Recommended Places to Visit: Gardner

Recreation

Beaches
Kendall Pond (private)
39 Kendall Pond Road East

Water Bodies
Lake Wampanoag
Camp Collier Road

Perley Brook Reservoir
125 Clark Street

Cowee Pond
80 Wheeler Street

Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake Drive

Beagle Pond (private)
End of Beagle Club Road

Stump Pond
280 Pearl Street

Hobby's Pond
271 Raymond Street

Parker Pond
440 West Street

Swimming Pools

Greenwood Memorial Pool
69 Park Street


Museums
Gardner Heritage State Park
25 Lake Street

Gardner Museum
28 Pearl Street

Hiking

Recommended:
Dunn State Park
289 Pearl Street

Otter River Conservation Area
End of Airport Road

Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary
End of Raymond Street
 

Architecture

Schools

Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street

Monuments

War Memorial
Parker Street and West Street

WWI Memorial
Central Street and Cottage Street

Giant Chair
130 Elm Street

Giant Chair
372 East Broadway

Giant Rooster
95 West Street

Places of Worship

Holy Cross Catholic Parish

50 Lovewell Street

First Baptist Church
14 High Street

St. Joseph Catholic Church
358 Pleasant Street

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
135 Nichols Street

Unitarian Universalist Society
66 Elm Street

First Congregational Church
28 Green Street

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
634 Pearl Street

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
79 Cross Street

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
166 Cross Street

First Bible Baptist Church

7 Church Street

Logos Church
9 Wasa Street

Mission Street Congregational Church
15 Mission Street

Bethany Baptist Church
72 Ryan Street

Town Facilities

City Hall
95 Pleasant Street

Post Office
69 Pleasant Street

Levi Heywood Memorial Library
55 West Lynde Street

Heywood Hospital
242 Green Street


Historical Buildings
Olde Post Office Building
144 Central Street

Old Fire Station #3
Cherry Street and Elm Street

Old First Lutheran Church
209 Lawrence Street

Old Bethel Evangelical Church
122 West Street

Old F.W. Smith Silver Company
60 Chestnut Street

Colonial Hotel
625 Betty Spring Road

Restaurants

Tried:
Chinese
Sawa Asian Cuisine and Lounge
360 Timpany Boulevard
Recommended Dishes:
Beef Negimaki
Thai Mango Beef

Kenny's Chinese Restaurant
128 Parker Street

Recommended Dishes:

Beef Broccoli Mein Eye

Yen Yen

42 Pearson Boulevard

Recommended Dishes:
Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs
Szechuan Style Bean Curd

Latin American
Taco Rey Coliman
7 Pleasant Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chimichanga

Western

Gardner Ale House
74 Parker Street

Williams Restaurant and Tavern
184 Pearson Boulevard
Recommended Dishes:
Wings
10oz Prime Rib Au Jus

Cruisers Malt Shoppe
280 Central Street

Recommended Dishes:
Haddock Nuggets
Frog Fries
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae  

Colonial Grille
625 Betty Spring Road
Recommended Dishes:
New England Meatloaf


Mexican
South Side Grille and Margarita Factory
242 West Broadway
Recommended Dishes:
Steak and Mushroom Quesadillas

June 6th 2019: Going North to New Hampshire

I started out today in the northeastern central Massachusetts town of Petersham,

St. Mary's Monastery

checking out the Most Holy Trinity Monastery,

Next, it was on to the town of Athol,

LS Starrett Company

Old Lyman Ward School,
2175 Main Street

Old Second Advent Christian Church,
1282 Main Street

Fish Park

going on a hike at Lawton State Forest, where the path I took to explore various parts of it is shown below in pink.

I first tried to get to the Meadow Vista from the shorter end of the ridge section, but it was so overgrown that I gave up, although I realized later that I was actually really close to my goal at that point. I decided to try from the other end of the trail. The going was a little better, but not much, the red blazes on the trees just barely keeping me from getting lost, all the way until I reached the supposed vista, which literally meant a view of the meadow.

What a waste of time. Next, I went to find the water bodies here, which were just alright.

The Skyfields Arboretum area yielded nothing either. A disappointing hike overall.

Next, it was on Richmond NH,

Richmond Community Church

Cass Pond

Public Library

Fire Department

Sandy Pond

to hike the Metacomet Monadnock Trail in Richmond NH, where the path I took is shown below in black.

Nothing much to see here unless you are into rocks,

including a stone bridge just across the state line back in Massachusetts.

After finally returning to my car, it was on to the town of Swanzey NH for my final hike of the day, at Carroll's Hill, where the path I took is shown below in pink.

I was somewhat exhausted after my long hikes today, and would have got lost if not for my spotting the arrows appropriately placed at the major turns, although I missed one as you can see. I was just glad that the view at the end was worth the trip, even with the rain.

Heading back was even more of an adventure, the rain falling so hard that people were stopping by the side of the road to wait the rain out, and there was even a car stuck in the water, the tow truck having to come to pull it out while the police blocked traffic. I decided to stop for a bite at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Pretty nice hotel in the middle of nowhere.

With respect to the Colonial Grille located within the hotel,

I got the New England Meatloaf (New England Style meatloaf covered with a savory gravy & topped with crispy onion strings. Served with garlic mashed potatoes & vegetable du jour),

which unfortunately was a tad salty.

Dinner was at Jimmy's Tavern in Shrewsbury,

where we got the Salmon Oscar (salmon topped with bearnaise sauce, shrimp and fresh asparagus) and Jimmy's Special Rice Pilaf this time around.

Excellent meal to cap an otherwise rained out day after my last hike.

November 28th 2018: Visiting the Gardner Museum, Gardner

I headed into Gardner today, getting a Chimichanga

From Taco Rey Coliman, a Latin American restaurant in town.

Surprisingly crispy and flavorful, for a somewhat hole in the wall place.

From here, I still had some time before the Gardner Museum opened, so I decided to head to Ashburnham to go in search of Whitney Pond, where the path I took from 99 Gardner Road on the supposed Ashburnham Rail Trail is shown below in black.

The pond itself was not bad, but the path is not even developed, and I had to thrash a little, but the snow cover helped I guess.

From here, I headed back to the Gardner Museum, where they were having the Festival of Trees. I unfortunately did not have cash on me, but the kind lady let me through anyway.

Not bad for a short amount of time between work.