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The great outdoors
Maureen Tripp, husband Pierre Spy, and children Julian and Kit of West Roxbury make time for a "peaceful interlude" during the holiday rush by walking in the Arnold Arboretum and gathering decorations for their home. "Pine cones are wonderful, but we also look for interesting twigs or grasses," Maureen says. (The arboretum allows this, so long as nothing is picked from the plants themselves.
For Amy Carmusin of Winchester, the fun is New Year's Day, not Eve. After spending the night in Williston, Vt., ("if cheap is the theme, try the Susse Chalet"), she beats the crowds to the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe for a cross-country skiing adventure. "But beware," she says, "the hills really are alive here. ... I soak up, well, snow, but also fresh air, scenery and a bit o' solitude" before the throngs have sobered up. She tops the morning off with strudel and hot chocolate at the Tea House.
Closer to Boston on New Year's are the First Day Hikes at Blue Hills Reservation, according to an e-mail correspondent who forgot to include her name. The guided walks, which vary in difficulty, drew 800 hikers last year. Meet at Houghton's Pond at noon for free clam chowder from Howard Johnson's, which co-sponsors the event with the MDC. The hikes start at 1. "Music is playing, the atmosphere is festive, and everyone seems to have a huge smile on their face," the e-mailer writes. For information, call 617-698-1802.
Jocelyn Tate's family must be made of sterner stuff than many of us. After a hearty Christmas dinner in Gloucester, Tate says, "we bundle up the grandkids, grab the beach pails, and head for the shore." Their favorite spot is in Magnolia off Route 127, near Manchester-by-the-Sea. "The view from Shore Road compares with any in the world!"
Inspired by a Norwegian custom, Roberta Star Hirshson of Somerville helped start a candle lighting ceremony at Mount Auburn Cemetery. The nondenominational service, which is led by clergy and accompanied by music, takes place in the cemetery chapel; afterward, a ring of candles is lit outside. "Nothing mournful. Just beautiful," Hirshson writes. For more on this service, call 617-547-7105.
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