There is something about a body of water that calls my name.  Whether it is the ocean, a lake, or a river, water brings serenity.  So, on a mild winter day, I decided to check out the Wachusett Reservoir.  As the name suggests, the Wachusett Reservoir is one of the main water supplies for the Boston area. Because of this, there are no houses on its shores; and swimming, motor boats, bikes, and dogs are not allowed. It is also the 2nd largest body of water in Massachusetts. These factors make it one of the most pristine and quiet places I’ve ever been.  

While there are areas that are off limits, several wide fire roads are open to hikers and cross country skiers. I checked out the Sawyer Bluffs section for a peaceful 2 mile walk. 

At the west end of the reservoir in West Boylston is the Old Stone Church. When the reservoir was established in 1905, the stone church had to be abandoned. Because it had only been built a decade earlier, the town decided to keep the building as a tourist attraction. And they were right to do so. As the only building visible on the banks of the reservoir, it immediately draws the viewer’s attention. The beautiful stone work and the reflection of it in the water doesn’t hurt either. It is just the hull of a building, but the interior is also finished with beautiful wood beams that draw the eye up.  The architectural intrigue of the space, both inside and out, make this a nice place to explore.

Just across the bridge from the Old Stone Church is Wayside Antiques. Set on a hill, the large vintage sign is hard to miss. The two level store is filled to the brim with vintage and collectible houseware, decor, and furniture.  The store is organized by vendors, so it definitely takes patience and a good eye to find what you’re looking for. 

At the other end of the reservoir is the Wachusett Dam. Spanning 944 feet across the reservoir and 205 feet above the Nashua River, the Wachusett Dam is the largest hand built gravity dam in the world.  I enjoyed looking down over the town of Clinton from the top and up at the large expanse of the dam once I made my way to the bottom. From there, I walked along the dam to the road and back up the road to my car.  This allowed me to make my way over to the Clinton Train Tunnel. 

The Clinton Train Tunnel is just off the road and hard to miss with its graffitied walls. I walked up the quick incline with the plan to walk through the long tunnel (once the longest train tunnel in Massachusetts), but after a few feet inside, I decided that walking through a dark tunnel strewn with random detritus was not the best move for a solo traveler. 

Instead, I spent a nice bit of time at Coldwell’s Heart.  Planted as an ode to his wife, Douglas J. Coldwell created the heart out of tall grasses and flowers in his field along rt 62.  Read the attached article about Coldwell Heart’s backstory, which explains how a funny teenage moment turned into a story for the ages. While the man who created it has since passed, the heart is still maintained by family members and locals.

East of the Wachusett Reservoir is the town of Clinton. While some of the storefronts along High Street are empty, the stores and restaurants that are there are welcoming to both locals and visitors alike (a special shout out to the friendly owner of the Sunrise Boutique). I could feel a strong sense of community in each of them as the owners caught up with regulars and gave suggestions to clientele of other stores to check out in the area. The decorated lamp posts & the architecture of the main street buildings made me feel like I was on the set of a Hallmark movie. 

One of the recommendations from the shop owners on High Street was to check out Gallery 56. Set inside an old mill building, this consignment store has created rooms that make you feel like you’re actually in someone’s house.  The main part of the store is cozy and dark, but as you make your way to the front of the building, the space changes to a series of grand rooms. I enjoyed both pursuing the wares and exploring the space – including coming across an old bank vault. 

One of the main draws of this area – and the only place I had been to before – is the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Whether you visit during the growing season to wander the grounds for gnomes, fairy houses, or mythical creatures (they have different exhibits each year); sit on a bench and enjoy one of their 18 curated gardens; attend an annual plant exhibitions; or take in the Winter Lights around the holidays, NEBG will easily enchant you.  Plan to spend a few hours here enjoying the grounds and the indoor cafe, gift shop, and galleries.

Google Map of places mentioned in this post.