Photo: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

With thousands of acres of freshwater ponds, dunes, marshes and ocean to explore, there’s plenty to see and do at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Found just to the southwest of Chatham, the federal refuge includes a visitor center, beach, and plenty of nature trails.

Established in the mid 1940s, the main purpose of the refuge is to help protect migratory birds and their natural habitat. It also gives people a way to see and explore the natural beauty of the area.

You’ll find nearly 300 different species of birds at the refuge, including some federally protected ones. This includes the piping plover and the red knot.

In fact, the beaches of Monomoy are where you’ll find some of the highest

Embarc, courtesy of City Realty

Plans for a new residential tower in Allston could be the key to unlocking future access to West Station. Current plans call for a new 16-story tower with a lobby, bicycle storage, outdoor balconies and dozens of parking spaces to be built on Ashford Street.

The tower may also include a fitness center, pet facilities, outdoor common space and remote working space. The proposal could mean even more for Allston, however, than just another new tower.

The designated property is currently home to an industrial building and sits just adjacent to the Track and Tennis Center at Boston University. The company behind the proposal hopes to use the property in question as a “gateway” of sorts to the multimodal station the

Photo: Blew Bird

You’ve likely watched a movie or even read a book about finding a message in a bottle. As it turns out, sometimes the story is real life.

When it comes to Cape Beaches, finding a message in a bottle isn’t really that uncommon. Last month, a young family discovered their own bottle while walking along Falmouth Heights Beach and searching for shells.

The family says their three-year-old actually found the bottle. They picked it up, opened it, and found a message supposedly from the U.K, inside. The message was dated 2009. The family says they plan to put their own message in a new bottle and keep the gesture going.

It’s not the only such discovery. Last December another man claims he found an old glass bottle with a message

Photo: Mike Deslauriers

If you’re looking for a great beach for some outdoor fun in Falmouth, you’re in luck. With nearly 70 miles of coastline, the area has some fantastic options in terms of its white sand beaches.

Wood Neck

A true family favorite, Wood Neck is remembered for its tidal pools and its sandbars. It’s simply the perfect location for those of all ages. While the rocky beach isn’t the best place to put down a beach towel, it’s fun to set up a beach chair down by the shore.

There’s also a lagoon side and an ocean side to choose from. If you want to try to catch some horseshoe crabs, be sure to bring your fishing net. You’ll find the beach off Sippewissett Road.

Chappy

Known by locals simply as “Chappy”, Chapoquoit Beach is

Photo: Leo Rodman

Not every buyer is the same, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to finding the best neighborhood or town to fit your needs. From walkability to affordability, we uncover some of the hottest South Shore towns for every generation.

Quincy

Millennials don’t always have as much money to spend, but they also want to find a home that delivers what they want for their lifestyle. That’s why Quincy can be such a great choice. It’s possible to find a single-family home priced around $500,000 that’s close enough to the beach and the T.

It’s a hip place to live and enjoy local nightlife. You’ll find a bustling restaurant scene, paired with new condos and apartments in revitalized Quincy Center.

Hingham

While the median

Each summer people flock to Cape Cod, but there’s an option for getting in the water that doesn’t include dipping your toes in the ocean at all. Kettle ponds are one of the Cape’s true treasures, and you’ll never have to worry about even remotely coming close to a shark.

Around 20 of these freshwater ponds are scatted throughout Wellfleet and Truro. While some are hard to find and difficult to reach, others are great for a day out in the sun.

Made famous in recent years by travel writers, the ponds of Cape Cod are just as appealing as they are unique. Likely formed around 15,000 years ago by melting glaciers, the massive holes left behind eventually filled with fresh water, forming the kettle ponds we know today.

The larger ponds are called

For urban resort living in Boston, come home to the exciting new possibilities of The Echelon. This sophisticated new project consists of hundreds of luxury condos and apartments, making it the largest residential development to come to Boston’s Seaport District.

Spread across two 21-story towers, the new condos range from studios to three-bedroom floor plans. The stylish condos offer the enjoyment of walls of windows, bringing in sky, harbor and city views.

Buyers are also treated to such upscale additions as wide plank wood flooring, as well as open kitchens with custom cabinetry and high-end appliances. Other highlights of living at The Echelon include the private balconies and oversized terraces, ideal for being utilized as an extension of

Photo: mgstanton

They may sound like the same place, especially to out-of-towners, but Southie and the South End are definitely not the same. These two Boston neighborhoods are regularly confused, but their similarities virtually start and finish with the word “south”.

Southie/South Boston

Known by locals simply as Southie, South Boston is a large neighborhood located to the south and east of downtown. This blue-collar neighborhood is further divided into a number of sub-neighborhoods like City Point, West Broadway, Telegraph Hill, Fort Point and the Seaport District.

The northern side of the neighborhood has traditionally been more industrial, so that’s where you’ll find some newer development and some converted factories. In recent years the

Boating is an important part of a Cape Cod lifestyle, and Chatham is, quite simply, a boater’s dream. This charming town sits on the elbow of Cape Cod with miles of white sand beaches to explore and two distinct harbors.

An extremely popular summer destination, Chatham opens to both Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic. This longstanding trading, fishing and whaling port has transformed itself over the years into a charming Cape Cod town.

Chatham Harbor sits to the east, providing access to the Atlantic and Pleasant Bay. That’s where you’ll find the majority of the area’s fishing fleet. It’s a bit trickier, though, for small boats. Boaters sometimes head to the Harwich side of Pleasant Bay to tie up for dinner and drinks at Wequassett Resort.

From boating and the beach to area museums, there’s plenty of fun to find around Chatham Neck.

Atwood House Museum

While it’s hard to miss the waterfront, there are other options to consider, including learning more about the region’s history. Chatham’s Atwood House Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon.

You’ll find a large collection of books, photographs, paintings and more spread out across 12 galleries in the former home of a local sea captain. The museum also commonly hosts lectures and other festivities. You’ll find it on Stage Harbor Road

Stage Harbor Lighthouse

It may be the youngest lighthouse in Cape Cod, but Stage Harbor Lighthouse is also one of the area’s most visible landmarks. While it’s not exactly open to the