Shawme-Crowell State Forest

August 9, 2020 Sunny

Shawme-Crowell State Forest is a 700 acre forest of pitch pine and scrub oak, with campgrounds and hiking trails. It’s near the beginning of the Cape in the town of Sandwich, and is near the Scusset Beach State Reservation.

This summer, with Covid-19 travel restrictions, camping is an especially popular activity, but we were able to find a spot for a one night Sunday reservation about a week in advance. Fortunately for us, the weather was warm and sunny.

With reduced capacity, we were at site 48, far from the main entrance, off of the loop road, and with no immediate neighbors. This spot was also near the restrooms, which is always a plus. On the other hand, the showers were in a separate building in a different location.

In any case, the camping sites here seem to be well separated and fairly private. Ours had a fire pit and picnic table.

We pitched our tent without any issues in the early afternoon Sunday and then set off for the Cape Cod Rail Trail and Nickerson State Park, for a day of biking and swimming.

Here we are just after setting up the tent, which has a divider flap and enough room for a queen mattress in each section.

We had brought hamburgers and chips for dinner, and settled in just after sunset to make a fire and grill, after a long day. But yours truly bought the cheap-o Simple Living charcoal rather than the good Kingsford stuff.

This charcoal just would not seem to light and we had no lighter fluid. We had trouble starting the fire even with the “Extreme Fire Danger” conditions, some paper bags, and kindling gathered from near the site. It was getting pretty dark and we just had one lantern. But eventually the fire got going thanks to the fat drippings from the burgers, and they were pretty good.

Amazingly it was very warm that night (around 70 as the low), with some light wind and no mosquitoes.

After roasting a whole bag of marshmallows between us, the boys turned in early and unknowningly did a shadow puppet show for us.

We all slept well on our queen air mattresses that night, falling asleep to the close and loud chirping of crickets. Except for a brief scare in the middle of the night, when Diana and I woke to the sound of crunching gravel and voices. It seemed like someone was at our campsite walking around, and maybe trying to steal something (but what?) Definitely not an animal. After a few anxious moments we realized it was just one of the boys grinding his teeth and mumbling something from the other side of the tent!

Here we are the next morning around 7 or 8 am (it’s hard for us to sleep in while camping). In any case, after a simple breakfast of donuts, muffins, and cold brew coffee for us (and Tang for the kids), we started to pack up.

Diana took Miles to the nearby playground to check it out. Pretty nice equipment for a campground.

They also practiced shooting hoops for a while.

This is one of the few state campgrounds on Cape Cod and has good facilities and a great location for exploring the rest of the Cape. Sandwich has a few attractions as well, and Scusset Beach State Reservation is nearby (We heard this beach is great but were not able to get in as it filled by 10 am on Monday morning).

All in all, we enjoyed the camping here and wish we had spent at least 2 nights.

We enjoyed the dense forest and privacy of the sites. Good location for exploring Cape Cod.
Campground was quiet and well maintained. Nice playground area.
We couldn’t get a fire going, and then there were a lot of large bugs, and then nobody could sleep.
The campground was okay but I don’t really like camping.
The camp was super good, and we ate, and we tried to make a fire and eventually we made a fire.

For more information: Shawme-Crowell State Forest official site

Wrentham State Forest

August 8, 2020 Sunny

Wrentham State Forest, in the official descriptions, “is a minimally developed area”, and it sure is. Located in the town famous for the outlets, the State Forest borders Franklin State Forest which is another “minimally developed area”.

We visited the Red Fox Trail, a 2.4-mile loop (map download), which starts in a turnout on the busy Taunton Street. It is purple-blazed, but we found it to be hard to follow. From online reviews, we heard that this trail is popular with dirt bikes, but we didn’t see or heard any dirt bikes. We did see a few families mountain biking, but other than that we did not see any other hikers.

Right away we noticed that the trail was deeply rutted, very rocky, and very dusty. It was hard to walk. This may have explained the lack of fellow hikers.

In the beginning, there was no shade. Then the trail became very narrow but more shaded. Some places were muddy, which is a surprise to us as it had been a very dry summer. There were some up and downs, with very modest elevation gains of about 200 ft throughout the entire trail.

We also noticed a lot of bugs and had to put on bug spray. There were many side trails and even with an app and GPS it was very hard to follow.

We followed the Beaver Pond Trail in the last stretch of the walk. We did not see a pond, but maybe a swampy area? Again, it had been dry so I would not be surprised if the pond had dried up. Towards the end there were some boulders, but overall the features of this trail were very ordinary.

Dusty and rocky trails, with no particular sights to be seen.
Buggy. Trails were hard to follow and deeply rutted.
If my calculations are correct, this state park ranks approximately 1.89 stars. Thus, my generous self shall round up, bringing our rating to 2 stars.
The trail was rocky and buggy but it was fun to kick up the dust.
It was pretty bad and it had a lot of bugs and it was really thin and long and there was nothing good to see.

For more information: Wrentham State Forest official site.

Nasketucket Bay State Reservation

August 2, 2020 Sunny

This reservation in southeastern Mass, near the Cape, offers several miles of wooded trails, meadows, saltmarshes, and a rocky coastline.

We followed the Bridle Trail from the parking lot, which is a flat carriage road through low trees.

Eventually this reaches a large meadow and then continues through a forested area.

At the next intersection we followed the Saltmarsh Trail, which was shaded and narrower. It passes through a fairly small marshy area and then opens to a rocky coastline.

The shore had that salty smell, and was very tranquil, with just a few other walkers during our visit.

After hanging out for a while and exploring the views with our binoculars, we continued along the shore, checking out the shells.

There were also a few large boulders near the shore for the kids to climb on and to explore a sort of “tidal pool”. We saw a few fish here and even picked up some hermit crabs that were scurrying along the sand.

We had brought our binoculars and could see a few interesting sights – a large island just offshore, some boaters enjoying a small beach in the middle of the bay, and also some lobster traps just offshore.

For the return trip, we found the entrance to the Holly Trail, following it back to the Bridle Trail. The forest was dense and was filled with small holly trees, but also had some mosquitoes.

The whole trail was about 2 miles and very pleasant. Younger kids will enjoy the varied scenery, easy trails, and exploring the coastline and water.

The rocky shore is peaceful, with great views and some interesting wildlife to explore.
It was very quiet, and a place to enjoy solitude. Some mosquitoes.
The forest was super boring and the shore was pretty boring as well.
The walk at the start was boring but it was fun to sea the ocean.
We walked through a forest with a grassy trail in the middle and then we got to a shore and we saw a hermit crab and we saw seagulls with clams and it was fun.

For more information: Nasketucket Bay State Reservation official site.

Demarest Lloyd State Park

July 26, 2020 Sunny

This state park in Darmouth has a beach on Buzzard’s Bay as well as a section of marshland bordering the Slocum River. Apparently it’s a great area for birdwatching.

But we came for the beach and there was plenty of parking when we arrived in the afternoon around 3 pm on a hot day, although the lot still had a good number of cars and many families grilling in the shade of trees.

There was a very basic restroom and family bathroom in which you could change clothes.

Crossing a path over the dunes, the first impression was a scenic location but with a beach that’s narrow and pretty pebbly.

It was hard to find a good place to sit and we wished that we had chairs and not just towels. Most people were better equipped and took a spot higher up the beach near the sand dunes.

As the reviews said, the water was shallow and warm, but it was also full of smooth pebbles and some kelp nearer the shore. It definitely helps to wear flip-flops or water shoes as you wade out.

Here’s a view showing a mix of sand and kelp near the shore.

After you pass this section, it turns sandy and continues that way out into the bay.

The water was warm and clear, and it was possible to go out maybe 500 feet or more with water only up to my shoulders. We headed toward a sandbar where some waves were breaking and a few groups of bathers were playing and splashing each other. It did drop a bit after the sandbar but not suddenly.

Near the sandbar it was actually shallow enough for an adult to just sit in the sand with their head above the water, floating up with each passing wave. In the distance you could see Martha’s Vineyard offshore.

The boys walked all around the bay on their own. I left them out there to play since it was so calm and shallow and felt very safe. Eventually I gave Liam his flip-flops and he carried Miles back over the rocky and kelpy areas to the shore.

This state park is less crowded than some nearby choices like Horseneck Beach State Reservation but for a reason. It’s really best for young kids who need a sheltered area with warm water and minimal waves. Or for children who want to explore for hermit crabs and other wildlife. There are lifeguards (seasonally) but we didn’t see any when we visited.

If you’re in search of a more traditional beach with more amenities, you should definitely go with Horseneck Beach State Reservation, just a few miles to the west of this state park.

Rocky beach and areas near the shore, but warm and shallow water for very young kids. Scenic location to hang out and read.
Very rocky shore and the bottom. Lawn chairs and water shoes are a must. Water is too shallow to swim.
What Ryan and Miles said except I don’t give bad parks 4 stars.
This park was kind of bad because it was rocky and far.
It was super rocky and there was barely any sand. And there was yellow plants in the sea. It was very shallow far out.

For more information: Demarest Lloyd State Park official site.

Quincy Shores Reservation

January 1, 2020 Windy

We took a walk along the largest beach on the Boston Harbor – Wollaston Beach – on a brisk and windy day. We parked near Caddy Park where there’s a playground and a few picnic tables. Caddy Park is actually a marsh across the Quincy Shore Drive from the beach. There are some trails in the marsh, but we didn’t venture in.

The boardwalk along Quincy Shore Drive and the beach was nicely paved. One side has parking and bus stops; the other side has some shops and restaurants. The whole walk was about 2.3 miles one way. In the winter the accesses to the beach were closed. Some people were walking on the beach, while we also saw people feeding the seagulls.

I personally think the beach looked quite rocky. The views were good though. Some of the Boston Harbor Islands as well as the Boston Head Light are visible. Towards the city, the taller buildings of Boston can also be identified.

At the end of this walk, we came upon a little hill called Moswetuset Hummock. This is the site of the first encounter of Myles Standish with the local native sachem, or leader, Chikatawbut, in 1621 and cited as a source for the name of Massachusetts.

This hill was where the Native Americans camped and fished in the summer (in the winter, they retreated to the Blue Hills). From the Hummock there’s a good view of the beach and the harbor.

The Quincy Shores Reservation and Wollaston Beach are close to the city and convenient to visit, but the setting is quite commercial, and there’s not a whole lot to see other than the beach.

The best part of this walk was the small hummock once used by Native Americans. The beach is fairly thin and rocky.
Wollaston Beach is rocky. It’s a pleasant walk, but not much.
Sooo boring. Cold and windy. I now believe in hell.
Walking on the seawall was ok, and the trees were grey.
I liked the path. There was a random signpost right on the path. I liked walking on the wall too.

For more information, Quincy Shores Reservation official site

Quincy Quarries Reservation

January 1, 2020 Windy

The Quincy Quarries were selected in 1825 as a source of granite for the Bunker Hill Monument. They were also the site of what is considered the first railroad, in 1826, to carry granite down to the Neponset River in Milton, so it could be transported to other destinations.

In the 1960’s the quarry was abandoned and filled with water, but proved to be a dangerous area for cliff jumpers, and there were many fatalities and injuries. In the 80s it was drained of water, and more recently was used to dump dirt from the “Big Dig”.

Today it’s a popular spot with rock climbers and graffiti artists. We did neither of these activities but just walked around and among the cliffs enjoying the views.

First we scaled the highest “peak” in the park.

There’s an excellent view all around and towards the Boston skyline to the north.

Some of the graffiti is thoughtful, but definitely not all.

This wall had a cool treatment that I think shows a fabled UFO crash legend from the Southwest.

The far side to the north has a kind of “ridgeline” that you can climb to another peak. Here we paused before making our ascent.

This an interesting spot, mainly for the colorful graffiti and views. The kids loved scrambling around the rocks but parents should keep a close watch on the little ones.

Great spot for rock climbing or to check out views of Boston, but not much actual hiking.
This park is unique and interesting. Definitely worth a visit.
There was a lot of graffiti. I guess everyone thinks they’re a master vandal now. Other than that, it was really windy so it would be better in the summer.
There was lots of graffiti on the rocks and the rocks were high.
I like the spray paint. Me took super picture with it! I like it super good.

For more information, Quincy Quarries Reservation official site

Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area

December 8, 2019 Cloudy

Houghton’s Pond is part of the Blue Hills Reservation. We used to come here in the summer to swim. The pond has good facilities, life guards, and is very popular with families. This time we chose to experience it in the winter.

Even on a cold day, we were surprised at the number of cars in the parking lot. We started at the visitor’s center where there’s a playground. We even saw some kids playing on the structures in the snow.

We passed by a boardwalk and a lookout area for wetlands wildlife observation.

The trek around the pond was quite slippery, but very level and for the most part close to the water. On one side of the pond was the beach, and a large clearing with picnic benches and grills. The other two sides were more wooded.

There were good views across the pond to Blue Hills in the distance. In the summer, the views are blocked by the trees, and the crowds can be loud. But in the winter it was very peaceful.

The water close to the shore was mostly frozen solid, so the kids had a lot of fun walking and sliding on ice. We found many places that the kids could play safely. They had a blast.

With the right gear and warm coats, walking in the woods in the winter in New England can be peaceful, quiet, and fun.

This is a great swimming spot in the summer and has beautiful scenery in wintertime but the peaceful setting is marred by the highway noise.
The pond has good facilities for swimming. The trail is easy. The views of Blue Hills are beautiful. But you can hear the highways.
Liam never got his foot wet. That’s a fringe conspiracy theory. Instead, Liam had a grand ol’ time playing on the ice with his brothers.
I liked sliding on the ice and the trail was very wide.
I liked sliding on the frozen water. I super-duper laughed when Liam got his foot wet.

For more information: Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area 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

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.

Bristol Blake State Reservation

September 15, 2019 Sunny

This park covers 140 acres and consists of ponds and marshes that are accessed via a boardwalk and paths. It was the site of a former sawmill complex over one hundred years ago.

You can visit the Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary visitor center if you check the hours before coming by.

The first part of the loop trail is shaded by various trees and plants on the side, many of which are nicely labeled. We got a kick out of the numerous signs pointing out poison ivy using the old saying “leaves of three…let it be”.

Once you reach the marshy area you enter the boardwalk.

We came on a bright day in September, although you could see some tinges of orange here and there.

Stopping on the platform we saw many smaller turtles and a very large snapping turtle as well. He/she was covered in moss and maybe 1 1/2 feet long although the picture doesn’t show this well. We learned from some other visitors that this turtle may have feasted on some baby swans in the spring.

The boardwalk eventually leads to a small, rounded island that you can explore a bit. We found a large boulder with a lean-to on the side and the kids played here for a while, exploring the principle of “levers”.

From here, the boardwalk continues past a pond.

Near the end of the loop you reach the site of the 1800’s era sawmill, with a dam at the edge of the pond.

We spotted a few more large turtles in the water just below and then reached the picnic area near the visitor center, near which was a small butterfly garden.

Although the whole trail is less than a mile, the walk has a lot of variety packed into it. The visitor center and garden round out the experience.

Great little park with amenities and beautiful, changing scenery.
Small but so much to see. Lots of turtles and wildlife. Very beautiful.
Great park, with turtles, swans, etc. Not much bugs and great visitor center, plus “butterfly” garden. Thank you, Bristol Blake, very cool!
Many turtles and wildlife. Very nice.
I liked the boardwalks. Lots of turtles!

For more information: Bristol Blake State Reservation official site.

Stodder’s Neck & Abigail Adams Park

September 8, 2019 Sunny

Stodder’s Neck and Abigail Adams are two separate areas of the same Back River Reservation. Stodder’s Neck is mainly a dog park. A lot of dog owners take their dogs there to run around unleashed. Since we don’t have dogs, we didn’t linger.

Abigail Adams is a very small park, unrelated to Abigail Adams. There is a short trail (less than 1 mile) with water views all around. We went at low tide, and we could almost walk across the water to the other side.

Along the trail there are inspirational quotes of Abigail Adams. It is a very small park and not much to see.

A small park on the Back River. Good place to relax and read but not much else.
Very small park. Pleasant enough but not much to see.
Right next to the ocean… v3ry pl3454nt.
The trail was small but it had a view of the lake.
I liked the circle

For more information: Stodder’s Neck & Abigail Adams Park official site.

Webb Memorial State Park

September 8, 2019 Sunny

This park rests on a peninsula that extends about 1/2 mile into Hingham Bay with trails around the edge and water views all around. It also has plenty of parking, restrooms, and a picnic area. It is both a state park and the only mainland section of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

We visited on a warm, sunny day and took the loop around the water’s edge.

Reaching the end of the peninsula you can see other Boston Harbor Islands near you and there were plenty of sailboats when we visited.

The views toward Boston are also spectacular, with a clear view of the city skyline. We could also see airplanes on their descent into Logan.

Continuing on the level path we came to a rocky beach where the kids skipped stones for a while. Although the water seemed pretty chilly to us, a woman did go in and take a dip (you can see her in the distance). We also saw the T ferries from Boston to Hull pass by and bring some wake crashing on the shore.

On top of a small hill farther along we found a memorial to a local man named John Cole, who was a big-hearted Christian man in the community who was a selfless and true friend to his neighbors. It was really a lovely and peaceful section of the park.

We enjoyed Webb Memorial very much. The fresh air and great water views make it feel more like a Boston harbor island than a peninsula, and it was easy to visit. A very pleasant way to spend a summer afternoon.

This park had great views of the Harbor Islands and several peaceful memorials. It really felt like an island.
This is really a beautiful park. Compact with great views. Too bad the beach is rocky.
The beach was cool and we skipped stones at the ocean surface, so it was pretty cool (‘v’)
The beach is good and the memorials and the trail, but I got wet.
I like the beach.

For more information: Webb Memorial State Park official site.

Franklin State Forest

September 15, 2019 Sunny

This is an 843 acre stretch of minimally developed forest, crossed with trails for hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing.

We took a roughly 1.3 mile loop trail from eastern side of the forest. The trail had some gentle rises and dips and was narrow, with dense forest on all sides. Most of the trail we hiked looked like the picture below.

The only points of interest we saw were old stone walls at various points, and the trail cut through one of these.

We all caught sight of one deer as well along the path, which was a highlight to this pleasant but not particularly memorable trail.

This park might be better at other times of the year, or for mountain biking, but seemed fairly ordinary for hiking.

Not much variety in this dense forest. We came during a fairly buggy time, which didn’t help.
Boring. It doesn’t seem to get a lot of use.
OK… lots of bugs and mushrooms, which wasn’t great. Just average.
There was a lot of bugs and a stone wall.
I didn’t get much bug bites. There was lots of trees.

For more information: Franklin State Forest official site.

Fort Revere Park

September 8, 2019 Sunny

Fort Revere Park contains two seacoast fortifications. During the American Revolution, it was first fortified by Patriot forces to protect Boston Harbor.

The path leading up to the park was not well maintained. When we arrived at the top of what is known as Telegraph Hill, the views from the remains of the fort were breathtaking. We can see Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, and the other islands in the Boston Harbor.

View of Boston Light on Little Brewster Island

The fort fell out of use after the Revolution War until World War I, when quarters and storehouses were built. However, nowadays, the buildings are in a decrepit state. Stairs are very worn, and rather dangerous to walk on. The rooms are dark and damp, and the walls are full of graffiti.

The kids enjoyed running through the tunnels and pretending that the rooms were haunted. Although there were no guns or cannons left, they imagined they were at battle.

There is also a water tower, but it’s also in disrepair and is closed to public. Not much remained of this fascinating place.

The harbor views including the Brewster islands and lighthouse make this worth visiting, but the fort itself is really rundown.
The views are nice, but this place really need a restoration.
Lots of graffiti and broken parts of the building. Bad condition overall. But still really cool.
The view of the peninsula was great and it was interesting.
I liked the creepy parts and the space where the cannon had been was cool.

For more information: Fort Revere Park official site.

Wilson Mountain Reservation

August 18, 2019

This park in Dedham has a small number of trails through forest and leading up a hill. We chose a short loop trail around the park of roughly 2 miles. It starts from the main parking lot heading west toward 128.

There are some areas with large boulders and small cliffs, as well as marshy sections with bridges over the water.

Although the forest is dense and richly textured, you do hear some road noise, especially as you approach the western sections that are near the 128 loop.

We then climbed the hill, which has a very steady upward grade. Parts even had stairs to help us.

The summit here is wooded so we did not have views of Boston. We returned to the parking lot on a steeper grade, which was full of pine trees and soft needles. This section was very peaceful and enjoyable.

Wilson Mountain is a convenient park to visit if you’re in the area. It should be beautiful with the fall colors.

The forest trail has interesting rocks and scenery, but the top is wooded.
A quick and easy walk. No views on the top.
What a waste of time! The lamest “mountain” I’ve ever been to, with no view whatsoever, but plenty of fungi.
The hill was slightly buggy and there was no view.
There was no view.

For more information: Wilson Mountain Reservation official site

Blue Hills Reservation

August 10, 2019 Sunny

This is a large state park about 10 miles south of Boston. It consists of hills with trails, mainly for hiking, but also has a ski slope in the winter months. At the foot of the hills you can find the nearby Houghton’s Pond Recreation Area, another state park. Within it, there is also the Trailside Museum, our first stop.

Although it’s small, it has plenty of live animals (frogs, snakes, owls, etc.) within, along with a viewing area of a small pond. Outside are further animal exhibits with eagles, vultures, deer, and foxes. When we visited the turtle and otter exhibits were under construction.

We took the popular and short (2 mile) Red Dot Trail from the museum parking lot. It climbs steeply for a while and reaches the the Eliot Tower, with great views of downtown Boston.

Continuing along a short path, we quickly reached the other star attraction here, the old Blue Hill Observatory. Founded in 1885, it’s the oldest weather observatory currently in use.

Although you can climb the tower on a guided tour for a small fee, we decided to browse the small but interesting gift shop. It’s packed with all sorts of flying toys as well as a great selection of kites, which you’re allowed to unpack and fly from the hillside next to the observatory.

After resting a bit, we descended along the paved Summit Road, and then rejoined the Red Dot Trail for the remainder of the hike.

This park offers great views for minimal effort but you can also explore the extensive trail network. On a hot day, stop off at Houghton’s Pond next door to cool off.
Nice view of the city on a clear day.
Just a normal hike… If you’re looking for something fun to do, don’t go here. You’ll only waste your free time
It was good and the visitor center was great.
I liked the museum. The observatory was cool. It was pretty when we looked out from the tower.

For more information: Blue Hills Reservation official site

Fall River Heritage State Park

August 4, 2019 Sunny

This state park consists mainly of an antique carousel, visitor center, and boardwalk along the river. It sits under the Braga Bridge that carries traffic along I-195.

The day we visited, the carousel and visitor center were both closed, so we just took a walk to enjoy the views of Battleship Cove, the largest collection of World War II era naval ships in the world.

Continuing past the bend around the visitor center, the boardwalk extends toward a marina and a waterfront restaurant, visible in the photo below. In the middle distance is a small, shaded area with some picnic tables.

Apparently the sunset views are quite lovely here. But if you come, be sure to check the hours for the visitor center and carousel. And do try to visit Battleship Cove if you have the time.

Short boardwalk with good views of World War II battleships and a small marina.
The boardwalk was nicely done.
The visitor center was closed but the battleship was cool.
I like the battleship. The cove was beautiful.

For more information: Fall River Heritage State Park official site.

Fort Phoenix State Reservation

August 4, 2019 Sunny

This is a small park in Fairhaven. It was originally built around the Revolutionary War and served as a military installation until just after the Civil War.

The parking to the right is for the Fort, while the recreational areas and beach are to the left. We decided to explore the remains of the fort, and the kids enjoyed scrambling over the smooth rocks.

There are also stone walls to run around and which follow the contour of the land, along with a number of old cannons, one of which is from Revolutionary War times.

The water views here and sea breeze are really pleasant. Off to the side is a channel for boats to pass through, including ferries from New Bedford bound for Nantucket, The Vineyard, and other islands.

The kids enjoyed hopping along the giant rocks seen above down to the water, which looked clear and cool.

After walking a bit, we had to turn back since we couldn’t cross over to the New Bedford bike path on the opposite side.

We head over to check out the beach, which was small, with several bored-looking lifeguards watching just a few kids. It seemed pretty rocky but the kids enjoyed wading into the warm water.

Fort Phoenix is a small but beautiful park that is well-maintained, has plenty of parking, and great water views. It has the beach, space to play or read in the shade, as well as some history to enjoy.

A small park that packs a lot of variety. Come for the water views on a sunny day.
Aside from the beach which is small and rocky, this park is wonderful.
The ocean was good and there was a drawbridge.
The flat path was cool. The beach was fun. Even though we didn’t swim.

For more information: Fort Phoenix State Reservation official site.

Ellisville Harbor State Park

June 16, 2019 Cloudy/Showers

This is a short walk near the Cape that is just south of Plymouth and worth a trip if you’re in the area.

You pass through a gentle, forested trail with views of salt marshes below and the seashore beyond.

Along the way you might come upon giant purple rhododendrons.

Nearer the shore there are other interesting flowers along the dunes.

Although the beach has some sand, it also is strewn with seaweed and smoothed rocks along the water. If you walk to the left, there are some high bluffs showing the force of erosion. A lone white house is perched quite close to the edge despite efforts to slow the erosion with nets that enclose grass plantings.

You can also see the heads of seals bobbing in the water if you’re lucky. You can just make them out in the center of the picture below.

The beach toward the right widens and is sandier but still not a classic swimming beach. But the interesting rocks and snails make up for it. Diana and the boys turned over some rocks and found small crabs as well.

The boys also enjoyed digging in the sand and just enjoying the ocean. There were quite a few people fishing as well. Looks like they’ve got some good catches.

On the way back, we spotted a rock with a large seal perched atop, just off shore. I know it’s grainy, but not a bad shot of the seal.

What’s nice about this walk is the variety of scenery – forest, meadows, salt marshes, rocky shore, sandy beach – all within a short hike. And the chance to view seals at play is something special to remember.

A scenic walk with a peaceful shore to wander. The seals made it special, in my view.
Beautiful harbor. Quiet and peaceful. We saw lots of seals.
Too rocky and the water was cold. Don’t go here.
There was a beach but it was rocky.
That was so fun! I like making stuff with the sand and the dirt.

For more information: Ellisville Harbor State Park official site

Pilgrim Memorial State Park

June 16, 2019 Cloudy/Showers

We parked along shore a bit north of this site, which allowed for a short stroll along the shoreline before reaching the main tourist attractions. The first site that caught our eyes was a small pirate ship for rent.

Also from this spot you can see an unusual site – a rowboat perched on top of a restaurant.

As you wander along the seawall you approach the site of the Mayflower II (a replica ship which was away during our visit, and not returning till May 2020). But at least we get a bonus state pier sign, which normally would lead to the Mayflower and a chance to explore the ship.

The actual Plymouth Rock is somewhat disappointing, sheltered in a grand pavilion, but clearly cracked down the middle. It was actually identified by an elder as the original spot where the Mayflower passengers arrived much later – in 1741 – but the story is somewhat doubtful. It split in 1774 as it was being dragged to the town square.

After you see the Rock, you can cross the street and climb a grassy hill for views of the harbor. The Indian chief Massasoit looks out on the water as well and is happy to pose for pictures.

From here, wander inland a few blocks, passing old houses, to a main shopping district with plenty of restaurants. Or just follow along the shore and enjoy the water views.

Although Plymouth Rock is somewhat disappointing, the waterfront is great to stroll and there’s plenty of history in town and the nearby Plimoth Plantation. Or you can just load up on the souvenirs, fudge, and saltwater taffy.
There’s not a lot to see. The Mayflower is in Connecticut until next year. The waterfront was nicely done but touristy.
It’s pretty boring and there is nothing to do. Not nearly as impressive as you might think.
Just a rock. Next to the ocean is good.
It looked cool. There’s not that much stuff that you can do.

For more information: Pilgrim Memorial State Park official site