Mother Nature: Just a Hop, Skip, and Jump Away

Walden Pond. Photo by Hannah Siegel.

 

 

As I have lived in a small German town with rolling hills and streams for the past three years, I’m used to not having many obstacles between me and Hansel and Gretel-like forests. For the time of the year when I live in Boston, it is a different story. However, I have found many wonderful parks and trails in or around Boston where I can go explore the fall foliage and step on some crunchy leaves. Here are some I recommend:

Arnold Arboretum: Located in Jamaica Plains, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
is the oldest public arboretum in North America. The arboretum has a variety of shrubs,
trees and vine. There are many different ponds and trails to be discovered. I wandered
on one of their many trails and came across Japanese trees and crabapples (which, I hope,
were okay to eat.) Everything was conveniently labeled and described with a tag for reference.

World's End Reservation. Photo by Hannah Siegel

 

The arboretum is always free and was full of Little League soccer players, hippies chanting on a hill, and art students alike. Free guided tours throughout the arboretum are offered.

World’s End Reservation: The World’s End Reservation, located in Hingham, MA, is a further way’s out, requiring a T ride, bus, and walk to get there, but still worth it. The park features the
only North African rocks on the East Coast and a breathtaking view of the Boston skyline.
The harbor is dotted with many quaint homes. For those who are not experienced hikers (like me), the trail had very little elevation and was a pretty easy walk.

Walden Pond: Located in Concord, MA, Walden Pond was made famous by philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who lived there from July 1845 to September 1847. His experience at Walden provided the material for his book “Walden.” It is a popular swimming, kayaking, and canoeing destination in the summer.

Blue Hills Reservation: The Blue Hills Reservation is located only a little bit outside Boston and scenic views, varied terrain, and 125 miles of trails. The park is primarily used for hiking and mountain biking, but in winter it is also used for skiing. The highest point on the reservations offers clear views of Boston and the surrounding area

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