Wakefield, MA

Lake Quannapowitt is the true hub of daily life in Wakefield. On any given day, you will find neighbors jogging, walking dogs, or pushing strollers along the paved 3.6-mile path that loops around the water. Because the southern shore connects straight into the town Common and Main Street, it is easy to grab a coffee downtown and head over to sit on the grass. The lake also has a rich boating tradition. The Quannapowitt Yacht Club, founded back in the early 1880s, is recognized as the oldest inland yacht club in the country, and you will often spot sailboats drifting across the water on sunny weekend afternoons.

ATTRElizabeth B. Thomsen / CC BY-SA 3.0

For commuters, Wakefield is in a prime spot about ten miles north of Boston with several easy ways to travel. The town has two MBTA commuter rail stops, Wakefield and Greenwood, which take riders straight to North Station along the Haverhill Line in about thirty minutes. Drivers can jump right onto Interstate 93 or Route 128 to reach major employment hubs across the North Shore. If you prefer getting around on foot or bike, the Wakefield-Lynnfield Rail Trail provides a scenic paved path through town, featuring boardwalk stretches that cross right over the wetlands of Reedy Meadow.

ATTRChris Sean Smith, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps / Public domain

Wakefield has a fascinating history that gives the town plenty of character. In the 1800s, local industrialist Cyrus Wakefield built a worldwide wicker and rattan empire here and ended up donating the town hall, which prompted residents to name the town in his honor. If you ever built a balsa wood toy glider as a kid, chances are it was made right here by Guillow, a company that has manufactured model airplanes in Wakefield for a century. Longtime residents also love talking about Pleasure Island, a beloved 1960s theme park once known as the Disneyland of the Northeast.

ATTRUser:Magicpiano / CC BY-SA 4.0

Community events keep the town active throughout the year, especially around the water. From June through October, the Saturday farmers market at Hall Park brings in fresh produce, baked goods, and live acoustic music. The town Common hosts everything from outdoor movie nights and summer concerts to the annual Festival by the Lake and Town Day in the fall. Just south of the center, the heavily wooded Crystal Lake offers a quieter scenic spot, preserved as the town drinking water supply.