New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Article and photo (Diamond Hill Reservoir, Cumberland, R.I.) by Eric H. As others spend their fall travel at popular New England destinations alongside a cast of thousands they were trying to escape from, you can take the road (relatively) less taken and enjoy a peaceful day in Wrentham, Mass., northern Rhode Island, and the northeast Connecticut area. Start at downtown Wrentham on Route 1A with its charming village green and have a nice breakfast or lunch at the Looking Glass Cafe. It's a friendly, bright diner-like dining spot with locals joining in in the art of conversation over cups of coffee. Downtown Wrentham also features a nice mix of locally-owned shops, including Tootsie's ice cream parlor and Marcia's Sweet Pantry with its delicious homemade treats. It's especially pleasing to get out and walk the town common to enjoy small town New England life. Follow Route 1A south to Route 121 south (West St.) a few miles past the rolling countryside and farms into the

Article and photo by Eric H. Barrington, RI, doesn't get the press that nearby Newport and Bristol receive, but that doesn't mean it's any less of a idyllic New England coastal town. Primarily an upscale residential community, Barrington features plenty of splendid water views with the Warren River on the east and the Narragansett Bay on the west and south. Barrington is also located on the East Bay Bike Path, spanning 14 miles from Providence to Bristol with many water views. Although the downtown isn't as clearly defined as Newport or Bristol, it, nevertheless, has a pleasant look with historic, tree-shaded town buildings, boutiques, a book store and a few restaurants. Barrington's location is terrific, close to Providence and Newport making it an ideal, scenic place to live, or travel as part of a day trip. The water views are the real draw here, bringing you into a true coastal New England town, thus proving that you don't have to religiously follow the

Article and photo by Eric H. Northern Rhode Island currently offers many areas of peak fall foliage. One of New England's more underrated travel destinations, northern Rhode Island has many roadside farm stands and small restaurants, scenic rural views and historic mill towns and cities within the Blackstone Valley. We recently drove through the Cumberland, RI, area, where the leaves around the Cumberland Reservoir area were spectacular! One great way to leaf peep northern Rhode Island (and bordering Connecticut) is through the Blackstone Valley Fall Foliage and Shopping Train Excursion to Putnam, CT, departing on Sat., Oct. 25, 2008, at 9 a.m. from the Ann and Hope parking lot in Cumberland, RI. More information of the train ride can be viewed here, including ways to purchase tickets . For more information on the Blackstone Valley, read a previous post at the weekly New England Travel Vacation and Gazette at http://newenglandtravelnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/impressions-of-black

Article and Photo (of Pleasant View Orchards) by Eric H. Initially, the Blackstone Valley Region didn't impress me. This northern Rhode Island region seemed full of faceless ranches, gritty small towns and cities and enough strip malls to have me just go back home and stay there for a good, long time. Over time, my perspective of the Blackstone Valley changed, perhaps suggesting that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Soon, I discovered the quiet, rural back roads with farms and open lands that appeared to be endless -- how could they fit these long stretches of scenic beauty into such a small state, I thought? I also began to appreciate the historical significance behind those gritty towns and cities, and enough excellent restaurants, farm stands, antique shops and country stores to become even more of a fan of this underrated region. Upon further inspection, I loved driving past through the pleasant, small town business district in Greenville, and the ancient communi