By The Trustees of Reservations
There’s nothing better than a delicious, home-cooked holiday feast. But why not build up your appetite a bit by heading out on a hike or walk before you sit down at the table? Or maybe work it all off once you’re done eating? We’ve got ideas, from an easy walk in the park to a challenging trek to a thought-provoking jaunt. No matter what you’re up for, you’ll be feeling fantastic when you return!
Take the whole family for a leisurely stroll at Francis William Bird Park in Walpole. Follow three miles of flat pathways, past grassy meadows and tranquil duck ponds, and over stone arch bridges spanning quiet streams. This park includes a recreational area and children’s playground, ideal for walking families! Find more easy hikes in Massachusetts.
For more of a challenge, trek to the craggy peak of Great Barrington’s Monument Mountain for a thrilling view. And be sure to look for the cave where a conversation between Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville inspired ideas for Moby Dick. Find more views that are worth the hike.
Stand under the same massive overhanging rock that used to provide shelter for Nipmuc hunting parties centuries ago. You can do it at Rock House Reservation in West Brookfield. The cultural impact of the indigenous peoples who dwelt on landscapes now shared by Trustees properties still resonates today. Find more connections to first peoples.
Pop your wee ones in the stroller and head over to Appleton Farms in Ipswich and Hamilton. Lots of grass and gravel make the trails pretty easy to negotiate with strollers. More than 90 percent of the terrain is flat or gently rolling and the Grass Rides on the southwest side beckon “off road” strollers. Don’t forget to say “howdy” to the cows! Find more stroller-friendly trails.
