Ah, yes. The next generation has read Thoreau. They were inspired, they dug deeper, and they came to know what we all eventually do: Walden Pond was a few miles from Thoreau’s parent’s house and his mother did his laundry while he wrote of disconnecting from modern comforts. Despite the irony, the cynicism, and the world-class memes, Walden Pond in Concord, MA isn’t a bad place to be.
Sure, the folks who really sink their teeth into the transcendentalist daydream are usually distraught to find you can hear a highway and some trains from any point along the trail, but if you take the place at face value, like some took “Walden,” you might actually enjoy yourself.
Walden Pond is full of regulars and tourists alike. There is even a community of swimmers who don their wetsuits for much of the year and swim each morning or evening. Each time I visit, they are the ones having the best time. They appreciate the lake for what it is, which is what embracing nature is really all about. You’ll notice the tourists as those on the beach portion, usually with a selfie stick, either reading Thoreau aloud or complaining that they really wanted to get away from technology for a bit. It is worth noting these people have parked their vehicles just across the street, literally just a few yards away, and almost always have their phones handy for photos. They don’t seem to mind the restrooms at the visitor center either.
As I’m sure you can tell from all my “Saturdays are for the Beaches” posts, I’m big on appreciating what is. The lake deemed Walden Pond is sort of a gem. The water is home to loads of turtles. The trail around the lake is fenced off and mostly even footed. The admittance AKA parking is inexpensive. The regulars are always interested in a friendly chat. The vegetation is protected and photogenic to say the least. There is boating and swimming allowed. When water levels are lower, the beach that wraps around the whole lake has points with stone steps up to the trail through the woods above. There are signs etched with some of Thoreau’s more inspiring quotes on nature appreciation. The autumn sunsets still split the sky into as many colors as you’ll find anywhere else in New England.
Walden Pond isn’t a magical getaway from all things modern. It opens at 8 in the mornings, closes at 4 in the afternoons, and you’ll never be too far from your car. It is, however, another Massachusetts state park full of trees and water and creatures worth appreciating all the same. If you’re interested in a mile and a half long trail through nature, in order to disconnect as much as we can in this day and age, find your way to this all-seasons playground and enjoy it for what it is.
Extra Love: Although unrelated to Walden, Boston is about to full of different holiday tree lighting ceremonies. I wanted to give you the heads up, since some lights are going up before Thanksgiving this year. The ceremony on Boston Common, although initially reported to be planned for November 21st, will be held on December 5th. The ceremony at Faneuil won’t be until December 3rd, but if you’re looking to avoid the crowds like me, the tree goes up and lights get lit on November 25th. Be sure to pencil the dose of holiday cheer into your weeks ahead.
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