Great Brook Farm State Park

January 19, 2020 Sunny

Great Brook Farm is a state park in Carlisle that has over 20 miles of hiking trails. It has a working farm with an ice cream stand in the summer, and offers cross-country skiing and rentals in the winter.

We spent a fairly mild winter’s afternoon on the trails. Our first stop was the friendly staff at the ski center, where we quickly got into our gear. At roughly $20/person for a family of 5, including the trail pass and all equipment, we were off to a good start.

Numerous trails start at the ski center and cover levels from beginner to expert. We decided on a more level path as beginners. Our route took us past farm fields with the stubble of the cuttings showing through the thin snow.

The trails were popular after the fresh snow that had fallen the day before, and we were able to follow tracks through much of the route. This made for easier skiing and allowed us to focus on gliding and enjoying our surroundings.

Miles fell a lot during our adventures but still enjoyed the experience and was a real trooper.

After more than 2 hours it was time to head back to the ski center to warm up.

This state park is one of the very few that offer ski rentals in the winter. With a laid-back feel and wide variety of trails, it was a great winter destination to exercise and breathe some fresh air. And all just a short distance from Boston.

Great exercise and a wide variety of terrain. Rentals are quite reasonable, and staff are fast and friendly.
This was super fun and the scenery was beautiful.
Very good skiing. The course was flatter than the earth.
The skiing was so so so so so fun! Even though I fell a little.
The skiing was SUPER fun. I fell a million times.

For more information: Great Brook Farm State Park 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

Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation

September 22, 2019 Sunny

We visited the park on a hot late summer day. We stayed near the Lynn Shore near the rotary, where we could find parking along the beach pretty easily. We did not go on the island.

We went in late September, so although it was a hot day, the beach wasn’t too busy. There was a bath house, a playground, but the concession stand was closed for the season. There was also no other food or restaurants that we could easily walk to.

The beach was very long and wide. The sand was very fine. We thought it was kind of muddy. At different places a lot of seaweed washed up the beach, and the kids thought it was yucky.

The water was chilly, as can be expected in New England. The tide was gentle. Some swimmers had wet suits on. On the beach people were flying kites, and enjoying the sun. Many families with little children collecting shells.

We saw a lot of big shells, with the clams still alive inside. We saw seagulls picking up and dropping shells, in the hopes of cracking them open. We also saw many, many hermit crabs crawling on the beach with little shells on their backs. The kids really enjoyed building “shelters” for the hermit crabs and clams.

It’s such a fun beach. I can imagine the crowds in the middle of the summer, but a great place to spend a hot fall day.

A wide beach in a pretty setting. Plenty of small crabs and clams make it interesting for the kids.
Really nice beach. Lots of little crabs and shells to keep the kids’ attention.
There were a lot of shells and crabs so that was pretty dope, even though the algae was kind of OP. Still liked it.
There was algae but it was good overall
The hermit crabs were really cute. I like that I made the house for a hermit crab

For more information: Lynn Shore & Nahant Beach Reservation official site.

Maudslay State Park

September 1, 2019 Sunny

Maudslay is a very pretty state park in Newburyport, MA right on the Merrimack River that separates the state from New Hampshire to the north. It has some ruins of an old estate and gardens, along with trails that wind through stands of mountain laurel and rhododendrons.

We started along a wide trail that passed over a stone bridge and then into a forested area along the river.

The views along the Merrimack are really great and you can go right down to the shore.

Continuing along a trail by the river we eventually came to the ruins of the Mosely Estate.

The view from this house must have been magnificent. It’s quiet today with a dramatic slope toward the river and a few benches to rest on. The boys found a large tree stump to play on as we rested a bit.

Continuing beyond this, we came to some old gardens, the best preserved of which were the Italian gardens, with roses and fountains.

Leaving this area we returned on a carriage path to the main parking lot.

This park has a lot of variety, fresh air, and beautiful river views. It’s a real gem that captures some of the grandeur of times past.
Beautiful gardens, great views. A little run down.
The park was fun. Lots of dogs. Green grass, beautiful gardens, etc.
The path was wide and the gardens were good.
The garden was cool. If you look at it, it is amazing.

For more information: Maudslay State Park official site

Harold Parker State Forest

August 31, 2019 Sunny

Harold Parker is in Andover and covers some adjacent towns. Much of it is forested with a complex network of trails and numerous ponds and boggy areas. It also contains a campground with 89 spots, access to a pond, small beach, and hot showers.

We came to explore the trails by day and camp by night.

We started along a trail and came to a pond right away.

Along the way we noticed lots of trees that were clearly felled by the work of beavers in the area. The trees ranged from very thin to rather large, and many were chewed through and then abandoned before they were finished.

The loop trail we followed had some muddy areas but fortunately was well tended, with bridges to cross.

One of the bridges had a huge brush pile, evidence of a beaver’s diligent work.

As we returned along the loop trail we passed by a very scenic bog with reddish brown hues among the grey trunks of long-dead trees.

Unfortunately the trail was quite buggy when we visited, although not with mosquitoes as much as small gnats.

Lorraine Campground

After the hike, we returned to our campground where we had set up the tent earlier in the day. This site (site number 2) and others we toured on an evening walk seemed mainly level and had some privacy. But ours lacked a natural barrier of trees with the neighbors so was somewhat less private. On the other hand it was close to some decent restrooms with hot showers.

Each site had a bench, grill, and small firepit.

After grilling some hot dogs and roasting Smores, we turned in for the night. Unfortunately, although we had queen air mattresses and some blankets, the night was very cool (upper 50s) and we were pretty chilly all night. Except for Miles, who had a “snuggle tail” (a small, cozy sleeping bag). Note to self – follow Miles’ lead and bring warm sleeping bags next time.

But in any case we rose early to a sunny day and other adventures in the area.

Harold Parker would be better in a drier or less buggy time, or maybe for mountain biking. The campground is clean and family oriented, which is good for novice campers.
Camping was fun. The trails were nothing special.
The campsite was buggy and it was kind of cold. Overall not a very good experience. As for the actual forest, it wasn’t as bad but still buggy.
The camp site was good but buggy and so was the forest.
It was fun camping but it was too buggy.

For more information: Harold Parker State Forest official site

Bradley Palmer State Park

August 11, 2019 Sunny

This park is located north of Boston near Topsfield. It’s named after a prominent local attorney who created the United Fruit Company, which later became Chiquita Brands. It consists mainly of forested land with trails, some open fields on hilltops, and a section along the Ipswich River. There is also his estate, which can be rented for special events.

Mr. Palmer enjoyed riding horses on the property and it was clear this is still a popular pastime (from the occasional horse manure along the trails). But there are also plenty of mountain bikers who zigzag the trails.

We started at the main parking lot near the park headquarters and took a loop trail that led over Blueberry Hill and Moon Hill as part of the Baystate Trail. One of the first sites was this lovely pond.

After meandering over rolling hills through forested and open areas along nondescript trails, we came to the top of Moon Hill, a large open field. Although there are no views of the surrounding areas, it was beautiful to break out of the forest into the bright sun of the open fields. It was very serene and quiet.

We then continued to the north side of the park, descending the slope toward the Ipswich River.

The trails here are fairly confusing and require close examination of the map and the (thankfully) numerous numbered signposts. Fortunately it would be hard to get really lost, and there were often mountain bikers coming along. The group above actually was stopping not to rest but to get their bearings (We heard them tell us they were momentarily lost as they zipped past us later).

In any case, the Ipswich River was busy with canoeists and paddleboarders who rented from the Foote Brothers company near the dam.

We continued along the river for some time under pine trees that covered a soft, rolling bank. Eventually we came to a footbridge that crosses the river and offers a great vantage point for watching the river traffic below.

Although you can follow across the bridge to Willowdale State Forest, we continued the loop back toward the headquarters.

Once back to our car, we also briefly checked out the wading pool and splash pad within the park. It looked really well kept, with interesting water features, plenty of surrounding grass to relax on, along with clean changing rooms and restrooms. It’s included with the day pass fee and well worth a stop if you have younger kids with you.

Pleasant but not scenic or distinctive. Probably better for trail runners and bikes. Be sure to head for the river or splash pad if you stop by.
Nothing special. It was a rich guy’s estate that he donated.
Your average walk through the woods, plus a river and an open hill. Nothing particularly special.
I liked the river and the trail was good.
I liked the nature center. It was cool. The wading pool looked cool. The walk through the woods was a little complicated.

For more information: Bradley Palmer State Park official site

Revere Beach Reservation

July 27, 2019 Sunny

Revere Beach is close to Boston and accessible by the MBTA. It was the first public beach in America.

We visited Revere Beach on weekend of the famous annual International Sand Sculpting Festival. The beach was actually quite long, and on low tide it was wide as well.

When we got there, people were making patterns on the beach as part of the festivities. I have never seen it before, and it was really pretty.

We got to see great sand sculptures. This one was a collaborative project by all the participants to commemorate the 50th anniversary of moon landing. They carved all the astronauts, the lunar module, Apollo 11. There was even a separate sculpture of a family watching the moon landing on TV.

Here are a couple of other amazing sand sculptures. Participants came from all over the world. Many had been working on their sculptures for a couple of days. They were so talented.

Beautiful day and cool sand sculptures.
Amazing sand sculptures!
The sand sculptures were cool. The food was good.

For more information: Revere Beach Reservation official site

Middlesex Fells Reservation

July 14, 2019 Sunny

Middlesex Fells Reservation is a large collection of parks, trails, and ponds north of Boston. We visited Spot Pond Reservoir and Crystal Spring Trail.

Our first stop was the boat rental at Spot Pond Reservoir. They have canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, row boats, and small sailboats for renting, and they also offer lessons. We opted for a large canoe for the four of us. The rental process was painless and very fast. There were no crowds and no lines.

The Pond is fairly small. There are two bigger islands – Great Island and Bold Point. A 10-minute paddle from the boat ramp brought us to Great Island, where we stepped onto a stony shore and had a picnic. The island was full of goose poop though, so the kids were a little grossed out.

Along the way we saw many water fowls. Again, not many people on the water, although the pond borders I-93 and the noise from the Interstate was very annoying.

We rowed all around for about an hour, and explored almost the whole pond. We saw people fishing on the shores.

Our next stop was the Crystal Spring Trail. The trail was rocky at places, shady and flat for the most part. There were many side trails and short-cuts, but in general the trails were well marked.

The only interesting thing we saw was this Split Rock. The trail was unremarkable, and sometimes ventured close to parking lots, houses, or playgrounds. It might be a pleasant little walk if you live nearby, but nothing special.

Canoeing around the pond and islands provided plenty of fun. But the trails were pretty ordinary.
Boating was fun. Trails were unremarkable.
The boating was good and so was the hike.
The hike was pretty. The boating was fun boating.

For more information: Middlesex Fells Reservation official site

Whitehall State Park

July 6, 2019 Sunny

The Whitehall State Park is right outside of the I-495 loop in Hopkinton. There is a loop trail (about 7 miles) around the Whitehall Reservoir.

We visited on a hot summer day. Right away from the trailhead there’s water views, and the views were plentiful around the reservoir.

The water was warm and very clear. We were very tempted to take a dip.

The trails are clearly marked and did not seem buggy at all. However, the trail is not all flat. There are some hilly parts. The trees are tall and there was a shade and a breeze, making the walk very pleasant.

In some places the reservoir is close to houses, and it’s clear the residents are taking advantage of this. We saw chairs placed near the water for a relaxing time.

Overall we were very happy with this hidden gem. There were no crowds and plenty of parking, making this a great place to swim on a hot day or take a boat out.

The reservoir loop was very scenic with plenty of water views.
Water was clear and warm. No crowds. A hidden gem.
The lake was peaceful and there weren’t many bugs. Overall a pleasant experience.
I found a one person seesaw, which was just a fallen tree which part of it was secure in the ground, and the other part was hanging about 2 feet off the trail. Overall, the trail was nice.
The lake was beautiful and also I didn’t get many bug bites.

For more information: Whitehall State Park official site.

Winthrop Shore Reservation

July 4, 2019 Sunny

Winthrop Beach is just north of Boston in Winthrop, MA and has been a popular beach for city dwellers since the 1890s when the commuter rail extended north out Boston and past this area.

What’s interesting is the dunes you see when you arrive, as well as the so-called “5 sisters”, or piles of rocks offshore that help to break the waves.

Although we came on a very hot day around noon, the beach was not too busy, with groups of mainly younger beachgoers, but plenty of space to stretch out. It looked like most of the visitors were there for the day, with tents, coolers, sporting goods, etc.

The beach has really nice, fine sand. The water was brisk but not too cold, and very clear. A gentle ocean breeze provided some cooling as well.

The kids enjoyed playing and swimming here much more than Constitution Beach which we visited earlier that morning.

Our family enjoyed the beach itself and the views. The main drawback is the lack of facilities. There are a few showers near the ocean drive, but the bathhouse is apparently down from the main beach so we didn’t explore it. Come to the beach changed to your suit and ready to go.

The beach is less crowded than others nearby. While the sand and water are fine, it could use better facilities close to the beach.
The sand was fine. No facilities though.
The sand was soft and there weren’t many creatures.
The sand was soft and fine. Not busy.
The sand was very soft.

For more information: Winthrop Shore Reservation official site.

Lawrence Heritage State Park

June 30, 2019 Thunderstorms

Lawrence Heritage State Park has four different parts. The Pemberton Park between the canal and the Merrimack River commemorates the 145 people who lost their lives in the Pemberton Mill disaster of 1860. The Riverfront Park and Riverside Park are on opposite sides of the Merrimack. The Greycourt State Park in nearby Methuen contains the grounds, gate house, and ruins of the Tenney Castle.

Lawrence Heritage State Park headquarters has a museum that is dedicated to the history of the Lawrence cotton mills and labor movement in the Industrial Revolution.

The visitor center has a pretty good exhibit. The kids loved exploring all the “old technology”, such as a rotary telephone, a typewriter, and a sewing machine.

We learned about the Pemberton Mill disaster that claimed the lives of 140+ people, and the labor movement of 1912 that eventually led to overtime pay.

We then took a walk outside along the canal and saw the Pemberton Mill that was rebuilt, and along the Merrimack River that had more mills and dormitories converted into apartments and condos.

The clock tower you see above is the largest mill clock tower in the world, with faces that are nearly the size of Big Ben’s. It really stands out on the skyline.

The other park we visited was the Greycourt State Park that had the ruins of the Tenney Castle. This castle was built by an industrialist and “city father” of Methuen called Charles H. Tenney in 1890, but was burned down in different fires in the 1970s.

The grounds were pretty and would have been a beautiful place for pictures, but really not a whole lot to see here.

The canal walk is short but has a series of bridges and imposing mills. But the walk is short and lacks signs for points of interest. This is a diamond in the rough and will certainly improve with investment.
The museum was nicely done. The walk along the canal and the Merrimack was alright, but the buildings were not in good shape.
The museum was boring, just some old stuff, and the buildings around there were in bad shape.
The museum was good but it was kind of boring. I liked the castle.
The castle looked cool. I like playing with the telephone.

For more information: Lawrence Heritage State Park official site

Lowell Heritage State Park

June 22, 2019 Showers/Sunny

The cousins came to visit, and we wanted to take them to see the mills at Lowell National Historic Park. The Merrimack River powered these first industrial textile mills in America. The Lowell Heritage State Park celebrates this part of history.

The walk along the Merrimack River leading to the Pawtucket Falls and Dam is called the Vandenberg Esplande.

The walk was lovely in the beautiful summer day. There was a stage called Sampas Pavilion where summer concerts are staged. We saw a lot of kids playing on the stage.

Many family were picnicking on the grassy field, enjoying music and food. There was also a very small beach.

As we kept walking, the path got narrower and closer to the road, which was not too pleasant. We eventually reached the Pawtucket Fall and Dam. The scenery was quite dramatic. It looked like the dam was built to run the mills during the Industrial Revolution. It was really an interesting sight and something different to see.

Right across the street there is a restaurant called “Heritage Park Ice-Cream”, which also serves food. It is not hard to imagine relaxing and spending all day in this park.

Most of the walk was through picnickers or along the road, but the highlight (just to the north) was the bridge with a rocky patch and some cascades.
A nice little walk leading to an interesting dam.
If you are looking for a peaceful stroll by the lake, reconsider your choice. This park has literally nothing but a small dam and a bridge.
The waterfall was good and the sand.
It was a nice little park where you could hang out.
I like the waterfall.

For more information: Lowell Heritage State Park official site