Like a wine pairing… on your bike!
We are so excited to introduce the 2nd installation in our Boston Bike Pairings series.
Â
For those of you joining us for the first time this week, here’s the deal. A lot of people love pairing a certain cheese, fruit, or dish with wine, right? Well, we thought we’d add a little twist.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be releasing a series of what we’re calling “bike pairings.”
We’ll introduce you to our favorite bike rides in Boston, with a twist. Each ride is mapped out to include a special treat: ice cream, doughnuts, breweries, and more. Enjoy!
This week’s pairing is a leafy, relaxing ride around our neighborhood– Brookline– paired with the inimitable, delicious, pack-a-punch Union Square Donuts. Feature flavor: Funfetti.
It’s pretty easy to get to Brookline by bike from pretty much anywhere in the Boston area– it’s located in a very central location, about 1.5 miles from Fenway and less than 4 from downtown.
Commonly thought to be part of Boston, Brookline is in fact not incorporated, retaining its independent town status despite being surrounded by Boston city limits.
We love living in Brookline– it’s gorgeous, historic, and oh-so convenient. Commuting downtown is a breeze on the green line’s C-branch, and we are super close to everything we could need– Trader Joe’s, the post office, the gym, etc. (Note that Trader Joe’s was first on that list.)Â
We’ve compiled a guide to spending a day in Brookline, which you can find here. You’ll pass a lot of Brookline’s main attractions on our ride today, so it’s worth checking out before you go!Â
Here’s a map of one loop you can take, which totals out to about 5 miles. However, there are infinite iterations here, so feel free to hop on Google Maps and get creative!
Riding along Brookline at your leisure, you can enjoy a variety of sights, including:
- Gorgeous Victorian homes, including the home where President John F. Kennedy (JFK) was born in 1917– you’ll find that one at 83 Beals Street. Definitely take advantage of looping around the smaller streets, there are almost no cars, often bike lanes, and the architecture is absolutely beautiful– reminiscent of a bygone era!Â
- Coolidge Corner, located around large thoroughfare Beacon Street, which has lots of shops (including a great bookstore called Brookline Booksmith); restaurants, etc.Â
- Several reservoirs to loop around, including newly-reopened Brookline Reservoir Park and Gatehouse, and nearby Fisher Hill Reservoir Park. While not technically within Brookline town limits, you can also visit the nearby Chestnut Hill Reservoir (right near the Cleveland Circle MBTA stop and Boston College campus.)
- A little further out, you can check out Larz Anderson Park, Brookline’s biggest park.
Once you’ve pedaled around to your heart’s content, it’s treat time!Â
Union Square Donuts started out in Union Square in Somerville, but now has 4 locations in the area. They’re known for their massive donuts (believe us, one is more than enough for 2 people!) and inventive flavors, like Vietnamese Coffee; Maple Bacon (with pieces of bacon on top!); and Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch. They have filled and unfilled options, as well as a few vegan options as well.Â
After much deliberation, we went for a seasonal pick: Funfetti. It was really tasty, but definitely rich and a bit heavy on the tummy– perhaps best left for the end of that bike ride.Â
That’s it for #BostonBikePairing Week 2! See you next week!Â
Remember to check out last week’s bike pairing if you missed it, and our guide to Brookline.Â
2 comments
the doughnut looks tastier. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this pairing. Thank you!!!
Comments are closed.