Ah, spring. The respite after a grueling winter—can you say record snowfall? Rumor has it that the sun will shine, bees buzz, and flowers bloom—or in our case the pile of ice by the Plex will turn gray and melt. A little. No, seriously, we will trade our snow boots for rain boots and a few intrepid geese may turn their backs on Florida and come back to hiss and graze at the Res. As a Massachusetts native, I offer the following advice on ways to spend any day that breaks the 50-degree mark after the vernal equinox. In celebration of new beginnings, find a friend with a car or pull out your Charlie Card because here are three of the best places to visit in Massachusetts in the spring.
1. Farms/Wildlife Sanctuaries
Wildlife sanctuaries and farms are great places to go to reconnect with nature’s more pleasant side after being trapped for days on end in a dorm room watching Mother Nature’s snow machine. One of my favorite places to visit is Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, MA – the picture of the adorable lamb is from their website! You can watch the new lambs frolicking, or peruse the pens of pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and cows. You can also observe techniques used by the farm to cultivate sustainably grown crops or walk the long scenic trails. There’s even a wildlife exhibit.
2. Trails
Sometimes a good walk is all you need to clear your head after a late Saturday night before hitting the books to study for finals. Try the trail system at the Middlesex Fells Reservation, which spans the towns of Malden, Medford, Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester. The Middlesex Fells Association, today known as the Friends of the Fells, drew up the boundaries of the reservation in 1880, so you’re actually participating in a centuries-old legacy, and walking the trails will give you a peek into a hidden gem of Massachusetts spring landscape.
3. Public Gardens
If you want something a little more accessible but just as beautiful and full of nature, try the Boston Public Garden in spring. The iconic duck statues there memorialize a favorite childhood book, “Make Way for Ducklings,” about a family of ducks that journey to the garden. If you haven’t read it by now, you should brush up on it as soon as possible. You can meander around the twenty-four acres located in the heart of Boston and enjoy the first blooms of spring, including daffodils, early tulips, and buds on soon-to-flower magnolia trees.
Hopefully these destinations will inspire you to throw open the windows (assuming your roommate doesn’t have seasonal allergies) and shake out the cobwebs of your spirit in one of Boston’s most beautiful (and welcome) seasons!
Photo Sources:
http://www.massaudubon.org/var/ezdemo_site/storage/images/site_ma/get-ou…
http://liveccga.com/images/uploads/hike-the-fells.jpg
http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.9892631.5822/flat,550×550,075,f.jpg
Sources:
http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/drumlin-farm
http://www.friendsofthefells.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Creation_of_…
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-north/middlesex-fe…
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/back_bay/2012/04/on_common_and_publi…