145739 Wed Sep 03 11:59:17 -0700 2003 15 12 Boston Area 0 781151 We are trying to catch the last bit of summer and go on a picnic this weekend. Any recommendations for a great picnic spot within 45 minute drive from Cambridge? Wed Sep 03 11:59:17 -0700 2003 0 Helen Rennie 1 781153 My favorites are World's End, in Hingham, a Nature Conservancy spot, with easy trails that all have waterviews, some from high above, one right on a sandy beach, and Halibut Point, in Glouchester, right over the Essex line...A state park, formed from an abandoned quarry right on the water...about 1/2 mile walk from the parking lot to lovely, huge flat rocks on the water's edge....They're both on the outer edge of your time-limit; drive fast! Wed Sep 03 12:08:04 -0700 2003 781151 0 galleygirl 2 781155 Maudsley State Park in Newburport. Follow the trails to the Merrimac river. There's a meadow to sit in and watch the river go by or follow the paths right down to the rocks on the river to sit and dangle your feet in. Now is very pretty but spring is awesome when the rhododendrons are in bloom. We did this this past Sunday and it was so relaxing. Wed Sep 03 12:17:05 -0700 2003 781153 0 bennie 1 781154 There is a small stretch of shore drive in Magnolia (just above Singing Beach in Manchester and just below Gloucester) where you can sit on the rocks and watch the ocean do its thing. On a clear day, you can see down to Boston and up to Gloucester. Crane's beach in Ipswich is always nice this time of year too. Wed Sep 03 12:17:05 -0700 2003 781151 0 Northender 2 781242 The name of the place is Ocean Lawn on the Coolidge Reservation. It is THE best picnicking spot in these parts. By far. But no alcohol: Trustees of Reservations run the place. There is very limited parking; you cannot park on Rte 27 itself. There is a 1/2 mile trail through woods and across private property to get there; make sure to use bug spray this year, as there are marshes adjoining the woodsy trail. But Ocean Lawn itelf is about as idyllic a place as you can imagine (the former site of the Coolidge mansion, which no longer exists). I only wish they had not torn out the several hundred foot long hedge of old lilacs! Thu Sep 04 12:35:23 -0700 2003 781154 0 Karl 1 781157 A bit of biased opinion.... but here's my 2 cents about an often overlooked location for picnics. The Arnold Arboretum in JP offers 265 acres of park (it is part of the Emerald Necklace, designed by Olmsted, who also designed Central Park). It is near the Forest Hills orange line stop if you don't feel like driving. Some prime picnicking spots are right next to the ponds in the rose garden or out on Peter's Hill, which offers an expansive view of the cityscape. You can clearly see Hancock Tower and the Pru from the top of the hill. After a stuffing picnic, you can wander around to the new shrub and vine garden which happens to be right below the bonsai collection. Though the arboretum is more of an attraction during the spring and fall, there are some huge specimen trees (well over 100 years old, as the arboretum started in 1872) where you can spread out a blanket underneath the shade. Afterwards, you can go down to Center St for some ice cream at JP Licks (eat the cucumber ice cream before it goes out of season!) or further down towards the neighborhood of La Pupusa Guanaca (for tasty horchatas) or soups and cuban sandwiches for a later snack at El Oriental de Cuba. You can find directions and a map of the grounds at the link that I've attached at the bottom.... ENJOY! Link: http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/visitors/visitors.html Wed Sep 03 12:24:00 -0700 2003 781151 0 Queen of Hearts 2 781160 Aren't there signs all over the Arboretum that prohibit picnicing, except on Lilac Sunday? Wed Sep 03 12:47:26 -0700 2003 781157 0 galleygirl 3 781161 yup, no picnicing in the arboretum except for that one day...an it's enforced, unless you hide really well. Wed Sep 03 12:52:10 -0700 2003 781160 0 cctc 4 781175 I have been picnicing in the Arboretum for the 7 years I have been with my now wife who grew up in JP and have never been asked to do anything but make sure that we cleaned up after ourselves. Wed Sep 03 14:21:24 -0700 2003 781161 0 Pete 5 781186 Yes, there are signs that discourage picnicking at the arboretum... but as long as you're not prancing around the grounds throwing trash into the bushes and bottles up into the trees, it should be fine. I WORK at the arboretum and I picnic on the front lawn every single day for lunch. There's nothing more relaxing then eating a foccacia sandwich with fresh mozz 'n tomatoes with a handful of basil, looking out into the full-grown meadow and watching 40+ dragonflies dance across the lawn. Wed Sep 03 17:13:18 -0700 2003 781175 0 Queen of Hearts 6 781188 I agree that it's wonderful, but I also know that the rules about picnicing are definitely enforced because my husband, who just left the park rangers, enforced them! The thing is, many people picnic without a problem, but often they have to tell people to stop because otherwise EVERYONE would do it, and then it would get pretty dirty, pretty fast. I just don't want someone to go down and bring a huge basket of picnic stuff during one of the days when the park rangers do their job and ask them to leave/stop. Wed Sep 03 17:42:16 -0700 2003 781186 0 cctc 1 781159 we have always liked picnics in the sculpture garden at the decordova museum in lexington. only about 20 min from c-bridge. Wed Sep 03 12:46:38 -0700 2003 781151 0 nitrous 2 781280 DeCordova is in Lincoln. Thu Sep 04 21:52:52 -0700 2003 781159 0 applehome 1 781207 Actually, try this... go to a local library and borrow the AMC Massachusetts and Rhode Island trail guide. There's a section on state reservations in it. Almost all of these reservations are great picnic areas and most are within 45 minutes of Cambridge. Pick the one that sounds best to you! Thu Sep 04 00:26:22 -0700 2003 781151 0 bunnyr 1 781214 Pioneer Village in Salem. There is beach, bike path, grass, tables and plenty of room to grille. If there are kids with you make sure to bring lots of cardboard boxes so they can ride down the huge cement slide. Thu Sep 04 08:22:01 -0700 2003 781151 0 MeffaBabe 1 781274 How about Marblehead. The park at the lighthouse on Marblehead neck has parking and has a grand view of Marblehead and the bay with boats coming and going. Its perched up high and is quite small. Could be the last weekend for being at the ocean picnicing. Thu Sep 04 19:30:20 -0700 2003 781151 0 franc