A Road Trip for the Weekend Wanderer

Wednesday is often that day in the week when one starts thinking about weekend road trips. If you want an interesting mix, wander to the small New England mill town of Clinton and discover a few hidden treasures. Nestled in a little pocket of Central Massachusetts, you can find history, art and gardens all within a few miles. Clinton is home to the world’s largest hand-dug dam, the largest North American collection of Russian Icons and one of the oldest public parks in the United States.

Begin your day at the Museum of Russian Icons. http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/ A tidbit of history on how this museum came to be. Gordon Lankton, founder of Nypro had a fascination with Russia. His interest led him there in1989, marking the start of his Russian Icon collection with a $25.00 yard sale purchase. After acquiring over 300 icons, he concluded that the proper way to display these works of art required building his own museum. Quite a feat and well worth the visit.

Across the street, don’t miss the Clinton Central Park. The mature trees surrounding the quad indicate the longevity of these beautifully maintained commons. It’s worth the stroll.

As you head out of town, take a scenic drive past the Wachusett Dam and Reservoir. As you rise above the dam out of the valley, a panoramic view of this vast water system unfolds in front of you. Find a spot to pull over at the top of the dam to capture a picture or revel in this town’s history. You might smell the Weetabix Factory in the background.

If you have extra time, continue on Route 70 through Boylston, MA and make a stop at Tower Hill Botanical Garden. This is always worth visiting to expand your ideas for garden design and plant composition. The inspirational gardening thought for Wednesday is by John Wyndham. “When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.”