Parking: there is some street parking available at some parts of the Greenway (particularly on Atlantic Ave) and several parking garages in the area. There are also several MBTA train stations within walking distance to the Greenway such as South Station
The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is not just known for its beautiful art and flowers. The Greenway also has a lot to entertain all of the people who visit.
With its water play areas, swings and carousel, in addition to all of the other attractions along the way, it is possible to spend an entire day on the Greenway.
One of the biggest perks of the Greenwayis the free Wi-Fi. I tried it and it does work!
The biggest attraction of the Greenway is the Greenway Carousel. It is open during the spring summer and fall and part of the winter, specifically during the holiday season.
The Greenway Carousel is a handicapped accessible ride that children and parents, aunts, uncles and friends can ride together. All of the characters on the carousel are based on animals that are idengenous to the area.
I especially like the attention to detail in the art work on the carousel
Anther fun attraction for kids and adults are the water play areas. There are two water splash parks on the Greenway. One of the fountains is on Milk St . The other one is located at the Hanover and Cross St in the North End.
There are also small patches of grass for people and dogs to play on. They also show film at on of the larger grassy fields. Or, if movies aren’t your thing, you can just play some corn hole with friends.
If you need a little rest or if you want to spend some time chatting with one of your loved ones, the swings in the North End section of the Greenway are a great place to sit and enjoy some good conversation and fun.
The Greenway has lots of animal activity, particularly at night. I spotted this rabbit during one of my nightly visits to the Greenway.
And I saw these cuties during one of my daytime visits to the
Harley is an 8 year old part Shepherd and Spaniel mixed breed.
Max, a 2 year old Pit/Lab mix, loved the water play areas also.
Thank you for joining me on my visits to the truly special place!
Parking: there is some street parking available at some parts of the Greenway (particularly on Atlantic Ave) and several parking garages in the area. There are also several MBTA train stations within walking distance to the Greenway such as South Station
Like it or not, the morning and evening temperatures are beginning to plummet and the days are growing shorter. Since I only have a short window to visit some of the more interesting outdoor venues for this season, I finally made it out to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway.
Named after the matriarch of the Kennedy family, the Greenway has a wide variety of attractions. From a carousel to works of to the beautiful gardens and flowers along the trail, the Greenway has something for everyone.
Since there is so much to see and photograph along the Greenway, I decided to break up this blog series into three parts. The first part, which I will post today, is going to include the gardens and flowers at the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Part 2 will include the art on the Greenway and Part 3 will include the entertainment along the Greenway. And, of course, there will be dogs included in each post as well!
Once upon a time, specially from 1959 when the elevated John F Fitzgerald Kennedy-Central Artery construction ended and 1981 when the “Big Dig” (an underground tunnel project) began, an elevated highway spanned what is now the Greenway. Fun fact: some of the dirt from the “Big Dig” tunnel project was used to resurface Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor.
The first thing you’ll notice on the Greenway, particularly during the spring and summer, are the bright, beautiful plants and flowers.
The gardens and flowers along the Greenway are all treated organically so people do not have to worry about their children and pets being affected by any pesticides and make the flowers look beautiful.
There are pollinators along the Greenway. The pollinators, which were installed in 2016, are designed to attract and support pollinator species. Since pollinating insects are important to all seed propagated plants, the pollinators provide an important role in the growth of the plants.
The Greenway also has a garden where they grow edible fruits and vegetables such as bluberries. The blueberries and other fruits and vegetables are a big hit with the birds.
I especially like how the buildings provide such a stark contrast to the beauty of the plants and flowers.
In fact, the buildings are so impressive I couldn’t help but take a few photos of the buildings as well.
Although it is only 1.5 miles long, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is full of surprises and special areas such as “Mothers’ Walk.”
Along the The Mothers’ Walk are engraved bricks with the names of loved ones. For a measley $500 donation people could have names inscribed on bricks along the walk.
Along the wall there is an inscription that reads, “To all who have cared, encouraged, inspired, laughed and loved, this Mothers’ Walk is dedicated to you and to those who have supported this beautiful Greenway.”
There is also a park along the Greenway called The Carolyn Lynch Garden. The garden was dedicated in Summer 2018 to Carolyn Hoff Lynch, an avid gardener and a leading philanthropist, who passed away in 2015. The garden is bursting with colors in the spring and summer and has some scenic views.
Along Carolyn Lynch Park and other parts of the Greenway you will find historic events summarized on a timeline about the area. The dates and events vary depending on where the timeline along the fences appear. For instance in the part of the Greenway located in the North End, there are dates of events that took place in that area and quotes from people in the area.
The Greenway is a wonderful place to take your leashed pet. Below are a few of the dogs I saw on the Greenway.
Tommy is a 6 year old Boxer, Labrador, Retriever, Beagle mix rescue dog. Tommy is a social media star. You can find him at bostondogtommy on Instagram.
Locations: 470 Liberty Street Braintree MA, 390 Summer Street, Weymouth, MA
Hours: Open daily year round from sunrise to sunset. The entrance gates are open 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (or sunset) during the summer, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (or sunset) during the winter
Cost: Free
Parking: There are two parking areas. The main parking area at the address listed for the park is in Braintree. There is another parking area in Weymouth as well.
From Weymouth, vehicle parking is available in the parking lot off Summer Street. From Braintree, vehicle parking is available in the upper lots near the park office, and the lower lots near the start of the bike path.
There are about 5 or 6 parking spots in front of the gate in the Braintree entrance. So you can park and enter the park before the gate is opened at that entrance.
Since 1976, Pond Meadow Park has been a source for fun, adventure and beauty for generations in the Braintree and Weymouth (MA) area.
Initially built as a flood control project for the Weymouth Landing area, Pond Meadow officially opened as a park in May of 1976. While the park has changed over the years, especially from its initial design as a flood prevention. But the dam is still there. In fact, you can actually walk along the dam.
There is beauty all around at Pond Meadow Park.
Benches with phrases on plaques attached to them for loved ones who have passed are located along the trails. They are located in peaceful areas at the park.
While I was hiking the trails and taking my photographs, I met this nice lady who had an interesting story about this park.
Dawn has been coming to this park ever since she was a kid. Her mom loved the park as well. She still comes to the park regularly for a hike and to look at a bench. It turns out the bench I was photographing and the plaque on it was dedicated to her mom.
She was kind enough to sit on the bench dedicated to her mother with her friend (possibly her significant other but I’m not one to assume) and her dog Toby, a 10 year old rescue Beagle. “Always In Our Hearts” and Dawn’s mother’s name are inscribed on the plaque on the bench. What a wonderful way to remember someone.
Along the trail near the entrance is a rock dedicated to Joseph D’Ambrosio, an avid cyclist and engineer who was instrumental in the development of the bike and walking trails at the park. So, next time you are cycling along the trails at Pond Meadow, don’t forget to thank Joseph!
There is an abundance of wildlife at Pond Meadow. During my visit I saw a swan,
a rabbit
A snake. This is the “non deadly” North Atlantic Water Snake but it also bears a striking similarity to the venomous Water Moccasin. They are both common to the New England area, although the North Atlantic Water Snake is more common. And they do look similar. So do be careful and don’t go trying to sneak up on them and photograph them. Oops.
A frog
You don’t see the frog? How about now?
How about now?
Don’t get too close to the other side of the pond, buddy.
And, of course some cute chipmunks, or this may very well be the same one in each photo for all I know.
A pretty butterfly
and, of course, there were also Canadian Geese and ducks at the park.
There were some other cute animals there as well. The trails at the park are easy with very few inclines for your dog to walk and play on (try the Ranger Trail if you do go). The dogs below had a wonderful time on the trails.
Lincoln is a one and a half year old Boxer.
Molly is a 2 year old mixed breed dog.
Oakley (on the left) is a 4 and a half month old Golden Retriever and Cooper (on the right) is a 6 month old Chocolate Labrador.
Dates of Event: July 20-22, 2018 (annually, the third weekend off July)
Location: Revere Beach, 350 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, MA
Cost: Free
Parking: a section of Revere Blvd is shut down for the event. I found free street parking on Ocean Ave which runs parallel to Revere Beach Blvd. parking restrictions are relaxed during the weekend on this street. There are also parking lots near Wonderland Train station. More info below:
Wonderland Greyhound Track
1300 North Shore Road, Revere MA 02151
$5 and a short walk to the festival
Suffolk Downs
525 William F McClellan Highway, Boston MA 02128
Free Parking Saturday and Sunday
There will be a shuttle in the parking lot to
Park in the lot and take the T from Suffolk Downs to Wonderland or Revere Beach
Stops.
Handicap Parking: Limited handicap parking is available on Revere Beach Boulevard
on a first come, first serve basis from Eliot Circle to Shirley Ave.
Highlights: sand sculptures, family friendly, dog friendly, activities for children, food trucks
Ravens, frogs and sea gods are considered unusual things to see on a beach. But they were only a few of the figures sculpted at the International Sand Sculpting Festival last month in Revere.
The theme of the sand sculpting festival was literacy. This sand sculpture has a variety of fictional literary characters as well as some well known advertising logos in it.
It always seems you can’t ever photograph all of the highlights of an event or place as hard as you tr. Although I didn’t seem to find it in the sculpture, there was a memorial to Sgt. Michael Chesna, a slain Weymouth (MA) police officer who was killed this summer by a perpetrator who stole his weapon and fired upon him. Chesna was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He joined shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. He was 42 years old when he was shot and killed. A gofundme page has been set up for his family.
The sand used for the competition was delivered from a quarry in Hudson, NH. Each artist was given 15 tons of sand to work with. They were given 26 hours to sculpt their work.
There were 16 sand sculptures (counting at the festival with competitors from all over the world.
Fifth place and the People’s Choice Award went to Rachel Stubbs of the United Kingdom for “A Nouveau Love.”
Breeze In, Breathe Out…” by Fergus Mulvaney of Ireland snagged fourth place.
Third place went to Ilya Filimontsev of Russia, for “The Fall Of Icarus.”
“It’s About Time” by Steve Topazio of Tiverton, Rhode Island.
“Goddess Rising” by Remy Hoggard, wife or “sand partner” of Paul Hoggard. Remy said her sculpture was influenced by healing powers and inner beauty. She also said the influence for this model was Kylie Jenner.
“The Raven And The Frog” by David Mac. Keeping with the literary theme of the sand sculpture theme, Mac positioned Edgar Allen Poe (the raven on the left) and Ralph Waldo Emerson (the frog on the right). In an article I found on itemlive, Mac said he chose these two writers to sculpt because they are so diametrically different. It’s also noteworthy to mention they were both born in Boston, MA. It may be hard to see, without enlarging the photo, but Emerson, on the right, has a feather or quill in his mouth.
“The Beat” by Jaku (Kabu) Zimacek of the Czech Republic. One thing I love about most of these sand sculptures are the little things you may miss at your first view. You may see two people, or at least their heads, at the top of the sculpture.
“Making Beautiful Music” by Deborah Barrett/Cutulle of Saugus, Massachusetts.
“An American Dream” by Helena Bangert of the Netherlands.
Unfortunately, I had to leave before this sculpture was built.
“Divide And Conquer” by Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
The sand sculptures, which have been demolished long ago, stay up for about a week and they are lit up during the evening for viewing.
The sand sculpture festival is just that: a festival. It is not just a sand sculpture competition. There are food trucks, a merry-go-round and other activities such as a treasure hunt, cornhole game, hula hoop and sand sculpting classes for children (and big kids) to participate in or play with.
There were also a number of musical acts at the festival.
A group of artists from Cirque Du Soleil also performed at the festival. These two performers did some amazing tricks with a soccer ball.
They also posed for some photos in front of the sand sculpture advertising their show. I like how it looks like she is blowing a kiss to all of you reading this post.
And, of course, the beach is as beautiful as the sand sculptures. For those of you not in the know, Revere Beach, and Revere as a city, gets an undeserved bad rep in some parts of MA. It’s a beautiful city with highly regarded restaurants, especially Italian restaurants, that I would love to visit if I had the time, and appetite. It all stems from an unfair, and frankly simmering ethnically biased, stereotype of the people of the area. But, enough of my soap box.
Just look at the beach to see for yourself. I really liked how the woman’s pretty aquamarine dress in the bottom photo looked against the water.
The web site for the event states that upwards of one million visitors stop by at some point to view the sculptures and I think they all showed up during my visit. To get a sense of just how popular of an event the sand sculpture festival is look at this photo I took of the crowd at the event. That is the only real issue I have with the event. The road is too narrow and the area is really not big enough for the huge crowd and the crowds have only gotten bigger and bigger over the years. I do worry, for instance, how hard it may be for medical personnel to get to someone if there was a medical emergency of some kind.
Dogs apparently like sand sculptures as well. These guys and girls had a great time checking out the sculptures.
Karma is an 11 week old Armenian Gampr mixed breed dog.
Topper is a 6 year old Jack Russell rescue mix.
Zorro (on the left) an 8 year old hairless Chinese Crested dog. Jackie (on the right) is a 14 year old Powder Puff dog.
Duese is a 2 month old Pit Bull.
His family was so happy to see that he would be on the internet!
Obie is a 3 year old Tree Walker Coon hound, Lab and Basset mix.
This shy cutie is Cocoa, a 2 year old rescue Chihuahua.
Lyla is a 2 year old mixed breed dog.
Cookie is a 1 year old Louisiana Coon Hound and Cattle Dog mixed breed dog.
Dogs weren’t the only animals who made it out to the sand sculpting festival.
Hindu is an adult bearded dragon.
Loki is an adult Chinese Water Dragon.
I patted Hindu and I still have all of my fingers. Actually Loki and he were very docile and cute!
As much fun as the sand sculpting festival is, Revere Beach is a great place to go anytime. Maybe I’ll see you there on my way to one of their fine restaurants!
Below is a video clip of some of the entertainment at the festival. Some of the people from Cirque Du Soleil performed on one of the main stages during the event.
Location: 33 Lothrop St, Beverly, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)
Hours: Open daily sunrise to sunset
Parking: On street parking is available but limited. I did not see a parking lot at or near the beach.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, certain areas are handicapped accessible. The beach is accessible through a paved walkway to the right of the beach.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: scenic, boating and other water activities, historical memorials, fishing, wildlife
History, beauty and recreation await you at Independence Park.
The picturesque park offers scenic views and benches to sit.
Although the bench and path at the park are pretty and provide beautiful views, they do not lead to the beach.
I don’t usually take artistic license with the photos I take. But as I was editing this photo, I noticed how the red really stood out in the boat at the front of the group of boats.
Although it may be possible to get to the beach from the path by the benches, a fence and rocky area prevent easy access to the beach.
There are entrances to beach are a short jaunt to the right and left of the monuments at the park. And, to the right of the park is a paved walkway to the beach.
The beach offers beautiful views, a clean beach area and a jetty to fish off. Rumor has it striped bass (“stripers”) are abundant in the area.
There are a lot of birds and other wildlife at the beach.
The beach is a popular spot for paddle boarders, surfers and boaters.
If you’re in the area and you want to try paddle boarding, kayaking or even winter paddling or snow shoeing during the winter, try Coast To Coast Paddle. Aaron, seen in the photo below, was getting ready to take a few paddlers out while I was taking photographs.
As the name would suggest, Independence Park is more than just a haven for sun seekers and paddle boarders. It also has a rich history.
One of the plaques at the park states that in 1775 the first authorized armed ship, The Hanna, set sail in those waters to capture British vessels. Just standing in an area that played such a pivotal role in our history is pretty freegin cool when you think about it.
There are also cannons, monuments and flags on the grounds of the park.
The park is dog friendly and there were quite a few dogs at the beach while I was there.
Below are just a few of the cute dogs I saw during my visit.
Koa (on the left) is a 3 month old mixed breed dog. Frank (on the right) is a Golden Retriever.
Polly is a 13 year old mixed breed dog.
Willow is a 4 month old Englisg Cream Golden Retriever.
(Oliver) Twist is a 5 year old Schnauzer Cairn Terrier mix (aka Carnauzer).
Highlights: Trail of fairy doors hidden in a variety of stores in the downtown Salem area
Tips:
the Fairy door trail exhibit is expected to continue all year long
if a business is not open when you come to look at the door, they are supposed to post it in an area that is visible to people walking past the store can view it
There are some new doors in Salem. Really, really tiny doors.
Hosted by the Witch’s Education League, the fairy door trail is a family friendly trail door hunt. Every door in the trail is able to be viewed at all of the stores on the map, even when the stores are closed. The stores are supposed to show of the doors by a window when they are closed so people can still see them. Everyone is allowed to look for and photograph the doors. But don’t expect the workers at the stores to help you. You’re supposed to find them yourself. You may get a “warm” or “cold” from some of the people working at the stores.
As an example of how well the doors are often hidden, can you find the door here in these photos?
Okay, in retrospect, some of them stand out. But, considering you have to look throughout the store for them, they can be hard to find sometimes. I love walking through these stores, especially since many of the wares being sold were made by Salem residents or people who live in the Salem area. They have such are so quaint and different, even while Salem seems to become less quaint with each passing year.
Don’t be like me and look for doors attached to trees, buildings or some other structure. I spent a good half hour doing this while people gave me a sideways look. No, these doors are not actual doors. They are artistic renditions of doors located inside the stores of certain merchants throughout Salem.
The 14 doors were made by 6 different artists: Kendra D’Angora, Hope Hitchcock, Meghan Kalgren, Jane Kelly, Harry Lancaster, Kosat Pslakis.
I am posting the doors in the order they are listed on the attached map. But, you do not have to look for them in any particular order and it may be best look for them by location rather than the way they are numbered on the map.
Keep in mind the map I have attached from the official website for the event is not accurate to the map I used when I went to visit. There isn’t a fairy door at The Hawthorne Hotel (instead I have replaced that listing with The Witch & Fairy Emporium at number 5 which is the one on the handout I received). Also, the fairy door listed as being at The Happy Sunflower is actually at The Happy Home which is located across the street. I have done my best to match up the doors with the listing on the map I attached while making the corrections as needed.
1.
The first door is located at The Witch House. It was made by Harry Lancaster.
The Witch & Fairy Emporium in the Museum Mall is host to this door by Jane Kelly.
6.
The Happy Home is home to this Fairy door made by Marcia Nickerson. It is listed as being at the Happy Sunflower in the original map. But, it was actually located at the Happy Home during my visit.
7.
This door, made by Marcia Nickerson, is on display at one of my favorite shops along the trail; Enchanted.
8.
Yet another door by Marcia Nickerson, this door can be found at Circle Of Stitches.
9.
Harry Lancaster made this door located at The Coven’s Cottage. Just as fyi, they do not allow photography at the Coven’s Cottage usually. But, they do allow people to photograph the fairy door.
This door, which is a little hard to see but is located behind the goblin or troll like figure, is located at The Salem Witch Museum. It was made by Marcia Nickerson.
There were also faeries out and about to help the kids (big and small) find the doors. As an aside, there are fairies and then there are faeries. Stop by my friend Joey’s and her faerie friends website at Moonrise Fae.
The dogs in Salem were busy looking for the fairy door trails as well.
Sammy is a 3 year old Pitbull
Cocoa, a 4 month old Chocolate Pomeranian, showed off her pretty flower.
Fenway is a 2 year old Rat Terrier and Heeler mixed breed.
Sweet Pea is a 2 to 4 year old Dashalier (Dachshund, Cavalier mix).
Fiona is a 13 week old Golden Retriever.
These two Golden Retrievers (from left to right) Lynes (pronounced “Li-nus”) 8 years old and Charley 1 year old shared a bowl of water. They drank it all too! They are father and son.
I also have posted some photos from a couple of my favorite shops on my Facebook page. There are so many awesome little shops along the trail and to be honest I could photograph all of them. But, I just focused on two for this particular visit. Maybe next time I will photograph some other shops. So stop by my page to see a few of the shops I stopped by and give my page a like if you want to see more like that!
What is a better place to spend Friday the 13th than Salem, MA? Well, maybe Camp Crystal Lake would be more appropriate. But, I’m not stepping one foot there!
I actually spent the weekend in Salem and it was not at all scary during my visit. In fact, it was downright peaceful.
The city of Salem was holding their annual window box competition that was judged at the end of July by the Salem Garden Club. Roughly 40 people compete. I was able to capture some of the prettier flower boxes. I am not sure if all or any of these flower boxes were involved in the competition. But, all of the window boxes and other flower baskets definitely looked like winners to me.
As an aside, Salem’s buildings are not always straight which can make photographing them difficult. It’snot just an excuse for the photographer. Well, maybe a little. But, due to soil erosion and the age of some of the buildings in the area, the buildings have shifted. So, while a window may look straight, the building may, in fact, not be.
I didn’t want to spend the entire day photographing the usual sites. Well, maybe I did include a few popular places in this post. But, I mostly wanted to get some photos of buildings that don’t get as much attention like the Essex Bank Building (built by Charles Bulfinch in 1811).
And the Stepping Stone Inn (built in 1933).
This is the back side of the Old Town Hall in Salem. You may recall seeing this building in the Hocus Pocus movie athough it may look more familiar from the front. It is the oldest municipal building in Massachusetts dating back to 1816. It is now used to display art and historical exhibits. The second floor of the building, called Great Hall, has always been used as a public hall, and contained Town offices until 1837.
Located across from historic Derby Wharf, the Custom House has a
The eagle on top of the house is actually a replica of the original. The original eagle was painted black during the second World War so that it would not be easily detected by any foreign fighters should they attack us on U.S. soil.
Built in 1810 for the prominent Salem merchant Benjamin Crowninshied, The Home For Aged Women (it now operates as the Brookhouse Home) is another one of the more majestic buildings on Derby St. The Brookhouse Home continues to offer assisted living and support to senior women
There’s always a feeling of Halloween in the air in Salem as these doors and windows show. After all, it’s never too early to count down the days until Halloween.
One of the more popular places in Salem, especially during Halloween, the Crow Haven Corner is Salem’s oldest witch shop. Make sure to stop by the next time you’re in the area!
The Salem Witch Museum from a different angle. I love the angles and shapes of the wall and windows.
These doors on an apartment complex on Derby St caught my attention. They both seemed to keep the old style of Salem in their designs.
One of the really cool things about Salem are the old buildings that have survived. While the offices and stores are different than the what was originally housed there, the structures are still the same.
This building, where Rockafella’s restaurant is now located, was used as the first meeting house in Salem from 1634 to 1673. Prior to that, as the sign suggests, it was used for worship in July and August of 1629.
The sign for Daniel Low & Co is a sign from a store which operated on Washington St. It operated from 1874 until 1995.
Named after Aaron Waite and Jerathmiel Peirce, the Salem Maritime Museum store on Derby Street sells wares associated with your trip to Salem. There are also helpful park rangers there to help you during your visit.
Dogs weren’t afraid to venture out to Salem on the 13th either.
Luna is a 6 month old liver pepper mini Schnauzer.
Bella is a 14 year old American Pitbull Terrier.
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Location: 347 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill, MA (about 45 minutes north of Boston, MA or 50 minutes southeast of Concord, NH)
Hours: open daily sunrise to sunset
Cost: Free
Parking: There are about 20 parking spaces at the main entrance. Parking is also allowed on the side of the road past the main entrance. There are also additional parking lots throughout the park and trail (see attached map)
Trail Size/Difficulty: 700 acres of roughly 10 miles of trails/easy to moderate
Handicapped Accessible: Some areas of the park and playground are. But the trails are not.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: castle, lake, wildlife, trails, playground, scenic
Fun Facts:
Winnekenni (pronounced “winnie kinny”)is an Algonquian Native American term for “Very Beautiful”
The castle was built between 1873-1875
they host several events throughout the year at the castle or at the park
Kenoza Lake, which is encircled by the main trail, was originally known as “Great Pond.” It was later renamed in 1859 by John Greenleaf Whittier as “Kenoza Lake”, which means “Lake of the Pickerel”
Winnekenni Park became Haverhill’s first public park during the early 1800’s
Tips:
check out plug pond and the basin (see map) for scenic views off the beaten path
some of the side trails are tricky
they usually dissuade people from parking at the castle unless you have a function there
Formerly the home to Dr James Nichols, who used the area to test his experiments with chemical fertlizers, Winnekenni Park offers a variety of scenic views and difficulty levels of hiking or running.
The main trail which goes around Kenoza Lake (Dudley Porter Trail) offers some pretty views and active wildlife.
The trail to the castle was fairly easy and quick. I found myself at the castle within 15 minutes after entering the park. In fact, I was a bit disappointed that it was so easy to find. I would later wish everything was this easy to get to.
The castle, which was built between 1873 to 1875 is still used today for weddings, reunions and other social events. The day I visited it was being used. So I was unable to gain access.
There are a couple of memorials, of the many at the park, at the castle. This memorial is dedicated to Dorothy M. McClennan, a Haverhill native and benefactor to the castle.
According to his obituary, Nicholas Jay Morani, of Methuen, MA, died unexpectedly at the age of 25 in March, 2017. It’s always sad to see lives cut short at such a young age.
If you came to see just see the castle, which I had originally planned, your visit could be a very short one. You could hike or walk up to the castle and back to your car in an hour and most likely 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, I wanted to see more.
The trails at Winnekenni Park are mostly easy and wide.
I am always looking for treasures. One of the secrets to most visitors too the park are the trails off the main trail. Take the Plug Pond Trail foe some scenic views, pretty flowers and tall trees.
I must admit I got a little lost going on the side trails and the map I had didn’t seem to help much on the side trails. In any case, somehow I found myself in this clearing. It offered some pretty views but I don’t think i was supposed to be there. Eventually, I got out of there and made my way back to the main trail.
As you walk along the trails you will see a few more memorials, beautiful views and some other interesting things. Do be careful, especially if you travel some of the side trails or lesser used trails. Horses are apparently frequent visitors to the park.
This memorial was another one of the monuments I noticed along the trail. It appears it was recently visited based on the items left on the bench.
This memorial is dedicated to Ralph J Potter Jr.
Another memorial along the trail is this bench which is dedicated to Dudley Porter, who the main trail is named after. Porter was a successful business man. His wife dedicated the memorial to him after he passed away in 1905. It was actually built as a fountain and bench. But, the fountain no longer works as the main water connection has been disabled.
This memorial is located near the main entrance. it is dedicated to Christopher J Laubner. The garden and short walkway is called “Christopher’s Corner,” Originally from Lawrence, MA, Christopher moved to Haverhill where he lived until his death. He was only 31 when he passed away in 2014.
Winnekenni Park is a dog friendly park and I saw many cute dogs during my hike there.
Ziya is a 13 month old German Shepherd.
Luna is a 2 year old pitbull.
Not only is she adorable. She also loves to fetch!
Lily (or Lilly – her mom and dad spell it differently) is a 3 year old mixed breed.
there is over 100,000 square feet of wall art at Underground Ink
the park is located under I-93 (Interstate 93)
Boston’s newest hot spot doesn’t have a cover charge nor does it have a dress code. It doesn’t even have a roof. Well, it sort of does.
Located under the I-93 overpass, Underground Ink Block blends art, entertainment and beauty in a most unlikely place.
One of the more beautiful aspects of the park are the murals.
There are several murals at the park. This mural, which appears on the wall at the entrance to the park, was painted by Vyal Reyes.
There is a large group of murals by the parking area.
This particular mural was painted by Watts, California native Upendo Taylor.
Three artists worked on this mural which is part of a group of three murals that share one wall. ProblakDon Rimx and Marka27 all collaborated to paint this beautiful mural
New York native Cey Adams painted this lovely mural.
Nepali artist IMAGINE (Sneha Shrestha) painted this imaginative mural. Imagine likes to incorporate her native Sanskrit language with modern designs.
This mural, located under one of the overpasses above, was painted by Percy Fortini-Wright.
You may notice some of the landmarks and symbols associated with the Boston (such as the famous Citgo sign that hovers over the left field wall at Fenway Park) on the right hand corner of the mural.
This mural, which covers the outermost wall of the area, was painted by Hoxxoh.
If you get lost at the Underground Ink Block, just follow the bright lines on the ground. The colored streaks on the ground lead to the different murals around the park
Underground Ink also an area for hosting events, such as yoga, or to stop by and have a game of ring toss and toss back a few beverages with friends.
There are also some pretty views at the park (at least if you look in the opposite direction of the busy intersection at the entrance)
But, the highlight for many of us has to be the dog park. Tucked away in the back of the parking area, the dog park has lots of room for dogs and humans to play.
The park is big enough for the dogs to roam around in and play without being too crowded.
There were pools for the dogs to cool down or get a quick drink. I know. Gross. But, hey, they’re dogs. They don’t care! Some dogs preferred to just drink from the hose.
There was a pretty big turnout and everyone played nice.
Oprah, a 3 and a half year old Boston Terrier, can really jump! She was jumping up for her toy in this photo.
Simba, a 2 year old Chow Chow, looks like a fluffy teddy bear.
Besties Zoey, a 4 year old Black Lab, and Jovie, a 2 year old Golden Doodle, looked adorable after a dip in the pool.
Junior, a 6 year old Collie mix, has beautiful markings.
Yoshi, a 2 year old mix rescue dog, had fun playing with his ball.
Badger, a 3 and a half year old Aussie Terrier mix, waiting patiently for his dad to throw his toy.
Bella, a 7 year old Boxer, took a break to watch the other dogs play.
Kylie, a 6 year old Morkie (Maltese and Yorkie mix) was all smiles at the park.
As I left the dog park, I met Nikki. Nikki is a super talented designer and creator of dog bandannas and accessories. Check out her website: Just Add Dogs.
If you and Fido missed out on this Hound Around event, don’t worry. There will be another one Thursday, Aug. 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Underground Ink Art Block.
Cute dogs were not the only animals I saw at the Underground Ink Block. I also saw this rabbit having dinner. As an aside, I have been noticing many more rabbits and other animals who do not typically belong in the city making their way into the city. I do hope it’s only a trend and not a permanent thing. After all, the city can be far more dangerous than the wild!
Location: 572 Essex St, Beverly, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston,MA)
Hours: Gardens are open year-round, daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Allow a minimum of 1½ hours. Peak bloom in May and June. Guided tours are offered in spring, summer, and fall and by appt.
Cost: Free
Parking: There is ample parking at the end of the entrance of the park to the left of the road
Trail Size/Difficulty: 1.2 mile loop, easy to slightly moderate in some areas
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the estate and the grounds of the estate are accessible, although the trails may not be accessible to some people
Highlights: gardens, trails, wildlife, farm, Long Hill estate, family friendly, children’s garden
Fun Facts:
The estate located at Long Hill was purchased by former Atlantic Monthly editor Ellery Sedgwick
The estate is available for weddings and other events
The trustees have partnered with the Food Project to give children the opportunity to learn about sustainable agricultural practices
So, it’s the middle of July already. How did that happen?
After a brief heatwave, the weather has improved and it has been the perfect weather for a walk and photo session at Long Hill. In fact, I liked it so much I went twice.
Long Hill is teeming with flowers and plant life, especially this time of the year.
Adjacent to the flower gardens is what appears to be a storage area where they keep flowers to be planted at a later time.
There are also several flower beds and a well maintained garden next to the main parking area.
There are a variety of trees at Long Hill. Many of them have the name of the tree posted on them.
But, there is only one truly majestic tree at Long Hill; the tree standing in front of the estate at Long Hill.
This dramatic copper beech was planted by the estate owner Mabel Sedgwick. The twin trunks of the tree seem to hug each other and merge together. In fact, legend holds that two trees were planted in the same hole and then they grew together.
The grounds of the estate are well manicured with statues and other decorative items scattered around. The grounds of the house consist of six acres of gardens, including formal, geometric outdoor “rooms.” The sections or “rooms” include a variety of flowers such as handkerchief trees, southern magnolias and other plants that aren’t typically seen this far north.
The grounds are also a wonderful place to have a picnic with your family as this family did with their little one. Their little one was standing behind the tree when the photo was taken.
As if all this wasn’t enough, there is also a 1.2 mile trail with mostly gentle with some moderate inclines. You can find many birds, garter snakes, frog and even a few chipmunks along the way.
If you get tired along the way don’t worry. There are chairs for you to sit.
There are certain sounds you expect to hear while hiking along a trail. A bird squawking. A frog croaking or even a chipmunk chirping. These are all normal sounds you may hear along the trail. But, a rooster crowing? Yes, there is a small farm at Long Hill.
Next to the farm is a community outreach program called The Food Project to teach children how to grow sustainable foods, conserve and even pick their own fruit and vegetables.
Long Hill is a dog friendly park (technically, you may be asked to register your pet and sign some forms beforehand).
During my visits I saw a number of cute dogs.
Brutus is a 5 year old Doberman.
Remy is a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier mix.
Whiskey is a 5 year old mixed breed dog.
Don’t forge to stop by my Facebook page to view photos, posts and other fun stuff not included in my blog!
There is beauty all around at Pond Meadow Park.
New England Nomad 