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Finally, the first snow of the season! Lallis & Higgins Insurance wants to share with you some of the "best" sledding hills around Boston. Here are sledding spots we think are worth driving to.

Flagstaff Hill—Boston

Situated in Boston Common, near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and parallel to Charles Street, Flagstaff Hill might be Boston's most iconic sledding spot. The slope is long, even, and wide, so even though it gets crowded, there's ample room for kids to fit in some decent runs. Make a winter-fun day of it and hit Frog Pond rink to take a twirl and warm up with some hot chocolate.

Larz Anderson Park—Brookline

This hilly park is tailor-made for sledding, with lots of real estate—64 acres!—on various sides of the park for staking out a route. Like Flagstaff, the hilly area abuts a public ice rink, so families can get some skating in before or after sledding time.

President's Lawn, Tufts University—Medford

Local families share this hill with Tufts students, who congregate here for sledding (with the school's blessing). Hit the hill in the morning for the least-crowded conditions (co-eds are still sleeping), and be aware that's it's pretty steep, so maybe not the best for tots.

Danehy Park—Cambridge

Stigma aside, you gotta appreciate how much covered-over landfills, like this one at Danehy Park, make for primo sledding. It's one of the highest spots in Cambridge and uber conveniently located near Fresh Pond and its many walking paths.

Millennium Park—West Roxbury

Another landfill, another super sledding spot: This oft-overlooked park bordering West Roxbury (and technically in Boston) is huge, and never too crowded, making it a perfect winter escape.

Seven Bump Hill—Malden

Nestled behind Fellsmere Pond in West Malden, Seven Bumps is one of the most traditional and beloved sledding spots in the area. Your kids can see if they can see the seven bumps that the spots is named after; regardless, there's plenty of hilly terrain to explore.

Arnold Arboretum—Jamaica Pond

The Arboretum graciously allows sledding on its property, and you'll enjoy gorgeous views of the meticulous maintained property while sledding. Peter's Hill is the best spot to be able to enjoy the lovely trees without running into them, as it's the most wide-open slope (and the most popular).

Sugar Bowl—Jamaica Pond

Inverted bowls like this are extra safe for little ones, but add a sledding challenge for bigs—kids try their best to slide down with enough speed to coast a decent way up the opposite side.

Needham High School—Needham

The giant, wide hill aside the football field is where students congregate during games; and where kids from three towns in either direction gather when flakes start to fall. Big kids concoct jumps toward the center of the hill; smaller children are better off sticking to the edges of this bustling slope. After, grab donuts and a hot drink at Dunkin's across the street.

Spy Pond Park—Arlington

This big pretty park is best known for its skating pond, but skirt the edges for some nifty sledding runs.

Clay Pit Pond—Belmont

The surrounding park near Belmont High isn't big, but sloping down from Concord Avenue toward the pond is a perfectly pitched sledding hill that those in-the-know flock to at snowfall.

Prospect Hill Park—Waltham

A big trek up pays off with gorgeous views of Waltham, Watertown and the city from the cliff-like hilltop of this park. Runs are long, thrilling, and fulfilling.

Source: mommypoppins.com

Every homeowner needs to take measures to keep their homes safe. Living in Quincy and Weymouth or anywhere on the South Shore means that you will most likely experience severe and harsh winter months.

Let’s look at some steps you can take to keep your homes safe and secure during the winter months.

Make sure your fireplace is clean

When you think of winter, one of the first images you’re likely to think of is being curled up in front of a warm, crackling fire. If you enjoy getting your fireplace roaring when it’s cold and miserable outside, you’re not alone!

Before lighting the first fire of the season, make sure that the hearth is clean and the chimney is free from any obstructions. If the chimney is blocked, it could lead to noxious and harmful fumes filling your home.

Check that your heating system is in order

Central heating is a wonderful thing. The minute you step into your home from the frigid weather outside, you can breathe a sigh of relief: your home is warm and toasty.

During the winter months, a large number of household fires take place. These have been attributed to faulty heating systems. Schedule a check-up with the company that installed your heating system right before it starts to get cold. This will also ensure that your heating system is heating your home properly.

Be careful with the candles

You might be lighting them on festive dinners or in the evening when you’re winding down. Whatever the case is, make sure you handle the candles with care.

This means making sure that no candle is left burning unattended while you’re out or in a different room. Make sure candles are placed at a safe distance away from anything which can catch fire, such as curtains. If you have young children and pets, take extra care to ensure that candles are placed where they cannot be knocked over or reached by them.

Keep the steps and walkway leading up to your home clean

If you’ve been graced with a nice amount of snow or freezing rain, the last thing you want is a slippery walkway. The cold temperatures make matters even worse and often result in your steps and walkway freezing over. The icy surface can lead to many accidents if not taken care of.

Make sure that you keep your walkways and steps clear of all snow. Sprinkle salts over all of these areas to prevent any snow or ice accumulating at these points.

Install a carbon monoxide alarm

Whether you’re lighting your fireplace or using other various forms of heating, a carbon monoxide alarm is very important to have. These alarms monitor the levels of carbon monoxide in your home and are triggered when there is a dangerous amount of carbon monoxide in the air.

Having one of these alarms could potentially save your life.

Insulate exterior water lines

You don’t want your water supply to freeze over, do you? With those horribly cold temperatures, it’s a good idea to get all your exterior piping properly insulated. This will ensure that even when temperatures fall below freezing, you’ll still have warm flowing water.

Get your home properly insulated

Make sure the exterior of your home and your walls and windows are equipped to handle the cold. Get storm windows installed in the event that you’re stuck in the middle of a relentless blizzard.

Weather stripping and insulation should also be installed to ensure that your home remains warm.

Make sure your home is well lit

Winter means shorter days and longer nights. When faced with longer periods of darkness, take care to make sure your home is well lit. Burglars and thieves like to operate under the cover of darkness. Consider installing a few extra lights outside to make your home brighter and less attractive to criminals.

Keep your driveway clean

Make sure you shovel your driveway and scatter salt or sand to keep it from freezing over. This will make it easier for you to walk to and from your home. It will also make accessing your car much easier and can help prevent your garage door from freezing.

Clear the drains

Before winter sets in, make sure that all of the exterior drains are free from any leaves or debris. Otherwise, they will likely freeze over and prevent snow, slush, and freezing rain from adequately draining. If this happens, you stand the risk of too much moisture building up on your roof. Alternatively, if the debris freezes in the drains, the drains could also burst.

Whenever winter rolls around, make sure you and your family are prepared for the colder months ahead. This includes taking all steps necessary to ‘winter-proof’ your home. By doing so, you can eliminate or reduce the risk of having to deal with a number of problems and can have a relatively enjoyable winter.

For more information on home insurance and keeping your home well protected, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

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