In 1632, after climbing up the face of a boulder near present-day Waltham and facing west toward Neipnett, Gov. John Winthrop sighted Wachusett Mountain rising against the setting sun. However, the idea of a town did not take hold until 1742, when the first settler, Joshua Wilder, arrived from Lancaster and established a tavern. By the mid-1800s, magnificent hotels and guesthouses dotted Princeton's landscape. Princeton and Wachusett Mountain shows the early days of tourism when visitors from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia rode stagecoaches to relax in the shade, play croquet on the common, and breathe country air. The village of East Princeton, meanwhile, flourished differently-chair factories used a fast-moving stream to run machines, and farmers worked the fields. Village life was simple and focused on family and the earth.
In 1632, after climbing up the face of a boulder near present-day Waltham and facing west toward Neipnett, Gov. John Winthrop sighted Wachusett Mountain rising against the setting sun. However, the idea of a town did not take hold until 1742, when the first settler, Joshua Wilder, arrived from Lancaster and established a tavern. By the mid-1800s, magnificent hotels and guesthouses dotted Princeton's landscape. Princeton and Wachusett Mountain shows the early days of tourism when visitors from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia rode stagecoaches to relax in the shade, play croquet on the common, and breathe country air. The village of East Princeton, meanwhile, flourished differently-chair factories used a fast-moving stream to run machines, and farmers worked the fields. Village life was simple and focused on family and the earth.
Nestled at the foot of Wachusett Mountain, Princeton has come a long way since the days when cows outnumbered its citizens. Today, within its small circumference, the town boasts four nationally registered historical districts. With an array of styles from Colonial to Greek Revival, Richardsonian to Romanesque, its distinguished architectural landscape serves as a lasting reminder of the towns many transitions. Anderson, Dubman and Fiandaca document Princetons growth from eighteenth-century agrarian community to turn-of-the-century summer resort.
Summer and winter our eyes had rested on the dim outline of the mountains in our horizon, to which distance and indistinctness lent a grandeur not their own, so that they served equally to interpret all the allusions of poets and travellers; whether with Homer, on a spring morning, we sat down on the many-peaked Olympus, or, with Virgil and his compeers, roamed the Etrurian and Thessalian hills, or with Humboldt measured the more modern Andes and Teneriffe. Thus we spoke our mind to them, standing on the Concord cliffs.
Massachusetts Trail Guide, 9th Edition is a comprehensive hiking guide with a pull-out map that provides detailed information for avid hikers about every major trail in Massachusetts.
The armchair dreamer's companion -- a graceful and fascinating history of New England's fifteen most celebrated mountains, with information on people, places legends, and lore.
Hiking routes let you explore the same areas of MA, NH, and ME that Thoreau explored. This is the essential guide for modern-day walkers and hikers eager to retrace Thoreau’s routes on New England’s peaks. Insights about Thoreau’s mountain journeys, excerpts from his trip narratives, detailed topographical maps, and precise trail directions pave the way—figuratively—for hikers who want to cover the same ground that Thoreau explored in the mid-19th century. With this inventive guide in hand, history and literature buffs and outdoors enthusiasts alike can enjoy a dozen hikes and at least as many stories of what the trails were like in Thoreau’s day. Thoreau was drawn to these high places because they are the natural world amplified, the world thrust upward. Not to go there was unthinkable. “We must go out and re-ally ourselves to Nature every day,” he wrote in 1856. “I am sensible that I am imbibing health when I open my mouth to the wind...Alone in distant woods or fields, I come to myself, I once more feel myself grandly related, and that cold and solitude are friends of mine.” John Gibson is the author of several books, including Explorer’s Guides 50 Hikes in Coastal and Southern Maine and Weekend Walks along the New England Coast (both Countryman). He lives in Hallowell, ME.
Discover local adventures in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut with Moon New England Hiking. Inside you'll find: 150 Outdoor Getaways including easy day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips Diverse Hiking Options from breathtaking seaside walks in Coastal Maine to challenging backcountry treks in the Berkshires Find Your Hike: Choose from strategic lists like the best spots for a swim, high-elevation vistas, New England oddities, and hikes with nearby breweries, plus a breakdown of the best hikes for each season The Top Outdoor Experiences: Cool off under a cascading waterfall, pick wild blueberries from a meadow, and take in views of endless autumnal foliage. Take a dip in the ocean after scaling the cliffs in Acadia or meander through shorebird habitats in Rhode Island. Visit a replica of Thoreau's cabin at historic Walden Pond, enjoy a peaceful afternoon on a secluded trail, and marvel at the Boston skyline from afar Nearby Fun: Relax after your hike at a local brewery, find a nearby campground, or stop for lunch at a mom n' pop eatery Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points Maps and Directions: Easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park Full-color photos throughout Expert Advice: Seasoned hikers Miles Howard and Kelsey Perrett reveal their experienced insights, local secrets, and honest opinions of each trail Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, protecting the environment, and getting park passes, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife Whether you're a veteran or a first-time hiker, Moon's comprehensive coverage and local expertise will have you gearing up for your next adventure. Exploring the region by car? Check out Moon New England Road Trip.
New England's history is marked with witch executions, curses and an untold number of cemeteries hiding mysteries beneath their stones. In this sometimes harsh landscape, the truth is often stranger than fiction. Examine the footprints burned into the ledge of Devil's Foot Rock in Rhode Island. Spend a night at the Kennebunk Inn in Maine, where the mischievous specter of Silas Perkins still resides. Traverse an old dirt road near Sterling, Connecticut, where the Darn Man's frozen body was uncovered in 1863. Authors Thomas D'Agostino and Arlene Nicholson uncover the history behind the region's best-kept secrets and lore. As you flip through these pages of New England's legends, tread lightly--you just might find a story that will follow you home.
