“There’s no place like home,” Dorothy says at the end of The Wizard of Oz. Though I wasn’t born in Arlington, I have lived there all my life and for me, it is home. This week, I thought I’d highlight ten things that make my town so special to me, from specific places to natural spaces, to the beautiful community makes up our town.
1. The Minuteman Bike Path
It is a beautiful, paved path stretching between Cambridge and Bedford that everyone uses in good weather, to walk, bike, run, do just about anything active. I love taking the bike path, whether by bike or foot to get around, and explore the towns strung along it. Tons of people are always out on it, and it’s a great place to spot some cute dogs. It’s prettiest in the fall, when the trees are full of their beautiful colored leaves.
2. Spy Pond
The huge body of water that the Arlington sports teams are named after (we’re the Spy Ponders) is a hallmark of the town. The Boys and Girls club is right on its shore, and the island in the middle is owned by the town of Arlington. You can kayak and sail out on the water, or just walk around the edge and watch the geese and ducks, or stop by a playground nearby and take in the views. Being around the pond is bliss in the summer when the soft breeze blows and the water ripples against the shore and the sun soaks into everything.
3. Menotomy Rocks Park
Continuing with the nature theme, this park is one of the most special places in the town. It has a pond, a big playground, lots of walking trails in the hilly woods, and it’s full of geocaches, which are hidden containers full of treasures found by using GPS coordinates. I’ve spent countless hours exploring the park with my friends, trekking along the trails and just relaxing away from the chaos that is life sometimes. Lots of dog walkers go there, and young families with their kids, everyone loves it.
4. Turkey Hill Reservation
This little piece of conservation land is tucked up in my neighborhood, and I’m not sure a lot of people know about it but that’s what makes it so special. I walk the loop up through those woods at least twice a week, and it is spectacular any time of day. It’s quiet and sunny and still in the mornings, and equally peaceful in the evenings. At the top is the green water tower and along the trail, there’s a beautiful spot atop a rock that looks out over the whole town. It’s my favorite part of this epic piece of conservation land, which I know by heart.
5. The Arlington Reservoir
I know that almost half of my list is now natural spaces, but there are so many beautiful places in this town that I spend a lot of time in. This is a little one mile loop that is completely flat that goes around a beautiful body of water, and is attached to a smaller part which is filtered and available for swimming in the summer. I walk this trail with my mom and our dog almost every night, and I love being there at sunset, taking pictures there, and talking to the community of people who come by to walk their dogs. The Res, as we call it, holds an extremely special place in my heart. I’ve been going there since I was a kid.
6. The Robbins Library
This is a magical place, full of lots of books, beautiful architecture, and a really cool garden out back. I’ve never found another library quite like it, and I love the charm that it brings to our town. I go all the time to do work, to get books, or simply to see what’s happening. There’s even a beehive outside on a small balcony that you can watch from inside, and plenty of space to curl up and read. It’s another one of my favorite places.
7. The Book Rack
There are no words to describe how much this place means to me. It’s packed with shelves and shelves of books from floor to ceiling that form little nooks and it’s the coziest used bookstore I know. The people there know my dad and I by name, and the more books we bring them, the more credit we build towards buying more used books at a reduced price. I love going in and being greeted by name and having everyone ask what we’ve been up to. It’s a classic must-visit if you’re ever in the center of my town, plus it’s tucked on a small street with some great restaurants.
8. Bagels by Us
This is a small diner in the heights that I’ve been going to since what feels like forever. They have the best bagels and cream cheese, and you can get take out or sit down and eat in. It’s another place where dad and I are well known, and I visit as often as I can. I don’t know what I’d do if they ever closed. There’s no place more special to me in Arlington to get food than this diner. I associate this place heavily with the very special bond I have with my dad, and with some of the best memories I have from sleepovers with friends are dad getting us bagels from the diner in the morning. Bagels by us has stolen a piece of my heart for good.
9. Play Time
Our local arts and crafts store is a really awesome place. It’s small, but the two floors and crowded shelves overflowing with art supplies give it a comforting feel. I’ve gotten my art supplies here for a countless number of years and it’s one of my favorite locally owned businesses. They have everything, and I mean everything. Plus, the people who work there are sweet and always welcome everyone who comes in. I go there for frames, beads, blank books, basically any art supplies I need. I encourage all who pass through Arlington to stop by and take a look around.
10. Robbins Farm Park, aka Skyline Park
Last but not least, this park is simply amazing. With a huge, renovated playground and two huge blue slides that are one of the key attractions, there’s no other park like it in town. Plus, it has an absolutely stunning view of the Boston skyline from the top of the grassy hill and you can see a great bunch of the city. It’s a great place to take kids, there’s plenty of sledding hills in the winter, and they always host a wonderful Fourth of July celebration. I make a point to bring my friends by there because there’s just no park like it. I used to go there to see the solstice sunrise over the skyline every year, and I miss that tradition. Again, I urge you to check out this place if you come to visit my town.
I love these places, and they’re just a small part of what makes Arlington home for me. This town is so beautiful, unique and special, and has a community unlike anywhere else. I can’t imagine calling anywhere else home, and I hope that if you come to visit my town, you’ll fall in love with it just like I have. It is a place more special to me than any other. There really is no place like home, and Arlington will always be my home.
