Water Garden, Larz Anderson Park
Visiting this idyllic, sheltered enclave is something like stepping into a Georges Seurat painting. It wouldn't be surprising to see ladies with parasols strolling around the pond, seeking shade under the willows, or daydreaming on the footbridge. With such out-and-out tranquility just minutes from the crowds of the city, Larz Anderson Park is an ideal spot to relax, stretch out on the grass, and spread out a feast. There are even grills and tables. At the end of the day, when the sunset reflects off the water and slides through the trees, you'll feel as though you've entered an entirely different era. Newton St., Brookline, MA .
Rugg Road Paper Company
Some couples just aren't black-type-on-ecru people. Enter Rugg Road, a shop chock-full of carefully chosen papers and paper accessories far more unique than formal. Distinctive options abound, including hand-pressed floral papers, silvery-hued sheets, and gampi paper made from a plant found in the mountains of Japan. The process of custom-designing your own invitation can be daunting, so the staff will assist at every step of the way, from helping to select the perfect font to cutting your paper to just the right size for laser printing. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA ruggroadpaper.com.
A House on the Cape
What do you do when you’re craving that #beachlife but can’t get on a plane? You start searching for a home across the bridge. As legions of the region’s newly minted WFHers began a mass exodus down Route 6 last spring and summer, house prices skyrocketed, leaving those who didn’t find their slice of paradise early in the pandemic in the dust. Our advice if you’re still desperately scanning Zillow this summer? Beg your friends for an invitation (or blow up a kiddie pool in your landlocked backyard).
Crane & Co. Paper Makers
Most people don't give stationery a second thought. Then they get engaged and suddenly need an expert opinion on a forest's worth of papers—invitations, save-the-date cards, programs, thank-you notes. Dalton-based Crane, manufacturer of the most classic and elegant wedding stationery collections on the finest-quality paper, makes sense of it all. For tastes that veer toward the modern, there's a newer line of invites that don't follow the classic models. An experienced staff helps you find exactly the right paper and style to fit your budget, and even occasionally eschews tradition by letting you in on a little secret: You don't need that expensive second envelope nowadays. (Our saleswoman whispered that it was used to keep the invitation clean back when mail was carried on horseback.) Prudential Center, Boston, MA crane.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
This charming shop offers a jaw-dropping array of card stocks and designs for every occasion, from receptions to rehearsal dinners. You'll also find photo albums, rubber stamps, and embossing tools for scrapbooking—all of which will preserve the memories of your big day beautifully. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
This little Charles Street stationer is a dream for do-it-yourselfers, packed as it is with almost 300 kinds of handmade papers (and a wall of grosgrain ribbon wheels for good measure). Forget-the-hassle types, on the other hand, can peruse the more than 30 card lines, from the august Crane's to quirky newcomer Blonde. For business cards or note cards, Bob Slate's would get the nod, but Rugg Road's intimate, cheerful vibe makes it our hands-down pick for anyone looking to celebrate life's announcement-worthy occasions. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
White-Water Rafting on the Concord River
If you're looking for white water, who needs Maine? There's Class-4 rapids just 40 miles from Boston, in Lowell on the Concord River, and the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust has done a remarkable nature-conservancy job. Not exactly expected either, in the heart of deindustrialized mill country. The Lowell white-water course, fed by spring runoff, winds its way through Thoreau's Portage—the stretch of the Concord River that Henry David Thoreau never dared to take—and culminates in the Lower Locks at the Pawtucket Canal. Unfortunately, this year's season has already passed. Lowel Parks & Conservation Trust, Lowell, MA .
Rugg Road Paper Company
Those looking to tear things up at their next soiree would do well to hit this paper-goods purveyor first. The Beacon Hill shop is packed with party-throwing and -going essentials: irresistible invites, stylish gift wrap, gracious thank-yous. For non-shindig-related business, there's stationery in an assortment of styles and a cache of embossing powder and stamps. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
The granddaddy of rail trails, this 20-plus-mile paved pathway stretching from Yarmouth to Wellfleet offers no shortage of things to see and do en route. Zip past cranberry bogs, cool off in Seymour Pond, and reward yourself after an exhilarating ride with an ice cream cone or ice-cold beer (why not both?) right along the trail. mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail.
The Franklin Cape Ann
A touch of the South End opened in Gloucester last fall, and it's been packed ever since. And no wonder. You could become addicted to the meatloaf, and can make an evening out of a couple of appetizers, a few glasses of wine, and the surprisingly fruitful people-watching. 118 Main St., Gloucester, MA franklincafe.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
This charming shop offers a jaw-dropping array of card stocks and designs for every occasion, from receptions to rehearsal dinners. You'll also find photo albums, rubber stamps, and embossing tools for scrapbooking—all of which will preserve the memories of your big day beautifully. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
Engagement announcements, invitations, programs: Set the tone you want with a little help from Rugg Road. At this Beacon Hill boutique, you'll find a staggering selection—traditional Crane's, contemporary letterpress, or custom creations—inspiring samples, and an amicable staff to guide you should you decide to stray from the standard black-on-ivory motif. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA ruggroadpaper.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
Sure, there's the cake and the pretty dresses. But really, what would a wedding be without the invitations? Stationery gets top billing at Rugg Road, where style options run from classic and contemporary to just plain beautiful. With more than 500 kinds of paper (Japanese silkscreen, natural fiber, and hand-pressed floral, to name a few), it's easy to be overwhelmed. But don't be—the staff's sage advice and helpful guidebooks will be there every step of the way. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA ruggroadpaper.com.
Wicked Waves Cape Cod
Courtesy of Wicked Waves Cape Cod Exciting enough for the older ones but tame enough for the little tykes, this water park promises fun for any age. We mean grownups, too, with cabanas for rent, multiple food options, and even an adults-only swim-up bar. (Parents will also appreciate that the water is monitored and tested for cleanliness throughout the day.) Even more reason to skip the beach: This season, Wicked Waves is unveiling five new slides that promise to twirl, undulate, and discombobulate in equal measure. 518 Main St., West Yarmouth, MA 02673, wickedwavescapecod.com.
Cate McQuaid, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Covering both the galleries and the small exhibition spaces, McQuaid's reviews are insightful, enthusiastic, and deeply serious. Boston artists know she's out there, and they know she cares.