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GM_Pax t1_ja3kcem wrote

If you are "outdoorsy", you will want to check out hte Minuteman Commuter Bikeway, which runs from Alewife Station (in Cambridge, but near the border of Arlington), through Arlington and Lexington to Depot Park, in Bedford.

From there, the Narrow Gauge Trail - mostly unpaved - runs another couple miles north, almost into Billerica.

The Minuteman, meanwhile, is going to be extended into West Concord over the next few years, by incorporating what is now the (as yet largely unpaved, I think) Reformatory Branch Trail. It's a short distance from there to pick up the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, which runs south into Sudbury ()and in a few years, Framingham), and north through Acton, Carlisle, Westford, and Chelmsford, ending within steps of the Lowell city border.

Along the BFRT you can find Nara Park in Acton, and Heart Pond in Chelmsford; both have beaches ... Nara costs money, Heart Pond is free (but also muuuuch smaller). No lifeguards at either, AFAIK.

In Lexington, the Minuteman passes literally adjacent to Lexington Green (birthplace of the American Revolution!), and that's maybe two miles from the Minuteman National Historic Park, and the Battle Road trail.

There's also the Dr. Paul Dudley White Bike Trail, along both banks of the Charles River.

...

Less outdoorsy stuff, but: your 5yo will love the Boston Children's Museum, and probably also the Museum of Science (that was a perennial favorite when I was 3 and 4 years old, and my parents still lived in Boston). Franklin Park Zoo was also a favorite of mine at that age. Harvard University also has a bunch of museums that may interest your kiddo when s/he gets a few years older. Or you and your spouse, right away. :) The Museum of Fine Arts is a must-see for adults, but less so for younger children IMO.

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jjgould165 t1_ja3qyc3 wrote

Most libraries have museum passes for all of these museums that are mentioned. You can get discounted or free access as long as you book it ahead of time.

You will also be near a few historical national parks and only a 4-6 hour (depending on traffic) ride to Acadia, our only National Park park. The National Seashore runs along the Cape and the seal tours are really fun, just keep an eye out for great whites. One went under a tour boat the week before we went out.

Ticks are an issue, so don't forget to prepare for that!

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Repulsive-Bend8283 t1_ja3to3i wrote

Add to that options for linking up to bike paths into Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston (the terminus was actually Davis Square when it opened in the 90's)

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Master_Dogs t1_ja49a0y wrote

Extremely important note due to their job being in Kendall.

Kendall Sq is immediately next to Lechmere, where the Green Line Extension begins and where the Somerville Community Path extension begins too.

The Somerville Community Path directly connects to the Cambridge Linear Park/Path which connects to the Minute Man. And it connects to the Cambridge Crossing paths. A few painted bike lanes make it possible to get into Kendall fairly comfortably, and Cambridge is likely to add protected bike lanes around there in the future.

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tarandab t1_ja4fios wrote

Just note that as asked in r/Somerville multiple times/week, the path doesn’t go all the way to Lechmere yet but should hopefully open in the spring

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GM_Pax t1_ja45ysi wrote

Very true. They're all good walking paths, too.

I focused more on the parts that would take them back out of the urbanized areas, though, given they're coming from a rural area. :) Less car noise, more actual nature. :)

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Master_Dogs t1_ja490kk wrote

They're working in Kendall Sq tho, so it's worth noting the Somerville Community Path connection the Minute Man makes it totally possible that they could do a bike commute to Kendall during the warmer months and even year round if they're hardy enough.

Ebike/escoter could make for a solid alternative to driving to Alewife and parking and chancing the Red Line is a POS today, and probably similar time to driving. Don't usually have to pay to park a bike either.

Alewife also has bike cages, so they can even do a shorter bike + transit commute.

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GM_Pax t1_ja49ehx wrote

Good points, all around.

And with a front-loading cargo bike, like the Yuba Supercargo CL ... they could even forgo a car entirely for most of their trips. :)

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Master_Dogs t1_ja50l5f wrote

Exactly what I mean. The access to bike paths that go everywhere is pretty killer for the Arlington area. And it's only going to expand as we see more bike lanes and paths like the Mass Central open in a few years.

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GM_Pax t1_ja52n9u wrote

>Mass Central

Eventually, the BFRT will come within a couple blocks of that one, at the very least. Likely it will be connected, by bike lanes if not directly. :)

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danfitz36 t1_ja3n4xu wrote

There’s also the discovery museum in Acton that’s great for kids

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syst3x t1_ja8hkk7 wrote

>The Minuteman, meanwhile, is going to be extended into West Concord over the next few years, by incorporating what is now the (as yet largely unpaved, I think)
>
>Reformatory Branch Trail

Except the Bedford Town Meeting vote failed, so the "as yet [...] unpaved" RBT will remain so, and the accompanying safety improvements that were part of the project along Railroad St and the Rt 62 crossing will not come to be. Yeah, I'm still salty...

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