Cambridge is a city in the eastern region of Massachusetts near Boston, most notably known as the home of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With over a dozen local national parks and reservations, Cambridge offers an abundance of activities in health and outdoor recreation. Hiking and bird watching to two popular past-times for residents.
Hike the Alewife Brook Reservation
Alewife Brook Reservation is a 120-acre urban park located in Cambridge. The Reservation is made up of wetlands, wooded uplands and meadows. While hiking in the Alewife Brook Reservation, you can find several indigenous bird species including the osprey, great blue heron and woodcock. The ponds inside the reservation serve as spawning grounds for androgynous herring, which migrate to Massachusetts in the spring. In addition to hiking trails, Alewife Brook Reservation has jogging tracks, playing fields and a few playground areas.
Visit the Charles River Reservation
Charles River Reservation is a nature preserve that covers 950 acres of park area along the Charles River. The Reservation offers several recreational activities for visitors. During the summer, go biking, swimming or in-line skating along one of the paths. During the winter, the park offers ice skating, hiking and jogging. Charles River Reservation is most popular for its boating opportunities. Visitors can to go rowing, sculling, dragon boating and sailing. Boating competitions are held regularly along the Charles River, and participation is welcome.
Play Golf on the Fresh Pond Golf Course
Fresh Pond Golf Course is a nine-hole golf course located in Fresh Pond Reservation. This public golf course features 2,994 yards of golf with a par of 35. The course has a rating of a 35.1 and a slope rating of 120 on blue grass. Fresh Pond Golf Course features a natural layout that utilizes the pond in four of the holes. The operating hours of the golf course vary depending on the time of year; although, the course is usually open from 5:30 a.m. to sunset.
Sightseeing at Mount Auburn Cemetery
Though visiting a cemetery may seem like a weird tourist attraction, Mount Auburn Cemetery is one of Massachusetts most popular landscapes. It was funded in 1831 as “America’s first garden cemetery.” The 174-acre cemetery features several monuments, including the Bigelow Chapel, a Civil War memorial and the Mary Baker Eddy memorial. The arboretum at Mount Auburn Cemetery contains a collection of more than 5,000 trees of nearly 700 species and varieties. It is also home to various bird species.
Fishing at Beaver Brook Reservation
Beaver Brook Reservation is a 59-acre park located in Belmont just three miles away from Cambridge. Beaver Brook was founded in 1893 as the first reservation established by Metropolitan Parks Commission. The Reservation is made up of open fields, wetlands, woodlands, ponds and a waterfall. Recreational opportunities offered at Beaver Brook Reservation include fishing and biking. The reservation also has a few picnic areas where you and your family can enjoy lunch at the park.
Member Comments