Arlington Public Art: Chairful Where You Sit 2013

Are you sitting down? Check out Arlington Public Art's blog for an eyeful of "Chairful Where You Sit 2013." Join this wonderful, artful community event for its second year and create your own throne of fanciful splendor! Guidelines for Chairful 2013 are here.

Mountain biking on reservation lands

Dust off those wheels and tune 'er up! When trails dry out sufficiently, usually by mid-May, Leominster State Forest offers some of the best mountain biking around, within an easy day trip of Metro Boston. Click here to see a trail map. For general information on trails on central/western Massachusetts accessible lands, plus conditions and opening dates and ways to volunteer and contribute, contact The Trustees of Reservations, Doyle Community Park Center, 464 Abbott Ave., Leominster, MA 01453; phone: 978-840-4446.

Other Trustees of Reservations properties that allow mountain biking include Brooks Woodland, with 693 acres and 13.5 miles of trails at East St. and Quaker Dr, Petersham; North Common Meadow, with 25 acres and a half-mile trail at 22 North main St & 27 East St, Petersham; and Tully River Campground with 31 acres and 22 miles of trails at 25 Doane Hill Rd, Royalston, 978-840-4446. You can also bike some of the trails at Willard Brook State Forest. Rt 119. Townsend, MA. 978-597-8802; and Pearl Hill State Park, New Fitchburg Rd. West Townsend, MA. 978-597-8802.

When you're on the trail, Tweet your photos and reports to @DayTripperDiva to win biking gear! The Johnny Appleseed Visitors' Center would also like to see your photos and videos of biking in North Central Mass; post on Facebook page or upload to their website.

Secret Spots and Favorite Places

This isn't really a secret, since it's an Audubon trail, but the High Ledges in Shelburne are beautiful. To get there you take Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) West from Boston, take a right at the sign for Davenport's Sugar House, and then follow the signs to the High Ledges. The signs are small and wooden, not big road signs. The walk is an easy, flat 30 minutes, and the view of the Deerfield Valley when you get to the ledges is spectacular. Great for little kids or older folks.

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