The Neponset River Reservation covers a lot of ground. Along the 3-mile Neponset River Greenway Trail following the river, you’ll find picnic tables, soccer fields, playgrounds, paths for walking and biking, and a restored salt marsh.

The Pope John Paul II Park, where this trip originates, is a 65-acre park with walkways, fields, and a playground. It’s on the site of a former landfill, which makes the spot even more special since the Department of Conservation and Recreation was able to restore this formerly contaminated site. This urban green space is actually a bit underutilized, so don’t be surprised to have areas all to yourself.

Biking through the salt marsh is enjoyable, because it’s so different from its urban setting. The marsh offers a diverse habitat for plants and animals, including a number of threatened and endangered species. If you’re lucky, you might spot a snowy egret or a great blue heron. The marsh has the distinction of being the first salt marsh in the commonwealth to be publicly owned.

Remember: You can paddle your own canoe or kayak on the river if you have one.

Head to Quincy Quarries Reservation (Trip 61) for rock climbing and to see where stone for the Bunker Hill Monument came from.

Along Gallivan Boulevard and Granite Avenue in Dorchester, you’ll see several spots to dine.