It's spring -- get out and walk!!

Walking is great way to get to know the region south of Boston

By Taryn Plumb | GLOBE CORRESPONDENT MAY 18, 2014

DEBEE TLUMACKI FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

The couple happened upon their profession purely by accident.

Nancy and Leo Martin moved to Plymouth in 1999, where they intended to open a photography studio.

The Jenney Grist Mill, built by Pilgrim John Jenney in 1636, was one of their options; once they heard of its history, they dedicated themselves to educating people about it — and the area at large — through a series of now-daily walking tours of Plymouth.

“We enjoy meeting people from all over the world, and we hope people will see how interesting the history of our country is and how the lessons learned then are still relevant today,” Nancy Martin said of the Jenney Museum. “We believe history should never be boring, and our goal is never to let that happen.”

There are stories everywhere you look — or, in this case, walk.

Now that the brutal winter has finally relented to T-shirt (or at least windbreaker) temperatures, there are a bevy of options to explore the region’s stories, from guided nature and historical strolls akin to those offered by the Jenney Museum to self-led tours along numerous trails, hikes, and routes.

“It is an inexpensive way to exercise — all you need are either sneakers or hiking boots,” said Mike Tuohey, a Whitman resident and Appalachian Mountain Club hiking guide who leads several area walks. “Plus being out in nature with like-minded people helps to recharge the batteries after a week at work. It’s a healthy way to socialize.”

And the great thing about walking is its versatility — people can discover nature, learn about their hometown, take in history, or simply meander.

For a traditional walk, the area is rich with gems for self-discovery, from historical sites to beaches to acres of woods and parklands.

Consider Quincy’s Adams National Historical Park, whose “old house” was the residence of four generations of the family that helped shape our nation. There’s also the popular destinations World’s End in Hingham, Quincy Quarries, Norris Reservation in Norwell, Whitney and Thayer Woods spanning Hingham and Cohasset, the Freetown-Fall River State Forest, and, of course, Myles Standish State Forest, the area’s largest publicly owned recreation area, in Carver and Plymouth.

For even more ideas, the website www.south-shore-hiking-trails.com suggests walks of more than a dozen cities and towns south of Boston.

Meanwhile, on June 7, several of Historic New England’s sites will be open to the public, including the Quincy House, built by Revolutionary leader Josiah Quincy in 1770.

For those who prefer more of a city stroll, the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce has a downloadable Pilgrim Path tour map on its website, and the advocacy organization Walk Boston offers maps of suggested walks along Braintree’s waterfront and town center, the Hull peninsula, the cultural and historic sites of Walpole, and the church green and Norfolk House in Dedham.

Executive director Wendy Landman said Walk Boston has been helping many communities become more walkable through walk audits, workshops, and the Safe Routes to School program, which helps provide a nurturing environment for children to walk to school. The nonprofit also recently released a rural walking tool kit to help smaller towns become more pedestrian-friendly.

Landman said the benefits of walking are societal, economical, and environmental. Walking also has physical, mental, and cognitive benefits.

“There’s new stuff coming out all the time about the benefits of walking,” she said. “It’s basically good for you in every way you can imagine.”

Plus, it almost always provides opportunities for a learning experience.

Tuohey’s upcoming guided tours, for example, include a 7-mile hike on Saturday in the Blue Hills Reservation viewing various types of wildflowers, and a 6.5-mile hike on June 14 of the Blue Hills Skyline Trail in Quincy and Milton.

On May 31, he will also lead a 5.5-mile walk of the Granite Railway and Quincy Quarries.

“On this hike, there are quarries, most filled in, but some still open and water-filled,” he said.

Walkers will also see remnants of the 1826 Granite Railway, the first commercial railroad in the United States, and the Lyon’s Turning Mill, which produced granite spheres and cylinders.

Tuohey, who has been leading walks under the auspices of the Appalachian Mountain Club Boston chapter since 2010, said he has a “love of history” and likes to share various tidbits as he guides.

“The weather is perfect this time of year — it’s not too hot and the bugs have not come out yet,” he said as an incentive to get people out for a walk.

Other guided hikes offered by the Appalachian Mountain Club include a Blue Hills bird walk on May 31, a Nantasket Beach Walk on June 1, and explorations of Hale Reservation in Westwood and Wollaston Beach in Quincy, both on June 15.

For even more nearby history, consider a different kind of walking tour, offered through the Jenney Museum.

The Martins offer three daily walking tours (except on Sundays) of the Forefathers Monument, which tells the story of the faith of the Pilgrims; overall Plymouth history, exploring Brewster Gardens, Plymouth Rock, Cole’s Hill, Leyden Street, Burial Hill and Town Square; and another titled “Business Not as Usual,” about the evolution of economics among the Pilgrims, including the development of the grist mill.

“We tell how the Pilgrims went from a communal existence to land ownership, free trade, and capitalism,” Nancy Martin said. “This saved the Pilgrims economically.”

All three tours, which range from $8 to $10 for adults, are led by Leo Martin in period costume, and can draw anywhere from 10 to 100 people.

“People love the way Leo tells a story,” said his wife. “He has a way of bringing history alive and engaging people. He loves what he does, he loves the history of our country, and he loves people.”

It’s also, in a sense, a way to pay it forward.

“He loves to go on vacation,” Nancy said, “and when he does get to, he wants to be treated well, so his goal is to treat people well and give them an experience they will never forget.”

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