New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

There's nothing like an old-fashioned candy house to warm the nostalgic heart and satisfy when trying to think of Valentine's Day gift -- or as one has a craving for something sweet. These candy houses in Massachusetts have been around a long-time and always seem to draw crowds during any time of the year but especially Valentine's Day, as well as Christmas and Easter: Hebert's Candy Mansion, Shrewsbury, Mass. This famous travel attraction is located in -- you guessed it -- a big Tudor stone mansion and manufactures just about any candy category imaginable. In business for more than a century, Hebert's genevas, white chocolates, and classic boxed assortments continue to be of high quality and created out of a small batches manufacturing process -- crucial to a great final product.   Hebert's is located at 547 Hartford Turnpike in Shrewsbury MA. Tel.  508) 842-5583 Watson's Candies, Walpole, Mass. Watson's draws a local crowd and has a growin...

Let's get this out of the way before all those New Year's resolutions take place: sometimes, you've got to have a great burger with fries. Whether it's the trendy celebrity burger joints or the local restaurant, pub or even dive, diners have more options than ever to find a great hamburger. My personal preference is to find the local place that serves a quality burger -- not only to please the taste buds but to support independently-owned businesses. The Catman Cafe in Mansfield, Mass., is one of those places. Initially, the Catman seems like a bit of a dive with a rather drab dark look, but that first impression quickly changes with very friendly service and a community chatter amongst townies that lends authenticity. Specializing in bar food, the Catman makes one amazing, huge cheeseburger cooked to perfection with bacon, mushrooms and cheese as well as a heaping pile of tasty fries on the side. Keep this place in mind when shopping at Mansfield Crossing and t...

Valley Snow Dogs LLC left a tip on our VisitingNewEngland Facebook fan page that they offer dog sled rides and tours in some of the most scenic areas of New Hampshire. Led by a group of experienced guides and powered by huskies, this is really a unique way of experiencing New Hampshire as a fun alternative to hiking, downhill or cross country skiing. Areas where you can take a dog sled ride or tour include the White Mountains, Squam Lake, Thornton and Waterville Valley Resort. What a great way to enjoy the dog days of winter or have your New Hampshire vacation turn to "mush!" For more information including seasonal hours, log onto the Valley Snow Dogs LLC web site , (603) 340-2390, or email at  valleysnowdogz@gmail.com .

Walking into Wilson's Department Store in Greenfield, Mass., reminds us of a simpler, more community-oriented time where we knew businesses owners by name and when the chance to shop and buy local was the only way we knew how to shop. One of the last family-owned and operated department stores in the United States, Wilson's features 20 departments on four floors, which can be accessed by long-narrow staircases and an older-style elevator.  Completely different than a 21st superstore, the scene looks like a retail version of a townie coffee shop with customers and staff conversing about life in Greenfield and families, little old ladies with blue hair, college students, and all walks of life, for that matter, finding everything they need under one ancient roof. You see, Wilson's has been in business since the 1880s and, to so many, is truly a national treasure! It's hard to believe a department store like this still exists in an often impersonal, generic day of age...

I just read an incredibly beautiful story in the Union Leader about the generosity of a local business that helped out a Bedford, N.H. pizza shop owner truly in need. Eastern Bank chose Pizza Bella in Bedford, N.H., for its "Good Things Happen to Good People" project, based on Deedee Zgonis' community involvement, donating food, sponsoring local organizations and taking over the Pizza Bella business after the death of her husband, John, in 2012, at age 53. The article states that Eastern Bank sent Zgonis on a Florida spa trip, so volunteers could work on a surprise free makeover of the 23-year-old restaurant just in time for Thanksgiving. John had owned the restaurant with a co-partner for 21 years. What's more, comedian and "Late Night" host Seth Myers -- who used to work at Pizza Bella in his youth -- visited with his family to "say hello," and "pick up their favorite salami pie." That Christmas Eve day, Myers had tweeted about...

The Deluxe Family of Fine Diners is reporting that it has recently opened a third diner, the Deluxe Depot Diner at a former H.H. Richardson designed train station from 1885 in downtown Framingham, Mass. Retaining many of the trademark H.H. Richardson architectural styles along with a "post modern Victorian whimsy" for ambiance, this extensively restored National Historic Site property seats 220, is open seven days a week, serves breakfast all day, lunch, and then dinner after 4 p.m., The restaurant also features a full bar. The diner's opening is great news for Metrowest residents, as this suburban Boston region could use a few more good diners and will clearly be the beneficiary of a proven entity as the menu is similar to the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown and Deluxe Station Diner in Newton. Those two diners are absolutely fantastic, the latter also located in a train station of the past and the former housed in a classic dining car with all its stainless ste...

Musa ‘Veinte Cohol"  a fast fruiting banana found at Logee's Many people think of Danielson as the name Mr. Miyagi called the kid hero in the Karate Kid movie but it's also a pleasant small town in northeastern Connecticut where you'll find Logee's, one of the most unusual home and garden stores in New England. Logee's features an incredible variety fruiting, rare, exotic and tropical edible and non-edible plants including trees that produce bananas, lemons the size of grapefruits, Japanese persimmons, unique begonias and hard-to-find hibiscus.  The experience goes way beyond that, however, as it's almost like a shopping mall version of plant inventory. Those that have been to Logee's five greenhouses and retail store know this longtime business as a seemingly never ending wonderland of colors and scents that should pique the interest of anyone even remotely interested in purchasing unique-to-familiar plants for the home and garden. Logee's...

Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield, Mass., is tucked away in the hills of rural Central Massachusetts, but the drive for an apple dumpling with vanilla ice cream or cheddar cheese is well worth the day trip. The dumpling is huge and flavorful, the vanilla ice cream thick and creamy. Simply amazing, no other words to describe the combo! While many make a beeline for the apple dumpling and ice cream, others prefer the dumpling with cheese. This might seem like an odd duo but somehow it works. Knowing that it's not always easy to find a quality cheddar cheese, I personally prefer having it with the dumpling. Either combo works and the good news is that unlike many other local farms, Brookfield Orchards is open year-round 9 a.m.-5 p.m. You can eat the apple dumpling on a bench in the welcoming garage-like main retail room, although the fall time features an outdoor snack bar. Known primarily as a fall apple picking destination, Brookfield Orchard also features an excelle...

Mike's Pastry cannolis (photo by Eric) The Mike's Pastry Facebook fan page is reporting that its second location, this one in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass., recently opened. Mike's Pastry, a classic North End of Boston, Mass., Italian bakery now has a second spot at 11 Dunster St. that began operation in mid-November. It's new storefront is a logical expansion that brings a much-needed local bakery presence to Harvard Square. Surprisingly, Harvard Square has only a few bakeries. Finale, Insomnia Cookies and Market in the Square do have excellent baked goods, but Mike's brings a unique, time-tested Italian bakery business to the Harvard University area and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Since Harvard Square is so densely populated -- especially during the academic year -- Mike's arrival adds another sweet layer to the baked goods scene without encroaching upon the few baked goods shops with their own unique identities. Mike's new busin...

Santa biking in Stoughton on Christmas day (photo by Joan H.) Yesterday while driving to my sister-in-law's in Brockton, Mass., for a Christmas dinner, we spotted Santa Claus riding a bicycle in Stoughton, Mass.  Perhaps the reindeer were under the weather? We did an Internet search and found that the distance from Boston to the North Pole is 3,291 miles. Stoughton is about 20 miles south of Boston, so the challenge would be even greater if bicycling to the North Pole! Hopefully, this Santa was also traveling to his sister-in-law's in Brockton, which would make the ride a tad easier. With that Routes 27 and 24. intersection, though, we are not so sure.

If you love warm New England traditions, the Wenham Tea House in Wenham, Mass., might just be your cup of tea. As one of the oldest tea houses in the United States dating back to 1912, the charming decor and ambiance along with some old-fashioned hospitality remains true to its original form -- albeit with a twist of 21st century servings on the side. This cozy North Shore tea house still specializes in a wonderful afternoon tea but also offers breakfast, lunch, a Friday night dinner, Sunday brunch, bakery, gift shop and take-out service. It's a great place to go as part of a day trip or as part of a vacation near Salem , Rockport , Gloucester , Newburyport and Ipswich, but also as a destination for group parties. They also have a children's tea. Some of the lunch items include sandwiches, soups and salads, mac and cheese, lobster bisque, chicken pot pie,  roasted turkey dinner, homemade crab cakes while Friday dinner currently includes duck breast, tenderloin of beef...

Olneyville classic mini wieners Forbes.com recently featured Olneyville New York System in Providence, R.I., in its 15 Most Memorable Meals of 2014 article. Contributing writer Larry Olmsted went worldwide to find the best meals, and certainly showed accuracy and good taste bud genes when writing about Olneyville's "mini wieners" topped with onions and chili -- otherwise known as wiener sauce. They are truly delicious! This isn't the first time Olneyville has been recognized beyond the local media. The James Beard Foundation, a well-known proponent of American food cuisine, awarded Olneyville the 2014 America’s Classics Award for "regional establishments, often family-owned, that are treasured for their quality food, local character, and lasting appeal."  The Food Network, The Daily Meal and Travel Channel have also found fast food bliss at Olneyville by praising this fourth generation fast food restaurant. I first met co-owner Greg Stevens last s...

CBS Scene at Patriot Place, next to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., scores a dining out touchdown with its one-of-kind restaurant and bar. The 15,000 sq. ft. CBS Scene seems larger than life with three levels of lunch and dinner dining, and 135 SONY Plasma, LCD and graphic projector displays (including table side televisions) playing the best of 75-plus years of CBS radio and television entertainment, sports and news programming. It's a great place to watch the New England Patriots through the window less than 100 years away or on television, but for old-time TV nuts like us, we enjoyed watching "I Love Lucy" while chowing down on delicious grilled meat loaf sandwiches, New England clam chowder, wood fired heart oven pizza, crispy fries and mac and cheese. Additionally, the huge bar specializes in specialty drinks, beers, white, red and dessert wines, and cognac, port, sherry. In the warmer weather,  an outdoor terrace provides additional commanding views of Gi...

Jimmy's Steer House, Arlington, Mass. (photo by Eric) Jimmy's Steer House has been near and dear to my heart for the past 30 years, so when I heard the rumors of this Arlington, Mass., dining landmark closing, I felt a great sadness. Happily, Jimmy's Steer House will not be closing, according to a Jimmy's employee I spoke with today. The employee told me that they are not sure where the rumors started, but Jimmy's going out of business is "certainly not the case," and that business will proceed, as usual. Great news, as this is one of the best steak houses in the Boston area -- affordable and with quality approaching some of the more expensive, high profile restaurants in this category. Conrad's Restaurant , renowned for its mouthwatering steak tips, plans to expand beyond its Norwood, Mass. and Walpole, Mass., locations with a third restaurant in Sudbury, Mass. Diane, at the Walpole location, tells me that they plan to open Conrad's ...

What, there's actually a ski museum in New Hampshire? Snow way! Yes, it's true. The New England Ski Museum at Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch State Park has been going "downhill" since 1982 with permanent and revolving exhibitions pertaining to the history of skiing. Just one look at the equipment, art,  artifacts and videos confirm that skiing has a rich history as deep as the New Hampshire winter snow. That history actually dates back 8,000 years with its prehistoric roots! The New England Ski Museum's permanent exhibition, From the First Tracks to the Fall Line: Eight Thousand Years of Skiing details the beginnings all the way up to 20th and 21st century history, including the advent of the shaped ski in the 1990s, the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division (created in 1943 for mountain combat), landmark events at Cannon Mountain (like the aerial tramway which opened in 1938), and the career of local world-class Olympic skier Bode Miller. The New En...

Wright's Farm Restaurant in Harrisville, R.I., seats 1,200 people, employs more than 180 locals and serves approximately 14,000 lbs. of chicken to about 12,000 visitors each week. It's amazing they can fit all that into Rhode Island, the smallest state in the country. The 45,000 sq. ft. restaurant with six dining rooms specializes in family-style chicken dinners that include all-you-can eat chicken, rolls, salad with tasty Wright's Farm salad dressing, crispy fries and pasta shells with homemade marinara sauce. Everything is delicious and plentiful, but the real star of the show is the moist, fall-off-the-bone chicken -- slow-cooked, baked in whole, and then cut up when served. The deal is amazing: $12.75 for adults, $7.25 for kids 10 and under, at this writing.  You can also order steak, although that is not an all-you-can-eat item and not quite up to par with the chicken, although very good. Dessert includes traditional vanilla and chocolate ice cream roll and ice cre...

If you miss the famous, delicious blueberry muffins from the now defunct Jordan Marsh department store, no more need to feel sad: the Muffin House Cafe in Medway, Mass., has created a spot-on version of the beloved New England muffin. The Muffin House delivers that magical mix of blueberries in every moist muffin bite with an extra amount of sugar on the top. If Jordan Marsh was still around today and outsourced to the Muffin House for blueberry muffins, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the original and this loving cover version. During the past several years, we had to wait for the seasonal Enchanted Village Christmas Display at Jordan's Furniture in Avon, Mass., to buy Jordan Marsh-style blueberry muffins. Caloric challenges aside, now they can purchased any day of the week, thanks to the Muffin House Cafe! It sure is convenient, too, not having to experiment with trying to duplicate those online Jordan Marsh blueberry muffin recipes. Who has the tim...

Enchanted Village, Jordan's Furniture, Avon, Mass. (photo by Eric) Enchanted Village proves that great Christmas traditions span the generations with equal enthusiasm. Once a landmark at the former Jordan Marsh department store at Downtown Crossing in Boston, Mass., Enchanted Village is now a suburban Boston staple at Jordan's Furniture in Avon, Mass. Truly spectacular with its life-like yuletide scenes and animated figurines created by a 1930s Bavarian toy maker, Enchanted Village is simply an instant memory. While furniture stores aren't exactly known as Christmas destinations (other than shopping, of course), Jordan's has wonderfully carried on the tradition by allotting 8,000 sq. ft. of space to this amazing Boston attraction. Of course, Santa is there, too, to meet and greet kids that are frequently in awe of the whole Enchanted Village experience. True to tradition, also, admission is free. Just as good news: the legendary Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins ...

I always prefer a bowl of chili to contain ample amounts of beef, but the People's Pint in Greenfield, Mass., changed that mindset instantly. This well-known Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts brewery and restaurant spices up the traditional chili approach by forgoing the beef and instead offering a smoked chicken chili. The taste is absolutely incredible with a perfect mix of applewood smoked chicken, organic red kidney beans,  onions, peppers, tomatoes and  Farmer Brown Ale      (and chips on the side). Ask your server to have the chef add some bubbling, browned jack cheese on top, and the result is pure chili magic. I have never tasted any chili this good! A generously served bowl comes in at $7.25 (jack cheese is $2 extra) -- certainly worth the price for this meal that you probably won't find anywhere else -- or that good. The People's Pint is located at 24 Federal St., Greenfield MA. Tel. (413) 773-0333.  Related article: Visiting dow...

Chutters in Littleton, N.H., holds the world's record for longest candy counter at 111 ft. and 11 inches -- certified by the Guinness Book of World Records .  The choice of candy is truly amazing, featuring jar after jar of hard-to-find sweets like Malo Cups, Necco Wafers, Hard Rock Candy, Laffy Taffy, Bottle Caps, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Fireballs, Mint Juleps, Sour Balls and just about every other candy imaginable. It's like walking through a candy museum. The penny candy section is most impressive with more than 60 jars of candy that still costs a penny for each item. There's also a colorful M&M candy dispensing machine the size of a soft drink machine, as well as gourmet and traditional jelly beans, sours and gummies! Chutters also features a chocolate covered candy counter (no, the counter is not covered with chocolate!), homemade fudge, gifts, soaps, candles, home furnishings and some gourmet foods, but it's really the candy counter that "sweetens...

Jay Peak Pump House Waterpark (Photo Credit: Jay Peak Resort Media Office) The Pump House Indoor Waterpark at Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vt., in is not your basic, garden variety waterpark. We all know that water parks can "slide" in quality and innovation very rapidly, thus suddenly becoming "lame" in the eyes of kids and "a bad value" from an adult perspective. With its state-of-the-art waterpark and other attractions, Jay Peak has found a new life in the past 15 years by actually investing into its idyllic property with a 21st century mindset --- unlike many other waterparks and resorts resting on their laurels. The huge Pump House features chutes, tubes, surfing-like opportunities, a river with rapids. indoor and outdoor hot tubs, poolside bar,  and a kids play area with a play structure and maple sap tipping bucket filled with real Vermont maple syrup (only in March). Additionally, you'll find arcades and a snack bar,  as well as a gift sho...

Christo's in Brockton, Mass., had been a local dining legend for more than four decades. Some called it "Cheers South" -- South of Boston's version of the famous Boston restaurant. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis once dubbed Christo's "The Greek Salad King." Thousands of customers each week called Christo's their "go-to" local restaurant. I personally remember family gatherings -- whether it be for happy times like birthdays and Mothers Day or  for sadder times when loved ones gathered after a funeral. Christo's just seemed like a best friend -- loyal, committed and friendly. The Greek salads, famous salad dressing, baked lamb, bar-style pizzas, the large four color coded rooms (especially the Gold Room with that huge golden floor-to-ceiling fountain), and the welcoming day and night presence of late owner Christos Tsaganis helped shape Christo's one-of-a-kind restaurant personality. Unfortunately, family chose not to c...

Forget the fruitcakes, South Beach Diet cookbooks and Ugly Christmas sweaters: Maine whoopie pie s are the way to go for an appealing, and, in this case, mouthwatering holiday present -- or to consume for oneself. What's not to like about a combination of rich chocolate cake with creamy white filling? The Maine Whoopie Pie is Maine's official state treat. Several local companies produce these delicious desserts. Grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants are the most common places to buy Maine whoopie pies, but you can even find them at some gas stations and even a Dover-Foxcroft hardware store! There's even a summer Maine Whoopie Pie Festival with whoopie pies for sale, competitions, contests and live entertainment. We're not sure what makes the Maine whoopie pie better than others, but we love Maine and can't get enough of whoopie pies -- those emotional responses are enough to make these versions irresistible. Lobster Gram sells a 12-pack of Maine whoopie p...

MassLive is reporting that the Student Prince and Fort Cafe has reopened in Springfield, Mass., after being closed temporarily. The famous German-American downtown Springfield restaurant nearly closed for good after the Scherff family "could no longer sustain the financial losses and declining business and looked to retire,"according to the MassLive article. Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, saved the restaurant as a buyer, enlisting other investors to renovate the Student Prince, which has been around since the 1940s. After being closed several months, the Student Prince celebrated with a grand, invitation-only reopening on Dec. 3. The lunch and dinner menu has changed slightly, but long-time favorites like Sauerbrate, Hungarian beef ghoulash and the Wurst Plate sausage remain on the menu, as well as, of course, plenty of German beers on tap -- including the Student Prince Pilsner! The Student Prince is located at 8 Fort St. in Sprin...

The Wahlburgers web site is reporting  plans to expand with new nationwide restaurant openings, including Massachusetts in the Fenway section of  Boston and in Lynnfield. This expansion comes just three years after the original Wahlburger's opened at the Hingham Shipyard in Hingham, Mass. A popular burger joint founded by executive chef Paul Wahlberg and celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie, Wahlburgers agreements have been made for 20 locations in Florida and seven in New York City -- six in Manhattan and one on Coney Island. The Florida and New York locations will also include full-serve and quick-serve dining options, take-out and a full bar. The Brookline Ave. Fenway and MarketStreet Lynnfield locations will have the same format with expected openings some time in 2015, according to the press release. Franchise agreements have also been made in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Philadelphia, Penn., area. Canada has one Wahlburgers with its November 2014 opening in Toronto. ...

We are delighted that TripAdvisor recently acquired Vacation Home Rentals , a Massachusetts-based vacation rentals business. I have always been impressed by Vacation Home Rentals with its excellent variety of vacation rentals, but feel that a great thing just got better with Vacation Home Rentals becoming part of  TripAdvisor.  By leveraging the power of TripAdvisor, Vacation Home Rentals can only get better with its offerings. That is really excellent news for the vacation rental customer and those vacation rentals owners wanting to list their properties . Time to start searching for a Cape Cod vacation rental now! I just checked the selection and it is really awesome -- and it is nice to see that TripAdvisor logo right there alongside Vacation Home Rentals. Many of you might not know this but TripAdvisor is also a New England based company, operating its brand new main office out of Newton, Mass. Congrats to both companies, especially to Vacation Home Rental...

Fenway Park, Boston MA (photo by Eric) The New England Travel and Vacation Gazette has learned that 2015 Boston Red Sox spring training and regular season tickets are now on sale at Ace Ticket in Boston, Mass. The spring training season begins on March 3, 2015, with  games scheduled against Northeastern University and the Boston College Eagles at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Mass.  On March 6, the first spring training game against a Major League Baseball team takes place against the Miami Marlins, also a JetBlue Park. On April 13, The Red Sox will kick off its regular season home opener at Fenway Park in Boston against the Washington Nationals. Ace Ticket is a licensed Boston based ticket broker in business since 1979 that also has several store locations throughout the Boston area. Ace Ticket is a member of the  Better Business Bureau, the National Association of Ticket Brokers, and the Brookline Chamber of Commerce.

The Bostonia Public House, a superb newcomer to the Boston, Mass., restaurant scene, recently had a Google Trusted Photographer create a Google Maps Virtual Tours that showcases the attractive two-floor layout. The casually upscale American restaurant, located in the Financial District, features a historic spirit with its Mayors of Boston wall and local historical pieces throughout the sleek but welcoming, unpretentious dining rooms. You can take the Bostonia Public House Google Virtual Tour below, or on Google Maps . Enjoy stepping up to the log handsome bar, getting cozy at a window side table and checking out the Boston ambiance! A growing number of New England restaurants are using Google Virtual Tours to showcase the unique looks of their businesses, while attracting future customers.  VisitingNewEngland works with providers of Google Virtual Tours  -- businesses can sign up at the New England web site . View Larger Map

The Los Angeles Times reports that a 1983 Cyclone wooden roller coaster will be transformed, at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Mass., into an "intense" triple-inversion Wicked Cyclone wood-steel hybrid. The coaster, inspired the original Coney Island, N.Y., classic, is set to debut in summer 2015. Although shorter than the original, the new version will be significantly faster and descend from a 120-ft. tall lift hill to a 78-degree first drop before going through a 120-degree overbanked turn, according to the Times.  Along the way, the rider will experience many twists and turns including an outward-banked airtime hump, traveling through a 200-degree stall element,  an airtime-filled triple downhill descent and a double-reversing baked hill element. Six Flags, no doubt, will be "riding" on this one to be a big success!