Late fall in Massachusetts can feel as bitter as a New England winter's day, but that does not keep locals and visitors from lacing up their waterproof hiking boots and exploring local salt marshes, state parks and historic sites. The cool and fresh autumn air, in a city with an average November temperature of 43.7 degrees Fahrenheit provides active hikers and walkers a reason to pick up the pace and keep a brisk pace during their outdoor excursions.
Walking Trails
Boston's cup overflows with opportunities to experience the city by foot, thanks to a variety of historic walking trails. The Freedom Trail, a self-guided walking tour clearly marked by a painted line or red bricks, snakes along Boston's sidewalks from the Boston Common to the "USS Constitution," with 14 other stops along the path, including the Old North Church and Faneuil Hall.
Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours to fully enjoy the historic buildings and educational exhibits sites along the 2 1/2-mile trail. Be sure to drop by Faneuil Hall, which offers healthy and local a la carte dining options in the food court.
On the shores of Boston Harbor, take a walk on the South Bay Harbor Trail or Harborwalk, both located at Fort Port Channel. Fort Port Channel boasts three athletic club, with reasonable daily rates if you need to up your cardio for the day.
City Parks for Recreation
Bring or rent a bike from a local bike tour operator and explore late fall foliage in Boston's city parks. The Emerald Necklace, a 5-mile and 1,000-acre park attains the status of the hidden jewel of Boston.
Bike trails and walkways, both paved and unpaved, help this chain of multi-use parks answer landscape architect and park designer Frederick Law Olmsted's quest to a sense of community, while providing parks that met various recreational needs.
The Back Bay Fens, Riverway, Olmsted Park, Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park link together to make Emerald Necklace a shining example of recreational spaces.
Historic Sites
With Thanksgiving around the corner, talk of Pilgrims and Native peoples fill the air during the month of November near Boston. Step back in time and experience Thanksgiving and Massachusetts the Colonial Way. Visit Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum you explore by foot. November at the plantation features events and exhibits specific to Thanksgiving.
Or head about an hour West to Old Sturbridge Village (OSV). A complete walking tour of OSV and its buildings, located on 200 acres surrounded by woods. OSV offers a blend of walking both short and long distances, between the working sawmill and potter, the authentic school house and working farms.
State Parks in November
Because the November weather around the Boston area fluctuates, plan to a visit state parks open year-round that include a range multi-season activities. Blue Hills Reservation in Milton features non-motorized boating on Ponkapoag Pond and 125 miles of hiking trails. Weather permitting, Blue Hills Reservation offers an ice-skating rink as well as downhill and cross-country skiing.
In addition to rock climbing at Blue Hills, about an hour outside of Boston, Purgatory Chasm beckons visitors to explore its ragged rocks and puzzling rock trails. Wear your best non-slip shoes to climb on the often-slippery rocks at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton.
While squeezing between rock formations and peaking into shallow caves, enjoy the late fall foliage overhead. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation designates the Purgatory Chasm trail as a Healthy Heart Trail.
Waterways
Paddle your way around the Boston area by kayak, rowboat and other non-motorized boats at these recreation areas open in November. Hopkinton State Park offers a boat launch ramp. Or try hiking or cross-country skiing the 10 miles of trails.
Bridge Island Meadows in Millis beckons kayakers. Paddle your way along the Charles River through Rocky Narrows in Sherborn. At the landing, leave your boat and hike up through the forest to the impressive Rocky Narrows Overlook.
Head north of the Boston area to Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich for a close up look of the Great Marsh, which spans 250,000 acres between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Launch a canoe or kayak from the dock near Long Island.
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