The Best Things to do on a Road Trip from Arlington, MA to Brookline, MA

Driving on Massachusetts' winding roads, with its stunning landscapes and charming towns is a delightful experience. A trip from Arlington to Brookline offers a glimpse into the history, culture, and nature of the region, with many interesting stops along the way. Cambridge, MA, the halfway point, has its attractions, but there is so much more to explore beyond its borders. Here are the top five things to do on this road trip:

1. Visit Fenway Park

Boston's Fenway Park, the oldest baseball park in the country, is a must-visit destination for sports enthusiasts. The stadium, which opened in 1912, is full of history, character, and charm. Visitors can take a guided walking tour of the park, where they will learn about its storied past, see the green monster up close, and sit in famous places like the press box.

Interesting fact: Fenway Park originally had a single-tiered section known as the Duffy's Cliff, which was almost twice as high as the modern monster seats.

2. Explore Walden Pond

Walden Pond, in Concord, MA, is one of America's most famous bodies of water, thanks to Henry David Thoreau's book, Walden. Visitors can swim, hike, and picnic in the park, but the main attraction is the replica of Thoreau's cabin at the pond's edge. The cabin, which Thoreau built himself in 1845, is a tribute to his philosophy of simple living and self-sufficiency.

Interesting fact: Walden Pond is only 61 acres, making it a relatively small body of water compared to other lakes and ponds in the region.

3. Visit Minute Man National Historical Park

The Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington, MA, features several sites and monuments that commemorate the first battle of the American Revolution. Visitors can walk on the Battle Road Trail, which follows the route that the British troops took on April 19, 1775, to reach Concord and engage the Colonial militia. The park also has a visitor center with exhibits, films, and ranger-led programs.

Interesting fact: The statue of the Minute Man that stands in front of the park's visitor center is a replica of one that the sculptor Daniel Chester French made for the 1875 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

4. Visit the Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, MA, is a botanical garden that is affiliated with Harvard University and is one of the oldest and largest arboreta in the country. The park's 281 acres feature over 15,000 plants, trees, and shrubs from around the world, arranged in various collections and landscapes. Visitors can take a guided tour, attend a lecture or workshop, or simply wander the paths and enjoy the greenery.

Interesting fact: The Arnold Arboretum is named after James Arnold, who left his estate to Harvard University in 1872 with the stipulation that it be used for "the establishment and support of an arboretum or botanic garden."

5. Explore the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood is a unique museum that combines art and history in a spectacular setting. The museum, which is housed in a Venetian-style palace that Gardner herself designed, features over 2,500 objects, including paintings, sculpture, furniture, textiles, and manuscripts, from ancient Rome to the 20th century. Visitors can take a self-guided or docent-led tour and marvel at the museum's many treasures.

Interesting fact: The museum's most famous work is Johannes Vermeer's painting, "The Concert," which was stolen in a daring heist in 1990 and has never been recovered.

After these five attractions, visitors will feel like they have had a great overview of both Massachusetts' history and culture. Route 2 takes approximately 50 minutes from Arlington to Cambridge, with another half-hour to an hour to reach each location depending on traffic and weather conditions. This trip can take two days or more, depending on how much time visitors want to spend in each attraction. But one thing is sure that they will be rewarded for making time to visit these remarkable sites.