Upper Neponset, next to Walpole town forest
This past week was a time of visiting rivers. I was taking my own advice for finding fantastic nearby foliage and hunting along waterways first to find some great spots to enjoy the colorful foliage season as it begins to show its colors. After visiting the Charles River along various trails, then capturing views along the Blackstone River, I was ready to head in a different direction. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Blackstone Gorge
We’re into the midst of foliage season here in southern New England. Although the day was overcast yesterday, it wasn’t raining, and I decided to follow the advice I’ve been giving folks who are interested in finding fantastic foliage near where we live: seek out your local rivers, streams and ponds first. Continue reading
Comments Off on Magical Places–Along the Banks of the Blackstone River
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Sculpture Park, Franklin, MA
When the woods begin filling with color, it’s as though I’ve forgotten this ever happened before. Some view fall as the harbinger of winter, but for me, it is the long-promised relief from the heat of summer. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
My friend Sue suggested we do some exploring along the Charles River, so we set out early thing morning, with only a vague plan in mind. By the time we finished, we had visited trails in three surrounding towns, all of which access portions of the Charles River and/or tributaries of the Charles.
First stop was the High Street Trail in Bellingham.
Charles River, High Street Trail, Bellingham, MA
It is much easier to find the trailhead now that Sean Boddy, Eagle Scout, has completed his project(s) and made the trail much more visible, accessible, and easier to follow. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Stone marker near parking area at Lane Conservation area, Foxboro, MA
Neponset reservoir, viewed along the trails of Lane Conservation area
When I first set out on my quest to document very local trails in the towns near where I live, I kept wondering what this had to do with my work as a personal historian. Surely these were two separate parts of me. Perhaps my life was headed in a different direction that I had thought. But slowly, in my travels I’ve come to realize that walking the trails and properties of south central Massachusetts is often a lesson in history, a tracing of family life, of walking the same track as many who have gone before me.
While visiting a new (to me) property in Foxboro, MA yesterday, I encountered not one, but two markers, memorials along the way. Continue reading
Acton Arboretum
The outdoors is for everyone! Here are some local arboretums I wrote about that have made extra efforts to be welcoming to all visitors. First published in the blog “Everyone Outdoors.”
Marjorie Turner Hollman
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Along the Blackstone Bikeway
Yesterday was overcast, threatening rain, but we ventured out with raincoats at the ready in case we encountered downpours. Because of the weather, we stayed close to home rather than drive a long ways, only to find ourselves rained out.
The Blackstone River Bikeway is only a few miles away, just over the border into Rhode Island. I particularly enjoy seeing the river as we ride. Oftentimes the Blackstone Canal is directly next to the trail, the river on the other side of the bike path. I have fun trying to figure out where the original tow path was. As we ride I wonder what parts of the tow path are preserved underneath the tarmac of the present-day bike path, and where the trail planners moved the pavement to better accommodate bike traffic.
When we come to scenic spots we stop to look around and enjoy the view. We always look for wildlife along the way, birds being the most common form of wildlife we encounter. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Trail at Macomber Reservation, Framingham
Do you enjoy walking on clear, open trails? Have you ever thought about the work involved in maintaining the trails you enjoy? Before I started researching our local trails for my Easy Walks book series, I thought little about who created and worked to keep walking trails open. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Mill Pond Westborough
Enjoy some “Hidden Jewels of MetroWest” in this recent blog post I shared with Massvacations.com
http://www.massvacation.com/blog/2015/06/5-top-spots-for-easy-walks-in-massachusetts/
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
rhododendrons
We see many small flowers on our walks along Massachusetts woodland paths. But it was a real treat to discover an Easy Walk, a broad open cart path along the way to where huge, bright pink, showy blossoms were in full bloom 
in the rhododendron colony in Dover, MA at the Peters reservation, (a property of Trustees of Reservations). June is the time for rhododendrons.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
