With the weather getting nicer and spring in full swing, it’s time for nature lovers to explore Merrimack Valley. It’s the perfect place to get outdoors, look for wildlife, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, and just experience everything Mother Nature has to offer.
Here are some of the best ways to enjoy nature during your next visit.
Great Brook Farm State Park
Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle is the ideal place to visit when you want to spend your day outdoors. This 1000-acre park features more than 20 miles of trails, so it’s a biker, hiker and walker’s paradise. History lovers who want to take a break from museums can come see notable Native American sites and 17th-century cellar holes left over from English settlers. The waters are open for recreational fishing as well as kayaking and canoeing, so don’t be afraid to get your feet wet. There’s even an active dairy farm that offers free tours on weekends, and you can stop by the ice cream stand afterwards to taste homemade ice cream from local cows.
The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and while visits are free, there is a small $3 parking fee for MA-residents and out-of-state visitors alike from April through November.
Discovery Museum
Acton’s Discovery Museum is just as much fun outside as it is indoors, and when the weather gets nice, budding naturalists can experience the Discovery Woods. Your kids can go on a nature adventure, starting with the coolest, biggest treehouse they’ve ever seen. Built by DIY Network’s The Treehouse Guys, this 550 square foot, rustic treehouse is perfect for learning and play.
The Nature Playscape surrounding the Discovery Treehouse has an inclusive and accessible design that welcomes children and families of all ages and abilities to play and learn together. They can explore the woodland nook, rain garden, and acres of adjoining forest to learn about nature, habitats, and wildlife.
Walden Pond State Reservation
Naturally, you can’t call yourself a nature lover without taking a trip to Walden Pond State Reservation in Concord. You can take a self-guided tour of the woods where Henry David Thoreau spent two years writing Walden. This scenic route meanders past glacially formed coves with views of the clear water and continues past the site where Thoreau’s original cabin stood.
Besides its historical significance, it’s fantastic for outdoor recreation. Depending on the time of year, visitors can swim, picnic, hike, canoe, rowboat, cross-country ski, or snowshoe. There are few better places to have a picnic with friends and family, explore the woods, and just enjoy a day outside. Park hours vary seasonally but generally can be expected to be open from sunrise to sunset. There is a parking fee of $8 for MA residents and $30 for non-residents. The boat ramp is open from April 1 to December 1.
Don’t sit around inside during your next vacation. Visit Merrimack Valley and see the wonderful parks and outdoor recreation that nature lovers adore here.
