- Waterville Valley Spring Pond Skim
Waterville Valley puts on quite the Spring party to celebrate the end of ski season. Complete with a pond skim, food, and DJ this is a must see if your dog loves the snow! Leashed dogs are allowed on the deck of the lodge and also on the mountain itself to observe the pond skim. How cool is that? To view the pond skim, you will be required to climb up the snowy mountain a little ways so good snow shoes are recommended. There were lots of dogs at this event. Since Waterville Valley is located almost 2 hours away from us, Max and I stayed at the dog-friendly Campton Cabin.
2. Easter Photoshoot at Just Fur Paws
Just Fur Paws is a dog grooming salon that Max has been going to for years. It is a locally owned and trustworthy small business. Max will not allow me to bath him but he LOVES going to see the girls at Just Fur Paws. The best part is they also offer seasonal photo shoots! The Easter photoshoot is one of my favorites. For $25 you get three printed and digital Easter photos! It is a great deal and the pictures always come out so adorable. They are currently located in Burlington, MA but are planning to move soon so stay posted.
3. Shop at The Vintage Bazaar
The Vintage Bazaar is a curated festival in MA, NH, and CT featuring vintage collectors and designers. the list of vendors increases every year and includes many local shops and artists. There are four bazaars held every year, one for every season. Leashed dogs are allowed to come shopping with you at the bazaar. There is often food trucks and live music. There are some great dog product vendors here as well. Max came with me to attend the spring bazaar where he left with some new treats and a new bandana! The spring bazaar was held in Newington, NH this year. There is a $10 entry fee, but dogs are free.
4. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard
Harvard University in Boston, MA is home to the Arnold Arboretum, a 281-acre botanical research institution and garden. It is free and open to the public daily. There is free parking on the street outside the garden. There are many different paths to take, most of them covered in wood chips, which is very dog-friendly. There are beautiful flowering trees and flowers dispersed around the garden and plenty of grassy areas if you wanted to stop for a picnic. Max and I went on a weekday, and I felt there was plenty of space for everyone to spread out and it did not feel too crowded.
5. The Charles River Esplanade
The Charles River Esplanade in Boston is a popular 3 mile park along the Charles River. It offers walking paths, gardens, playgrounds, and the Hatch Shell Concert venue. There is also a place to rent sail boats and kayaks. The Esplanade is prettiest in the spring when all of it’s flowering trees are in full bloom. Max had a difficult time not chasing the many geese that frequent the park. The only difficult part about visiting The Esplanade is parking. I found the best place to park is Mass Eye and Ear parking that is located in the middle of Storrow Drive. However, the parking rate is quite expensive, around $30.
6. Brookline Reservoir
Brookline Reservoir offers a 1 mile tree-lined path around a reservoir in Brookline. The park is famous in the spring for its many flowering cherry trees that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Japan. The park is sprinkled with many benches and grassy areas where you can stop to picnic. Dogs are allowed on leash everywhere in the park. It is a must-see in the spring.
7. New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Lastly, the botanic garden in Boylston, MA consists of 171 acres of gardens and walking paths. Leashed dogs are allowed anywhere in the gardens, but not inside, with the exception of going inside the visitor’s center to purchase a ticket. Adults cost $24 and dogs are $8 to visit. In the spring, the gardens are in full bloom with colorful spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils. I was surprised that there were also walking paths through some wooded areas, which is Max’s favorite type of walking to do. Max really enjoyed his visit here.
