Picnic or Pay Homage
Written: Jul 20 '01
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Pros: family friendly, beautiful little lake and forest.
Cons: Doesn't have the magic of Thoreau's Walden, water used to be very polluted.
The Bottom Line: This is a nice escape from metropolitan areas and is of some literary interest, but mostly it is just a little lake to enjoy the outdoors by.
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| Admarginate's Full Review: Walden Pond State Reservation |
Walden Pond is of magical importance in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden but the real pond where Thoreau spent his two years is not the same pond in the book. I don’t think I expected it to be...even before I’d visited it was easy to see that Thoreau’s pond was a little bit fiction. Nonetheless, when in Boston, I had to go.
Once there, it is easy to see why Thoreau picked this place. It is a fairly large lake surrounded by tall new england trees. I’m sure it’s breathtaking in the fall. I went there in the middle of July and it was bustling with runners, hikers, sun bathers, swimmers, fisherman, and cyclists.
Park info
Walden Pond State Reservation is located a bit south of Concord, Mass., about 20 miles northwest of Boston. It is open daily from 7am-8pm. There is no camping or pets allowed. The lake is surrounded by wide trails for hiking or horseback riding. There is a marked off swimming area with life guards.
One of the trails leads to the original site of Thoreau’s cabin where he wrote Walden. The site is off of the water and the foundation of the original cabin and the wood shed are both clearly marked. A replica of the original cabin is found near the entrance to the park, as well as a bronze statue of Thoreau. (It is, unfortunately, not at the cabin site because of vandals.)
There is also a store (gasp!) full of Thoreau and Emerson souvenirs. As well as copies of all of Thoreau’s books, you can buy t-shirts, key chains, bumper stickers, posters, prints, etc. These are mostly done tastefully, but Thoreau is still turning in his grave. The store is run by the Thoreau Society, a literary society which also runs the yearly gathering.
Getting There
If you can find your way out of Boston while driving (heh heh), getting to Walden Pond is short scenic drive. Parking is $5. Otherwise it is just a five dollar taxi drive from a T stop. It is a nice way to get out the metropolitan area for a day trip.
I recommend driving there if possible. In nearby, history-rich, Concord, among other things, one can visit Author’s Ridge, in a cemetery called Sleepy Hollow, and see the gravesites of Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts. Or, if Walden is too crowded and nature is what you seek, another good place to try is right down the road, the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Thoreau went there also on his many daily walks, and it’s completely free.
Tips
1. If you visit in the summer, bring bug spray, the mosquitos can get bad.
2. This is a great place to plan a picnic!
3. If you are going there to pay homage to Thoreau, bring a rock with your name and town on it. Next the cabin site is a large pile of rocks where visitors from all over the world leave a bit of themselves.
4. Walden Pond used to be very polluted, especially with mercury. Conservation efforts are slowly reversing things, but before you fish or play there, read the warnings carefully.
All in All
Walden Pond is worth visiting. It is really a strikingly beautiful place, which is why is attracts crowds. I found it an exhilarating day trip from noisy Boston. I recommend if you have the time while you are visiting Boston or if you live nearby and need a day of relaxation and the outdoors. It is not, however, a paradise, and I don’t recommend, even for Thoreauvians, making a special trip just to see it.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: September-November
Recommended for: Familes
Review Topic: Overview
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Epinions.com ID:
Admarginate
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
I move a lot. End goal: New York City. (Someday. . .)
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