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.

Boston by Subway

Boston’s subway system, known affectionately as the ‘T’ is America’s first subway system. The first green line subway cars began running in a tunnel underneath Tremont Street in 1897. Park Street Station and Boylston Station were the first two to open - both sit at the bottom of the hill within walking distance of the Massachusetts State House. Park Street Station is directly adjacent to the Park Street Church. more

---

Subscribe to the Dispatches

A Nature Walk Second to None

Lynn Woods Reservation is the second largest municipal park in the greater Boston area. This 2,200 acre forest reserve consists of ponds, wetlands, streams, deciduous/evergreen forest and rocky ledge. The ponds provide the drinking water for the residents of Lynn and surrounding communities. Wildlife abounds in the forest. Well over 100 species of birds inhabit or seasonally frequent the woods. A large rodent population supports such predators as hawks, owls and red tail fox. More than an aquifer, more than a wildlife preserve, more than a natural experience, Lynn Woods can provide a rare adventure.

So head on over for a nature walk second to none - and a great view of downtown Boston. You will come to love and appreciate the woods like the early settlers and citizens who wisely preserved it for future generations. For more information on events in Lynn Woods, contact the Ranger at 781-477-7123 - and send some photos to the DayTripper Divas' photo contest!

- by Laurel Collins

Map Your Workout

Decrease the time you spend waiting on your bike at lights, or vary your workout by mapping your bike route or your walking/running route. One DayTripper Diva tells us: "I figure my mileage as I am training for the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure, which is 60 miles over three days in October. Am I ready....no way! (grin). But the MapMyWalk site helps."

Joyriding with Bikes, Not Bombs

Family and Distance Training Rides
Sponsored by Bikes Not Bombs
Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, June 1

Bike-A-Thon & Festival June 8

Get in shape for BNB’s June 8 Bike-A-Thon and summer biking! Both routes start at the same place and time on the two days, then go their separate ways. Meet at the BNB HUB: 284 Amory St. Jamaica Plain - in the Brewery Complex by Ula Cafe, at 10 AM and look for the crowd out in front with the bikes. Bring your own snacks, water, and helmet (required). Join these joyrides free of charge, but they'll pass the BNB freewill donation helmet.

• FAMILY RIDE: This ride stays in parks as much as possible, returning to the start location. We take an easy pace to make it nice and fun for all involved. Trailers and trail-a-bikes are certainly welcome, as are young and/or inexperienced riders. Short miles, good company! We're gradually increasing towards the goal of 15 miles, which is the length of the Bike-A-Thon's shortest ride and the one which draws the most families. Contact ride leader David (parent of two youngsters under 10 who've completed multiple Bike-A-Thons) at dweinstein@boston.k12.ma.us for more information.
• DISTANCE RIDE: As the weeks roll on, these rides will build up the miles progressively - with eyes trained on the 62-mile route! Pace will be moderate and will adjust to the riders. For May 17th we'll be getting up just over 50 miles, but we hope to include an option for a group to break off and have a ride in the 30-some mile range. Contact Esther at ecervantes@abml.org or 617-983-3665 for more information on routes or to get in on the email group.

Enjoy!

Middlesex Fells Hiking

The DayTripper Divas & families love the Fells, year-round! Click here for photos.

"A Rotten Log Is Never Board"

In this video clip, Lauren Hefferon, who heads up the Arlington Outings Club and the Arlington-based European bike touring company Ciclismo Classico, explains a bit of nature at Great Brook Farm State Park. Hiking, biking and cross-country skiing are fabulous on the well-maintained trails, where we found, it's even fun getting lost. And the ice cream shop is awesome, with inside seating and a viewing window into the milking barn. Call ahead to book a farm tour. 984 Lowell Street, Carlisle, MA 01476; 978 369-6312.

Near & Far - Our Gather Dispatches

Bike the Boston Area with Ciclismo Classico Short, local bike tours around Greater Boston, emphasis on open spaces, wildlife, farms, & natural settings.

Follow-up On The Number 7 Engine
by Webduck
September 20, 2007 02:40 PM EDT

	Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone - A Photoessay
	by Jennifer F. September 20, 2007 02:10 AM

	Tower Falls and Roosevelt District, Yellowstone
	by Jennifer F. September 18, 2007 02:49 AM EDT

	Route 66 Rendezvous, San Bernardino
	by Jennifer F. September 16, 2007 01:39 AM EDT

Be a Compleat Day Tripper!

The Compleat Day Tripper

• New Metro Boston Edition coming in September - completely revised & updated
• Cape Cod & South Coast Edition due out by October!
• Vermont/NH and Western Massachusetts editions in development!

Get out and about with these wildly popular, newly revised and expanded guides to family-friendly expeditions. By popular demand, the latest editions will feature sections on accessible activities, birthday parties, and swimming pools. You'll find some very frank reviews, plus great index, destination websites, and contact information for each family-tested Day Trip. A portion of the proceeds benefit local public schools. The electronic editions make perfect companions to the books, and include clickable website links. Put the PDF on your PDA or iPhone!

---

Click Here to Order

Greener 'Tripper Transport

Back by popular demand from the green-travel crowd are a couple of sites that Dispatches readers discovered last year for determining how to get from point A to point B via train, bus, boat, foot, bike, roller blades - or all of the above! You can plan HopStop trips in Boston - and New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago. The MBTA's "Trip Planner" is a great tool for getting around Metro Boston and the suburbs, too.

---

Click here for a preview of recent Dispatches postings!

Bike 'N Play

We found a great playground just past Lexington Center on the Minuteman Bikeway. Called Parker Field Playground, this bike 'n play destination has playing fields of all sorts and a beautiful, large, new playground that's ideal for toddlers as well as older kids. If you remember the multi-tiered wooden climbing apparatus that used to be at Parker, there's a shiny new structure there now. There are the typical climbing contraptions and slides, plus a really neat artificial rock to climb, which was a big attraction for our 3 1/2-year-old. There were probably a dozen or more parents there with bikes and kids, and we even met another family from Arlington Heights, so it seems to be a popular destination for Minuteman Trail users. Highly recommended! - Thanks to Dispatches reader and "Velo Fellow" Andrew Conway for this destination review! Click map image to enlarge it, or click here to download a PDF map of the Minuteman Bikeway.

---

Read about 350 other family-tested destinations in
The Compleat Day Tripper: Metro Boston Edition!