Houghton's Pond is a great choice if you want to swim on a nice summer day without driving far away or paying high beach fees; above all, this is the place to go if you look for a place that has something for everyone: while dad (or mom) can go for a swim with the younger ones, mom (or dad) can hit the trail for a challenging hike or a mountain bike ride with the older brothers and sisters.

Naturally, you won't be alone on a summer weekend there, but swimming against a backdrop of high pines will easily make you feel you are in a mountain lake in the Western US. The water is warm and clean, with a sandy beach and bottom that make swimming a comfortable experience; as with most lakes and ponds, the absence of waves makes it a good place for the little ones who have yet to learn how to swim.

Houghton's Pond is the gateway to the Blue Hills Reservation: if you have not already been there, take hiking and biking maps at the visitor center to start exploring the area. A first step is to walk around the pond, an easy loop that is accessible to small children. While many trails near the pond are stroller-friendly, most trails will become challenging when you start climbing the many hills in the area; for the same reasons, the reservation offers many great opportunities for mountain biking.

Because kids generally love the place and will want to stay around, we recommend bringing the picnic and staying the entire day. The immediate vicinity of the beach can be crowded, but a few hundred yards will buy you solitude or at least peace.

Even when fall sets in and swimming is a memory, Houghton's pond is a nice place for a Sunday walk - then again, you may be tempted to bring the hiking shoes and mountain bikes, and hit the trails!