Norwell Center, Norwell

The string of shops along Norwell’s Main Street are not the only reason to visit the quaint town center, which also boasts a cultural arts center and nature reserve to distract you on your hour away from the office.

Kathleen Cogrove of Weymouth and Shane Shannon of Whitman pause on a stone bench to enjoy their surroundings. Photo by Lisa Bul

Time: 60 minutes

Price: $10.43 for a Greek salad with tuna and a sparkling water

Grab a bite
No matter what you’re in the mood to eat, Norwell Center has something to offer. You can grab a slice of pizza at Mount Blue or a sandwich at Drum’s Emporium, but the culinary gem of the center is Bo-Tes Imports and Marketplace.

The shop has a wide selection of imported specialties, gourmet selections and homemade baked goods. Best bet? Grab a salad, sandwich or some olives and cheese that you can eat at Old Mill Pond.

Kelly and Chris Doty of Weymouth take their dog Sturgis for a walk through the reservation. Photo by Lisa Bul

Take a Nature Break
Nothing melts away workplace stress like a quick trip into the wild, and Old Mill Pond is the perfect place to feel the sun on your face and eat lunch beneath the pines. Tucked just inside the entrance to Norris Reservation off of Dover Street, the pond has several benches, a boardwalk, babbling brooks and an abundance of large rocks to sit on.

People watch
As the weather warms, families trickle into the reservation to eat lunch at a picnic area near the pond, teenagers fish for trout from the wooden bridge and dog owners let their furry friends swim alongside the wildlife - including turtles, fish and frogs. Grab a map of the 129-acre reservation for a day when you aren’t expected back at the office.

Rain check
If the weather is less than perfect, eat your lunch at the cafe tables inside Bo-Tes, then head to the James Library and Center for the Arts, around the corner on West Street. The gallery has artwork and photography shows that can be viewed from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For information on what is showing, visit www.jameslibrary.org.