I have a confession: I’ve been a hoarder this year.
Negative connotations probably take hold of the psyche with the mere mention of the word “hoard.” Visions of junk pervade the mind. However, obsessively collecting possessions in pack rat fashion is not the type of hoard I mean.
I’ve been hoarding something that doesn’t take up space and is invisible. I’ve been collecting it through abstinence.
The construct I’ve been accumulating is time. I’ve taken less than one week of vacation all year.
I survived by capitalizing on long holiday weekends and traveling to nearby states. I worked from home occasionally, which felt like a holiday being in pajamas on a Tuesday.
Don’t get me wrong: I vacationed. I went to Mexico and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I spaced that trip out among the other days I used. I also took mental holidays away from the hustle of life.
I sacrificed using up my vacation time because I knew the reward of having a massive amount of vacation in the new year would be worth it.
I leave you with a staycation in North Point Park.
The Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts is eighty miles long and flows through twenty-three communities. It is recognized around the country for it’s fantastic Independence Day celebration at the Hatch Shell, which features the Boston Pop’s concert and a fireworks display.
There are several ways to explore this beautiful river. Below is a list of twenty-one activities to try when visiting the Charles River. Whether you are living in the city or are traveling from afar, this list can help you discover fantastic views of the city. A monthly list of events follows to aid in planning for upcoming events.
Evening Sets in Over Boston
21 Activities To Try On The Charles
1) Running
2) Rowing
3) Cycling
4) Slacklining
5) Group Exercise Classes (Free Zumba, CrossFit, yoga, and running)
Peering from Behind a Weeping Willow
6) Kayaking
7) Sailing
8) Boating
9) Duck Tour
10) Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
Boston Sunset
11) Dragon Boat
12) Gondola Tour
13) Lounging on the Docks
14) Picnic
15) Ice Cream Stroll
Lily pads on the Esplanade
16) Roller Blading
17) Skateboarding
18) Skulling
19) Festival-going
20) Swimming (At own risk! For the first time in over fifty years public swimming was permitted in 2013.)
21) Hatch Shell Concert
Sunset From Cambridge
List of Events By Month
April
Earth Day: Charles River Cleanup
Charles River Watershed Association’s Run of the Charles
Recreation Sundays (Memorial Drive closes the road for recreation.)
May
March of Dimes March for Babies
Esplanade 5k Dash
Recreation Sundays
Lying on the Esplanade
June
Charles River Annual Swim
Hong Kong Boston Dragon Boat Festival
AIDS Walk & 5K Run
Children’s Hospital Walk
Recreation Sundays
Dragon Boat Festival
July
Fourth of July Concert
WBZ Free Friday Flicks
Earthfest
Free Zumba
Recreation Sundays
Free Sunset Yoga
Free CrossFit
Free Run Club
City Lights Reflecting on the River
August
Recreation Sundays
Sailing
September
Boston Heart Walk
Recreation Sundays
MIT Sailing Pavilion
October
Head of the Charles
5k Walk for Diabetes
Breast Cancer Walk
Recreation Sundays
Walk for Hunger
Towers along Memorial Drive
November
Recreation Sundays
The Charles River has a plethora of fun activities to take advantage of, especially in warmer months. Whatever your favorite activity, use this guide to try something new, such as joining a walk for a good cause or slacklining on the esplanade. If there is an activity or event I missed, please comment below!
#1) Charles River (especially Recreation Sundays on Memorial Drive)
River, city views, people watching, crew teams practicing, kayakers exploring! These are just a few things you might see on your run along the Charles River. If you’re on the esplanade you are good to go, but once you get to the River Street Bridge your run will be broken up by having to wait for the pedestrian crossing at each consecutive bridge. This can interrupt your flow, but on the other hand it can be your saving grace and let you catch your breath!
My favorite time to run along the Charles is on Recreation Sundays because Memorial Drive closes down 11am-7pm for bikers, runners, skaters, and walkers. It is a freeing experience to be able to run on the double yellow lines. Recreation Sundays on Memorial Drive runs from April 27 to November 9, which happens to be today. So stop reading, throw on some sweat pants, and get out there! Then come back and read where to go for your next run.
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir is nice for its dirt pathway. It also has views of interesting architecture, such as the Waterworks Museum, views overlooking Cleveland Circle of Boston skyscrapers, and Boston College. There are pretty houses to look at across the street too.
It is a good loop, however I like to add on the nearby Chandler Pond, which has a view of Boston College’s St. John’s Seminary, a castle-like building. If you are up for the challenge of a hill you can run up Lake Street toward Commonwealth Ave. While you are at it, if you want a taste of Boston Marathon’s Heartbreak hill, it is right there for the taking. However, I am told it doesn’t quite have the same impact as after running 20.5 miles to get there!
Trails, trails, trails! You can get lost here on the extensive meandering trails, so make sure to take note of which turns you take. This is a beautiful reservation with sun dappled dirt trails. It is perfect for fall foliage viewing. I often park at the Long Pond parking lot because I tend to gravitate to scenic waterscapes for my runs.
The Emerald Necklace stretches from Back Bay to Dorchester and is a connection of several parks that are fantastic for running. The Emerald Necklace includes the Back Bay Fens, Olmstead Park, Jamaica Pond, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and Franklin Park.
Jamaica Pond is a short run, but only a quick jaunt from The Arnold Arboretum, which makes for a nice combination. Jamaica Pond has a pretty boathouse and little island. Just as the aforementioned Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Jamaica Pond has some interesting large and ornate houses to admire.
Arnold Arboretum has winding paths to run on while encountering a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and even bonsai. There are several hills so if you are looking for a quick and intense workout, the hills should get you breaking into a sweat in no time.
This state reservation and National Historic Landmark is outside of Boston, but worth the thirty-minute drive. Henry David Thoreau lived here for some time and the surroundings inspired his book Walden. This 2680-acre reservation has many trails, but I usually stick with a run around the glacial kettle-hole pond. There is a $5.00 parking fee.
The dirt trails here are great, several of which lead away from the main path to secluded swimming areas. The main beach can get very crowded in the summer. In these secluded swimming areas, you can take in a quiet swim and put yourself in Thoreau’s shoes.
If you have an interest in Thoreau and his time spent at this location, you can visit the replica of his one room cabin. While spending time here, take direction from Thoreau who wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”
Note: Be aware of the wildlife here! I encountered a raccoon out in the middle of the day on my last visit. This normally nocturnal animal must have been rabid, as she was walking as if she were drunk. Sometimes nocturnal animals will be out in the daytime searching for food, especially a nursing female, but once they start showing signs of erratic behavior steer clear!
Houghton’s Pond is also outside of Boston. If you go during the summer you will see people at the beach swimming and others taking advantage of the grills and barbequing. There are trails that are more secluded, away from the beach, but the pond loop is scenic. Parking is free.
Blue Hills is just across the street so if you are in the mood for hiking instead of running you can make your way up to the top for a great view of Boston. If you are an animal lover, check out the trailside museum to see snowy owls, otters, deer, turtles, and other creatures.
If that isn’t enough, take a 5-minute drive from Houghton’s Pond to Ponkapoag Pond. You might encounter a few horseback riders.
I used to come here as a kid with my father. He would run and I would ride my bike. This trail takes you through several towns: Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington, and Bedford. In 2008, it was inducted into the national Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.
This is a solid loop around another glacially created pond. It was previously privately owned by an ice business. The formerly mentioned Chandler Pond was interestingly also used by an ice dealer, however that pond was man-made, and Fresh Pond was not. Cambridge was later given eminent domain of Fresh Pond with Belmont also having stakes in the area.
If you are tired of the same route, get ready for a varied scenic trail with the Boston Harborwalk. Starting in Chelsea Creek and culminating at the Neponset River, this trail is anything but boring. There are beautiful harbor and city views. You get a taste of variety with each section.
This is an interesting place for a run, however there are times when you are left wondering where to go, as the trail appears to end due to viewing only points.The reason for these interruptions is, at times, for safety and also because some areas are for viewing only. It will be an adventure as you explore which way leads to the next section of the Harborwalk. One convenient thing about the Harborwalk is that it connects to other trails, such as the Emerald Necklace, Charles River Esplanade, and Rose Kennedy Greenway.
What is your favorite running spot? Is there a trail you always gravitate to that you recommend I run?
Travels With Alison 