Tonight and tomorrow night in #IpswichMA !

#CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the #FullMoon

Castle Hill on the #CraneEstate

Sunday, September 7, 2025, and Monday, September 8, 2025

About CraneOutdoors: Dunes by the Light of the Full Moon

"Transformed and illuminated by the glow of the full moon, the beach and dunes of Castle Neck are a stunningly beautiful landscape. To experience this special place at this magical time, join us for a unique hiking experience.

"We’ll start with the beauty of a sunset while taking an evening walk along Crane Beach when most visitors have packed up and gone home for the day. We’ll have ample time to take in the 'Cape Ann light' that has been the inspiration of many artists over the years. Then, we’ll then head into the dunes where we’ll explore the trails of Castle Neck under the light of the full moon. You’ll enjoy the quiet of Pitch Pine groves and catch glimpses of the Atlantic as you crest the dunes. You might even see some cranberries in the Neck’s naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

"Please note: Our standard Full Moon Hike is suited to kids aged 12+ and/or who can comfortably hike 2-3 miles. For families with smaller children, or those looking for a slower pace, please look for our CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike offerings, which are shorter and go at a gentler pace.

"Bring water and dress for the weather to maximize comfort. You are welcome to bring a flashlight or headlamp, but we may ask for moments of total darkness to fully enjoy the moon and the shadows it makes on the dunes."

$30pp

https://thetrustees.org/event/441279/

#SolarPunkSunday #LunarPunkSunday #TrusteesOfReservations #CraneEstate #WalkingTrails #MoonlightWalks #Nature
#Massachusetts #MassachusettsEvents #SpendTimeInNature #LandPreservation #LandTrusts

For many years, The Crane Estate grew their own food!

"Crane purchased the 165-acre plot of land and knew exactly what he wanted: a bowling green, tennis court, maze, log-cabin playhouse, golf course and deer preserve. Crane and his family also ran a self-sustaining farm with livestock, an orchard, and dense vegetable and rose gardens, which space needed to be made for."

https://www.nps.gov/places/crane-estate.htm

#SolarPunkSunday #SelfSustaining #Gardens #HistoricBuildings #LandPreservation #TrusteesOfReservations #Massachusetts

@knizer @shoozejim A list of #bostonHikes would be awesome.

In other direction... #BlueHillsReservation (also accessible by public transit, I believe).

And one of my favorites, #worldsEnd in #Hingham (a #trusteesOfReservations property). Not sure there's any public transit to it though... (and yeah it's really more a walk than a hike, but still!)

Belted Kingfisher and an American Robin out in the snow at Cornell Farm this afternoon.

#birds #wildlife #birdphotography #nature #wildmassachusetts #naturalmassachusetts #dartmouth #massachusetts #massachusettswildlife #trusteesofreservations #cornellfarm

Moss and lichens grow on sand dunes - who knew!? - as seen on the dune trails at #TrusteesOfReservations' Crane Beach.
#mosstodon #LichenSubscribe

I'm sure you've seen thicker trees, but have you ever seen one this thick growing in a sand dune? See for yourself on the dune trails at #TrusteesOfReservations' Crane Beach! In other places, there are even mature hardwoods!
Edit because I forgot the hashtag: #ThickTrunkTuesday

Spent the morning at the #TrusteesOfReservations Ward Reservation. Rewarded with a Pileated Woodpecker sighting!
#birds #birding

Apparently, all I need to do to spot Merlins is head out for a hike when the light is lousy. This guy was happy to perch on one of the big evergreens down by the river at Westport Town Farm for a while, but the sun was low and behind clouds.

#wildmassachusetts #naturalmassachusetts #westport #massachusetts #massachusettswildlife #birds
#wildlife #birdphotography #nature #trusteesofreservations