I run everywhere in Somerville and today's course was through the monument. Nice view during the…read morerun. Grass area someone was working out which was nice as well. Good hill training.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! I LOVE CASTLES! This is one of the Secret…read moreHidden Gems of America that most people have never heard about or been to before. The Prospect Hill Monument is a stone structure in the shape of a mini Castle & is located in Somerville, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. This is a residential area with homes. It is also a historic site & provides panoramic views of Boston & surrounding cities. There is also a small park in this neighborhood here with green grass, park benches & a good spot for picnicking & relaxing. It's great place to visit Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall with a changing natural New England landscape. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK OTHERWISE YOU MAY GET A TICKET. Park only at the signs where it says it's OK to Park; it's a residential area. You can also visit here by Mass Transit too. This site is only a few blocks away & up the hill from the bustling heart of Union Square. There are a lot of local businesses & eateries there. The medieval fortress tower was constructed out of stone & steel. It was built in 1903 to commemorate the site's military importance during the Revolutionary & Civil Wars. The Tower stands 4 stories tall. Climb the stairs to the the first outdoor open deck, & you'll see great views of Boston, Somerville, & Cambridge. The inside of the tower & top were open pre-pandemic periodically at various times. Check the website for current info & updates. Be sure to go all around the tower on the ground level. There are plaques with lots of detailed info all around the tower. Also check out all the signs throughout the Park telling you even more info about this spot & how it was instrumental in uniting the colonies. On January 1, 1776, General George Washington himself who would later become the first President of the United States, during the Revolutionary War hoisted the very first national flag of America on this very spot. It was called the Grand Union Flag & predates The Famous Betsy Ross Flag. Our current red & white Stripes with 50 Stars flag is not flown here. Lots of people miss this. Zoom in with your camera & you will see the First Flag of America. The Grand Union Flag is still flown here on top of the tower. It has red & white stripes but with the blue British Union Jack in the corner instead of the Stars. It's Pretty Cool that they still fly our very first national flag here. To make it worth your trip be sure to visit the extremely popular Union Square Donuts which has Great Donuts & is only a few blocks away. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

We had an amazing time visiting this school house. The scenery was beautiful and the area was…read morewell-kept. The surrounding area was serene and beautiful. I can't wait to come back and enjoy the view.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! THIS IS THE MOST FAMOUS SCHOOL IN THE WORLD…read moreTHAT YOU NEVER KNEW REALLY EXISTED. Every kid from 1-101 has learned the Mary had a Little Lamb nursery rhyme. It goes Mary had a Little Lamb it's Fleece was white as Snow & Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day etc. Well, this is the School in that famous classic story that Mary attended. This is part of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard of or been to before. The tiny red schoolhouse is called The Redstone School & was built in 1798. Mary Elizabeth Sawyer was the Mary in the story born in 1806. Rebecca Kimball was the School Teacher. John Roulstone wrote the first 12 lines of the Classic. Sarah Josepha Hale completed the work. The building originally stood in Sterling Massachusetts. It was moved by Automobile Kingpin Henry Ford in 1927. When you talk about Old School this is the Original Old School! There are Plaques on the rocks outside that give you more information about the nursery rhyme. The Schoolhouse itself is open weekends only from May- October on Friday Saturday & Sunday from 12- 4:45 PM & is FREE! Unfortunately when we went it was closed but you can still look through the windows & check out the inside. Well I'll have to catch the inside the next time around. Go next door & visit the Martha Mary Chapel an all white picturesque church that appeared in the Matthew McConaughey film with Jennifer Garner & Emma Stone "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past". Also visit across the street there's the Grist Mill ( a great place to picnic), The Waterfall, The Pond, The Glacier Rocks from an Ice Cap 18,000 years ago. Also check out The Old Barn Farm Stand where they sell plants, local honey & other products & The Inn itself has lodging, a restaurant & a bar. What a Great Spot! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

When in Worcester, this is one of those 'Roadside America' type stops you can make. Bancroft Tower…read morea giant 'folly' built to look like a castle. Located at the top of a steep hill, in a neighborhood, it's a pretty impressive site. There was snow on the ground when we visited and the pathways are not shoveled so if you go in winter, wear appropriate footwear. I'm not sure when the gates are unlocked to climb to the top, but there is a staircase and I bet the views from the top are stunning. A small parking area is across the street from the structure. A small sign limits parking to one hour and there is one trash can should you need it. There is also a sign that appears to be at a trailhead but with all the snow it's hard to tell. One word of caution: when we arrived there was one car in the parking area with two persons inside. When we got out of our car they got out of theirs. We walked toward the folly. They walked toward our vehicle. I took photos, but remained near the parking lot because suede shoes and snow do not make a good combination. After taking my photos, I turned around, they were just standing next to my car. As I stared at them, they turned and looked over the edge of the lot down the hill. I walked down the road a piece to get a different angle of the structure and always had my vehicle in view. They eventually got back in their car and drove away without visiting the folly or really even looking at it. After they left I walked over to see if there was anything they could actually be looking at down the hill and no, it was someone's home and a wooded hillside. Nothing there to attract attention. Just a situational awareness 'head up' to visitors. Otherwise, the folly really is lovely and it was decorated for the holidays too. It was a quick visit overall and we were on to the next stop. In summer it might make a good spot to family photos and perhaps a picnic if you bring a blanket to sit on.

A beautifully preserved piece of history! I would've liked to see a bit more information on a…read moreplaque to learn more about it, but it was still very beautiful! I'm very happy I went here, it's one of those things you stop for a few minutes just to stare at and then carry on with your drive. Not much to look at and it wasn't open to walk inside, but it's super admirable how well kept it is!! I'd love to come hang out here again

I had the opportunity to check out the Curley House during a volunteer event with the Emerald…read moreNecklace Conservancy. This house is not open to the public but you may be able to check it out for yourself if the Conservancy hosts an event there. The house comprises beautiful crown moldings, light fixtures, and even some stained glass. The dining room was my favorite room. And the spiral staircase to walk up to the third story was stunning. Check out my pics!

The James Michael Curley house was built in 1915, is a historical landmark and museum open to the…read morepublic, on occasion, for private tours and events. I went to see an exciting, LIVE birds of prey exhibit featuring Hawks, Falcons, and owls! THE DEAL: sign up for the Boston Parks and Rec newsletter to find more events here.

The Old Stone church is a must see if you are in the area. It was built in 1891 to replace a…read moreBaptist Church that was destroyed in a fire. It is in the national registry of historical places. It sits on the Wachusett reservoir and many people do photo shoots here or plan weddings. In the last few years, people were just showing up with large groups of people to do an impromptu wedding but the town is now restricting this type of activity and you have to reserve in advance if you want to bring a large crowd. I remember going here with my family many times as a child. It was always a solemn moment, looking up at the rafters while inside. I can remember my father often saying a prayer. We used to bring a bottle and collect water at a Spicket outside the church. The water is fresh from the reservoir

Outside of finding street parking (parking lot is closed) and walking your way around scaffolding…read moreit was a great stop on our tour of National Historic sites in Massachusetts. Rangers & Volunteers were friendly and answered our questions. Walking through the site and watching the video gave us in-sight on the contributions Olmstead made to the building of America. Central Park is one of our favorites.

The house is really nice, and you can see the thought that went into his landscaping of Olmsted's…read moreown house that applied to Central Park and other projects. You feel you are in nature even though you're in a residential neighborhood. Tours are free, and ours was done by an intern, so he knew quite a bit, but he did struggle with questions that were off script. Still, the tour focused on Olmsted's workshop which was authentic and interesting how the process of creating these outdoor spaces worked. He really created an industry, and having natural spaces in bustling spaces does a lot of good for everyone's well-being. The rest of the house has a video summary of Olmstead and there was an exhibit more on his family. The garden is a delight to walk through. The gift shop was sparse though. This site was looking like a 5+ except they had created a "game" for some reason about how JFK and nepotism. Did JFK's father appoint him president? Did Olmsted's father give him a successful architecture firm? What is the connection? They both had privilege, but so did a lot of people who didn't do a fraction of what they did. The fact that NPS paid tax money for someone to create this weird game is pretty insulting. Hopefully it was a volunteer intern who snuck it in the back room, but that's wishful thinking. This is a nice historic site to visit for the most part, so hopefully they stick to showing off the workshop and some insight into Olmstead's life and great works. That part was great.

For my birthday last year, I gifted myself a day's retreat in the house/room where Thoreau was…read moreborn. My entire trip to the Concord area was a transcendental pilgrimage in its own right, and my day alone in the home of seclusion's champion was more than meaningful. I read all the exhibit panels, wrote at the little desk by the window, picnicked on the lovely grounds for lunch, and read Emerson's "Read, then Write." I might have even slept a little in the peaceful, bird-sung quiet. It was a gift to have the entire day in this place, to see the shift of sunlight across the eaves, to contemplate the coming year. The staff made it so easy - they worked with me to shift days - and they made me feel absolutely welcome. It was quite humbling to have a key of my very own for the day! I came away with good written words, good philosophy, and a belief in the actuality of personal connection with literary heroes. Thank you for allowing it to happen!

I am so grateful for the writing space at the Writer's Retreat provided by the Thoreau Farm:…read moreBirthplace of Henry David Thoreau. It is a privilege to spend time in the very room that this American author was born. As the author and illustrator of eight children's books on Thoreau, I can attest that the Writer's Retreat has provided me the impetus for creating them during the numerous times I attended the Writer's Retreat. One might say that they were conceived in that room where many of my words and illustrations began. The Writer's Retreat provides a quiet space where one might write, read, and be reflective. It is beneficial to the amateur or professional writer or to anyone who just needs a space to think and read. The Farm is in a rural setting where one may take a meditative walk and is a special treasure. Imagine writing or reading on a replica of Henry's own green desk where he wrote his works. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to have a place to rest and think without any distractions in the room where Henry was born. Rebecca Migdal, Executive Director of the Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, is warm and welcoming to anyone who visits the Thoreau Farm or uses the Writer's Retreat. During the time I spent at this special place, Rebecca made me feel very comfortable. Rebecca's cheerful demeaner makes any visitor feel special and at ease. I highly encourage anyone who needs a space for quiet reflection or pursue literary endeavors to spend a day or two at the Writer's Retreat.

Perfect day for a cemetary stroll. Very peaceful with some graves dating to the 1800s. The tower is…read morerather impressive. Would love to see it's twin in Ireland some day.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of…read moreAmerica that most people have never heard of or been to before, If you love Castles, Towers & the Fairytale Rapunzel or the Disney movie Tangled then you'll be excited about our journey today. It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour the Earth & take you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist. We have set the dial to the 1890's in the town of Milford MA about an hour outside of Boston. We've landed at this Beautiful Irish Round Tower that conjures up images from a bygone era. The Tower looks like it has been plucked from medieval times from thousands of miles across the Pond in Ireland. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Father Patrick Cuddihy envisioned an Irish Round Tower as the centerpiece of a new cemetery when the land was purchased in 1890 for the Catholics of Saint Mary's Parish in Milford. Travelers from all over the globe spend thousands of dollars & travel to Ireland to see The Irish Round Towers. There is one Irish Tower in particular called The Devenish round tower & is located in County Fermanagh on an island located on Lower Lough Erne Lake. The Round Irish Tower in Milford is almost an exact replica with the same look, design & height as the The Devenish Tower in Ireland. It is made out of Granite from the Milford quarry. It stands tall over the graves of thousands of Irish immigrants who were buried in the cemetery. They are laid to rest in an Irish setting that mimics the architecture & land of Ireland. You might wonder why did Fr. Cuddihy build this tower? The answer can be found in his obituary "It may be folly - yet when you and I have passed away, the Irish in America will make a pilgrimage to the Irish Round Tower at Milford." Now although it was very popular in its day this has now fallen completely under the radar. Now just about everyone has heard of the German Fairy Tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, but have no idea that a Rapunzel like Tower even exists here in America. The Milford Round Tower was the only one of its kind in the whole USA for decades & only a few Irish Towers in the whole world even exist outside of Ireland. In 2003 The Tower at Castleton Lyons Farm was built in Kentucky to be an exact replica of the round tower at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary Ireland. So now there are 2 Irish Round Towers in the US. The Milford one is well over a hundred years older than the one in Kentucky. It represents a unique granite architectural wonder that pays tribute to Father Cuddihy vision of an Irish Tower in America without going overseas. The 1978 East German stamps of Rapunzel look just like the Devenish Tower in Ireland & the one in Milford MA. I have posted the stamp pictures for you to see too. Just so you know the door to the Tower is locked so you can't venture to the top! In addition, behind the Irish round tower there is a small pond & benches with pine trees in the background that makes a peaceful place to pray, meditate & explore the grounds. On the other side there is a mysterious cave like structure that resembles a catacomb. Across the street there is a public park and free parking. You really wouldn't expect to see an Irish Round Tower or a Rapunzel Tower at a cemetery, but that's where it is - a True Hidden Gem. To make it really worth your trip in the area check out The Moon Tree a tree that went to the Moon & The Largest Rosary Beads in the World both in Holliston. All of these are Freebies as well. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!