15-Minute Drive: Horn Pond in Woburn Horn Pond and its surrounding conservation land occupy nearly 700 acres of land in Woburn near Winchester. It is also home to Horn Pond Mountain, also known as Towanda, which is 287 feet above sea level. Trails wind through the area, taking walkers throughout the dry oak-hickory woods.  The Horn Pond Conservation Area also has several memorials, including the Leo F. McElhiney Memorial Park and benches dedicated to residents. 30-Minute Drive/Ferry: Spectacle Island A former dump site, Spectacle Island was cleaned up and opened to the public in 2004. A 15-20…

Do you want to get out of the kitchen, but are bored of the same old places you always go to? Want some fresh ideas for tasty meals? Then the Patch Passport can help. We have assembled a list of local places with international flavors. Try one out and let us know what you think. Bon Appetit! Italian Alfredo's Italian Kitchen Benvenuti Italian Kitchen Bistro 5 Caffe Toscana Bob's Imported Food and Fine Catering Lantana Cafe Bocelli's Restaurant and Pizzeria Salvatore's Restaurant Neighborhood Pizza and Grill Pasta Pisa Mariella Pizza & Grill Asian Rose's Chinese Restaurant May's Cafe Chinese …

Ward's Gifts, a fixture in Medford Square for almost 70 years, is full of the little things - knick-knacks, trinkets, collectables and souvenirs. The store was opened by the Ward family at 44 High Street in 1942 and remains family-run. The store has an almost over-whelming stock ranging from hummels to crystals to sweatshirts to mugs. But if you're having trouble finding something, just ask one of their helpful and knowledgeable employees. Read More From Your Patch Passport to Medford

After a recent weeklong family vacation—one spent almost entirely barefoot—my footsies needed some serious pampering. So before I packed for our trip home, I called up the gals at Serenity in the City and booked one of their signature spa pedicures to be enjoyed upon our return. Serenity in the City Salon and Spa is located at 427 Salem Street here in Medford. They’ve been recommended to me by a number of friends over the years, and now I will certainly recommend them to others. Salem Street is almost always bustling, and the day of my appointment was no different. But as soon as I walked …

Anyone interested in learning of the historic roots of Medford need not look further than the Isaac Royall House. The home, which was the residence of slave trader Isaac Royall in the 18th century, is now an immaculately maintained museum. The colonial history of the land the home sits on dates back as far as Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop in the 1600s, but the house and former slave quarters now standing at 15 George Street were built by Isaac Royall, Sr., and added on to by his son in the 1700s. The slave quarters are the only ones remaining in Massachusetts. The Royall House and …

Everybody can use a quick cool-down in a heatwave—especially kids and parents. Local Moms recommend the following local sprinkler parks: Jen Lewis a mom of two, recommends Capen Street or Dugger. "(Both)are great because they are close and have a lot of other things to do when kids get tired of being wet," Lewis wrote in a Mom's Talk column in June. "And the water is on already! Dugger has better shade and a better climbing structure, and Capen Street has sand to thoroughly baste a wet little body." Cathi Lodato likes Grimmons Park, just over the line in Somerville. "It's for all ages," …

When the heat is on in the summer, there might not be a better place to be in Medford than Wright's Pond. The city-run sandy beach with a woodsy backdrop is a great spot to cool off without needing to escape Medford's city lines. And it has play structures and grassy fields, too. Stacey Hilliard, Medford Patch's "Great Escape" columnist wrote this about the park in June: "Wright’s Pond has been a family favorite for several years now. For us, its benefits include proximity and affordability, and—most importantly—popularity among our friends. We almost always find at least a handful of kids …