Woods Corner - Burlington, MA

Originally the Woods Corner area was almost entirely agricultural. Route 128 brought unprecedented expansion and growth, drawing both businesses and new residents. The construction of the Northeastern University Burlington Campus in Mary Cummins Park brought a much-needed educational institution to the area in 1963.

To learn a little about the area’s history, visit the Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington to the southwest of Woods Corner. This historical landmark was the childhood home of area statesman John Hancock, famous signer of the Declaration of Independence. The house also played an important part in the Battle of Lexington and Concord, acting as the headquarters for the leaders of the colonials, John Hancock and Samuel Adams.

Check out The Arts Playhouse for a variety of shows and workshops catering to kids and adults. Some of the events put on by the theater include musicals and plays.

With the wide selection of eateries available in the Woods Corner area, finding a place to eat becomes relatively easy. You'll find central restaurant locations along Middlesex Turnpike, on Cambridge Street and at the nearby Burlington Mall.

Take in a meal at L’Andana, Italian food at its finest. Try the tortellini, simmered in red wine braised oxtail stew to create a tasty beef broth highlighted with the finest herbs. If you prefer, opt for a wood-grilled filet mignon, a center-cut tenderloin steak that comes with a salted baked potato filled with roasted garlic butter.

Another popular area restaurant is The Bancroft. This classic American steakhouse brings fine wine, steaks and appetizers to the Burlington and Woods Corner areas. Order the skirt steak with charred avocado or the panko-crusted haddock with scampi sauce for a superior dining experience.

With an extensive wine list, the Cafe Escadrille features a wide selection of menu items from which to choose. Enjoy one of its signature appetizers, such as oysters Rockefeller, with freshly baked oysters and mushrooms and creamed spinach covered in a Pernod sauce. Try one of the restaurant’s many entrées, such as roast duckling a l’orange, a crisp and tender roasted Long Island duckling served with an orange sauce.

Take some time out at the Tavern in the Square, located in the New England Executive Park near the Burlington Mall shopping area. Enjoy outstanding tavern food with your favorite beverage, choosing from a wide selection of bottled and draft beers, white and red wines, and a large assortment of cocktails.

For musical entertainment, travel to the Tanner Tavern in Woburn. There you can enjoy a variety of musical acts, including local bands, on Friday and Saturday nights. The establishment also offers a good selection of bar food to go along with your drinks and entertainment, including a variety of appetizers, soups, burgers, pizzas and other bar-type food.

With most errands requiring the use of a vehicle, walking and cycling are not good modes of transportation in the area. One of the best options for transportation if you do not have your own car includes Burlington Public Transit. Running two buses, the service also connects with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and other area transit options.

When it comes to a taxi, you have the option of calling for one, hailing a cab in the street or using your mobile device to summon a ride-sharing service such as Uber, which operates in the Boston area. If you need a place to park your vehicle in the Woods Corner neighborhood, public lots are limited, with street parking allowed 24 hours a day during warm weather.

The proximity of Route 128 to the area makes accessing highways and expressways easy. Some other major roadways that service the Woods Corner neighborhood include Highway 3 and Interstate 95, which combine with Route 128 while traveling though the area.

The Boston, MA, area has many different parks for residents to visit, including many multi-acre locations. One of the most prominent in the Woods Corner neighborhood, Mary Cummins Park, has over 200 acres of green space for use by the public. One of the special events held at this area favorite include monthly photo walks. Additionally, the park has many walking trails for hikers and wildlife watchers to use.

Another area park, Willard’s Woods has over 3 miles of trails within its 100-acre confines. The park also offers a bike trail for use by area cyclists. At conservation areas such as Willard’s Woods, you can walk your dog off-leash on the weekdays, but you must keep it on a leash on the weekends.

With over 13 miles of trails, the Burlington Landlocked Forest offers a place for area residents to escape the grind of the work week. Bike, walk or bring your pets to this area park. In the wintertime, make sure to bring your snowshoes or skis if you expect to encounter snow.

For some summertime fun, visit the Burlington Town Common or Simond’s Park to take in one of the numerous children’s’ shows, concerts or other special events.

The cost of living in the Woods Corner neighborhood sits higher than that of the greater Boston area. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $1,600 monthly, a beer at your local pub costs anywhere from $4 to $8, and it costs $3 to get to downtown Boston including transfers.

Buying a gallon of gas in the Woods Corner neighborhood should cost you about 6 percent more than the national average.

The Woods Corner area includes many shopping locations, especially around Middlesex Turnpike and the Middlesex Commons Shopping Center, Wayside Commons at the junction of Route 128 and Cambridge Street, and at the Burlington Plaza Shopping Center, further down Cambridge Street.

To find a variety of boutiques, look no further than the Burlington Mall. You can find just the items you seek at such stores as Brighton Collectibles.

At Brighton Collectibles, you can choose from a variety of leather products and jewelry. Some of the items you can find include cross body, shoulder and satchel handbags. Check out its line of jewelry items to find something to match your wardrobe.

Fill all of your grocery needs at Market Basket with lower prices on items such as produce, meat and personal items for use around the house. Wegmans, another area grocery store, offers consistently low prices on its items, including fresh produce, bakery good and other must-have products. If you seek a farmers market, visit the Lexington Farmers Market to find fresh produce and other items from area farmers and vendors.