Doing a little Internet research, I found that the population density of the Northeastern Megalopolis, which stretches from Boston to Washington D.C., is about 1,000 people per sq. mi. In fact, according to Wikipedia, over 52,000,000 people live in this area. That accounts for 17% of the country’s population on only 2% of the land. The national average density is about 80 people per square mi. My hometown of Kansas City is only about 200 people per sq. mi. and that’s in the metropolitan area. So why am I spouting all this totally useless information? As I’ve said many times before, there are a lot of people here. Roads are always busy. Stores are rarely empty. And for the most part, there’s usually the hum of civilization somewhere in the background. If you haven’t been here, you might wonder if there are places that aren’t totally paved in concrete and littered with buildings. Surprisingly enough,  there are!  In fact, most of this urban jungle has been cut out of dense woodlands that still exist almost everywhere you turn.  Even in the cities, there are amazing nature reserves to get away from it all.  This month, I took advantage of two amazingly beautiful nature experiences that exist in the heart of the largest city in the area, and in the small, but busy city I live.

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is located on the southwestern side of Boston, just at the end of the orange line train. Janet wasn’t interested in this journey so I ventured out on a solo episode, and was not disappointed. The 281 acre park is a tranquil museum of trees and foliage that make you forget you’re in a major city. I found the arboretum to be a perfect mixture of sculpted gardens and wild woodlands. Beautiful streams and ponds accentuate the paved pathways and wooded trails throughout the sanctuary.

The visitors center contained an interactive diorama of the park and I was able to locate a couple of areas I really wanted to see. The first was a bonsai collection. My good friend Del was fascinated by bonsai trees in his younger days, and even attempted to maintain one. I’m not sure if he still has it, but I loved his enthusiasm for the art form. This collection contained about 8 or 9 miniature trees that were amazing. One really has to admire the dedication required to sustain these living pieces of art.

The final stop on my adventure was to climb Bussey Hill to the scenic overlook. I chose a trail, rather than a paved path, and quickly recognized how out of shape I am as the ascent was much steeper than I anticipated. I pushed on and finally reached the top. I was surprised to find that the peak was wooded and  I couldn’t see anything of the park below. Somewhat disappointed, I chose to return by way of the paved path that spiraled the hill. It only took me a few steps to discover why the map had labeled it as a scenic overlook. Through the trees was a view not of the park, but of the Boston skyline. I thought it a perfect way to remind me that this gem of nature was in the heart of a vibrant city.

Many large cities in the northeast contain large parks like the arboretum. Another way that cities are providing places to walk in nature is by converting old railroads into trails. In one of my next trips to New York, I really want to walk the Highline park, which was once an elevated rail line.  The Rails to Trails Conservancy is an organization dedicated to converting old rail corridors into multi-purpose public paths to promote healthier life styles. Our new apartment is fortunate enough to be located right off one of these paths. We decided to utilize the path on a trip to the Salem farmer’s market. Because they are former railroad lines, the path is mostly flat making it really easy for walkers and bikers. We met families and seniors on a beautiful Sunday morning. The portion we walked was only about 100 feet from 28 Hwy, but the wooded wetlands on the opposite side made you feel like you were in the middle of the forest. The Salem Rail trail is part of a network of trails that extend ten miles north to Derry, where I work. I guess if I were really motivated I could ride a bike to work. Don’t think that will happen soon, but you never know. We made our way to the farmer’s market for some farm fresh eggs, corn on the cob, and vine ripened cherry tomatoes. As we walked back home, we knew we’d found a new favorite activity.

I think that when you live in an area as dense as this, it’s important to be able to connect with nature, whether in a public park, a stroll through the woods, or a day at the beach!  Fortunately, we’ve been able to find some ways to do just that.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller