Beautiful Morning Drive (Boston, Cambridge, Shrewsbury: real estate, houses, neighborhoods)

[brightdoglover]

(Disclaimer- I lived in and around Cambridge from 1974-1992, with a three failed moves out of state and out of country). I moved to Littleton in 1992, a former farming town with a lot of rural feel and modest houses, open land, but 30 miles only to Boston and one next to I-495. Because I'm not from Mass., or here, and don't have kids in schools, and work third shift, I don't know a lot outside of my little area.
This morning I was driving home from work and decided to look around surrounding towns, maybe find a pretty route home. I found myself leaving Rt. 2 (west) and driving through Boxborough and the town of Harvard. SHEER BEAUTY. So many big well-kept orchards, some stables, a lot of open land, and no McMansions in sight. Chevrons of birds arcing over the misty fields. I was struck by just how beautiful it is so close to cities and work. I just found out that at one point in its 300-year history, Littleton (currently some 7,000 people) was America's leading exporter of apples to Europe, and is still the center for Very Fine juices.
I really was struck by the beauty and rural feel and abundant orchards. You wouldn't see anything like that anywhere near south Jersey/Philly, where I grew up watching farm after farm get sold and become a subdivision named "Woodcrest on Pine Hill North Leas Riding" or some other absurd name for standard houses on a former potato farm. Yes, the houses were great for those mostly first-generation Americans who moved over from the city, and the European refugees who raised their post-war families. But I got so tired of seeing everything that existed before 1956 mowed down- existed before there was an America!
So I'm very grateful for northwest of Boston Massachusetts.

[TomDot]

It's really funny to read some of the posters, on the General Forum, from Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, etc. bragging about how their cities are adding a half million residents to their metro every decade. They don't seem to realize that what is happening is a bad thing.
My wife and I take the rural routes west of the city all the time. She is from Michigan and is in awe at the New England countryside.

[falover]

I never take the highway which I love. I think I am becoming more like my mom that way but it takes just about the same amount of time and if you get lost, at least it is still pretty.

[wheelz]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

(Disclaimer- I lived in and around Cambridge from 1974-1992, with a three failed moves out of state and out of country). I moved to Littleton in 1992, a former farming town with a lot of rural feel and modest houses, open land, but 30 miles only to Boston and one next to I-495. Because I'm not from Mass., or here, and don't have kids in schools, and work third shift, I don't know a lot outside of my little area.
This morning I was driving home from work and decided to look around surrounding towns, maybe find a pretty route home. I found myself leaving Rt. 2 (west) and driving through Boxborough and the town of Harvard. SHEER BEAUTY. So many big well-kept orchards, some stables, a lot of open land, and no McMansions in sight. Chevrons of birds arcing over the misty fields. I was struck by just how beautiful it is so close to cities and work. I just found out that at one point in its 300-year history, Littleton (currently some 7,000 people) was America's leading exporter of apples to Europe, and is still the center for Very Fine juices.
I really was struck by the beauty and rural feel and abundant orchards. You wouldn't see anything like that anywhere near south Jersey/Philly, where I grew up watching farm after farm get sold and become a subdivision named "Woodcrest on Pine Hill North Leas Riding" or some other absurd name for standard houses on a former potato farm. Yes, the houses were great for those mostly first-generation Americans who moved over from the city, and the European refugees who raised their post-war families. But I got so tired of seeing everything that existed before 1956 mowed down- existed before there was an America!
So I'm very grateful for northwest of Boston Massachusetts.

Wow! I can't believe you have lived in Littleton for 16 years and had never been two towns over to the town of Harvard. I can see how your attempts to move out of the state and/or country, failed. LOL!

[leorah]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

...This morning I was driving home from work and decided to look around surrounding towns, maybe find a pretty route home. I found myself leaving Rt. 2 (west) and driving through Boxborough and the town of Harvard. SHEER BEAUTY. So many big well-kept orchards, some stables, a lot of open land, and no McMansions in sight. Chevrons of birds arcing over the misty fields....I really was struck by the beauty and rural feel and abundant orchards....

Well, now that you've ventured to Harvard, come Spring take a day off and visit Fruitlands. Fruitlands Museum. The views from the restaurant terrace at the top of the hill are spectacular and the walking trails are wonderful.

You do live in a beautiful area of the state!

[brightdoglover]

Hey, hold on. I've certainly been two towns over, been to Fruitlands, (in fact, had vague plans to marry there) had friends in Bolton. Looked at real estate on Bare Hill Pond 'sigh'. I don't remember seeing such expanses of orchards.
I know one poster was joking (maybe) but 1) move to Santa Fe- no work, tons of violence against women 2) move to Maine, job petered out and 3) Peace Corps/Haiti, mission ended after violence to volunteers.
(Before Mass., I lived in south Philadelphia, south Jersey and Pittsburgh-at its worst).
Just never wandered around to see what I could see. And after the night I had at work, I really needed to see something of beauty. I guess I was posting more for people who aren't from the area.
Like what one poster said about people loving their ever-expanding metro areas. Ya can have it. Feh.

[leorah]

Oh, I'm sorry! I guess I read the " I don't know a lot outside of my little area" and made incorrect assumptions, and you know what they say about assumptions....

Anyway, I moved to Southeastern Massachusetts from Chicago in '72 and I was shocked to meet people who lived only 40 miles from Boston and Providence had never been there except to go to the airports.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

(Disclaimer- I lived in and around Cambridge from 1974-1992, with a three failed moves out of state and out of country). I moved to Littleton in 1992, a former farming town with a lot of rural feel and modest houses, open land, but 30 miles only to Boston and one next to I-495. Because I'm not from Mass., or here, and don't have kids in schools, and work third shift, I don't know a lot outside of my little area.
This morning I was driving home from work and decided to look around surrounding towns, maybe find a pretty route home. I found myself leaving Rt. 2 (west) and driving through Boxborough and the town of Harvard. SHEER BEAUTY. So many big well-kept orchards, some stables, a lot of open land, and no McMansions in sight. Chevrons of birds arcing over the misty fields. I was struck by just how beautiful it is so close to cities and work. I just found out that at one point in its 300-year history, Littleton (currently some 7,000 people) was America's leading exporter of apples to Europe, and is still the center for Very Fine juices.
I really was struck by the beauty and rural feel and abundant orchards. You wouldn't see anything like that anywhere near south Jersey/Philly, where I grew up watching farm after farm get sold and become a subdivision named "Woodcrest on Pine Hill North Leas Riding" or some other absurd name for standard houses on a former potato farm.

Brightdog the northwest countryside of Philadlephia is arguably as nice as Boston's. Perhaps you never made it to Chester,Bucks Montgomery,Western Delaware Counties but it doesnt resemble the urban neighborhoods of Philadelphia or South jersey sprawl in anyway. They all have done a very well job preseving their historic treasures especially Chester County.

Tom Dot I recently got into a pretty heated discussion with Hou + Atlanta posters who were carrying on about how big + important they were, bragging about passing Boston and Philly metroes in growth,calling Philadelphia and Boston dying regions. I tryed cautioning them about the perils of unsustained regional growth but they dont get it.

Brightdog here is Valley Forge which is 10 miles west of Center City Philly.



Chester Springs Pa.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by leorah

Oh, I'm sorry! I guess I read the " I don't know a lot outside of my little area" and made incorrect assumptions, and you know what they say about assumptions....

Anyway, I moved to Southeastern Massachusetts from Chicago in '72 and I was shocked to meet people who lived only 40 miles from Boston and Providence had never been there except to go to the airports.

You're right. In fact, to many people in S.E. Mass, Boston is just as foreign as Seattle. They avoid it like the plague. I grew up there, but it still shocked me when friends would call a 40 minute drive from Assonet, MA to Newport RI a, "road trip." (no lie).

[jdinma]

I always opt for the more scenic way to head down to Home Depot in Shrewsbury by taking Route 70 around Wachusett Reservoir rather than the 495, the 5 min. longer it takes me is worth it to arrive destressed and happy. It's amazing to see the season's change and makes me feel very lucky to live here when driving thru historic Boylston with the pretty Victorian homes.