Photo Diary: A Hike Through Blue Hills

One of the incredible things about living in Boston is that one minute you can be immersed in the hustle and bustle of downtown, and two blocks later you find yourself in a quaint, quiet, and woodsy neighborhood. It's the perfect balance- there's always something to do, but you also have the opportunity to get away and find a quiet haven if you need a breather (a blessing during finals week).

Today, my sisters and I drove a mere 18 miles outside of the city to Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Mass to do a bit of hiking and exploring. The park had numerous trails for every skill level, and it was super easy to try different trails along the way if you wanted a change in scenery (or incline). We decided to try the Skyline Walk, which presents you with a beautiful view of the Boston skyline when you reach the summit. Unfortunately, the weather was very misty and uncooperative and obscured the city skyline from our vision :(

Nonetheless, we still had a blast walking around the park and pretending we were Bear Grylls lost in the wilderness. It turned out to be a great workout, especially with all of the steep inclines and rocks we had to navigate through. It probably wasn't the smartest idea to hike a rocky trail on a rainy day, but we made it out alive with our ankles still in tact (#blessed). Not to mention we were rewarded with some gorgeous landmarks at the end of our hike, including a lake that would be a perfect spot for a summer swim.

After our hike, we stumbled upon a local bakery for lunch. The place was founded in 1802 (!!) and had amazing fresh sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, and more. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end our little adventure.

All in all, I highly recommend exploring your local trails. This was a wonderful spontaneous post-finals trip and a great way to give myself some (free!) mental healing. I definitely want to come back in the fall to check out the park in all its autumnal-colored glory!
xoxo Lizzie