Top of the Hill Gang upcoming events

Summer Picnic 2026 (Sunday, July 19, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for our Summer Picnic at Nara park.

The Park is located on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the picnic will be preceded by

a bike ride at 10 am and
a walk at 11 am on the rail trail...

... for those interested. Gather at the parking lot.

Aside from walking and biking on the Rail Trail, Nara Park has other hiking trail around the lake, or you can go swimming or renting boats and canoes. Also if you would like to play some lawn games, please bring your favorite one with you.

Parking is free.

There will be a catered BBQ luncheon for $52. It will include ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, grilled boneless chicken, grilled veggies, baked beans, moroccan couscous, quinoa salad, garden salad, cucumber salad, corn bread, and lemonade/iced tea. Options that are vegan/ gluten free are available (please indicate when you register). BYOB (beer and wine only). If you want to bring appetizers or a dessert to share, these would be welcomed!

We will again be using the large pavilion with about 20 picnic tables sheltered from the elements.

Registration closes on Monday, July 13.

Charles River Kayak (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Meet at 10:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. launch at the Boston: Allston/ Brighton location.

Rentals are $45 for 3 hours.

To rent a kayak, please reserve your kayak online at this paddleboston link for the Allston/ Brighton location. Driving directions also on this link.

Parking is free at Soldiers Field.

Bring water, snacks, a hat and light jacket. Life jackets are required.

We will have a picnic lunch after the paddle. There are picnic tables but, just to be safe, please bring your own chairs. Don’t forget to pack your lunch.

South Shore Bike Ride, Bare Cove Park, Hingham,, MA, 02043 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Bare Cove Park, Beal Street. entrance, off Rte. 3A Hingham, MA 02043

Approx.. 8+ Mile bike ride thru Bare Cove Park, Hingham, MA bordering the scenic Back River. Paved and un-paved surfaces. Difficulty, Light to Medium. Suitable for EBikes, Mountain and Cross bikes. Not suitable for Road Bikes, or Trikes. Bring a lunch or snack if you wish. There are picnic tables within the park to stop at. Rain Cancels.

Helmets are required. Pumped-up tires, and a spare inner tube are required, Bring a water bottle.

Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

Play Canasta - A Strictly Social Event (Thursday, July 23, 2026)

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Canasta is all the rage these days. Let’s learn the game together and have some fun. Please join us if you already know the game! All levels of players are welcome! Limit 12 people.

Great Herring Pond Paddle (Monday, July 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

TOHG members are invited to join BASK (Bay Area Senior Kayakers) to paddle on Great Herring Pond in Plymouth, MA.

We will launch at 10:00 a.m. from the Great Herring Pond Access Site, located on the Bourne/Plymouth town line. It features a shallow gravel boat ramp suitable for kayaks and canoes.

There are no kayak rentals available, so you must bring your own boat.

Great Herring Pond covers approximately 376 to 424 acres. It is a long, narrow lake with over 5 miles of shoreline.

Life jackets are required.

Charles River Bike Trail (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Kimm for a ride along the Charles River. starting at the public parking lot of the Daly ice Rink. The Trail is paved. The total mileage will be about 16 miles, about 2 hours. We will stop for coffee along the route.

Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended. Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

South Shore Bike Ride, Wompatuck State Park and Whitney Spur Rail Trail (Wednesday, August 05, 2026)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Meeting Place: Visitor Center Parking Area on right after entrance to the Park.

Distance: 12+ Miles mostly on paved surfaces, some small hills and bumpy areas. Stops at the Aaron River Reservoir and Mount Blue Spring to refresh water bottles. We will include the Whitney Spur Rail Trail on this ride and maybe a stop at J J's Ice Cream on Rte. 3A in Cohasset. Not suitable for Trikes. Thin Tire Road Bikes are questionable, everything else is ok.

Wompatuck State Park is a historic site spanning 3,526 acres, it has 70 miles of roads, multi-use trails and bike paths. It was used as an Ammunition Depot during WW2. The State Park is named after Chief Wompatuck who deeded the land to English settlers in 1665. It is also home to the Mt. Blue Spring a popular source of fresh drinking water since colonial times, and the Aaron River Reservoir.

RAIN CANCELS

Helmets are required. Pumped-up tires, and a spare inner tube are required, Bring a water bottle.

Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

Mass Central Rail Trail Sudbury to Hudson (Thursday, August 13, 2026)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Come join us as we explore one of the newest sections of the Mass Central Trail which officially opened in 2025. We will be riding a short distance on the Bruce Freeman Trail to "The Diamond" where we will connect to the newly completed portion of the Mass Central Trail to Hudson where we can stop for coffee and a bite to eat.

This is a mostly wooded trail with a stretch of marsh shortly before we cross Route 20 and continue on the Assabet River Trail which leads to downtown Hudson. This is fully paved, flat and about 20-22 miles round-trip.

Parking is in a dirt parking lot adjacent to the Bruce Freeman Trail in Sudbury. The entrance is not very visible but is marked "FIELD ENTRANCE" next door to Ti-SALES, 36 Hudson Rd. Sudbury

Helmets are required. Pumped-up tires, and a spare inner tube are required, Bring a water bottle.

Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

Hundred Acre Cove Kayak Trip (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Rick and Laurie as we explore the Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington, RI. This is a new trip for us. Meet at 10:00a.m. at Walker Farm Kayak Rentals (https://walkerfarmkayaks.com) for a 10:30a.m. launch.

Rentals are $30 for 2 hours. To reserve a kayak, please contact Bernie at 401-369-4832. Reservations are required and only cash payments are accepted. Bring water, snacks, a hat and a life jacket (if not renting).

Life jackets are required!

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (Thursday, August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join Lisa D to tour the beautiful live animal exhibit trail that winds through the woods past a coyote, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, otters, bears, and a variety of raptors. Squam Lakes docent and TOHG member Lisa Davis will lead the tour explaining what makes these native animals so special and how they fit into the NH ecosystem. The ¾ mile path is handicapped accessible, but good walking shoes are advised. Two motorized scooters may be available by reservation at no charge. Insect repellent is also a good idea.

After the tour you may choose lunch with a lake view at Walter's Basin or picnic at the Nature Center. Some members might choose to climb 403 feet up Mount Fayal for a view of Squam Lake.The 1.4 mile loop Mount Fayal trail is on the Squam Lakes property but your trail admission would include it. Trail admission is $16.

While in The Lakes Region you might want to try kayaking at nearby Squam Lakes Association or hike on one of the many wonderful trails in the area. Perhaps you'd rather go for a swim.

Please register by August 16.

Squam Lake Kayak (Thursday, August 27, 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join us to kayak on beautiful Squam Lake.

Meet at 10:30 a.m. for an 11:00 a.m. launch at Squam Lakes Association, Holderness, NH

Rentals are $15/ hr or $50/day.

To rent a kayak, please reserve your kayak at https://squamlakes.org/boat-rentals/

There is a $5 parking fee unless you are a member of the Squam Lakes Association.

Bring water, snacks, a hat, and light jacket.

We will have a picnic lunch on a nearby island or back on shore, so please pack a lunch.

Life jackets are required.

Burlington VT Bike Trip (Sunday, August 30, 2026)

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Once again we're pleased to return to Burlington VT for our annual biking trip.

There's lots to see and do in Burlington even if you're not biking. These include the Champlain Valley Fair, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farm, Church St. Marketplace, AO Glass Studio, Dakin Farm, and more!

We'll be staying again at The Best Western Windjammer Inn, 1076 Williston Rd., South Burlington VT Tel. (802) 863-1125. They are again offering TOHG a special rate of just $149.00 per room plus 9% VT state tax, 1% City of South Burlington tax and $2.50 Destination Marketing Fee, per room per night (taxes and fees subject to change). The room rate includes 2 double beds, complimentary daily full breakfast, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary warm cookies and complimentary coffee & lattes in the lobby. Bikes may be stored in your room.

We have blocked rooms starting with August 30th but please register for however many nights you wish to stay. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at (802)863-1125 (be sure to mention TOHG to receive special rate) or online at

https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.46013.html?groupId=T39QJ3Y3

To Register: First call the Best Western at (802) 863-1125 to make your room reservations for August 30th, 31st, and September 1st, and identify yourself with TOHG.

Please register with TOHG after you made your hotel reservation, to let the leader know you are coming.

If you are sharing a room and each paying separately then you would need to call the hotel directly at (802) 863-1125 and be sure to tell them you are part of the Top of the Hill Gang to get the group rate. Each person must register separately on tohg.org.

Planned bike rides include Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail St. Albans to Sheldon on Monday or the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, Island Line Rail Trail Burlington to South Hero Island on Tuesday and Stowe Recreation Path on Wednesday. All rides weather dependent! Hybrid, E Bikes and mountain bikes recommended as some of the trails are gravel or stone dust.

We are also planning on a 4:00pm Monday evening excursion again on The Spirit of Ethan Allen as we cruise Lake Champlain (please call 802-862-8300 and mention TOHG to reserve. Tickets $40.19 per person, taxes and fuel surcharge included.

We will meet as a group at 3:30pm at the ticket booth, 1 College St., Burlington.

There is a paid parking lot near the ticket booth. Pease Lot . I am told the fee is $3.00 per hour. You may be able to use ParkMobile app for a discounted rate.

Our cruise will be followed by a pizza buffet dinner (pizza, baked pasta, chicken parm, salad) at Zachary's Pizza just a few doors down the street from our hotel at 7:00pm Monday Cost is $25.00 in cash total each. Please reserve with Alan Ulrich at massprocess@msn.com directly.

Tuesday we'll meet at Oakledge Park in Burlington by 10:00am This is a pay parking lot for our bike ride. Bike rentals, including E Bikes are available trailside at Local Motion Bike Shop at Mile 2 on the trail. Anyone renting bikes can meet the rest of the group at Mile 2. After our ride you may wish to take in the Champlain Valley Fair in nearby Essex Junction! There are also many other fun attractions nearby including an open glass blowing studio, farm to visit and the Shelburne Museum.

After check out on Wednesday as we head home we'll stop to ride the Stowe Recreation Path which is about 10.6 miles round trip. A stop at Ben & Jerry's Factory afterwards is a must!

To get to the southern trailhead in Stowe from I-89, take Exit 10 onto SR 100. Follow SR 100 N toward Stowe 10 miles, where the entrance to the Stowe Recreation Path parking lot will be in Lintilhac Park on the left next to Stowe Community Church. There is parking for the trail behind the Stowe Communty Church. This path is fully paved and suitable for all bikes.

PLEASE PRINT AND SAVE TO REFER TO LATER

Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended. Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

2027 Bonus Italian Alps Ski Trip (Saturday, February 20, 2027)

Sat, 20 Feb 2027 05:00:00 GMT

Join us to Ski in the heart of the Dolomite Mountains, Northern Italy. This trip is "Land Only" offering a great price point for a High Season European winter sports experience.

This trip conflicts with the annual Sunday River trip, and is scheduled very close to the Western trip, planned for Winter Park, CO. Due to timing of reservation deadlines, we are publishing this trip earlier than the full ski calendar, which will be announced in early August, as usual. Please take this into consideration when making your 2027 ski plans.

This trip is suitable for both Skiers and Non-Skiers alike.

This area is on the World Cup Circuit and includes the famous 33 Run. Cross Country and Snowshoeing is also available.

Once registered you will be contacted directly by Ski Italy and More with reservation, trip deposit Information, etc. Registration must be confirmed with Trip Deposit by July 15, 2026.

What's Included:

Round trip ground transportation 2/20/27 from and 2/27/27 to Marco Polo Intl. Airport, Venice, Italy. 3.5 Hrs. each way.

Accomodations: 7 Nights, 3*** Superior Hotel, Albergo DIMARO, Val di Sole, Italy, Tourist Tax Included.

Each day, rich breakfast buffet and dinner with choice of 3 four course menus and salad buffet including 1 traditional dinner, 1 late afternoon mulled wine tasting at Hotel.

Use of Hotel "Wellness Center" : heated indoor pool with spa area, indoor sauna, outdoor sauna, outdoor spa tub, indoor steam room (Bagno Turco) and low temp relax sauna (Vitarium). There is an extra charge for body massages, beauty treatments, etc.

Discounts on Ski Rentals, and Ski Schools (Recommended, Bring your boots, rent your skis. Prices are reasonable with quality equipment.)
Ski/Board Depository with heated boot racks. Ski boots cannot be worn in Hotel common areas.

Daily Ski Buses from hotel to Main Lift Station with afternoon returns. (8 Min.)

Trentino Guest Card, Provides Free use of local public bus transportation, and trains to the Provincial Capitol, (Trento). Visit the Castle of the Buonconsiglio, the weekly Open Market, the Beer Hall, the Cathedral of Trent, numerous Restaurants, and the Grom Ice Cream Shop in Trento all within walking distance of the Train Station.

Cross Country and snow shoeing available in area. (Guests must make own arrangements.)

Walking tour of the Village, Sundial Walk,
Lunch in Private Home Kitchen (Limited Number), Extra Charge.

2 Guided Group Downhill Ski Days.

6 Day Unlimited "Superskirama" Regional Ski Pass with On Piste Accident Insurance and access to Glacier Skiing at Passo Tonale, included.

U.S. Standard EPIC SKI PASS accepted for up to 7 consecutive days of skiing. Holder must present pass at main lift station on first day of skiing for conversion. Epic Pass holder must purchase On Piste Accident Insurance.

Skill Level Required: Intermediate and above.
Piste (Run) designations: Blue (intermediate), Red (advanced), Black all levels (expert), No Green Runs (beginner).

Alcoholic Beverages not included: Personal alcohol may not be consumed in public areas of the Hotel. The Hotel has 2 nice bars. Second Floor in the evening, first floor during the day. Beer, wine, liquor, bottled water, etc. may be added to room tab. Amenities including a Supermarket (Supermercato) and Italian Ice Cream Shop (Gelateria) located within walking distance of Hotel.

Pricing: LAND ONLY, prices are per person. Air Fare and Travel Insurance not included.

Double Occupancy
12 Comfort Rooms, 24 persons
Queen or twin beds, 14 Sq. Meters = 150 Sq. Feet
Skiers w/Ski Pass $2,200
Non-Skiers $1,760.

Single Occupancy
4 Single Rooms, 4 persons
Twin bed, 9 Sq. Meters = 97 Sq. Feet
Skiers w/Ski Pass $2,325
Non-Skiers $1,885.

Any additional rooms will be via waitlist. Space is limited.

Price Guarantee: Prices are guaranteed unless there is an upward change of 5 or more points in the Currency Exchange Rate by Jan. 2, 2027. Trip pricing calculated on a Currency Exchange Rate of 1.00 EUR = 1.16 USD.

50% Deposit Required, Booking Deadline July 15, 2026,
Balance due by October 15, 2026. Checks only, no credit cards. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended, but is optional with a signed Insurance waiver.

Reservation Forms, Terms and Conditions, info and tips, details, questions, etc. provided by Ski Italy and More.