💚 Environmentally friendly trips

alexluu

I'm starting this discussion thread to record great environmentally friendly trips Brandeis students can easily organize.

The first one is called "Lincoln - Walden woods - Concord"

lincoln_walden_concord

"The human body is designed to walk. Humans walk better than any other species on earth." (George Halvorson)

This trip involves 5+ miles of walking and includes the following stops:

Lincoln Station (MBTA), connected to Waltham by the Fitchburg Line (At this stop, we can shop and eat at the supermarket, gift shop, cafe, restaurant, and park nearby.)
Clark Gallery
Codman Community Farms (We can shop at the farm store.)
Codman Estate
The Thoreau Institute of the Walden Woods Project
Walden Pond State Reservation (We can bathe/swim at the pond, walk/hike along the pond or on the trails through Walden Woods, attend free events organized by the Visitors Center, and shop books, clothing, gifts at the Thoreau Society Shop.)
Concord Visitor Center (a blog about it) and the nearby blocks (This is the center area of the town and we can shop, eat, and visit tourist attraction sites.)
Concord Station (MBTA), connected to Waltham by the Fitchburg Line (At this stop, we can also shop and eat.)

Restrooms are accessible at the Lincoln Station (in the supermarket), Walden Pond State Reservation, and Concord Visitor Center. Drinking fountains are available at the Walden Pond State Reservation and Concord Visitor Center.

Two-way commuter rail fare (from and back to Waltham) is less than $10.

alexluu

I'm hosting this trip on Saturday, September 24th, as the weather looks great.
weather forcast
On that day, there is also a special event at the Walden Pond Visitors Center: Birds of prey with Tom Ricardi (1-3pm).

Based on the Fitchburg Line's schedule, we will take:

the outbound train 1403 (Waltham → Lincoln) at the Waltham Station at 10:12am OR at the Brandeis/Roberts Station at 10:15am,
the inbound train 1410/1412 (Concord → Waltham) at the Concord Station at 4:50pm/6:50pm (with/without dinner in Concord respectively).

Free free to join, and bring your student card in case you need it for certain discounts.

And here are some tips from a famous local.

"Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

alexluu

Here is an optional modification of tomorrow's trip, depending on whether we want to walk a little more (1/3 of a mile).

Emerson-Thoreau Amble

This addition highlights the Emerson-Thoreau Amble trail, "a must for nature lovers".

sanchitad

Ah I would have liked to join for this but didn't see this in time! Hopefully next time!

alexluu

sanchitad Ah I would have liked to join for this but didn't see this in time! Hopefully next time!

I'm thinking of one day during the next long weekend of the Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 8-10). Currently the weather forecast looks very promising.

alexluu

As this Saturday (October 8) looks sunny and not windy, I will host another trip, with the exact schedule as the one on Saturday, September 24. See you then.

alexluu

This Saturday (October 15) is another nice day, and we will have another walking trip to Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. Here is the planned walking route:

Minute Man

This route features:

Concord Free Public Library
The Concord Market
North Bridge Visitor Center (more info)
(Old) North Bridge
The Old Manse
Concord Town Center with a lot of attraction sites: Old Hill Burial Ground, Wright Tavern, Copper Penny Flowers, Revolutionary Concord, Three Stones Gallery, Nesting, Concord Visitor Center, Gräem Nuts and Chocolate, Brine Sporting Goods, Artisans Way, The Cheese Shop of Concord
Emerson Playground

Following the Fitchburg Line's schedule, we will take:

the outbound train 1403 (Waltham → Concord) at the Waltham Station at 10:12am OR at the Brandeis/Roberts Station at 10:15am,
the inbound train 1408 (Concord → Waltham) at the Concord Station at 2:50pm.

alexluu

This Saturday (November 5) looks sunny and unexpectedly warm (max 75°F/24°C). Let's have another "Lincoln - Walden woods - Concord" walking trip before the days get really short. We will use the exact schedule as the one on Saturday, September 24.

The Fitchburg Line's schedule:

Waltham → Lincoln: the outbound train at the Waltham Station at 10:12am OR at the Brandeis/Roberts Station at 10:15am,
Concord → Waltham: the inbound train at the Concord Station at 4:52pm/6:52pm (with/without dinner in Concord respectively).