ATHLETICS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN OUR BACKYARD Does your favorite form of athletics happen off the beaten path, biking a new trail or swimming at the lake? Tufts students take advantage of our best-of-both-worlds location—4.8 miles outside of Boston—to explore the outdoors in our own backyard. —JOHN MATTSON ’22 The Fells The Middlesex Fells Reservation (the Fells for short) may be close to Tufts’ campus, but visiting makes you feel very far from a college town, or any town for that matter. Just one of dozens of nature reservations in Massachusetts, the Fells has over 100 miles of mixed-use trails, and a large pond at its heart, great for sailing, kayaking, and fishing. The best part? The Fells is a six-minute drive from Tufts’ campus! A trip to the Fells is the ultimate study break, a complete immersion into nature that will leave you wondering, “How have I not been here before?” Somerville Bike Path Bring your bike in for a tune-up because the Somerville Community Path is the perfect place for a ride on a beautiful day. Spanning from the Alewife Linear Park to Lowell Street, the Community Path takes you from one end of Davis Square to the other. When the weather is nice, hundreds of Somerville locals can be seen walking, running, and cycling along the path. The people of Somerville love the path so much that, since it was first built, it has been extended three times. The third extension is underway and is set to make the path over a mile longer. Throw on your running shoes, and see what the hype is all about!
The Loj The Loj (pronounced like “lodge”) may be farther away, but for many Tufts students, it’s nearest and dearest to their hearts. Owned by Tufts and managed by the Tufts Mountain Club (TMC), throughout the year the Loj houses hundreds of adventure-seeking students looking for a weekend away from computer screens and social media. Whether you’ve never been hiking before or have free soloed El Capitan, a weekend trip to the Loj has something for everyone. If you don’t have a driver’s license, no problem. TMC owns vans that take students to the Loj on Friday evenings and back on Sunday mornings. But who knows, you may have so much fun hiking that you want to make the 120-mile hike back to campus! 22
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS PFOSI/TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Brooks Estate Directly in between the Fells and Mystic Lakes, the Brooks Estate offers a charming blend of history and nature. First settled around 1660, the estate was transformed into a Victorian summer retreat. The gorgeous architecture is often being restored, as the city of Medford works hard to maintain the buildings’ original look. Along with the Victorian buildings, acres of open space and walking trails make the estate an ideal place to explore the unique, historic landscape. The estate is also a critical habitat for birds and small mammals, with over 60 species of birds living on the property.
