Just like 20th-century philosophers, Cinderella once said, “Don’t know what you’ve got (til it’s gone)”. In terms of conservation efforts, it’s truer now than at any time in the recent past. To celebrate our state park system here in Massachusetts, let’s take a look at a sampling of the parks that comprise it. We’ll dig into a bit of history, take in some beautiful views, and enjoy the coastal breeze. Visiting any one of these Massachusetts state parks is a worthwhile backyard road trip for the whole fam.
Myles Standish Monument State Reservation
Looking north from Plymouth Bay, a large granite tower with a figure perched atop rises above the treeline at 116 feet. The cornerstone was laid in 1872 to much fanfare with a crowd of 10000. The tower was not finished until 1898, and ran out of funds during this period, leaving the tower partially constructed. Upon close investigation, the granite is of different colors. During the era in which the tower was built, Standish, along with other members of his Pilgrim brethren, was touted as a hero of and a part of American mythology.
The tower is capped with a fourteen-foot granite figure of Standish. He has one arm outstretched, with the other a copy of the Plymouth Colony charter under his arm. Standish’s garb is typical of other depictions of him. The tower and surrounding park are located off of Crescent Street in Duxbury. If the gates are closed, park near them and walk up. During certain weekends, the gates are open with direct access to the tower. When this is the case, there is a better chance that the actual tower is available to walk up. The hike is 125 steps or nine stories tall.
On the Inside
The stone tubular tower is stark inside, with a series of windows providing the only light. The walk up a spiral metal staircase with a series of informational pamphlets ends with a tight, 360-degree viewshed. Some windows overlook the bay and countryside in each direction. Duxbury and Plymouth Bay can be seen, and on a clear day, all the way over to Blue Hills.
The park is small, as it is mostly dedicated to the tower commemorating Standish. It’s in a bit of an out-of-the-way area of Duxbury, making it a fun excursion. With beautiful views and a bit of history, the Myles Standish Monument State Reservation is a worthwhile stop on our state park spectacular.
Cushing Memorial State Park
This is one of the smallest state parks in Massachusetts, housing a memorial dedicated to Chief Justice Cushing. Cushing was a Scituate resident, born in 1732, and was appointed to the Supreme Court by none other than George Washington. Cushing was known for his stance against slavery. The small burial ground, accented by the relatively short Cushing obelisk, is a lesser-known attraction in town. The seven-acre park is located on Cushing Park Road, which itself is a side road off of Neal Gate Road, which connects Route 3A and Route 123.
Walden Pond State Reservation
Walden Pond is a pristine pond in Concord, Massachusetts. In the summer, the pond is ever-popular with recreational activities, including swimming and hiking. Walden Pond is best known for its association with Transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau built a cabin near the shores of the pond in the 19th century as he turned his back on the excess of modernity and spent two years living simply in the abode, which he built by hand.
There is a replica of his cabin near the visitor center. The actual cabin site is located about halfway around the pond. None of it remains except for markers delineating where it was. Being situated near busy Route 2, off of Route 126, and with the railroad on the other side of the pond, it’s hard to imagine this is “back to nature”. The train still chugged by even during Thoreau’s time, as he often mentions in Walden.
Boston Harbor Islands
The Boston Harbor Islands are taken care of in a joint venture between the National Park Service, the state of Massachusetts, and other organizations. It’s hard to sum up these extraordinary slices of hidden Boston in a few short paragraphs, but I’ll try. Some are accessible via land, such as World’s End in Hingham and the Webb Memorial State Park in Weymouth. Some you can take a ferry to in the summer, such as Georges Island and Peddock’s Island. Others are only accessible by private boat, and others are off-limits altogether. Different islands can be accessed from the North Shore, from the city itself, and others from the South Shore.
Georges Island is the most well-known as it is the site of Fort Warren, a Civil War-era fortification that is supposedly haunted by the mysterious lady in black. A boat from Boston will take you here and let you roam around the island on your own. Peddocks Island is another popular island and is home to Fort Andrew, which is a circa 1904 stronghold. Fort Andrew and parts of this island were used in the Martin Scorsese-directed “Shutter Island”.
Camping is allowed on some of the islands, so make sure you check out their website before heading out. One of the most iconic of the harbor islands is Little Brewster Island, which is capped with the Boston Light, which is the second oldest lighthouse in the country, bathed in classic white and black. Little Brewster is off-limits to the public. Whether viewing from shore, by boat, or setting foot on, the Boston Harbor Islands are certainly a worthwhile stop on our state park spectacular.
Revere Beach State Reservation
Revere Beach is one of the best-known beaches in the Boston area. It was once home to the Wonderland amusement park. (Then the Greyhound Park with the same name, and now the head-scratching Wonderland T stop, for those that don’t know the history.) Although Revere Beach is extremely popular on summer beach days, its natural beauty can’t be overlooked. I like to visit Revere Beach in the off-season, such as on a warm winter day. Bundle up and take a beach walk, and soak in the atmosphere. Certainly, in the summer, it is packed. Events such as the International Sand Sculpting Festival draw in hordes of visitors, as does the soft sand and clear ocean water.
Halibut Point State Park
Heading to the North Shore, Halibut Point State Park in Rockport is one of my favorite state parks in Massachusetts. This was the location of the Babson Farm Quarry, which had been in use beginning in 1840. Now the water-logged quarry is surrounded by jagged boulders affording excellent views of the quarry water as well as the ocean just beyond. Quarrying ceased in 1929, and the parcel of land was purchased by the Trustees. Later, it was acquired by the state. Also, a World War II-era fire tower was erected. Not only with quarry views, but there are also large rocky outcroppings that are excellent for hopping and climbing. Many of the boulders are massive and take the visitor close to the sea as waves slam against the sides.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg of the breadth of Massachusetts state parks. I’ve been to only roughly 35 out of the 150, but these six are some of my favorites. All are located near a body of water (five on the ocean, one by a pond). Many have a storied past, and most afford excellent views. I hope you enjoyed this Massachusetts state park spectacular. Now go out there and explore for yourself! Also on Backyard Road Trips, check out Pilgrim Memorial State Park and Wompatuck State Park.
