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.

The Peace Abbey is a multi-denominational organization with extensive educational, spiritual and…read moreother services. They offer retreat and many, many other services to the community and the world, and has been visited by Mother Teresa and supported by many of the world's most devoted peace activists. It is impossible to cover all this wonderful organization offers and achieves in such a small space; visit the website or make an appointment to meet with some of the extraordinary staff, hear the stories, support the cause.

Just seeing the tall ships. A once in a lifetime experience. The crew were amazing as were the…read moreships, just beautiful.

Nice area to walk around if you do the Freedom Trail or not! You can skip it and just visit the…read moreCharlestown Navy Yard, by the water, it has a Marina and various ships. I enjoyed visiting the USS Constitution which is free to tour and had a great experience. There's also the USS Constitution Museum close by, another interesting spot to check out for history buffs and not only. You can take the ferry back to downtown Boston and that is a nice to ride, a great way to see cool views of the city. Nice landmarks, cool new sculptures, a more unique part of town!

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

As an injured survivor, of the Boston Marathon bombing, and a resident who lives around the corner…read morefrom the finish line, I assure you this strip of paint is as honored as any historical building in Boston. Each year we return, the Boston Marathon Finish Line, to cheer on our charity runners for Strength To Strength. STS is a nonprofit that supports survivors of terrorism internationally through an annual retreats and programming design designed to help them on their healing journey. THE DEAL: the Boston Marathon finish line is a must stop destination for every tourist braving Boston's wacky weather!

A historic tower with unrivaled views of the Harvard skyline, the Charles and the gleaming Boston…read moreskyscraper. It's located deep within the beautifully gothic (and annoyingly one-entranced) Mt Auburn Cemetery and stands head above their veritable collection of world trees and strange crypts. It's a stone tower with a disabled-unfriendly stone stairwell that could well induce vertigo, but please forgive it as it's 150 years old. At the top there's room for a good 10 or more to enjoy the panorama. Go on a clear warm day and earmark a good 20 minutes of your time to relax at the top and take it all in. Don't be one of the tick-it-off crowd and head down as soon as you've got your photo.

Washington Tower is noted for its great panoramic views of Boston and Cambridge. Honestly, Boston's…read moreskyline pales in comparison to other global cities. Nevertheless, as a resident of Boston for almost 4 years I knew I had to see it for myself. I would give it five stars; however there were a couple things that detracted from my visit: 1) there are no clear signs indicating where Washington tower is in relation to the rest of the cemetery 2) it was super windy when I went in to the top in May, and the wind made the view from the top almost unbearable because it would blow us left and right and made me feel cold and unnerved 3) naturally, because this is outdoors, bugs were here in swarms; there were bees and flies and even mosquitoes--yikes! Overall, I am glad I got to check it off my bucket list but I don't think I will be coming back anytime soon. I would even dare say that the view from the Charles River might be better ;)

According to local legend, the founder of Middlesex University was traveling through Ireland and…read moresaw Lismore Castle. He was so impressed with the castle that he asked to bring it back with him. The owners denied his request. He then asked for the blueprints, only to be told no again. Not one to be stopped, he had drawings done of the outside of the castle. The Castle in Waltham was constructed based on these drawings. This is now Brandeis University and "The Castle" as it is called, was first used as an administrative space as well as a dining hall. It was used as a dormitory until the building was condemned and later partially torn down to make room for a new building. Some of the benches outside of the dormitory neighboring Usen Castle are made from materials of the demolished structure. The remaining part of Usen Castle is closed to visitors. Only the coffee house inside the castle is open to the public. Still, it's cool to check out the exterior if you're nearby. [Review 15210 overall, 712 of 2021, number 1073 in Massachusetts.]

"What becomes a legend most Well baby tonight it's you"…read more(Lou Reed) What do these have in Common? a) Emerson University b) All in the Family c) Sanford and Son d) Maude e) Good Times f) The Jeffersons g) One Day at a Time h) Different Strokes i) Boylston Place Alley Well, the common thread is Norman Lear. He is an alumnus of Emerson University, and in recognition of the legendary, revolutionary, and groundbreaking television shows he created, a six-foot-three-inch bronze sculpture was placed in the Boylston Place Alley on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. The sculpture shows Lear smiling and leaning as he holds an All in the Family script. Lear studied theater at Emerson and would have been a 1944 graduate had he not dropped out and joined the Army after Pearl Harbor. Oct. 4, 2018, was "Norman Lear Day" in Boston. Mayor Walsh called Lear a "living legend and a groundbreaker of television that makes us laugh, think, argue, imagine and wonder". As we were walking around Boston, I caught a glimpse of the statue and just had to check it out. I'm sure glad we did.