Blue Hills Reservation

How have I lived around Boston for over 11 years without going to the Blue Hills?

On Memorial Day, Isaac and I finally went to the Blue Hills Reservation and the Trailside Museum, part of Mass Audubon.  The Trailside Museum has all sorts of animals, including an otter, deer, owls, and lots more.  They also offer lots of educational programs.

Take the red dot trail to see the observation tower.  It's very rocky (see picture above) and pretty steep, but my 5 year old did it without a problem.

That's the observation tower.   Some of the kids were calling it a castle!  There are also tons of picnic tables around, so it's a fun spot to enjoy a picnic lunch after making your way up the trail.

The view of Boston from the top of the tower.  Isaac thought that was really cool!

After all that hard work hiking, we got some well-deserved ice cream from the museum.  The museum is stocked up with snacks, ice cream, and drinks.  

Before we left, we participated in a ponding activity.  The path around the pond is usually closed off, but if you go when there's a ponding activity, they'll bring you inside.  There were a bunch of turtles that we saw, just hanging out!

Then we saw this giant bullfrog on the banks of the pond.

The kids were given nets and they could scoop up stuff from the pond to see what they could find.

Isaac was in awe of all of the tiny little tadpoles that we found in the pond.  The ponding activity was really well-done and fun for all ages.

We can't wait to go back!

For nonmembers, it's $5 adults $3 children (2-12) $4 seniors (65+), but getting a Mass Audubon membership is a great deal and pays for itself in no time if you're an outdoorsy type.

Fun at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

We're always looking for kid-friendly hikes.  (Meaning, mostly flat, not too long, ones that loop around)   I also love to take advantage of our Mass Audubon membership.  So, when my husband said that he wanted to do a Father's Day hike, I suggested Broadmoor in Natick.  We had a truly lovely time.  The weather was great, the trails were totally doable for even my 4 year old's little legs, and we saw some fun critters.

Check out what we saw:

Join the Mass Audubon Society

One of the best things about living in Massachusetts is access to the Mass Audubon locations. There are over 40 sanctuaries throughout the state, and many within close proximity to Boston. View their map here.

Family memberships are currently $65 as of March 2012. Once you're a member, you can get into all of the sanctuaries for free, and memberships offer m

any other membership perks. It's really the perfect membership for a family who loves the outdoors, because you can visit the same sanctuaries over and over again and enjoy them just as much each time.

Different sanctuaries offer different and wonderful things. For instance, Drumlin Farm, located in Lincoln, is particularly great for young children because not only does it have plenty of hiking and scenic views, but it also has a working farm. You can visit sheep, goats, pigs, cows, ponies, and lots and lots of chickens! They also rescue injured birds which you can also visit. Others, such as Moose Hill in Sharon or Ipswich River in Topsfield have many miles of trails.

You don't have to travel very far at all to enjoy one of the sanctuaries. Boston Nature Center is an urban wildlife sanctuary right in Mattapan, with two miles of trails and boardwalks.

When hiking on the trails, a baby carrier is a plus. Some of the trails are difficult to get around even with a hearty jogging stroller.

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This was originally posted on Examiner.com in June, 2010.