Is it possible to visit Boston without actually, um, visiting Boston? When we rolled into Beantown, we set up camp in a rural area some 30 miles outside the metropolis.
This choice of campground was made partly out of necessity. There just aren’t many (if any) attractive camping options that are near the city center. So we decided to stay in the town of Littleton, and venture into the city via the “T” subway system.
Our campsite was fantastic, a welcome break from the recent deluge of asphalt. Here we were delighted to discover a privately run campground with campsites more akin to a national or state park. The sites were spacious, quiet, and loaded with tall trees. We had our own picnic table and firepit. We made good use of both, grilling steaks and making smores.
It just felt right to do some simple, fundamental camping again. “I must say that I’ve really enjoyed our campground,” Kristy said. “Even if we don’t go anywhere, we feel like we’ve gone somewhere.”
We explored the area and found several charming small communities. A nearby ice cream and mini golf establishment called Kimball Farms served up the best ice cream I’ve tasted in a long time. We went to a local Korean restaurant and had the best — okay, the only — Korean food, while sitting on the floor. And I particularly enjoyed our visits to Walden Pond and Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, where we paid homage to that 19th Century rebel, Henry David Thoreau.
Did we go to the city of Boston? Yes, of course. We explored Boston proper. We hopped aboard the “T” and did everything that a committed tourist is supposed to do: whetted our whistles in America’s oldest tavern, consumed a bowl of chowder at America’s oldest restaurant, and topped it all off with cannoli at Mike’s Pastry Shop in the North End. We walked the Freedom Trail. We enjoyed the city.
But most of all? We just enjoyed our campsite. How much did we enjoy this campground? We extended our stay THREE times. Any longer and we might have to pay Massachusetts residential taxes.
Finally, with regard to Thoreau, we must ponder this question. Since most of America’s recent economic woes are related to housing, would we be in this mess if we followed his admonition to simplify? Hmmmmmmm…
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