The official start of summer is here and most New Englanders like to hit the ground running to make the most of this brief special season!    We are fortunate to have a pick of local beaches for day trips and in Milton, we also have a huge local pool open every day as well as beautiful Houghton's Pond.   Take advantage of live music here in town with the weekly band concerts  at the town gazebo.  This summer there will also be live music on Saturdays around town by local high school students, sponsored by The Milton Rotary.  Stay tuned for dates!  Looking for an outdoor patio to enjoy?  Check out 88 Wharf, Steel and Rye, Ashmont Grill, The Bowery Bar (formerly ester's), and Novara.  The Milton Public Library has various interesting programs and events for adults and kids alike. It's a great spot to cool off and get some reading done!  Brookwood Community Farms is offering a series of cooking classes this summer and the Milton Farmers Market is open now through the fall every Thursday from 1:00-6:00. Make your summer bucket list and start crossing things off!  

Milton is a great town to live in with easy proximity to the city, beautiful open spaces, great schools and so much more.  But one thing particularly impressive about the town is the history around us.

Wakefield Estate which includes 22 acres of formal gardens, orchards, woodlands and wetlands is home to the Isaac Davenport Mansion as well as other buildings. Owned originally by Mary "Polly" Wakefield, the estate offers educational opportunities, tours, presentations, workshops, hands-on training, internships and other programs covering a variety of subjects, including local history, ecology, horticulture, agriculture, archival work and historic preservation.  Dogwood Days, which takes place in June, highlights the beauty of the estate with all the blooming dogwood trees.

The Eustis Estate is a stunning historic mansion that embodies late 19th century architecture and design, sitting on 80 acres of land that abuts the Blue Hills. The property originally comprised more than 250 acres of fields, woodland, and gardens, with four original buildings built between 1878 and 1902.  The Eustis mansion was the first building constructed and was designed by preeminent architect William Ralph Emerson.  Beautiful stain glass windows, woodwork and other ornate touches adorn the house.  In addition to classes and tours offered, the grounds are also lovely for walking or picnics.  

The Suffolk Resolves House is the site where the Suffolk Resolves were signed in September of 1774 and then carried by Paul Revere to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia.  The Suffolk Resolves were a declaration made by the leaders of Suffolk County, which rejected the Massachusetts Government Act and resolved to boycott imported goods from Britain unless the Intolerable Acts were repealed.  The resolves were considered a major development in colonial unrest in what eventually led to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.  The house is now the home to the Milton Historical Society.

The Forbes House was built in 1833 for Margaret Perkins by her children (including Captain Robert Bennett Forbes) who were part of an American family involved in the China Trade.  Built in a Greek Revival style, the house has many nautical elements incorporated into the design.  A cupola was built at the top of the house, from which ships arriving in Boston Harbor could be seen.   The Forbes House holds tours and special events throughout the year.

The Bradley Estate, once a colonial farm, was transformed in 1902 into a beautiful country estate owned by Dr. Arthur Tracey Cabot, who hired Charles Platt, a well-known architect to design a great house, landscaped grounds, and farm and estate buildings. The estate has manicured lawns, a walled garden, and a brick-edged garden.  In 1945, Cabot's niece Eleanor Cabot Bradley acquired Cherry Hill Farm and lived there with her husband until its bequest to The Trustees of Reservations in 1991. Mrs. Bradley made some notable additions to the property, including a greenhouse and a studio. There are many fun events scheduled there throughout the year, especially at the holidays.

If you want to explore locally, these local gems are a good place to start!

When I first moved to Milton almost 4 years ago, the restaurant buzz was all about Steel and Rye, which opened in Lower Mills to great reviews, crowds and valet parking!  Since then Milton and Dorchester have become destination spots for dining out, offering both casual and more up-scale options for everyone.  Following Steel and Rye, ester opened where the old Ledge used to be.  It has become a go-to spot for outdoor dining on their lovely patio as well as for their amazing rooftop garden, which provides much of the restaurant's produce.  Bred, selling delicious gourmet burgers opened across from Pat's Pizza and the remodel of the old Lower Mills Pub resulted in a fun, new, redesigned spot renamed The Lower Mills Tavern. Sweet Life, a popular spot for breakfast/lunch as well as for their delicious bakery treats is now also open for dinner a few nights a week with a full bar.  And keep an eye out for the new taquieria, where Dark Horse Antiques used to be (corner of Washington St. and Dot Ave.) opening later this year.  88 Wharf (which also has a beautiful outdoor patio!), recently changed it's menu to Azul at 88 serving fresh and flavorful Mexican dishes and margaritas.  Abby Park in East Milton Square has a new sister restaurant, the stylish Novara, in the spot where the old Milton cinema used to be.

Near the Ashmont T station/Peabody Square in Dorchester is Ashmont Grill and Tavolo. Both restaurants are owned by chef Chris Douglass.  Tavolo was recently remodeled and serves an eclectic Italian menu and craft cocktails while Ashmont Grill serves up modern tavern cuisine. Adams Village has also become a hot spot with three new restaurants opening there in the past year. Lucy's American Tavern offers modern American and comfort cuisine, the Landmark Public House bills itself as a gastropub serving tavern fare and Molinara's serves old world style pastas, sandwiches and brick oven pizzas. In addition, The Industry just opened in the old Sonny's site.  Nearby on Neponset Ave. is Dorset Hall, with a cool industrial vibe and a modern American menu.

So when the question comes up (where should we go to eat?) you'll know the local options. Many of the above mentioned restaurants offer kids menus, live music, brunch, trivia and more.   Have fun!