Lakes close to Boston?? (Newton, Plymouth: for sale, to rent, houses)

[niko_11]

I have been debating whether to move to the Denver, CO area or Boston. Thing is, I think I prefer the architecture & history that Boston has to offer.

Here's where need all the help I can get... are there any towns within approximately 30 minutes driving distance to Boston that would fit my description below:

I would be looking to rent a room in a cottage (1) beside a lake backdropped by mountains (B) surrounded by forest (C) and 1-1.5 hours driving distance to a ski area

I'd really like to emphasize I am NOT seeking to live in a residential area on a lakeshore with tons of neighbors and a handful of trees with a shopping center around the corner. I really want to feel that I'm living in nature, yet have the ability to drive in to the city for employment & socializing.

Thanks in advance for reading and your suggestions are much appreciated.

[Calla]

You can find lakefront homes within a half hour, but they would all have visible neighbors. You would need to drive further than a half hour to get seclusion.

[smarty]

Yup... 30 minutes with lake front seculsion is more like multi million dollar homes/cottage. But, then... they may need someone to house sit...

There are many oppotunities in NH... just not in MA... where density high.. 30 minutes with traffic is only about 15 miles away from the city... not 30-40 miles away.

[ogre]

Unfortunately, you won't find the mountain backdrop within 30 minutes of Boston either. You could find some hills, but no mountains that close by. Also, as others have said, it would be difficult to find something really isolated within 30 minutes of Boston, and any such places you might find would cost. If you've got some bucks to spend, you can find what you're looking for in this general area, but the part about finding it within half an hour of the city is tricky. Of course, it also depends on how isolated you want to be. For enough money, you might find a nice spread of a few acres on a lakeshore, if there happened to be such a property for sale, but think more like an hour from Boston, longer during high-traffic times. For real isolation, you'd need to get still farther away.

[niko_11]

Thanks for your helpful responses.

If I eliminate "seclusion," but a lake surrounded by trees & some neighbors... any suggestions? i just want a starting point of where to look. 45 minutes driving distance is OK.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by niko_11

Thanks for your helpful responses.

If I eliminate "seclusion," but a lake surrounded by trees & some neighbors... any suggestions? i just want a starting point of where to look. 45 minutes driving distance is OK.

there are none, and to get into Boston in 45 min driving it will not be! Then factor in the snow etc., most sane people take the train or mbta. You might look to new hampshire, mountains and lakes. And if you wish to drive do factor in more travel time, gas, and parking which, it Boston! Costly. Boston just does have what you wish, and travel in your time frame! There are the Blue Hills, hardly a Mountain? Maybe check N.H.
Maybe Walden Pond, no lakes, or Mountains? What you do wish, is not, it your post to be real in Boston.

[smarty]

If you can live with very small lot... cottage... pond... (and still very expensive), there are plenty to choose from.

I suggest looking at a MA map... Look outside of Rt95...

Some example... in the West or Metrowest
lake boon in Hudson...
Willis Lake in Sudbury...
Lake Cochituate/Dudley Pond area


There are areas inside Rt95... but mostly million dollar houses... like
Jamaica Pond in Boston
Hammond Pond in Newton

I think there is also a pond in Woburn...

[jayrandom]

Inside of 95 there is Wakefield and Lake Quannapowitt and Crystal Lake. Neither are particularly secluded, but Wakefield is a nice town and they really do love their lake.
The Mystic Lakes in Winchester and Spy Pond in Arlington are both very nice and relatively close to the city. Both are pricier than Wakefield, but both are a lot closer, too.

[niko_11]

Thank You smarty & jayrandom! Both your answers rocked. I had started to lose hope that there were any lakes in the area. Keep the suggestions coming, all!

[foppy44]

Niko, tons of lakes in the Easton, Lakeville, Norton area. some are reservoirs, but there are cottages there. not a ton of seclusion, but they can "transport" you, particularly Lakeville. I have a little cottage there and its like being in New Hampshire. In addition, its close to the Cape and all the towns along the way (Duxbury, Mattapoisset, Plymouth) and then ON the Cape have tons of lakes!