Weekend Photosynthesis - Checking in on Bays and Waterscapes Near Boston

Since moving to Boston last year and becoming a regular office worker, I began exploring the natural landscapes around Boston (Massachusetts). Although winter here is long and cold, sunny days provide a good opportunity for photosynthesis. Below is the check-in list so far, with photos scattered as they come, along with travel tips and food recommendations.

2019.09.01 Cape Cod

On my second day after moving to Boston, an old friend came to visit, so they took me to Cape Cod National Park. It's about an hour's drive from downtown Boston, depending on traffic. Cape Cod is a large scenic area with a well-developed tourism industry. There are many stops to choose from for ocean views, as well as plenty of hotels for overnight stays. We caught the sunset on the first day and stayed overnight to welcome the sunrise the next day.

We chose the westernmost point of the Eastham area for sunset viewing and the easternmost point of the same area for sunrise. This was my first experience of the magical power of the sea in Boston (Massachusetts), especially during such monumental moments as sunset and sunrise. Perhaps ocean views around the world are similar, or perhaps they are completely different.

The sun rises as always:

The pink-purple sky before sunrise

2019.10.23 Revere Beach

This beach is north of downtown Boston, near Lynn. I passed by it while visiting a construction site during work, so I only stayed a short time. The coastline is very long, and across the road are rows of cute "sea-view houses." The white sand beach in late autumn Boston is a place that will make you nostalgic. We bought coffee, juice, and fried fish fillets (no photo) at a small kiosk called Kelly's Roast Beef by the roadside, sat by the roadside enjoying the sea view—this was probably one of my favorite moments.

2020.01.19 Manchester by the Sea

Suddenly it was winter. I'm not usually a diligent recorder. Manchester-by-the-Sea is famous, and the ocean view after a winter snow is also quite interesting. We took the Purple Line commuter rail Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station in downtown Boston. On weekends, trains run about once an hour, round trip $10. (When taking the train, be punctual—even if the train might be late—and wait at the correct spot. On the return trip, we weren't standing on the platform but sitting on nearby benches; when we saw it stop and ran over, we missed it, so we had to take a taxi to its next stop to catch it.)

After arriving at noon, we bought a hot tea at the Dunkin' Donuts next to the station. Winter in Boston is exceptionally cold. Perhaps due to the season, only a few small eateries in the area were open, and they all closed by 6 p.m. It might be better to bring some food and hot water with you.

From the train station, walk straight along Beach Street, passing Masconomo Park first, then a villa area with many small houses full of design flair. After about a 20-30 minute walk, you'll reach the famous Singing Beach. On weekends, the beach is full of dogs running around joyfully, leaving footprints everywhere. Although the winter bay colors are muted, it is still full of vitality.

Besides this stop, if you have a car, you can also visit nearby Rockport and Salem. We didn't have a car, so we power-walked around the small town and encountered Puritan-style white churches and library buildings, which complemented the winter snowscape.

2020.02.09 Walden Pond

I came because of the textbook lesson. This time we again took the Purple Line commuter rail (I don't remember the line). Like the book "Walden," this water scene is also a place that calms the mind, even more so in winter. I don't have the patience to read Thoreau's journals, so I just sat briefly in the cabin. As an architecture fan, I immediately noticed the beams made of a few intact, raw tree trunks (and I'll mention the visitor center building at the entrance of the lake area—also an elegant, eco-friendly wooden structure).

There is a trail around Walden Pond on the hill, slightly icy and a bit slippery. On days without snow or rain, it should be very nice. Stopping and going, we took nearly two hours to complete the loop. The winter water scene was still muted, but with the shadows of some trees, it appeared bluish-green.

The scenery of Walden Pond changes with the four seasons. We plan to visit again on the night of the full moon in a certain lunar month when the moon rises.

2020.02.23 Carson Beach & JFK Library

By the end of February, the sunlight lasted longer. I finally checked in at I.M. Pei's John F. Kennedy Library. Take the Red Line subway to JFK/UMass station, then walk a short distance to Joe Moakley Park and Carson Beach. From Carson Beach, walk south along the coastline to the Kennedy Library—that sculptural, geometric masterpiece. Approaching spring, the bay's blue intensity and brightness increased, making the white concrete building even more radiant. The building itself is magnificent both inside and out. The power of human and nature was fully displayed in this trip. Getting shorter as I write, so just look at the photos~

2020.03.08 World's End

By this time, the pandemic was starting to develop, and we began to pay attention to keeping distance from others. Fortunately, World's End is a relatively open natural scenic and hiking area, with visitors spread out. Again, we took the Purple Line Greenbush Line (get off at Nantasket Junction station). Alternatively, you can take the Red Line to Quincy and then transfer by bus. There were no more than five people in the entire train car, making social distancing very easy.

World's End, as its name suggests, has vast views as if at the end of the world. What I remember more clearly is that after getting off the train, near Hingham Harbor Marina, there are several restaurants serving American and Italian food, quite good. We tried two places—Liberty Grill, where we ordered fried seafood, mashed potatoes, and ice cream. And Stars On Hingham Harbor, which was crowded with a wait and slow service; we ordered salad and fried chicken. This time the food experience was better than before.

And then, there was no more. The pandemic became more and more serious...

I hope everything returns to normal soon so I can continue checking in on ocean views or other natural landscapes near Boston.