Walden Pond, the setting for Henry David Thoreau's masterpiece--and a lot of pee.

Walden Pond, the setting for Henry David Thoreau's masterpiece--and a lot of pee.

Located in Concord and Lincoln, Mass., Walden Pond is best known as the setting of those CliffsNotes you feel asleep trying to read during your sophomore year of high school. But Walden Pond State Reservation is more than just were Henry David Thoreau spent most of his time from July 4, 1845 to Sept. 6, 1847; it’s also one of the leading ponds in Massachusetts in urine concentration.

Famous for: In addition to being the setting for the aforementioned CliffsNotes, my best friend Dan’s retainer fell out of his swimming trunks here about 15 years ago.

Admission: $5 per vehicle

Families with young kids will like: Relaxed attitudes toward peeing in the pond

Families with teenagers will like: Swimming across the pond is feasible–and makes for a fun race

Other travelers will like: Swimming, hiking, fishing, canoeing, boating (electric motors only), cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and picnicking

Easy site seeing: Concord, Lincoln and nearby Lexington have an abundance of cultural and historic attractions, including Revolutionary War battlefields and the former homes of some of America’s leading literary figures

Crashing this replica of Henry David Thoreau's one-room house is your only lodging option at Walden Pond State Reservation.

Crashing this replica of Henry David Thoreau's one-room house is your only lodging option at Walden Pond State Reservation.

Best hotel in the park: The replica of Thoreau’s one-room house

Best campground in the park: Camping is prohibited

Worst lodging experience: Not applicable

Best months to visit for weather: June through August

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: December through February as it gets wicked cold ’round these parts, yep, sure does

Best hotel: Not applicable

Nearest major city: Boston (the Athens of America)

More info can be found at the always helpful: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Walden Pond State Reservation web page

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Photos: Courtesy Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation