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March 9, 2020, was when my husband and I began to isolate ourselves and work from home. The initial months of the pandemic were exciting as we had a new routine, but after 4 months, the pandemic routine started to wear us down. Also, the summer months in New England are precious, you would want to spend more time outdoors. So I decided to take a week off from work and enjoy the summer. In the past, our vacations meant going out of New England, exploring a national park, or visiting a new country.
But I thought to myself, does a vacation always need to be away from home, especially during a pandemic? So I have decided to stay at home and explore the ‘hidden gems’ around where I live. I strongly believe that every place, exotic or not, has something to offer. So, here is my experience!
Crane Estate on the Castle Hill, Ipswich
Recently I bumped into a non-profit organization named as The Trustees of Reservations, who conserve lands in Massachusetts that are of historic or ecological value. I couldn’t believe the amazing places listed on their website, highly recommend checking those out.
Money-saving tip: If you are not a Trustees member, the admission fees could be higher. But I have discovered that our town library offers GO pass that is valid for a one-time visit to any of the Trustees attractions. All you need is your library card. However during COVID-19, many of these locations require reservations and there had been some confusion on this with the guard at Crane Estate. I was told that we will have to email the day before and mention the GO pass upon which they will provide a time slot.
What I found interesting about this place was the wavy castle hill. I hiked over this hill to the other end and was pleasantly surprised with the view opening up to the ocean!
As of August 2020, the Great House was closed for the public, only the grounds were open. The Crane Estate has two gardens, The Italian Garden and Rose Garden. The architecture of these gardens is note-worthy. The arched entrances, water fountain, vibrant flowers, ocean views, happily grazing deers, I found this place quite rejuvenating and scenic.
Gates Pond, Berlin
Whenever we plan to hike, we end up going all the way to New Hampshire. While hunting for places to hike during weekdays, we found this reservoir loop 20 mins away from home. It was definitely a pleasant hike, but beware of unleashed dogs.
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln
How did I miss this park all these years! This 30-acre outdoor sculpture park is home to more than 60 pieces of contemporary art. The museum is closed as of August 2020, but the outdoor sculpture park is open to public. You will have to make reservations as they are trying to avoid overcrowding.
Every sculpture has its own story and it was interesting to read through the artist’s thought process behind each sculpture. My favorite ones are Two Big Black Hearts, Humming, The Musical Fence, Turret Tops and Kitchen Trees.
The sculpture I connected the most to is the ‘Environmental Impact Statement’. My interpretation: The backdrop of lush trees is our present and the lifeless white bark could be our future. Do we have a choice? (I seriously hope we do)
Overall, it is a great place to take a stroll outdoors and appreciate art.
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord
This is very popular among locals for hiking and swimming. Summer weekends are extremely crowded. But I would still label it as a hidden gem as many people tend to strike it off as just another pond.
Firstly, this place is historically significant. The great poet, Henry David Thoreau is known to have lived in a small cabin by this pond for two years. He referred to this pond in his work ‘Walden’. Secondly, the color of the water here seemed very different from other ponds in the state, it has shades of turquoise. I came to know later that this is a kettle hole formed by retreating glaciers 15000 years ago, I wonder if that’s the reason for this amazing color. I recommend walking all the way to Thoreau’s Cove to witness this color. Near the parking lot, you can also find a replica of Thoreau’s cabin.
Another point to note is, the sculpture park is just 10 mins away from this pond.
Sunset Picnic at Fruitlands Museum, Harvard
I cannot comment on the museum itself as it was closed, but I can definitely talk about the sunset views at Prospect hill. Sunset picnics are held on Thursday/Friday nights. For more details check this website. However, we carried food, a picnic blanket, card games from home. We arrived 40 mins before sunset, took a spot near the parking lot and enjoyed the sunset while having dinner. A perfect place for a Friday night date!
I understand that the pandemic has disrupted our lives in many different ways, including travel. But instead of feeling disappointed, go local! Please wear a mask and be safe!
If you know of any more hidden gems, please comment below.