Tag Archives: exercise

by | October 20, 2011 · 5:57 pm

River Bend Farm Offers Foliage Fun

Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of The Bellingham Bulletin)

We hear a lot about how important it is that we exercise more, but many of us don’t have the money to pay for gym memberships. And gym memberships don’t do much good if you never use them. Perhaps you’d be tempted by new places to walk your dogs, trails that offer different experiences in different seasons, or places that are safe for children and have walking paths good for people of all ages. Sound tempting?

There are many trails either in Bellingham or within twenty minutes away that are great places to return to again and again. River Bend Farm in Uxbridge has free parking; restrooms are available in the Visitors Center daily, from 10 am to 4 pm. Fishing is permitted, there’s easy canoe and kayak access into the canal beside the Visitors Center, and the tow path along the canal is flat. Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 5:53 pm

A Visit To Hopedale Parklands

By Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)

Hopedale Parklands, or “The Parklands,” as it’s locally known, is located at 162 Dutcher Street in Hopedale, and offers nearly four miles of walking trails on 273 acres, which surround Hopedale Pond. The broad open pathways give one the sense of walking on the carriage trails of Acadia National Park, which was being formed around the same time as “The Parklands,” at the turn of the last century. But rather than requiring a six-hour drive to Maine, it’s an easy trip on Route 140 to nearby Hopedale to reach this lovely outdoor space.

The Parklands has three entrances. The main entrance, where the town swimming beach is located, is on Freedom Street, easily accessed directly from Route 140. (Directions are included at the end of the article.) Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 5:49 pm

Take A Chilly Walk On The Milford Bike Path

Upper Charles Bike trail Milford MA

 

By Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)

The Upper Charles River bike path originates in downtown Milford. Close to three miles at present, the paved trail is part of a planned non-motorized system that will eventually stretch from Milford to Framingham. Construction on the section connecting the trail to the headwater of the Charles, Echo Lake, in Hopkinton, has been completed, with parking north of 495 on Rt. 85 just over the line in Hopkinton. Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 2:46 pm

A Visit To The West Hill Dam

100_5379West HillCrystal palace

By Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)

On a cold, bright, sunny day in February, snowshoes in hand, we ventured forth. I had many ideas of places to walk, but they were all under three feet of snow. However, West Hill Dam, in Uxbridge, is run by the Army Corps of Engineers, and I felt that if any trail was going to be accessible, it would be an Army Corps site. Thankfully, we arrived to a well-cleared parking lot. Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 2:33 pm

A Visit To Joe’s Rock & Birchwold Farms

Reprinted courtesy of the Bellingham Bulletin

(note: This was written as one in a series of articles, under the title “Naturally New England” in the Bellingham (MA) Bulletin. So many people have searched for “Where’s Joe’s Rock?” and found this article that I finally realized there was a hunger for this kind of information. Several years later, people still find my website looking for “Where’s Joe’s Rock?” )

View from top of Joe's Rock

View from top of Joe’s Rock

Southern New England is not known for its spectacular views, but there are a few special places in this area that provide nice overlooks, and Joe’s Rock in Wrentham, MA is one of them. Four hundred ninety feet in elevation, Joe’s Rock provides an unrestricted sightline northeast toward Boston and southwest over the Rhode Island countryside. Directly below Joe’s Rock lies a small pond. On a recent visit we saw in the water over thirty ring-necked ducks and a lone bufflehead. A flock of wild turkeys scurried through the woods. A nearby wetland sheltered countless wood frogs that filled the air with their duck-like calls. Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 2:27 pm

Enjoying The Wonders Of The Blackstone Gorge

 

Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)

There are wild places in New England, and settled areas, but rare are the locations where the two are as closely nestled together as at the Blackstone Gorge in Blackstone, MA. One must drive through a densely settled neighborhood before reaching the large, well-marked parking lot next to the spillway at the Gorge. The contrast of civilization next to apparent wilderness never ceases to surprise me. Continue reading →

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by | October 20, 2011 · 2:21 pm

Walkers Can Enjoy Stall Brook Trail

By Marjorie Turner Hollman  (courtesy of Bellingham Bulletin)

The Stall Brook Trail head is located directly behind Stall Brook Elementary School, in the north end of Bellingham, MA, just north of Maple Street on Rt. 126. The broad, somewhat level trail is accessible to families with children of all ages. Continue reading →

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