Tufts Blogs

When you think of New England, you probably think of rich historical sites, the New England Patriots, and, of course, the vibrant fall foliage of the autumnal months. Many Tufts students spend weekends venturing up into New Hampshire and Vermont, joining the hordes of “leaf-peepers” that move through those areas in the fall. While an out-of-state leaf viewing trip is exciting and fun, beautiful fall foliage can be found in much closer in our Medford/Somerville area as well!

Closest and most embedded in the Tufts community is the Tufts campus itself! Areas like President’s Lawn and the hill behind Paige Hall house maples and gingkos that turn bright reds and yellows midway through the fall semester. Students can enjoy the foliage while walking to class or choose to sit outside to spend some time in the crisp fall air. 

Walk a few minutes West of the Tufts campus, and you will happen upon the Mystic River and, branching from that, the Alewife Brook. Next to the Brook is the Alewife Greenway Bike Path, a short community path that runs parallel to the Tufts campus. The path begins as gravel and then transitions to a raised boardwalk. It is surrounded by overhanging trees and gardens cared for by community members. It’s also a great place to observe local fauna, as it's home to many rabbits, turtles, and birds (I even saw an egret the last time I visited). The Bike Path is incredibly convenient, being close to the Tufts campus, yet it still gives the sense of being enveloped by nature. 

Extending out into the Davis and Porter Square area, the Somerville Community Path offers a long trail suitable for walking, running, or biking, and is engulfed by beautiful fall leaves. Similar to the Alewife Greenway Bike Path, this path is located within the Somerville community and is primarily used by local community members. Community members decorate areas of the path. Most recently, I have seen mock political campaign yard signs featuring cats instead of people, and during the fall, decorations are often Halloween-themed. The Community Path is the perfect spot for a leisurely walk through the fall leaves.

A little bit out of the way, but in my opinion, completely worth it, is Spy Pond. About one and a half miles from the Tufts campus, Spy Pond is a serene space featuring plenty of trees, benches, flora, fauna, and, of course, the 100-acre pond itself. It is the most removed from the Tufts campus of these examples and, is located in the neighboring town of Arlington. There is a walking path next to the water and several lookout spots that give views across the pond. 

These four spaces offer great opportunities to step away from schoolwork and appreciate a New England fall without having to travel far.