Parks with Canals Offer Best Access to First Day Hikes

Winter view along the towpath shows a frozen canal.

        A visit to Riverbend Farm in Uxbridge offers a unique opportunity to walk along a historical canal. I stopped there this week to check out accessibility of both the "towpath" and the exhibits at the Visitor Center. This location is on DCR's offerings of First Day Hikes on January 1, 2023. 

        First Day Hikes are especially worth mentioning since this national phenomenon first started at a DCR State Park in 1992. There are seven Massachusetts State Parks offering a First Day Hike for 2023. Of the seven, two parks have reasonably accessible trails, both along canals. The Great Falls Discovery Center, adjacent to the Canalside Rail Trail in Turners Falls near Greenfield, is offering a 3-mile excursion along the paved trail and Riverbend Farm has a 1.5-mile trek planned on its towpath. Both outings offer hot chocolate back at the Visitor Center afterwards. Hiking the full distance is probably not a hard and fast requirement to achieve the reward! 

Refresh Yourself with Adaptive Winter Recreation in Worcester and Beyond

A skater using with a walker.

        This week I stopped by Buffone Rink in Worcester to meet with the supervisor about our upcoming adaptive skating programs. While there, I treated myself to skating on the ice and found myself wonderfully refreshed afterwards. There is something magical about gliding in cool air - it clears the mind and refreshes the lungs - two things most of us could use during a season of so much time spent indoors.

        DCR's Universal Access Program is finally returning to Worcester since the pandemic started, to bring some winter fun opportunities to the area. We will be at Buffone Rink at 284 Lake Ave. on Mondays January 16, February 27 and March 20 from 1-3:30pm. Advance registration is required. Find more information at the end of this post.