Rails to Trails to Ice Cream – StreetsblogMASS

Not that you simply want a motive to deal with your self, however July is Nationwide Ice Cream Month, and this Sunday is Nationwide Ice Cream Day. Listed below are two trails every with two completely different choices for ice cream pit stops – attempt some new flavors or persist with the tried and true. Both method, discover elements of the area and have a deal with as we wrap up one other summer season week.

Earlier than you head out, listed below are some issues to pack:

• Water bottle
• Sun shades and sunblock
• ID & cash

All proper, let’s go!

The Northern Strand/Bike to the Sea Path

Final summer season, our editor wrote up a useful Travel Guide: Riding the New Northern Strand Trail, a virtually 9-mile paved path that meanders by a mixture of city and pure landscapes like metropolis facilities and the Saugus marshes within the cities of Everett, Malden, and Lynn, and the city of Saugus.

The path follows the trail of the Saugus Branch Railroad, which carried passengers for practically a century, till 1958. At its peak within the Eighteen Nineties, the railroad ran with a frequency of 36 journeys a day.

This summer season you possibly can experience the path your self and take a look at the newly constructed sections as you make your strategy to one or each of the ice cream choices alongside the way in which.

From Everett, you possibly can hop on the path at Rivergreen Park. When you’d like to make use of a Bluebike, there’s a station only a few meters up the path.

In Malden, pull off the path at Most important Avenue and switch left on Centre Avenue. You’ll see Jay’s Ice Cream in your left facet.

Your subsequent pit cease is within the city of Saugus, “the site of the first integrated iron works in North America.” Hop off the path at Laurel Avenue, experience by a few neighborhood blocks, then take a left activate Lincoln Avenue the place you’ll see Banana Splitz about 4 blocks north.

With a stomach filled with ice cream you possibly can hold going in direction of Lynn, the place you possibly can finish the day having fun with the city’s many beautiful murals or the nearby beaches.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Path

This path and ice cream possibility is kind of enjoyable as properly, and when you’re ranging from Boston, it includes taking the commuter rail, which at all times seems like an journey (that is mentioned with love).

Seize a $10 Commuter Rail cross and take the Fitchburg Line practice from North Station to West Harmony. West Harmony is a flag cease, so make sure to let the individual checking tickets the place you’re going; in any other case, they may roll proper previous your vacation spot.

You’ll discover the path is simply steps away from the Commuter Rail platform – no strategy to miss it. When you labored up an urge for food through the 40ish-minute practice experience, you possibly can have your ice cream earlier than beginning the path, as a result of why not? Reasons to be Cheerful is about two blocks away on Commonwealth Avenue, a cute avenue in West Harmony stuffed with numerous eateries and retailers. 

When you want a motorcycle, only a few extra steps down from the path head there’s a Concord Bike Share station, the place you possibly can hire a motorcycle for $1.30 for each half-hour. Simply obtain the Movatic app.

Shortly after kicking issues off, you’ll attain Route 2, the place the bridge connecting Harmony and Acton is technically nonetheless below building, however folks have been riding it already. When you’re on a street bike chances are you’ll wish to stroll your bike throughout the gravel part. Moreover that, you ought to be good to go!

A few third of the way in which in direction of Lowell, you’ll experience previous Nara Park, a beautiful physique of water surrounded by tall bushes and stuffed with water lillies.

About 3 miles away out of your subsequent ice cream cease is Heart Pond, a great spot to take a break. Lean your bike in opposition to the picket fence and rehydrate as you’re taking within the view of the lake and small seashore tucked to the facet.

Maintain pedaling into the city of Chemlsford, and also you’ll discover a gap proper off the path that leads straight to Little Z’s. Heads up: the serving sizes are fairly giant, so beware!

A southern expansion of the BFRT into Sudbury is expected to go under construction soon, and the Metropolis of Framingham and the City of Sudbury recently won grants to design the remainder of the path into downtown Framingham, so someday quickly, this path ought to join you to much more cute ice cream spots and exquisite landscapes.

The StreetsblogMASS crew hopes you loved this! If you already know of any hidden gems alongside trails, tell us within the feedback. We’d like to function the nice facilities we have now in our area accessible and not using a automobile.