Patriot Ledge reporter Lisa Campenella takes a break at a picnic table and jots some notes. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger

Houghton's Pond, Milton

The only drawback to a lunch spent at Houghtons Pond at the foot of Great Blue Hill is the overwhelming desire to skip work for the rest of the day. There are so many ways to enjoy 60 minutes at the popular pond. There are plenty of parking spaces on weekdays, a pond for a cool-down splash and a bathhouse for return-to-work cleanup.

Cost: $9 for sausage basket, french fries and soda and fried dough

Time: 30 minutes

WALK AROUND:

Houghtons Pond is a great place for a walk, jog or bike ride.

There are several trails to follow that are easy and moderate for a quick workout at lunch.

An easy path leads past the beach area, behind the lifeguard station and into the woods. It loops around the pond and back to the pavilion and snack shop.

At a slow pace the loop will take about 30 minutes.

Helen Moudarri, with Deans Concession, serves up an order of french fries and a sausage with peppers and onions. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger

CHECK IT OUT:

Spend time under the pavilion that houses the Houghtons Pond snack shop. The pavilion is a replica from the late 1800s, with a stone wall and wooden rafters. It’s a great place to eat and watch the youngsters throw french fries to chipmunks and crows.

QUICK BITES:

The snack shop has carnival fare like a sausage, pepper and onion sandwich basket that comes with french fries and a soda for $6.50. Onion rings, cotton candy and fried dough are also available. None costs more than $2.50.

If fried food isn’t your thing, there are wraps, salads with grilled chicken and fruit smoothies.

RELAX:

Take a dip in the pond to cool off and recharge. There is a bathhouse where you can change clothes, then clean up to go back to work. Not enough time to swim? There’s a playground, where you can grab a swing, kick your legs, throw your head back and enjoy a few minutes of summer.