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April 22, 2020

Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village is a great place to learn about colonial New England

About 56 miles west of Boston is Old Sturbridge Village, a re-creation of a typical New England village of the early 1800s. Old Sturbridge Village is a way to look back on how life was in New England between the years 1790 and 1840.

The largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast - a great place for the whole family to learn about history.

Sturbridge Village

Fun Facts About Old Sturbridge Village

Open to guests on June 8, 1946.

The whole concept was created by Albert B. Wells. He didn't see It open as he had a heart attack and moved to California.

Today there are 40 antique buildings spread out over 200 acres. Among the buildings are homes, shops, a meeting house and schoolhouse.

The graveyard is not a real one, but the gravestones were real. They are old gravestones from other cemeteries that are donated to Old Sturbridge Village. Many of these gravestones were being replaced at the original location. In some instances, the bodies that were buried at the original gravesite were missing.

The Vermont Covered Bridge is a great place to take pictures in the fall. This is one of 12 covered bridges that are still in use in Massachusetts.

Near the Freeman Farmhouse are some apple trees, another great family pictures spot. This is great any time of the year.

You can buy iron goods made at the Blacksmith in the general store. Supplies are limited. All nails that are used in the Village come from the Blacksmith. When you visit the Blacksmith shop, you can ask for some old nails - if they have enough stock they may give you one!

Sunday Brunch at the Village is a great place to stop by for Brunch. We have enjoyed going here for a nice quiet classic New England meal. The food is great and if it's a nice day, going through the Village afterward is a fun way to spend the day with family.

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April 15, 2020

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

National Bird Reserve just off the Shore of Chatham, Massachusetts

Just off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts lies a large Island. This is the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge - or as the locals call it Monomoy Island. This is a safe ground for New England wildlife.

This is federally protected land. (This post is general information about the island. Detail breaks information will be done in another post this summer.)

Monomoy Island

Six Fun Facts About Monomoy Island

The Wildlife Refuge was established in 1944 and became a federal Wildlife Refuge in 1970.

This is a 7,600-acre (8-mile long) refuge which provides a resting, nesting, and feed grounds for migratory sea birds.

The beaches along the Chatham shore has the highest concentration of nesting piping plover in New England.

There are five species are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): the piping plover, roseate tern, red knot, northeastern beach tiger beetle, and seabeach amaranth.

The island used to have lots of dune shacks. When the government took over the island in 1944, the US Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife took over all the land by eminent domain. However, they let the current landowners keep their land as long as the original owner lived and the structure was held up against the tides and storms. The last living person to legally own space died in September 2000. When the structure was taken down it marked the first time in 300 years that the island was free of human building.

The only remaining structure is the Monomoy Point Light which is located on the further point south on the island. It is on the National Historic Register. In 2016 it went under major repair to restore the lighthouse. Chatham Coast Guard helicopters were used to bring in lumber and supplies to help restore the lighthouse.

Visiting the Island?

The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge has a printable map of all the public accessable trials on Monomy Island.

There's also a handy bird guide to find out when your favorite feather friend visits the island.

Boats to Monomoy

The only way to get on the island is by boat. You can take the Monomy Island Excursion to tour the island and see the seals - you don't get off to explore the island. The boats leave from Harwich.

The Monomoy Island Ferry is one of the oldest tour boats of Monomoy. You can get pretty close to seals and perhaps some whales. They do offer private charter tours of Monomoy where you can walk part of the island. The boat departs from Sage Harbor in Chatham - right next to Monomoy.

Go this Summer

Visiting Monomoy Island is a unique way to see Cape Cod and it worth the visit to get close to nature and enjoy some fresh salt air.

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April 8, 2020

Gillette Stadium

Fun Facts about Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts

Gillette Stadium is home of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution. Every Summer it hosts many top performers concerts.

The stadium is located on Route 1 in Foxboro, Massachusetts - 29-miles from downtown Boston.

Gillette Stadium 2012

Six Things I Learned About Gillette Stadium

  • The stadium first opened on May 11, 2002 at a cost of $325 million. It replaced Foxboro Stadium which stood next door from 1971 to 2001.
  • The stadium holds 65,878 football fans and 20,000 soccer fans. The largest attendance record for a concert was set by Luke Bryan in 2014 when 60,000 fans attended his concern.
  • The Jumbotron in the stadium is the largest HDTV video screen in the NFL.
  • Gillette likes to promote that they have twice as many parking spaces in Gillette???s parking lot as there are parking meters in Boston. Currently there are 6,955 parking meters in Boston, which means that there are 13,000 parking spaces around Gillette Stadium.
  • The lighthouse in the North End Zone is a signature staple of the stadium. It rises 10 stores about the field. It is somewhat hidden from the outside by the height of the 16-story stadium.
  • The grass surface was natural grass until 2006 when it was replaced with FieldTurf.
  • The New England Patriots have sold out every game since December 26, 1993.

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April 1, 2020

Adventure New England

Welcome to New England

This is the start of a new blog series where I???ll be showcasing places that I have visited around New England.

There are some complications in creating today???s post, so I won???t be able to post the scheduled content and will have to do that next week.

Some places that I???ll feature over the next few months.

  • Honeypot Orchards in Vermont
  • Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg Massachusetts
  • Manchester by the Sea Beach
  • North Conway 5 & 10 Store
  • Wychemere Harbor
  • LL Bean Store in Freeport Maine
  • Provenience Town tower

If there???s any place that you want to see, let me know and I???ll post it.

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August 29, 2018

Henry Knox Monument in Framingham

Part of the Henry Knox Trail

The Henry Knox Trail is a set of roads and paths that trace the route that the team of soldiers, led by General Henry Knox, to deliver artillery to George Washington. The artillery was used to help win several key campaigns in the Revolutionary War. In particular, it helps free Boston from the British troops.

In Framingham, there's a monument to celebrate that General Henry Knox actually passed by here:

Henry Knox Framingham

Momument Reads

Through this place passed
GENERAL HENRY KNOX
in the winter of
1775-1776
To deliver to
General George Washington
At Cambridge
The train of artillery
from Fort Ticonderoga used
to force the British Army
to evacuate Boston
erected by the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts 1927

Four Things I Learned About the Henry Knox Monument

  • Part of the 56 commemorative plaques on the Henry Knox Trail
  • The monuments were placed on the 150th anniversary of the Knox March
  • The trail goes from Kinderhook, New York to Roxbury, Massachusetts
  • You can see a Bust of General Henry Knox at George Washington Monument at the Forest Hills Lawn Cemetary

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August 22, 2018

Fitchburg Alumni Brick Location

Fitchburg State has relocated the Hammond Alumni bricks

If you graduated from Fitchburg State College in the late 1990s, your parents might have gotten a promotion to purchase a commemorative brick. The brick would be placed as a walkway in the Hammond Plaza area.

Changes to the Plaza

A few years ago the small grass area in front of Thompson Building was removed and cement bricks were put in place. This was to allow the school to make better use of the area for events.

Hammond Plaza Before/After

Hammond Plaza

The before the picture was taken with my FinePix F601. The after a picture was taken iPhone 6s Plus. While putting together today's blog postings, I noticed that the pictures taken that day with my FixPix actually look better than ones taken with my iPhone. I'll have to do a side-by=side comparison of the two.

Gone but Not Forgotten

The bricks were not destroyed. They are still on campus.

The bricks were moved to an area behind the Alumni Center off of Highland Ave. Some people may remember the building by the former name - the Newman Center (Also known as the Chapel).

To get to the location from the old site:

From the Hammon Plaza, head to Highland Ave, and walk down the street towards the "New Halls." Just before the street ends you'll see the former Newman Center - now named Mazzaferro Alumni Center. Walk along the path between the parking lot and the Mazzaferro Alumni Center, you'll see a brick patio in the back.

Mazzaferro Alumni Center Patio Area
Mazzaferro Alumni Center Patio Area

Finding your Brick

The bricks were not put together in the same order. So it may take time to find your brick. There is no guide to help you, simply walk row by row to find your brick - who knows you may find some names of old friends.

One more Thing

Favor: If you're attending Fitchburg State University, can you take a better picture of the Hammond Plaza Area? I would like a better before/after photo.

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August 19, 2018

TD Garden Event Parking Rate

There are better parking options around TD Garden Events

If you're attending an event at the TD Garden, you should know about your parking options.

First off it's very expensive to park at the North Station Garage, from the TD Garden website:

With the most convenient parking for every game and show, the North Station Garage, located directly underneath the TD Garden, offers a flat event rate of $50 when you enter 2 and 1/2 hours prior to the scheduled event time. Elevators located in the parking garage will bring you directly to the main concourse in North Station.

T D Garden Parking

Know your Options

If you're new to Boston, you should know that you do have many options which are just a few blocks away from the station:

Cheapest Option - Public Transportation. The Northside of the commuter rail and North Station T stop is just a few steps away from the TD Garden. The TD Garden Website has all the details on getting there using public transportation.

Government Center Garage - Event Rate is only $35, garage is a 10 minute walk to the TD Garden.

Pro Park Garden Garage - Event Rate is $40 ($10 Cheaper than the "offical parking" lot). The garage is located directly across the street from the Garden.

Longfellow Garage - About a 5 minute walk. Event Rates vary from $20 to $50.

Center Plaza Garage - No event rates published, Saturday or Sunday rates are $11.

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August 15, 2018

Great Wolf Lodge

Eating Gluten Free at the Great Wolf Lodge

This past week we visit the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, otherwise known as Great Wolf New England. We spent 2 days at the Waterpark and having fun with the MagiQuest.

We had Dinner and breakfast at the Lodge Wood Fired Grill. Eating out can be a challenge with a seven-year-old that needs to eat Gluten Free.

Great Wolf Dinner

Dining Experience

The Lodge Wood Fired Grill had a dinner buffet, but when we went up to see what was being served, we didn't really see anything that was safe and decided to stick to the menu.

When the server came to our table, we told him about my daughter allergy and he told us that it was the restaurant policy to have a chef come and talk to us about our options.

A couple of minutes later, the chief came over and talked to my daughter about what she wanted to have for dinner. It was nice that they started that way to allow my daughter to pick what she wanted. She wanted Mac & Cheese, Chicken Nuggets, and french fries. Basically, the same thing that her friend was having.

The chief told us that he would be able to make all of that gluten-free, the Mac & Cheese would take a bit because they need to boil a fresh pot of water. He would get the chicken nuggets and fries out as soon as possible.

The chicken nuggets and fries did come out pretty quickly - just before the adult's meals. About 10 minutes later the Mac & Cheese came out.

My daughter was very happy to have her Mac & Cheese and other things that she wanted. She didn't feel left out from not having the same thing that her friend was having.

My daughter got a lot of food, she enjoyed it and was very happy.

Breakfast Experience

Great Wolf Breakfast

We went up to the buffet and picked things that we knew were safe for her to eat. We did meet a chief at the buffet and they came to see us at our table to explain other options - including making a special plate of Potatoes because the ones at the buffet were deeply fried not in a dedicated fryer.

Breakfast was good. She got a lot of potatoes, she probably only need 2-3. She was happy to have lots of options and enjoyed the sausage and bacon too. (We noticed that the bacon wasn't all that salty.)

Five things We Learned

  • To me, I felt the service was slow, it took a long time for the server to take our orders. At breakfast, I felt that our table was forgotten.
  • The chief at the Breakfast buffet asked what tolerant level my daughter had with gluten. That surprised us. When you are a Celiac, you have to avoid gluten. The FDA rule for packaged foods is 20 parts for million is the maximum ratio of gluten levels in food deemed safe for people with celiac disease.
  • The next time we'll let the table host know about the allergy so they can leave a chief to know after they sit us down at the table.
  • The breakfast potatoes were crunchier than the regular potatoes.
  • They served a lot of food, which is good, but it seemed too much. We couldn't take it home since we were staying at the resort.

Interesting Message on the Dinning Page:

ALLERGY AWARENESS: At Great Wolf Lodge, all our culinary teams are well versed in common food allergies and dietary restrictions. We are more than happy to accommodate your needs, and we encourage you to speak to your chef, so your meal can be prepared safely from the very beginning. Great Wolf Lodge dining facilities do not serve peanut or tree nut products, but some of our products may be manufactured in facilities that also process nuts.

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August 8, 2018

Playhouse at the Breakers Mansion

Cool looking playhouse at the Breakers Mansion

The Playhouse at the Breaker's Mansion is an often overlooked attraction when visiting the popular mansion. It is located near the exit as you walk around the property.

Playhouse Breakers

Six Fun Facts about the Playhouse

  • Some documents refer the playhouse as simply "The Cottage"
  • The Playhouse building was build in 1895, the house was constructed in 1893.
  • Designed by Peabody and Stearns, who designed the original Breaker's Mansion.
  • The Fireplace is a real working fireplace.
  • The playhouse was where the five Vanderbilt children could play in the summertime: William Henry Vanderbilt II, Cornelius Vanderbilt III, Gertrude Vanderbilt, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, Gladys Moore Vanderbilt
  • In the back room, where there is a pretend kitchen are two buttons on the wall. One of the buttons says '2nd Floor.' We asked someone about it and they said it was a mystery. However, when you look at the playhouse from the backside, you can clearly see windows as if there is a second floor in the playhouse. The windows are very similar to the ones in the Breaker's Mansion.

Playhouse is the Same Today as it Was Then

Old New
Pictures taken shortly after it was built vs today.

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August 1, 2018

North Conway 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ Store

Fun Store in North Conway

The North Conway's 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ store is a great place to visit to take a step back to when lives were simple. Here you'll find lots of long ago items and plenty of penny candy for the kids to enjoy.

In the 80s, I stopped by here whenever we visited North Conway. I can remember going through the store and looking at all the unique souvenirs and toys. It was something that I looked forward to on every trip to North Conway.

Last year we were back in North Conway and I got to share the experience with our nine-year-old daughter. The store was a bit different, but it still had plenty of old toys and souvenirs that kept it's charm.

What can you expect when you walk in the store? You'll find Lots of unique items that have made the store such as success over the past 79 years. There are lots of hard to find "penny candy," North Conway souvenirs - including my favorite maple sugar candy. Yes, in 2018 you can still buy some candy for 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄!

North Conway510

Five Things I have Learned about the North Conway's 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ store

  • First opened in May 1939. It is the oldest continually operating retail store in North Conway. The store has always existed in the current location. On May 1st, 2019, the store will celebrate the 80th anniversary! An amazing accomplishment for any small 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ store.
  • The store was founded by Sidney and Lillian Sweeney. It was sold to Shirley and Phil Alcott in 1977 and they have had the tough job of keeping the store running in the Internet age of online shopping.
  • The location previous occupant was the Carroll Reed's Ski shop.
  • At the back of the store, you can find plenty of classic doll furniture and accessories. My daughter really liked the collection since she hasn't seen the items in any previous store.
  • There were two remaining 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ stores in New Hampshire the other being Bailey's 5 Cents to 1 in Ashland. Bailey's closed on October 31, 2004.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The store got listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 2004. The listed number is 03001282. You can get more information about the registration on the Digital Asset Page.

North Conway Historic

Owners Thoughts

On the North Conway's 5 ⊄ and 10 ⊄ store official website, they have the following statement:

In this present day of fast-paced internet sales and instant gratification, we ask you to pause a moment. You are walking through a piece of history. Take time to enjoy your neighborhood store and the memories it has to offer. After all, we've seen the best part of a century. You never know just what you might encounter when you step back in time.

The North Conway 5 and 10 Cent Store is located at 2683 S Main St, North Conway, NH 03860

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About

Journey through New England's rich tapestry. Immerse yourself in the revolutionary spirit of Boston, Massachusetts, or explore the grand mansions lining Newport, Rhode Island's coast. Hike amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Vermont's verdant mountains, or savor the fresh lobster rolls dished out at charming harbor towns in Maine. From historical landmarks to outdoor adventures and culinary delights, New England caters to every traveler's desire.

Check out all the blog posts.

Schedule

FridayMacintosh
SaturdayInternet Tools
SundayOpen Topic
MondayMedia Monday
TuesdayQA
WednesdayNew England
ThursdayGluten Free