Traveling New England, Here and There...

New England Travel Thoughts
It's a rainy day here in the Northeast, a good day for travelers to visit some of Boston's best museums like the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts Boston... Congratulations to Bondir restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., chosen by Bon Appetit Magazine's in its "The Best New Restaurants in America in 2011" (September 2011 edition). Bondir bills itself as a restaurant serving "Sustainable Modern American Cuisine."... Today, we give shout outs to Attleboro, Mass., for its great community and patriotic spirit; Narragansett, R.I., for its wonderful ocean beaches; Old Lyme, Conn., for a remarkable sense of preservation; Dover, N.H., for bringing its downtown back to life in a big way; Woodstock, Vt., for its postcard picture perfect look; and South Berwick, Maine, for just being itself, a sleepy, friendly little town... It's amazing how Davis Square in Somerville, Mass., has gone from a rather nondescript neighborhood to an eclectic, interesting area loaded with restaurants and locally-owned stores. In a certain regard, it's now more interesting than Harvard Square in Cambridge. The centerpiece is, still, of course, the old-school Somerville Theater with some great movies playing at low prices...If I had to choose five Boston area towns to live for families, they would be Cohasset, Wakefield, Walpole, Franklin and Ipswich. All of those towns have a friendly close-knit, small town feel, very good to excellent schools, real downtowns, and plenty of activities going on for all ages. Ipswich and Cohasset have the advantage of being located by the ocean. And it's amazing that Cohasset, for all its wealth, has much less of a snob factor than other towns of its class... Best small city/town downtown district for college kids? I'd have to say Burlington, Vt., with its colorful, four-block downtown pedestrian shopping area, walking and bike paths, myriad restaurants and shops and boat rides along Lake Champlain...Looks like there are still some very good "Best Value Red Sox Tickets prices for upcoming games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. The Sept. 19 game against the Orioles has tickets starting at $15, through Ace Tickets!... Some close friends tell us that the indoor "wave pool" at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis, Mass., is a lot of fun, adds to a great family hotel destination... I really like Everything But Anchovies restaurant in Hanover, N.H. (5 Allen St.), A wide menu selection (including pizza), salad bar, and good prices not only make it a favorite amongst Dartmouth College students, but anyone else with a hearty appetite and thrifty spending habits. They actually do serve anchovies here on the pizzas... When the fall foliage season arrives, one place I'd highly recommend walking is Walden Pond on Route 126 in Concord, Mass. The hike around the pond is about 45 minutes and, more or less, level. The foliage colors are typically outstanding and the scenery so pleasing around the pond...Boston Bruins Tickets are now available. Here's hoping to a season as successful as last!...We stayed at the Henniker Motel in Henniker, N.H. a few weeks ago, and have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. We had a nice, clean room with cable television and views of the surrounding hills and open land. We also enjoyed the indoor pool. Additionally, they have a cozy gathering room with fireplace and television. The staff was very nice to us, too. The Henniker Motel is probably made more for the winter, as it is located at the base of Pat's Peak Ski area, but this summer visit was sure nice. By the way, Henniker is becoming one of our favorite New England towns as we find the downtown old fashioned and pleasant -- really quintessential New England. It's walkable, has a few nice restaurants and shops, an independently owned pharmacy and general store, nice views of the Contoocook River, and New England College with its attractive campus. We'll be back and look forward to another stay at the Henniker Motel!...Bishop's Orchards in Guilford, Conn., reports on Twitter that its apple picking season has begun with Gala and McIntosh available... That's about all for now, check in again soon for more New England travel thoughts!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good Eeeevening!: A Perspective on New Hampshire Meteorologist Al Kaprielian

Article by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com Somewhere in the 1980s, my esteemed Arlington High School journalism teacher Len Tammaro tipped me off about a New Hampshire television weatherman that he called "Crazy Al Kaprielian." That night, I couldn't believe what I saw: this nerdy-looking guy with a high-pitched voice flailing his arms all over the weather map, contorting his face in every direction, and squealing, "Good Eeeevening!" and "HIGH PRESSURE!" (his future trademark phrases)." All that boundless energy and the myriad antics left the viewer laughing, yet enervated at the same time. In this world of slick, Ken and Barbie television meteorologists, Al Kaprielian has been the antidote to the standard, unctuous television personality. Twenty-five years later, Al is still going strong on MyTV New England with his unique style --perhaps validation that he really loves his job. No doubt, Al has always been an unconventional, unique-looking a...
Read more

Visiting My Grandmother Had That Antiques in Wrentham, Mass.

Image
My Grandmother Had That...Antiques  in Wrentham, Mass., is one of those "hidden gem" antique stores that is jam-packed with antiques, collectibles and other items from the past. Located in a charming, two-story old red barn at 446 South St. (Route 1A), My Grandmother Had That...Antiques certainly lives up to its name. You'll find furniture, lamps, desks, chairs, plant holders, fine China sets and just about everything your grandma had, and also didn't have -- like a web address, Facebook fan page or any hint on the Internet that this place exists! Unless you're a Wrentham native, one familiar with the antiques industry, have driven by the red barn on South St., or somebody that just reads maps of Wrentham all day, My Grandmother Had That...Antiques is as hard to find as the rarest antique. You won't even find the name, "My Grandmother Had That," on the building, just a sign that states "Antiques." The My Grandmother Had That name is on ...
Read more

Where To Live In Connecticut That Has A Small Town Feel?

Image
Noank, Conn. Editor's note: We recently received an email from one of our readers looking to possibly move to Connecticut. Here is her inquiry, followed by our response... Hi, my name is Courtney and I found your website completely truthful and helpful. I talked to my cousin who lives in the northern part of the east coast and she described exactly what you did! I am currently in Orange County, California, and don't like the "ingenuinity" (we're assuming the word is"disingenuous") and mindset of the people. I have found that Connecticut is a place with great weather and has a lot if cities with a small town feel. I was wondering if there was any way that you could help me specify my search in CT? I would like a city with a small town feel where your neighbors are sweet, but it still has a high quality of life. Essex and Stonington caught my eye, but I've never been so I can't say! Thank you for your time. Thank-you for your inquiry. We d...
Read more