Lacing 'em up

It all started with a random conversation in the car. One of the kids asked how many towns there were in Massachusetts, and soon enough the idea was born.

There are 351 towns and cities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, running from the Berkshires in the west all the way to Cape Cod in the east. As a family, we endeavor to get out and about to explore the world around us and experience all we can. It was during this fateful ride home that a new way to explore and experience our home state — taking a walk in each and every one of the 351 communities, documenting it as we go.

For this project, we're starting fresh, ignoring any previous walks and expeditions. No place would be grandfathered in and marked as complete, regardless of how much time we've previously spent strolling around there, running in 5K races, or otherwise. There will be other rules and requirements as we go. Our travels will need to be substantial enough to be considered a good walk, typically a couple of miles at least. We'll aim to check out what each city and town is known for, find town signage, visit monuments and memorials, and maybe even grab a bite to eat. Our walks may take us through downtown areas, residential neighborhoods, local cemeteries, and along rail trails and similar paths.

There may be times when a location is documented multiple times, particularly in cities with numerous neighborhoods and areas to explore. Walking around downtown Boston is not the same as checking out the North End or Southie.

Occasionally, we may find ourselves taking walks beyond the borders of Massachusetts. These could be documented here as side quests. We might have guests join us on our travels, and we'll always be open to suggestions on where to go, what to see, and what to do as we progress.

We'll document each and every one of these "Walk 351" excursions right here in this blog, as well as our Facebook page, Instagram, and we'll endeavor to do so via YouTube as well.