It’s the unofficial start of summer – Memorial Day Weekend is here. Looking for something to do during this long weekend? Head out to one of the Trustees’ many special places to find your dose of weekend fun! 

Kayaking is back! For those who love the water, join CraneOutdoors for one of the exciting trips, including a Sunset Kayak in the Crane Wildlife Refuge, Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River, Kayaking Historic Fox Creek, or a Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure. While you’re at the Crane Estate, enjoy learning about the history of the Cranes through one of the Castle Hill Tours. Tours include the Guest of the Cranes, Cupola with a View, Behind the Scenes in the Great House, The Cat’s Meow, and a Grand Stairs to Back Stairs tour. Check out the schedule to see which tours run on each day! 

There’s more where that came from! Take a tour of many other properties across the state this weekend, too. At Long Hill in Beverly, enjoy the Garden by Month Tour, which features Tree Peonies, or a house and garden tour. In the western part of the state, tour Mission House or take the Naumkeag Backstairs Tour. And of course, tours abound at The Old Manse in Concord. 

Have fun with the family! Spend your Saturday morning exploring The FARM Institute on Martha’s Vineyard at Barnyard Buddies, meeting our friendly animals. Join us for a special Pick Your Own Strawberries pop-up event at Powisset Farm in Dover. For three days only, Powisset Farm’s sweet, juicy, luscious and delicious organic strawberries are ready for you to pick and bring home with you.  Bring the whole family for Art of Presence: Family Yoga, at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, a playful and engaging outdoor yoga experience. All ages will enjoy the City Natives Plant Sale, where a wide selection of seedlings including annual vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers, and native herbaceous perennials and woody plants will be for sale. 

JJD (Julian, Judson & Dean) Community Garden, located at 48 Judson Street in Dorchester, reopens this weekend! Last year, the garden was partially closed due to a significant soil remediation and infrastructure development project. The garden is back and better than ever, and it’s time to celebrate!