The first time I went here, it was on a Sunday in the late fall. The Patriots were playing that day, but I’m not a football fan, so instead of being cooped up inside, I decided to take advantage of the mild weather and the lack of traffic to go on a local adventure. I ended up finding a place that seemed to transport me to quieter and slower time. Because World’s End is along the water, the cold weather created this mystical fog that made the day feel eerie and other worldly. Since then I have been back several times, usually in the summer. While the light & air of the first visit isn’t the same in the warmer months, the places feels just as magical.

World’s End is another fabulous Trustees property located south of Boston in Hingham. Designed by world renown landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead (think Central Park in NYC, The Emerald Necklace in Boston, and the Capital Grounds in DC), World’s End spans 2 connecting peninsulas into Hingham harbor. The grounds were once the home of John Brewer, so many of the paths were designed for carriages. This means they are wide and well worn.

From the parking lot (I would suggest making a reservation on the weekends), the path to the right takes you through a small forested area, with views of the Weir river and the Nantasket Peninsula. The coastline here is rocky, with some large rocks that work beautifully for a picnic on the coast. The path straight ahead takes you up Planters Hill, back down to The Bar before entering the smaller peninsula of World’s End. Throughout the grounds are benches to sit and take in the water views, and lots of options for picnic areas.

Yes, I keep mentioning picnics because this place just asks you to stop and spend some time. I usually make a pit stop in either Hingham or Cohasset center to pick up provisions – my favorites include Bloomy Rind and The Fresh Feast – and to visit a few of the local stores. Both have cute downtowns that warrant some exploration time in themselves.

While in the area, I usually make a drive up to Hull. Hull is at the end of a Nantasket Peninsula and is actually a series of connected islands. There is lots of street parking along the way (close to the beach costs money during the summer) and a boardwalk that lines Nantasket Beach, so take some time to stop and walk the shore and maybe take a dip in the ocean. Nantasket beach is also home to the historic Paragon Carousel (built in 1928).

In the heart of Hull is Fort Revere Park. It’s a small park, but it boasts the ruins of fortifications used in the American Revolution and wonderful views of the bay.

Overall, it’s a wonderful day of wandering, picnicking, taking in history, and ocean viewing.

Google Map of places mentioned