October has come into its own, with flaming sugar maples in a fiery orange, golden ashes raining leaves down like rain and even some oaks turning a brilliant crimson. Scenic highways such as the Kancamangus are clogged with traffic as people slow to gawk at the seasonal show. But what’s the nondriver to do?
Plenty. Camberville boasts plenty of options for enjoying foliage, albeit in smaller doses than the White Mountains. Here are some options you can reach by foot or public transit.
Cambridge Common, Cambridge (the park, not the bar)
A handful of the maples here were in full display Oct. 21 and the rest were starting to turn. Grab a picnic lunch or a cup of luxe hot cocoa from Burdick’s and you can sit on one of the benches to enjoy the glory. Bonus: The sunken garden in Radcliffe Yard is just across the street, and some of its trees were starting to color around the edges.
If you want to walk there from Somerville, I suggest skipping the walk down Massachusetts Avenue and instead strolling from Porter to Harvard on Oxford Street.
Powder House Park, Somerville
Folklore says beech trees drip poison from their leaves to kill plants underneath, to reduce competition. I think of that every time I pause in Powder House Park to admire the venerable beeches there. Certainly there is very little growing below their stately branches, though if that’s due to evolutionary shenanigans or Tufts students, I cannot tell you. A research project for the weekend, I guess.
Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, Cambridge
A hot spot for birders, this stretch of well-manicured nature along the Charles recently mobbed for the regatta should now be lively mainly with birds. There are plenty of trees here still in full color, and if you’re lucky and go out early enough you might get to see some mist on the water, adding a moody touch to your walk.
It’s an easy walk from Central Square, though you’ll have to cross the pedestrian bridge over Memorial Drive.
Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale
Honestly, for nature in the city, you can’t beat the Arboretum. It’s a sprawling site that’s accessible on the MBTA orange line and worth a visit any time of the year, including the depths of February. But it’s a showstopper in October. You can download preplanned walks or arrive for a free guided tours with a docent (10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. Sundays; registration is recommended but not required).
Bonus: You won’t be far away from the Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary. I haven’t been this fall, but it’s a lovely oasis that’s less curated and manicured than the Arboretum. If you prefer your nature a bit wilder around the edge, I suggest a visit.
Drumlin Farm, Lincoln
Venturing farther, Drumlin Farm has very manageable trails through second-growth wood – ideal for families with youngsters and city dwellers who don’t own hiking boots but want to enjoy some time in nature. From the top of the namesake drumlin, on a clear day you can enjoy panoramic views of the state (and some, with better eyes, claim they can see Mount Monadnock; I remain dubious).
This is the first destination with a price tag, though Audubon members get in free. It’s about an hour if you take the commuter rail (Fitchburg Line) from Porter Square to Lincoln, then a 20-minute walk – according to Google Maps; it’s never taken me that long. The walk is entirely on sidewalks.
Foliage cruise, Boston
Confession time: I get seasick stepping over deep puddles. So while I’ve enjoyed every single one of the other trips, I do not take cruises. But Boston is a port city, and there are plenty of options for taking in the shoreline from the water. Which one is best? No clue, the idea makes me green around the gills. But a quick search turned up plenty if you’ve got the budget (and sea legs).
