Get Out!

June is Great Get Outdoors Month, and we’re celebrating by kicking off a summer of outdoor adventure with ideas for getting out, getting active, and having fun, today through Labor Day and beyond. Whether you already love getting out and about on foot, on bike, or by boat, or need a little nudge to get started, here are 25 answers to the question, “What do you want to do today?”

By Laurie O'Reilly

1. GROOVE TO THE BEAT UNDER THE STARS. Pack a picnic and head out to Castle Hill, World’s End, and Westport Town Farm this summer for good times and great music, from reggae and rock to chamber music.

2. RELAX AND GO EASY. Ease into the outdoors with fun and easy walks at places like Bird Park in Walpole, Field Farm in Williamstown, Copicut Woods in Fall River, and North Common Meadow in Petersham. These flat trails are perfect for little legs – and there’s lots to see for kids and adults.

3. TAKE THE PLUNGE. The Trustees care for some of Massachusetts’ most spectacular beaches (Crane Beach, Long Point, and Cape Poge to name just a few), but you can also beat the heat away from the coast at some cool freshwater swimming holes, from Mashpee’s Lowell Holly and Royalston’s Tully Lake to Ashfield’s Chapel Brook and Middlefield’s Glendale Falls.

4. ADMIRE COLORFUL CREATIONS AT GORGEOUS GARDENS. A stroll through the gardens at Naumkeag, Long Hill, and Stevens-Coolidge Place relaxes, inspires, and refreshes, with their gorgeous buds a feast for all the senses.

5. HAVE FUN ON A FARM. Each of The Trustees’ seven community farms has its own particular flavor. Meet the cows and buy our very own milk and cheese at Appleton, get delicious fresh veggies at Bradley’s and Powisset’s farmstands, and visit the lambs and chickens during Weir River Farm’s weekly Open Barnyard – and that’s just the start.

6. PLANT A SEED. Join fellow gardeners to share tips, tricks, and techniques for gardening greatness. Check out our Gardener’s Exchange series at the Bullitt Reservation in Ashfield and Boston Natural Areas Network’s summer workshops.

7. PITCH A TENT. Check out Tully Lake Campground in Royalston for lakeside camping close to home. For camping newbies, learn how to toast marshmallows with the experts on our family campouts with REI at Rocky Woods and with our staff at the Crane Estate.

8. STEP BACK IN TIME. From the Colonial Era to the Modern Movement, our historic houses span a 300-year timeline of architecture and design. And, their gardens and grounds are just as awe-inspiring (especially Castle Hill’s newly restored Grand Allée).

9. BAG A PEAK. Massachusetts may not boast many high peaks, but there are a few that will get your heart pumping (like our 1,642-foot Monument Mountain). Think about going long instead and trek one of the long-distance trails that wind through the state, from the 22-mile Tully Trail to the 114-mile New England Scenic (Metacomet-Monadnock) Trail.

10. FIGURE OUT YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA. Capture your summer adventures on “film” and then share them with us at facebook.com/thetrustees.

11. NURTURE YOUR INNER ARTIST. Take inspiration from the sculptors whose beautiful river-inspired creations are on exhibit at Slocum’s River Reserve this summer.

12. FIND YOUR QUEST. Our self-guided, rhyming treasure hunts are a great way to get reluctant kids off the couch and into the outdoors – check out our new Quest Detective booklet.

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