New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Richie's Slush, Everett MA (photo by Eric) Richie's Slush in Everett, Mass., announced in mid-May that it would close it storefront after nearly 60 years in business, but  thankfully had a change of heart to reopen the legendary Italian ice landmark. The Sunday message on the  Richie's Slush web site said,"(Due) to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, Richie's Store on the Parkway will not be opening this season. We apologize for this and hope you will purchase Richie's Italian Ice Products from one of our many other fine locations and retailers ." The new message , posted today, reads, "Because of hard work and an overwhelming support from our customers, Richie's Original Store on the Parkway in Everett will RE-OPEN this Friday May 15th! We would like to thank all of you for being such valued and loyal customers of our business for the past 50 years. We have always appreciated and enjoyed serving you and also want to thank yo...

New Englanders have a true love for ice cream. How else could one explain several ice cream stands remaining open during the frigid New England winter? To top it off, you wouldn't believe the steady traffic these ice cream stands get even during the coldest days. When ice cream is great, it's great and when it's bad, it's still pretty good. Here, however, we will only focus on the top New England ice cream stands that remain open during the winter because you deserve the best for putting up with the freezing temperatures! Gray's Ice Cream (photo by Eric) Gray's Ice Cream, Tiverton Four Corners, R.I. Gary's has been in business since 1923 and is open 365 days a year -- the reason being, as they state, "Because ice cream is good everyday!" Featuring more than 40 flavors, as well as some excellent sundaes, Gray's is one of the few places in Rhode Island to make its ice cream on the premises. You can never go wrong with chocolate, strawbe...

Article and Photo by Eric H. Great Plain Ave. in Needham, MA, has brought a very flavorful touch of Rochester, NY, to southwest suburban Boston, with the recent opening of Abbott's Frozen Custard. Abbott's, with its tasty concept initiated in 1902 and first store established at Ontario Beach in Rochester in 1926, enjoys legendary status in the "Flower City" with its phenomenal frozen custard. Richer and creamier than your typical soft serve ice cream, Abbott's custard also has less air than soft serve and self-proclaimed "special recipes" that clearly place its frozen custard in a class of its own. The 30 flavors change daily and include chocolate, vanilla, chocolate almond, blueberry, strawberry cheesecake and peach cobbler. I recently sampled the chocolate frozen custard -- absolutely superior to soft serve ice cream! The proof of Abbott's greatness is in its continuous business expansion, with stores in Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts a...

Article and photo by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com When we saw the handwritten sign above the order window that Bubbling Brook ice cream stand in Westwood, MA, would be closing for the season on Sept. 28, we knew this meant it was officially the end of summer. Once those wooden boards cover the windows, it's almost a given that the weather becomes colder and the feeling sets in that a long, cold New England winter is knocking on our doorstep. If you're a fan of Bubbling Brook, then fill up on ice cream at this rural, relaxing summer place with the meandering brook and farmland on the horizon before it's too late. Then again, places like Crescent Ridge Dairy in Sharon, MA, will be open year-round. While it's nice to have an ice cream stand that doesn't close for the season, the combination of waiting in line, ordering ice cream and leisurely sitting on a picnic bench amidst the twilight, crickets chirping and yellow lights at the order window warmly illuminat...