Blue Mass Group

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Saugus Iron Works and other easy escapes during the pandemic (Open Thread)

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Saugus Iron Works

Directions

Address
244 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906
(Coordinates 42.467998,-71.008698)

Map
View local map via Google Maps.

By Car
From Interstate 95 Northbound: Take exit 43 to Walnut Street. Turn right onto Walnut Street. Dive 2.3 miles, then turn right onto Central Street. Stay on Central Street for 1.1 miles. Turn left to stay on Central Street (road makes a sharp turn). Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will be on your left.

From Interstate 95 Southbound: Take exit 43 to Walnut Street. Turn left onto Walnut Street. Drive 2.3 miles and turn right onto Central Street. Stay on Central Street for 1.1 Miles. Turn left to stay on Central Street (road makes a sharp turn). Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will be on your left.

From Route 1 Northbound: Exit onto Main Street towards Saugus. Stay on Main Street for 0.8 miles. At the traffic circle, take the third exit onto Central Street heading north. In 0.3 miles, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will be on your right.

From Route 1 Southbound: Once in Saugus, take the Walnut Street exit. Turn left onto Walnut Street from the exit ramp. Drive 0.6 miles and turn right onto Central Street. Stay on Central Street for 1.1 Miles. Turn left to stay on Central Street (road makes a sharp turn). Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will be on your left.

Public Transit
Public bus service (#430) runs daily except Sundays from the Malden subway station (Orange Line).

My wife and I enjoyed a lovely and stress-free walkabout this afternoon at the Saugus Iron Works. It is one of those mostly-hidden historical gems of Massachusetts. Like the Old North Bridge, it’s one of those places that provide an instant transporter to and from a different time. The buildings, exhibits, and restrooms are closed because of the pandemic. The parking lot and extensive grounds are open, free and accessible.

There have been some threads and comments here that reflect, in various ways, the stress and tension that I suspect all of us face during this pandemic. We each have our ways of handling such stress. A half-hour or hour’s walk on a sunny Massachusetts spring day is one of my favorites.

I thought BMG might appreciate an open thread where we might share our favorites. Comments that include easy-to-follow directions are really helpful. I’m especially interested in destinations in Central and Western MA, since it’s sometimes a real treat to get away from the city.

Please share a favorite walk-about destination near you.

Please share widely!
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Comments

  1. You mention the North Bridge, but that park also includes the 5.5 mile long Battle Road Trail from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to Fiske Hill in Lexington. The Lexington end is near the interchange of 2A and 128.

  2. My wife and I went to Five Fork Farms with our new dog on Saturday and had a lovely time. Great, family owned, sustainable flower farm. Very easy to socially distance while strolling the adjacent conservation land. The drive down there was very scenic and I encountered a whole new part of the state I was not familiar with with lakes abounding around Upton and Hopkinton.

    I’ll also recommend the extensive Fells park system which can even be a multi day affair if you want. I was able to spent a good six hours (literally) getting lost in there between the Winchester Reservoir and the Wright Tower early in the Quarantine. There are six other sections within walking distance of that one. I suggest going early though since they do get crowded in the afternoon and on weekends.

    Also in Saugus is Breakheart which is far more complex than I remembered it. Two large lakes and a few hills scattered among gorgeous woods. and the Lynn Woods which has a cool Tolkein esque tower in it. I have explored both since quarantine and find them to be relaxing places, but again, advise folks to go early before crowds arrive. When I lived in Boston/Cambridge I enjoyed walking the length of the Charles River Basin. From my old apartment in Kenmore Square I would go down to Weeks Bridge, cross, and then walk down Mem Drive all the way to the Longfellow Bridge and then make my way down. Forest River Park in Salem is another gem, as are the Salem Town Woods from my time there. Mosconomo Park in Manchester and the walk to and from Singing Beach is another, ended with a literal cherry on top at Captain Dusty’s.

    • For those who live in Boston, especially Brookline, the Riverway/Emerald Necklace is a great walk, especially this time of year. It’s easily accessed from multiple places near Kenmore Square, and goes all the way to Jamaica Pond (about 3-4 miles) for the adventurous.

    • In these parts, outdoor areas of NPS sites generally are, but there are no staff, visitor services, or programming.

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