond to a stone lodge. This lodge was used in the filming of the 2008 movie “Shutter Island”.

Behind the lodge we found an area with benches and a great view of the main sections of the pond.

We then continued on a wide, flat trail around the pond. A few sections had benches.

At the boundary with the Upper Leach Pond the trail crosses a small bridge and follows a narrow strip of land to the other side of the pond. For a longer walk you could continue around the entire pond, pictured below left.

From the other side, we emerged in a scrubby but very colorful area of the pond.

We soon crossed a large field that was originally part of the Smith Farm (circa 1880) and came upon the old farmhouse, neatly restored, and some rusty farm tools and plows.

The trail then followed a wide, straight path along a marshy area of the pond with plenty of ducks swimming near the shore.

A forested trail eventually led back to the old Ames Mansion, pictured below. The stone house was solid and grand. Looking through the windows, we could see a large, formal library inside.

After a tour around the house we headed back to the visitor center, passing some disc golf goals.

Borderland State Park has a great mixture of scenery, history, and recreational opportunities. It was a real gem among the parks we’ve visited.

The great visitor center, variety of scenery, and the old mansion made this an outstanding park.
This park has everything – lake, woodland, historic mansion, etc. A gem.
The mansion was cool… my favorite part was the porta-potty. The lake was fun but Ryan (↓) kept throwing rocks at me, so that was a bummer
The mansion was very interesting and the lake was nice
I like the lake. The disc golf is pretty cool.

For more information: Borderland State Park official site

Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park and Moynihan Recreation Area

November 3, 2019 Sunny

This small park comprises two areas along Truman Parkway in Hyde Park, a section of Boston.

The shell park has a small “hatch shell” for concerts, a few benches, and tennis courts. All of this borders the Neponset River, and there is a canoe launch available. However, this side has no real playground despite Google Maps and other descriptions.

The parking lot was unfortunately littered with fast-food wrappers, liquor bottles and the like, and this gave us a bad impression.

Across the road is a baseball field, some more tennis courts, and a small hill with a playground and splash park.

The playground is somewhat old and run-down, and the heavy shading of the surrounding oak trees made it darker than we expected. We didn’t visit the spray park, but this area seemed sunnier and more inviting on a hot summer day.

Overall, this was a lackluster experience for us.

Somewhat dirty and rundown, along a busy road. Clientele appeared a bit shady.
This is a small park perhaps for people to walk their dogs or take their kids to play. Not worth the trip.
This place was so stupid! It was a beat-up stage with beat-up courts and beat-up cars in the parking lot and an over-vandalized playground.
The place was very small but I liked the playground
I like going up on the stage. The playground had high swings. The other side didn’t have a playground.

For more information: Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park and Moynihan Recreation Area official site

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park

October 20, 2019 Sunny

This state park is along the midpoint of a canal that was used to transport goods in the 1800s from the Worcester area south to ports in Providence, Rhode Island. It’s also within the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, a park dedicated to the early years of the American Industrial Revolution.

We visited the River Bend Farm with the park, to learn about the history of the canal, and to walk the canal towpath.

The farm is by a wider and peaceful section of the canal.

Once you cross the bridge you can join the path, which is mainly for pedestrians.

There is a 1.5 mile section you can follow along the canal south from the farm, but we walked a shorter path north to the dam.

After this we drove a few minutes to check out the Blackstone River Greenway. This is a really well-maintained, flat path that follows an old railroad bed.

The riding is easy and passes through forested areas, open sections, across old bridges spanning rivers, and past small towns.

There are very few road crossings, which makes it great for younger cyclists. We took the path south a few miles into Blackstone Village, where we stopped for lunch. This small town is just on the border with Rhode Island.

Unfortunately, Ryan had a bicycle accident on the return trip, in which he knocked out a front adult tooth, so this emergency cast a shadow on our visit. 😦

However, we can say that the State Park is well worth a visit, especially during fall foliage season. And if you’re in the mood for cycling, the Blackstone River Greenway comes highly recommended. Just be sure to wear a helmet and stay on the path.

The canal and towpath make for a picturesque walk. The bikeway was well-maintained, flat, with interesting scenery.
The visitor’s center was educational. The pond and path was beautiful in the fall. The bike path was awesome.
The visitor center smelled like… musty stuff! But the path was pretty cool, so it wasn’t bad.
Walking on the path was nice but the visitor center was smelly
I liked the canal but the water was cold.

For more information: Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park official site.

Nashua River Rail Trail

October 14, 2019 Sunny

The Nashua River Rail Trail is a 12.5 paved trail that runs from Ayer into Nashua, ending about 1 mile across the New Hampshire border. We decided to start out on the southern terminus of the trail at Ayer, where you can park in the commuter rail parking lot on weekends. Several restaurants in the small downtown make this a potential lunch spot on your return.

This rail trail is wide and mainly flat and, for a beautiful fall day, it was surprisingly quiet. The relative light crowds make this easier for children to enjoy.

The trail passes by a wide variety of scenery including forested areas, fields, wetlands, and more.

Several areas offer scenic rest, and others even offer a bicycle repair pit-stop. We stopped for a break in the middle of a wetland area on our way north.

On our trip we explored only the first part from Ayer to Groton (about 4-5 miles of easy riding), turning back near the Route 119 junction. We would love to come back and ride the northern section of the path.

The Nashua River Rail Trail has beautiful scenery, light crowds, and has very few road crossings. It was a joy to ride here on a sunny day.

Great and varied scenery and relative lack of crowds makes this trail a gem.
Biking along the river was beautiful.
Biking was fun but everyone else was way too slow ‘~’
Biking is fun and it was smooth
The biking was fun but I fell like 5 times.

For more information: Nashua River Rail Trail official site.

Quabbin Reservoir

October 13, 2019 Sunny

Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts, and serves over 3 million people in Boston and other suburbs. It holds about 412 billion gallons and has an area of nearly 39 square miles.

We drove the length of it from north to south, catching glimpses from the mountainous terrain just west as we came down US 202, on our way to the Quabbin Visitor Center at the south tip of the reservoir.

Although the visitor center is small, there are a few interesting exhibits covering the history of the reservoir as well as short photo albums showing black and white pictures of the towns that were flooded and lost to history as part of reservoir expansion in the 1930’s.

For us, a key attraction was viewing the reservoir and walking across the enormous earthen Winsor Dam, built around 1940. It’s one of the largest such dams in the Eastern U.S. and is roughly 1/2 mile across.

As you walk across, on one side is the water and on the other, a steep grass hill flowing down into forest below, seen below.

Reaching the other side you find another marker for the dam.

If you continue just a little farther past the dam you reach an interesting bridge with beautiful views of the Quabbin Reservoir Spillway far below.

On our way back, we decided to walk along the base of the dam and then run up the side to the top. The kids loved running zigzagging up and down the dam a few times, and were really worn out after a few runs. Other kids joined them – it was irresistible.

Although swimming and boating are not allowed, Quabbin is a great place for hiking and biking. Be sure to stop by the visitor center and dam to appreciate the history and scale of the engineering work that built out the reservoir.

A scenic reservoir with a special earthen dam and great views.
Running up and down the big dam was so much fun fir the kids!
I ran up and down the hill ’till I couldn’t no more. I also saw small red beetles with black dots on them, so that was pretty epic.
I really liked running up and down the big hill
I liked running down the hill. I like the bridge.

For more information: Quabbin Reservoir official site

Lake Dennison Recreation Area

October 13, 2019 Sunny

This recreation area has a campground with 150 sites and a beautiful lake with a small beach. We reached it via a trail from the Otter River State Park, but it also has a large parking area of its own.

The first thing we noticed was the beautiful fall foliage and stunning waters. Under the trees in the photo above is a picnic area that offers shade and a view of the lake.

The beach is relatively small but was clean, with inviting sand. The boys stopped to play for a while.

What struck me most was the clarity of the waters, which you can see below. It was breathtaking.

Although we didn’t explore the campsites, the beach was warm and inviting even under the October skies, with amenities including a picnic pavilion and public restrooms. Lake Dennison seems to be a real gem and we’d like to return for the beach and swimming.

Beautiful scenery, clear water, and a clean beach.
Looks like a fun place to swim and hang out in the summer.
I threw a stick at a rowboat but I missed 😦 Otherwise, great beach!
The sand was soft and the weather was great
I liked the beach but we didn’t have much time to play.

For more information: Lake Dennison Recreation Area official site

Otter River State Forest

October 13, 2019 Sunny

Otter River State Forest was the first area acquired by the State Forest Commission in 1915, and also the first campground in the Massachusetts State Park system.

There are a number of trails, but we decided to take a trail, about 2 miles round trip, to Lake Dennison.

Immediately we noticed that we were walking in the pine forest. It was such a contrast from the surrounding areas that had more maples and birches and colors. The trail was narrow and at places quite steep.

We saw large areas of the pine forest being cleared. The sign on the trail explained that this State Park was reforested with groves of pines which were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s.

Otter River looks like a great place to camp, and we will surely check it out in the spring when the campground (and yurts) and open.

The recent clearings gave the forests an interesting texture but road noise was a noticeable presence.
Forest has limited views. Not as colorful as other forests in the area.
Just another futile forest…
The hike was cool and so were the trees.
I liked running down the hill.

For more information: Otter River State Forest official site

Dunn State Park

October 13, 2019 Sunny

Dunn State Park is located in Gardner in Central Mass near the New Hampshire border. We picked a beautiful fall day, when the fall colors were in peak.

There is a short and easy trail around a small lake called Dunn Pond. The trail is about 1.3 miles, with water views all along.

The views were stunning! The leaves were bright red, orange, yellow, against the blue sky and clear water. The trail meanders, up and down gentle slopes, and offers peaks of the lake. Some people were taking portraits on some of the boulders on the shore.

Along the trail there were also some exercise bars which the kids enjoyed climbing.

Near the parking lot there are some picnic benches, grills, a playground, and a small beach. There is also a good-sized visitor’s center, which was closed when we visited. It was too cold to swim, but we saw life guard chairs, so this park is probably a fun place to spend an afternoon on a hot summer day.

A peaceful lake with interesting and varied scenery. Great spot for fall photos.
With the fall colors, this park is absolutely stunning. Easy hike for small children.
The pond was #beautiful and the lake, brook, river, and stream were similar as well. Well done, Mr. Dunn!
I liked the exercise places.
I liked the lifeguard chair. I liked the exercise stations.

For more information: Dunn State Park official site

Castle Island, Pleasure Bay, M Street Beach and Carson Beach

October 6, 2019 Windy

Castle Island is a peninsula in South Boston that’s the site of a fort, and now has a playground and beach adjacent to it.

There’s a loop around the small “bay” (Pleasure Bay), but we took the shorter paved loop around the island instead, which is about 1 mile. The first section goes past a beach.

Although the beach was empty, we did see a few parasailers racing back and forth across the water, carried by the strong winds.

Farther around the island you can see many of the Boston Harbor Islands in the distance as well as Deer Island.

There are also several memorials on the far side of the island.

The Donald McKay memorial is for a shipbuilder who built several famous clipperships nearby

There are free tours of the interior of the fort on Saturday and Sunday (check the schedule before you come), but for our visit we followed the path around the outside.

Castle Island and the surrounding area is great fun on a hot summer day, when you can visit the playground, beach, have a picnic, or enjoy some fried seafood at Sullivan’s. But it’s also worth a visit in the off-season for the changing scenery and laid-back feel.

Great views all around, with history and some good food (in the summer).
Nice views. Good facilities. The kids loved it.
I enjoyed the walk but overall it wasn’t amazing… close to the shore and the ports.
It was windy but me like view. Very cool. and playground. Eppik.
I liked the playground. But it’s not an island.

For more information: Castle Island official site.

Farnham-Connolly State Park

October 5, 2019 Sunny

This small state park is on the site of the former Canton Airport, and includes paved trails and wetlands.

The paved trail is a loop with several stops overlooking the wetlands and a few signs about the birds and animals you might see. The “wetlands” were quite dry the day we came, which the signs assured us is normal. But the changing colors of the grasses and trees were lovely against the bright blue skies.

In the middle of the short loop is an interesting structure with some stone benches and wall that make a lovely spot to just hang out and read.

There’s also a straight gravel path that heads out into the marshland and offers some great views. The path leads far outside the boundaries of the park and is part of a larger trail system, which we leave to explore another day.

The paved section is small, but the gravel path through the wetlands is peaceful and beautiful.
It’s really small. Maybe fun for little kids to bike on, but not much to see.
The wetlands were dry but there were a lot of grasshoppers.
There were lots of grasshoppers. I liked the structure. The wetlands were cool.

For more information: Farnham-Connolly State Park official site.