Walks to see foliage?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Any suggestions on toddler and pregnancy friendly walks where we can see some foliage tomorrow? Basically looking for some state parks in the area that have paths or light trails that do not have much incline/decline?

Comments

[missdimple.livejournal.com]

I often find the trees on the bike path wonderful. :)

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

The bikers don't find my 22 month old son running back and forth so wonderful ;) He is still of the age where no means yes with a devilish glimmer while running away laughing. Trying to find something outside the square/city where it is less crowded and more space for him to explore new things while my husband and I check out some color. Thanks for the reply though :)

[tikva.livejournal.com]

I think DCR's web site has a list of trails and paths that are accessible/universally designed, which probably helps with the whole incline thing. Some of the trails also have tactile features which are pretty cool even for kids who can see. :)

[tober.livejournal.com]

Some of the trails in the Middlesex Fells Reservation are not too challenging

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

How "in the area" would you like? Menotomy Rocks is a pretty little park with nice foliage and a pond that's only three miles from Davis, but you know you're still in the city. Rock Meadow trails are about five miles away, also flat and very pretty, but also somewhat noisy. I'm sure other folks will recommend the Middlesex Fells, though again I find 93 running through the middle makes them noisy.

If you'd like to range farther afield, Assabet Wildlife Refuge in Stow is a gorgeous, and almost completely flat, park that's big enough to forget civilization exists. It's about 20 miles from Davis, and one of my favorite biking destinations. Lynn Woods is a little hillier, but it's laced with wide crushed-gravel paths that are easy on the feet, and full of ponds that reflect fall foliage beautifully. It's about 18 miles away.

[missdimple.livejournal.com]

I forget that the bikers on the Arlington side of the bike path are more aggressive than the ones on the Somerville side. Serious bikers are Serious. :/

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

If you head over to Belmont Habitat (a Mass Audubon sanctuary, not a state park), their Turtle Pond and Weeks Pond trails are pretty flat (my toddler could handle them this spring/summer) and should be good for foliage (and animal sightings).

[ron_newman]

When I've done pedestrian and bike counts for the city of Somerville, I've always counted many more pedestrians than cyclists on the Community Path (from Rite Aid to Cedar Street).

The Minuteman path in Arlington and beyond has long stretches between street intersections. This causes many cyclists (probably including me at times) to treat it as a 'bicycle freeway'.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

The apple orchards are a bit crazy but pretty awesome for toddlers.

[genarti]

Minute Man National Park has plenty of paths. I haven't been there in a few years, and I don't remember the crowdedness level (and couldn't tell you what the colors of the foliage are looking like at the moment) but walking-wise it's pretty easy! That's assuming that Concord/Lincoln counts as sufficiently "in the area" for your purposes, which it may well not.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

So I wrote a great response and LJ ate it. I'll try to recreate it here.

I love Walden Pond,and I would imagine it is not too crowded this time of year. The path round the lake is fairly flat and well contained so you shouldn't have to worry about toddler running into pond. A bonus, you are almost guaranteed to see chipmunks, which my kids always loved.

The Fells also has lots of paths, so I would imagine something there should be good.

And not foliage-y, but toddler friendly, is Honk! this weekend.

I hope the weather stays good!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

This is a great idea and would make it more stroller friendly too for when he gets tired. I will check it out, thanks.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I will definitely look into the refuge in Stow, I work in Maynard so that drive is easily doable :) Thank you.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I had not heard of this place before and I will def. check it out!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about apple picking further out in western mass at one of my favorite places, Red Apple Farm but I thought it may be too late for a good amount of picking now?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Walden Pond isnt a bad idea plus he could do a little wading in the water since its supposed to be "warmer" again tomorrow. I used to go walking around the pond with one of my dogs a couple years ago and you are right it is pretty toddler friendly. I think we may walk down after dinner tomorrow night to see some of the Honk! happenings :)

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

as someone who currently lives out in Marlborough, there's still quite a number of apples!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

This is good to know! I was a bit bummed because we went early this year with family to a place that I didnt really love and just havent had time to make it west :) We will def. try to fit it in tomorrow or maybe early Sunday morning before the rain.

[nurrynur.livejournal.com]

Lynn Woods has a bunch of paved trails

[antimony.livejournal.com]

The Middlesex Fells have a big looping mostly flat trail. They're in Medford/Winchester, and more info is here:
http://www.fells.org/Visit-Trails.html

There's a link to a map down the page a bit. It describes the Reservoir trail as challenging, but that's only if you do the whole thing, rather than park somewhere, walk a bit, and then turn around. :) Just stay on the big wide fire roads/flat trails.

[doogly.livejournal.com]

I was down at Ponkanoag Pond in the Blue Hills Reservation yesterday. It is not so hilly as the name of the reservation would suggest - a flat walk around the pond and a boardwalk to check out the extremely unique and mossy and awesome bog. So fantastic.