I love Salem, Massachusetts. It’s more than just the witch trials. There’s a huge maritime history and an incredible art museum, the Peabody Essex. I visited it a couple of years ago by myself, but it’s always nice to go with someone else. My friend Clarke hadn’t been to Salem in a long time and was eager to join me. Clarke and I sing in the Rockingham Choral Society together this year and both enjoy exploring museums. The museum in an eclectic collection of items from all over the world. Most of the curation is derived from the trading industry of the 19th century. However, some of the artifacts are modern and are quite creative.
One of our favorite exhibits was a piece that projects light patterns throughout the room creating an illusion that the room is vaulted and expanded.
Janet and I have recently binged watch many seasons of Project Runway so I was very interested in the section of the museum dedicated to fashion. While the show may be a competition, you learn a lot about the industry and the composition of garments. These pieces expanded on that knowledge, and provided insight to what I’ve watched on TV.
We finished the museum and strolled through the downtown area and ended up at the memorial to the executed witches. It’s a somber place filled with benches dedicated to each of the victims. It reminds us that we should always remember the past in order to avoid making the same mistakes in the present and the future. We had a great day enjoying art and history. Getting back to New England attractions feels nice.
At this point, there is no pandemic that has been able to keep us from visiting family back in Kansas City, and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 was no exception. Despite the restrictions, we were able to visit no less than four times. Observing all the protocols, we were able to successfully navigate our way through empty airports and socially distanced planes without succumbing to the virus. 2021 saw a major upswing in holiday travel from the year before. Rather than flying on Christmas day as normal, I booked our flights on Christmas eve. At first, things were fine. We got to fly first class to Detroit and had a five hour layover that was made bearable by being able to access the Delta Sky Club. This was a whole new experience for us which we enjoyed immensely. While there, we learned that our connecting flight had been cancelled, along with 100s of other flights that day due to the Omicron variant affecting so many crew members. The flight was rescheduled to Minneapolis at 9:00 PM and a connecting flight to KC arriving around midnight. Knowing that the family was quite disappointed, we scoured our options. Janet’s brother Steve suggested a flight on Southwest which would get us to KC by 4:00. The change was made and we were on our way with a connection in Chicago. Our return flight was not as dramatic, but instead of connecting in Minneapolis, we flew to Atlanta where due to a problem with a brake, we had to deplane and reboard another plane. This trip would go down in our annals as one of the most memorable travel experiences.
Christmas day came and the girls were adorable. Grammy and Papa were in 7th heaven as were the munchkins.
Dave, Jen, Devyn, and Gracyn came by in the afternoon to introduce us to their new puppy, Dash. The girls are enraptured by my iPad game, Gardenscapes so Papa shows them all his achievements before they take his device and rearrange all my gardens.
s
The whole family gets together at Dave and Jen’s house for the Dancy family Christmas. We’re dedicated Chiefs fans, so everyone comes dressed in their best fan gear. You’re never too young or old to be a Chief’s fan!
It wouldn’t be a Christmas trip without taking my mother to see Christmas lights. This year we went to the Children’s Mercy lights at Swope Park, and then down to the Ward Parkway residential competition. Janet stayed behind, but mother and I had a great time.
Our final day was spent working with the girls on their Kiwi Co boxes. Amelia’s box was creating a farmer’s market that we all had fun playing with.
Jennifer’s birthday is two days after Christmas. In order to make it special we always go out for drinks and to a nice restaurant for her birthday. We’ve been doing this for years and it’s a nice tradition to maintain. We didn’t have a lot of traditions growing up. It’s kind of neat to be establishing traditions for a new generation. Our trip to KC was fantastic. We had a marvelous time with our family, even despite the flight issues. I’m extremely happy living in New England, but it’s always nice to go home and visit!
In September of 2019, I accompanied my mother to Washington state to visit her mother for the last time. My grandma, Doris, was 99 at that time, and we didn’t think she would live very much longer. To our surprise, she continued on for another two years. Finally though, at the age of 101, Grandma left us on December 2, 2021. I wrote my own eulogy for Facebook and posted a picture of her in her youth:
My Grandma Doris passed away today. She was blessed to live 101 years. I always enjoyed our trips to Orondo, Washington to visit. Grandma’s yard was doused in the smell of pine trees and the house with the aroma of the wood fired stove. She was a calm and quiet woman who I never saw cross or irritated. She loved her children and grandkids and we loved her. She lived a humble life but I believe she was much richer than her possessions. The world has been made greater by her presence and she will be missed by those of us who knew her.
Dave and I made arrangements for Mother and the two of us to travel to Washington to gather with the family for the memorial service. We met in Seattle and proceeded rent a car for the trip to Wenatchee. I insisted on AWD, which meant an upgrade, but I’m so glad I did as crossing the mountain passes would require extra traction. We decided to take the scenic route on HWY 2. Though it’s only a two lane highway, it has much less traffic and I believe a more beautiful drive. Dave sat in the back seat and took some amazing pictures. We stopped in Leavenworth as this town is made for Christmas. Besides looking like a Swiss village, the place is decorated with lights, trees, and horse drawn carriages. It’s pretty magical and worth a stop if only for pictures.
We arrived in Wenatchee and connected with Aunt Shirley and Aunt Lois for dinner. It’s not often the three sisters get together. We had a great time getting caught up.
The funeral was a graveside service in Orondo where the family plot is located. The snow covered mountains, river valley, and evergreen trees made for a dramatic backdrop. Grandma had picked out the casket herself years ago when Grandpa died. It was beautifully adorned with pink roses. The spray on top matched beautifully. It was very cold, and the service wasn’t long, but many people who had known and loved Grandma were in attendance.
Afterward, we met at a local restaurant for time with the family. Many of us don’t get the opportunity to see each other as we live in different parts of the country. We had fun reminiscing of days in the 1970s visiting as kids. All too soon, the party dispersed and we each went our separate ways. The three of us decided to drive through the valley allowing Mother to recount stories of her youth and marvel at some of the beauty of winterized valley. Dave and I had only ever been to the valley in the summer, so it was a new and amazing site.
We finished our visit at my cousin Debbie’s house where we enjoyed her decorations and had fun playing with her granddaughters.
The next day, we chose the interstate to travel back to Seattle. As I feared, more trucks, more snow, and more stress. I barely made it back to the airport for my flight. Someone must have been smiling on me though as I was upgraded to first class for the first time in my life on the second leg of my flight. I’m happy to have been able to join my brother, mother, and extended family to celebrate the life of our beautiful grandmother.
Grandma Doris was a dear and wonderful woman. We are blessed to have had her in our lives.
When I moved to New Hampshire in 2013, Janet and I began the tradition of traveling to New York City to see the department store window decorations. This yearly trek was interrupted in 2020 due to the pandemic. This year, however, we are fully vaccinated and boostered and are able to visit NYC and enjoy all the sites and sounds of the season. As in the fall, we need to wear masks inside and show proof of vaccination at the door, but for me it’s worth the extra precautions to begin enjoying life again and seeing all that the Northeast has to offer.
Our day began at Macy’s. Their windows told the story of TipToe, a fledgling reindeer in Santa’s sleigh. The windows were well done and we blessed them with 1st prize in our unofficial adjudication.
It had been my thought to eat at a tea room near the library, but seeing the crowds and the waiting time we opted for a less formal eatery, Taco Bell. We don’t eat there often, but it seemed to fit the bill. Part of the hurry was because I had purchased tickets to a matinee performance of Phantom of the Opera. We’ve combined this trek with a show many times, and this time seemed important as many shows were just now reopening. Though I’d seen it on Broadway, Janet had only seen the touring company. Any show would have been a delight, but it’s fun to come back to a favorite, simply because you can. After being dark for over a year and a half, the show felt almost new again. We had the privilege of seeing the first black actress to don the role of Christine, and she was magnificent. The whole production was energetic and alive, and the audience was thrilled to have the actors back on the stage.
After the show we resumed our trek to 5th Avenue. Apparently many people were as excited as we were to get back to seeing the holiday sites of the city as the crowds still made us quite nervous. So much so, that we only peered briefly into Rockefeller Center rather than navigating through the maze of people to get a closer look at the tree.
Saks 5th Avenue has often had our favorite windows, but not so much this year. The story, or theme, was not always evident and didn’t seem to be very imaginative. Still Janet thought it was cute. We awarded Saks the 3rd prize of the day.
Bergdorff Goodman’s always has the same style to their windows. You would need to stare at these displays for at least 10-15 minutes in order to see everything. That’s one of the reasons I photograph the windows. With so many people attempting to see, you don’t want to stand in the way of others trying to get a picture, or just see the scene. B/G received our 2nd prize of the day, with best window display going to it’s depiction of an alley full of cats.
The final stop on our tour was Bloomingdale’s. Each year, the stores take turns being outstanding or underwhelming. Bloomingdale’s had a little of both today. We found some windows that were absolutely hilarious, while others barely caught our attention. We awarded one window with 2nd best in show and the whole store 4th place.
When we drive in, I find a garage near Bloomingdale’s then take the subway to Macy’s so that we can end our walk near the car. There’s an Irish Pub, Bloom’s Tavern, near the garage that we’ve visited twice now. We like it because it’s mostly locals who frequent the place and they have good food. It’s becoming a part of our tradition and it’s fun. Barring another pandemic, we’ll be back next year to rate our favorites!
Since we first visited Newport, Rhode Island in 2017, the town has become one of our favorite New England destinations! Having been away for a couple of years, due to the pandemic, I thought it would be neat to visit the houses when they’re dressed up for the holidays. My travel tip for the day is to buy a yearly membership to the Preservation Society rather than daily tickets as it is less expensive, you can see more houses, and it is good for the entire year. I recommended this to a work colleague who was very appreciative and amazed at the value!
Since we’re all through with Christmas shopping, we chose Black Friday as our getaway date. Though chilly, the town was bustling with activity as many people seemed to have our same itinerary.
Our first house was The Elms. We especially love this house in the spring and summer for it’s magnificent rear lawn. The fountains and gardens make it feel like a miniature Versailles. The Christmas trees and fireplaces stole the show today. I particularly loved the toy model of the house that was on display in the ballroom.
The Marble House is always a treat. Like the Elms, all the rooms are appointed with magnificent trees and period decorations. The red marble dining room is astounding in any season, but the addition of the tree just makes the room feel complete. The gothic room feels warmer and inviting with the additional ornaments and decorations. Even the kitchens are decorated for the holidays. Though not as lavish, they still maintain the Victorian spirit stylized throughout the house.
The third house, and grandest of all is The Breakers. Owned by the Vanderbilts, this property is a palace among mansions. It’s large main hall with red carpeted stairway and mezzanine views made it the ideal venue for a grand ball for New York Society during the Gilded age. It is also the perfect setting for dazzling Christmas displays both indoors and outside. Like the other mansions, the house is adorned with Victorian Christmas trees and fireplace decorations.
At night The Breakers also plays host to an outdoor lighting adventure. Guests weave through a walking maze of sparkling lights throughout the grounds. The house is also open for viewing, but since we’d already seen it earlier, we chose to just finish our day traversing the grounds and enjoying the beautiful scenes.
While it is true that the mansions in Newport were built by a class of people who set themselves apart and above everyone else, I am so glad that they’ve been acquired by the Preservation Society, and are available for all to enjoy. We enjoy our trips to Rhode Island and hope for many more.
My parents were road warriors. Growing up, it was not uncommon for us to drive across the country to visit our grandparents or vacation in Florida, or visit other parts of the country. Consequently, I had visited well over 30 states before I graduated from high school. Dad used to refer to us as Typical American Tourists. Sometimes it felt more like being the Griswolds.
My mother’s sister, Shirley, however is a world traveler. Much like Rick Steves, she likes to go to foreign countries and be immersed in the culture. Many of her visits have included house exchanges for extended stays. She has a wealth of stories from her varied experiences, and she can entertain the family for hours.
Most of her life was spent on the west coast growing up in Washington state and then moving to San Francisco with her husband. While living in Oregon, we visited her and she proved to be the perfect tour guide/host showing us the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Chinatown and other iconic sites of Frisco. I feel that I’ve learned a lot from her in that regard. After her husband, Larry, passed, she decided to sell the house and move to the east coast. At first she settled in a condo right on the river in Philadelphia. We visited her there and again she showed us all the sites. She has since moved to a condo in the northern suburbs of Philly which makes it easy to visit occasionally when we go see Autumn and Jim, or on our way back from Lancaster County.
Shirley’s condo is like a museum of her travels. She has mementos from all over the world. I decided to photograph these displays so that the images are preserved. While most of her collection comes from abroad, some things are just local. I asked where a particular item came from and we laughed when she said, “Brooklyn.”
She took us to a pub for lunch. She didn’t know that’s one of our favorite food venues. Pubs are all about the neighborhood and usually cater to local residents. You get to know the people of the area when you’re in a pub.
Shirley is an inspiration to us and we always love seeing her. If there was a person who embodied the Helen Keller quote it would be Shirley. Where I live in New England like a tourist, she lives on the planet as a tourist.
While visiting Steve and Kim at the lake this summer, we learned that they planned to take Janet’s parents to Lancaster Pennsylvania to see Queen Esther at the Sight and Sounds Theatre. I thought that sounded like it would be a neat adventure and asked if they would mind if Janet and I joined them. They agreed to let us join the party and we made plans for early in November to beat the snow. I haven’t been to the Lancaster area since 1982 so I was excited to be able to revisit the area. We decided to leave Thursday night and go half way so that we could meet the family for lunch. Our first leg ended in Norwalk CT. We stayed in one of the most interesting hotels I’ve ever seen. Even is part of the IGH group that owns Holiday Inn and other hotels. The unique aspect of this hotel is that it caters to active lifestyles. Exercise equipment is part of every room and workout videos comprise the first 20 channels of the TV. I used the gym which was better than the workout area of our apartment complex. It was really neat to stay at a place that makes exercising so easy for guests.
We met for lunch at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord. I wasn’t prepared for the size of this operation. From the parking lot, I thought it was a mega church. Walking into the foyer area made me aware that this place was more than a restaurant, it was a destination. Bus groups are regularly catered to and there were multiple rooms to accommodate the numerous guests that visit. While the food was good, I’m very conscious of calories so I limited myself to some of the more bland options. Amish cuisine is similar to southern cooking and makes for good comfort food.
The most interesting aspect of the Shady Maple are the diorama paintings hanging throughout the restaurant. They depict historical and cultural representations of the Amish and Mennonite life in Lancaster county. I found them quite interesting and attempted to photograph as many as I could.
After lunch we allowed the GPS to lead us to the theater. The computer must have thought we needed the scenic trip because it took us through the back roads of Lancaster County where we were able to see typical Amish households including the laundry hanging on the lines and horse drawn plows.
The Sight and Sounds theater is a Christian theater that presents productions of biblical stories. We saw their presentation of Noah at their location in Branson, MO about ten years ago. Over the top is about the best way to describe these extravaganzas. The front stage is not only three times the size of a Broadway stage, but the sides of the auditorium also open up to include scenery where parts of the show are performed. When we saw Noah, the audience was surrounded on three sides by the inside of the three story ark. Queen Esther was equally extravagant. Everything about the program is professionally done similar to a Disney production. The show followed the biblical narrative pretty well and we really enjoyed the singers’ voices. We were very impressed and Janet’s parents were in awe. We were all glad to have been able to provide them with this experience.
Once again the GPS had directed us through the backroads. The setting sun made the perfect silhouette of a farm as we headed to the hotel. Our day concluded at Panera Bread with the family. This hotel wasn’t as exercise conscious but it did have a nice gym and an indoor pool.
I love sharing our adventures with friends and family. Though Lancaster PA isn’t in New England, our proximity makes it easy to do things like this. I was a little disappointed I didn’t have time to drive one more hour and visit Gettysburg but I have a reason to come back now.
Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night will keep these New England Tourists from making their appointed adventures. This weekend was cold and rainy, but we had tickets to see Young Frankenstein at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. Fortunately our tickets were for the matinee performance so the fall leaves were still visible as we made our way up the coast of Maine. A few years ago, we took the kids to Maine and stopped at a lovely little crab shack in York that served fantastic lobster rolls at a very affordable price. We had hoped to stop there on the way to the show and indulge in this popular seafood treat. To our dismay the place the closed for the season. Plan B led us up the coast to Perkins Cove on the southern tip of Ogunquit. To our delight Jackie’s Too was open and serving lobster rolls. Though a little more expensive, the view was unbeatable. We don’t often go to the coast during inclement weather, but it can be a real treat if you love to see the waves crashing on the rocks. Our seat was in a room with floor to ceiling windows on three sides. The view of the sea was entertainment in and of itself. It certainly made up for the change in venue for lunch.
In July we were able to see Spamalot in the outdoor theatrical space and I commented on that in an earlier post. I was a little worried that we might experience some of the same issues, however the show was fantastic. Sally Struthers, from All in the Family, starred as the hilarious housekeeper. She and the rest of the cast performed their parts with impeccable timing and energy creating an amazing experience. Fortunately, we brought blankets with us as the venue is still considered outdoors and it was cold! The chill didn’t dampen our spirits and we left with smiles on our faces.
I’m glad theater is back and we are finding ways to rebuild our adventures. New England continues to provide its own forms of entertainment like the color of the leaves and pounding of the surf.
Leaf peeping is an extremely popular tourist activity in New England. Professional tour buses dot the highways all throughout October. Maps on the internet let people know when the peak week occurs where around 80% of trees have changed and there is no brown. Each year we try to go somewhere different to engage in viewing the splendor of nature. Though Bar Harbor, Maine and Stowe, Vermont are overnight destinations, one doesn’t have to do more than a day trip to see spectacular sites during a New England fall.
We’ve been to the White Mountains during peeping season before, so this year I thought we’d add a little twist. I found five covered bridges that are pretty close together on the eastern edge of the range. To make it even more unique, we chose to drive up the eastern side of the state rather than straight up I-93 like we usually do. I got off the main road at one point and we found ourselves surrounded in a cathedral of leafy color. This is what fall in New England is supposed to look like!
Our first bridges were conveniently within a mile of each other in the little town of Conway. Spanning the Swift river, one is just a walking bridge while the other is a working bridge with car traffic. Both are nestled beautifully within the foliage and provide the perfect fall setting.
On the way to the next bridge our drive took us past striking granite walls framed by trees of amazing color. More than one car stopped to take pictures of these glorious landscapes.
The third bridge is called the honeymoon bridge. I guess this is a popular place for newlyweds. One of secretaries in my school said her son stayed at the hotel on the other side of the bridge after his wedding so I guess the stories are true. The bridge is only made more beautiful by the river it crosses. The trees and the water really made this the picture perfect bridge!
The fourth bridge was unique in that it contained a gift store filled with all kinds of New Hampshire Nick Nacks. I found a website that labeled this bridge the most touristy bridge in New Hampshire, and I totally agree. We were certainly not the only peepers enjoying the bridges as we fought to find a parking space.
Before reaching our final bridge we needed to stop for lunch. We had planned to eat at a little bistro in North Conway, however the scenic railway was boarding for color tours and completely consumed every parking space in town. Instead we went back to the BlackCap Grill, a wonderfully chic bar and grill we’d visited the last time we drove through the White Mountains. We weren’t disappointed and even got to dine outside in the beautiful sunshine.
Our last bridge was part of the Kancamagus Highway. I was glad we were going against the flow of traffic as there were many leaf peepers touring this major fall foliage freeway. The Albany bridge is really photogenic and is listed as one of the most popular bridges in New Hampshire. It certainly did not disappoint. Nestled in the trees, this working bridge is simply a scenic splendor.
I love adding new twists to traditional ideas. New Hampshire has about 23 covered bridges in tact. We’ve seen about half of them. I look forward to finding other ways we can modify our adventures to take in these magnificent pieces of New England history.
For the past six years I have proudly posted about our trips to Kansas City to visit our three beautiful granddaughters. It’s always so much fun to go and have Grammy and Papa spoil them rotten. Jim and Autumn do not have any children, but in September they welcomed the arrival of their new kitty, Sylvie. Autumn has always loved cats and has visited shelters for many years just to spend time with the animals. Sylvie was adopted from a shelter and Momcat and Dadcat are pretty proud.
Papacat and Grammycat decided to spend Columbus day weekend visiting the new family and seeing how we could spoil the new addition to the family. As with most cats, she didn’t take to the new intrusions to her domicile very quickly. It took a few hours but eventually she decided she could attempt contact. Though she never sat in anyone’s lap, I think she knew we were family.
Papacat noticed that Sylvie was lacking in places to get above the crowd and have the ability to survey her kingdom adequately. So he and Grammycat took Mamacat to the pet store to shop for a new kitty condo that would provide a nice skydeck for her viewing pleasure. We settled on a 72″ structure that included a couple of hidey holes as well as multiple platforms for perching. We’re not so sure she enjoys the top yet, but there’s room for her to grow!
As always, we enjoy shopping, going out to eat, and watching movies with Jim and Autumn. It’s become our thing. Sylvie just adds a new dimension to our trip to New Jersey.
It’s been over 18 months since we were able to go into NYC and do anything. I checked out tickets for a show, but since so few are open yet, the prices seemed pretty high and the availability pretty low. Instead we opted for a day at the Met. We’d been there a couple of years ago with Autumn, but art museums always need multiple visits to truly appreciate. New York has vaccine mandates so we had to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering the gallery and our restaurant.
We got into the city about an hour before the museum opened so we enjoyed a walk in Central Park. Wow, have I missed this place. With my new walking routine, I was itching to speed walk the labyrinth of pathways. But Janet being with me, I settled for familiar sites and a leisurely pace. I can’t tell you how great it felt to hear the sounds of the city and see the people walking their dogs and enjoying a cloudy but beautiful Sunday morning.
The gallery opened and we joined the queue to enter. We spent quite a bit of time in the European paintings section. It’s kind of neat to be able to recognize the different time periods and painters. On display was Degas’ Little Ballerina. Though not a painting it is one of Janet’s favorites and we have seen casts of it in other museums. Janet also likes the mummies and art of Ancient Egypt. We always marvel that people made these artifacts thousands of years ago. I enjoy the rooms from old hotels and mansions. They remind me of the palaces and cottages we like to visit.
We found a neat little restaurant called The Meatball Shop down on 2nd Ave. It was quite a walk from the museum, but really worth it. One of the best parts is that it’s a local restaurant completely away from any tourist activity. It was early in the day so there weren’t any crowds either. My dish came with crispy cauliflower which was to die for!! Yum Yum! We went ahead and splurged by splitting a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich between the two of us. Got to live a little sometime!
Our trip to see the grandkitty and the art museum came to a close all too soon. I’ve been back to Boston and to NYC in the past month. Things are looking good for this tourist living in the northeast.
Autumn has arrived in New England. That means pumpkin spice lattes are available at Starbucks, mums are sold outside grocery stores, and town, county, and regional fairs are in full swing on the weekends. My data administrator bid me goodbye on Friday and. said “I’ll see you at the fair.” He was referring to the Deerfield Fair which is held the first weekend in October in Deerfield, NH. Of course, you know by now that if someone mentions an experience then I’m going to be there the next day or the next week. And so it was that I went home and mentioned it to Janet. She thought it would be a fun way to get out of the apartment for a few hours and that’s how we ended up on the fairgrounds on Saturday morning. Deerfield is a tiny hamlet in the woods of New Hampshire, but judging by the line of traffic coming in you’d have thought we were attending Woodstock. Though it was long when we arrived, it was massively longer when we left.
I haven’t been to a fair in decades. When you enter there are competing smells of livestock and fair food. The food won out and we reveled in the aroma of apple crisp, fried dough, and your typical pizza, pretzels, and hot dogs. New Hampshire isn’t the most vaccinated state and there were very few people who practiced any kind of social distancing. It didn’t bother us so bad while we were outside, but going into the exhibit halls did raise the blood pressure a few notches. We enjoyed looking at the flower competitions, the prize cattle and work horses and just wandering through the grounds. We stopped at the edge of the midway because the rides didn’t really interest us. Only later did I learn that the alpacas and the crafts exhibits were on the other side.
The smell of apple crisp finally convinced us we both needed a slice. I got mine with ice cream and we headed to the horse riding arena. to sit and enjoy our treat. Unfortunately a child fell from their horse and stopped the procession. We didn’t see much reason to stay so we made a few more trips down side pathways and decided to call it a morning.
The Deerfield Fair boasts attendees that come back every year. Whether it’s the food, the rides, or just the vibe there is a group of people that just love this atmosphere. It was fun to experience that part of New Hampshire. We’re thinking of next year going to Springfield, MA to the Big E that showcases each state in New England. I don’t know if the fair is my favorite thing to do, but it’s kind of nice to mix things up and have new experiences. After all that’s what we tourists like to do!
As life has come back to normal, I found myself eager to return to the city and engage in urban activities. When I saw that an old friend was in town I thought this was my perfect opportunity to venture into Beantown and walk the streets, ride the subways, and enjoy the hustle and bustle. I saw on Facebook that Mike and Travis were seeing the sites of Boston so I quickly messaged them to see if we could do lunch or something. They were on their way to P-town but thought we could squeeze in dinner on Friday night. As I drove down I-93 I kept wrestling with myself whether to attempt to park downtown or take the subway in. The pandemic has kept me from the T for the past year so I decided that was on my list of things to do. I took the Orange Line to BackBay station and proceeded to our rendezvous. On the way, I was overwhelmed with the new sites and sounds. Outdoor seating is still the norm in the city and restaurants had set up tables throughout the area decorated with lighting and plants and filled with diners enjoying lively conversation. I had booked our table to be outdoors so I was excited for this experience. We had a wonderful dinner reminiscing over times past and getting to know one another again. Afterwards we walked up to Copley Square where we could continue our conversation and not hold up a table. I left that evening via the Green Line to the Orange Line and thought to myself that I had to get back here soon!
Soon occurred two weeks later. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Janet wanted to watch the last game of the season for the Kansas City Royals, but I couldn’t bear to be stuck inside. Not really knowing where I was going to end up, I headed down I-93 again and reminiscing about my visit with Mike and Travis. They had explored the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. I hadn’t seen this piece of Boston, so I determined this would be my beginning destination of the day. I like to park at Assembly Square and board the Orange Line there because parking is free for the first 3 hours and very cheap for additional time. The station is clean and open and not too long of a ride into the city. The best part is that when coming home it’s a straight shot right back on the highway!!
I got off the train and proceeded to the Church of Christ Scientist and accompanying library. Photographs are not allowed of the Mapparium because of copyright laws so I took a picture of the picture in the tour pamphlet. The room is a 360 degree stained glass sphere with a glass bridge spanning the center. The globe is done as the world looked in 1935. The acoustics are marvelous and everywhere acts as an echo chamber except the dead center of the sphere. A short presentation tells about the Mapparium. You exit the sphere into a room with other interactive exhibits that detail progress and possibilities throughout the world. It was an awesome experience that I’d never seen before.
I departed the library and had hoped to be able to see the interior of the church. However, it was blocked due to construction so I guess I’ll have to make it the focus of another day. The grounds are beautiful and the newly finished reflecting pool and fountain added to the grandeur of the setting.
I could have gotten on the Green Line and headed home but opted instead to walk through the streets. My visit before had been at night when things were quiet. Today there were rallies and demonstrations and people relaxing in the Public Gardens and Commons. I stopped in Quincy Market for a smoothie before finally deciding it was time to go.
It’s been a long hard year and half to have been so close, but seeming so far. Now that I’m vaccinated and practice social distancing I don’t mind going down and enjoying all the city has to offer. It’s nice to be a local tourist in Boston again!
I’ve always heard that it’s not polite to ask a lady her age, even on her birthday. Janet has never been shy when celebrating her decade birthdays, though. On her 40th and 50th she prepared large spreads of food to entertain family and friends at an all day open house. That was great when we lived in a house and she had time and energy to cook. We live in an apartment now, and the time and energy are pretty spent. Knowing it was a big one, I didn’t want this year to go by without doing something special. Our friend Pam got right into the spirit of helping me plan the event. I have to say it was a perfect day that totally fit into our lifestyle of experiencing all that New England has to offer.
Janet loves French food. She loves to cook it and she loves to eat it. She also loves French wines. Pam and I tossed around a few ideas and landed on LaBelle winery in Amherst, NH. I quickly found that they offer tours of the winery accented by a tasting of six of their popular wines. I booked a tour/tasting and arranged for six of our closest friends to join us for a day of merriment.
The day couldn’t have been any better. Our guide was a former school teacher so she instantly connected with our group since most of us work(ed) in education. I think she enjoyed our group as much as we enjoyed her narrative. We saw the vineyards and the vats and barreling facilities as well as the event rooms all while enjoying tastes of the locally produced vintages. After the tour we ate a scrumptous meal in the outdoor bistro and opened presents. As the sun began to set, we bid our friends goodbye but not before waiting for the bridal procession of a wedding in the vineyard. A beautiful way to end the day.
One of my presents was a reservation for a cooking class at the anchor restaurant in our development. I thought it would be fun for us to learn how to make mozzarella cheese. The following Sunday we took a leisurely stroll over to the Tuscan Kitchen and were pleased to find we were the only ones in the half-hour session. The chef was the culinary director for the brand and he had lots to share with us as we learned the amazingly easy process of making fresh mozzarella. I always like to think I pick good presents, but I think this one was a real homerun! We got to take our balls of mozzarella with us and the chef even gave his to us as well. That afternoon we shared it at our niece’s birthday party and was a real hit.
Janet’s birthday was certainly a success and one she won’t forget in a long time. Good friends, good food, and great experiences make for memorable occasions. I’m so glad I have 10 years to think of how to top that.
I remember watching a movie called The Age of Innocence while living in Oregon in the 90s. The movie was all about New York Society during the Gilded age of the late 19th century. While the story was good, I knew nothing of that period or the lifestyles of the northeastern elite. After moving here and visiting the mansions in Newport, I became more acquainted with that era and learned that movie was based on a novel written by Edith Wharton. Wharton was a very popular author in the late 19th and early 20th century, kind of like America’s answer to Jane Austen. She and her husband owned a beautiful estate in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts. It’s been on my list of places to visit for quite awhile now and finally we were able to make it happen. I decided to avoid the MassPike and instead took a scenic route along the northern border of the state. This made for a fairly stress free ride for Janet as the turnpike is often jammed and raises the blood pressure.
The Wharton estate is just outside the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge. Stockbridge was made famous by Norman Rockwell as the subject of his ideal winter town, and both of these towns are as picturesque as the painter imagined. Like the Castle in the Clouds, we started our journey in the carriage house with a short presentation on the life of Edith Wharton. I was really glad for this as it put the house and grounds into perspective and explained why it was different than many other houses of that era.
From the carriage house we journeyed down the wooded driveway to the main house. Peppered along the way were installations of art and interactive literature. Though we followed the trail backwards, it was fun to read a children’s book that was printed on sign boards throughout a path in the woods.
The house itself was on the smaller side of the scale from what we’ve seen in society homes. Ms. Wharton wrote a book on home decor and was noted as a minimalist in design. Her taste was reflected throughout the house and was quite the departure from the ostentatious nature of the Newport homes. She and her husband were not very close, and the marriage ended after a period of time. Since the estate belonged to him, she left New England and spent the remainder of her years in Paris. During her years of residence she entertained rarely and then only in small intimate gatherings. Her dining room table was small and reflected this fact. The library is probably the gem of the house as it contains many of her own books. This is remarkable as the house went through many owners before being purchased by the restoration society.
Outside, the gardens take center stage. A beautiful row of topiary trees line the promenade and direct visitors from one side to the other. On one end is a grotto-like area with a tranquil fountain perfect for reading or meditating. On the other end lies a beautifully manicured flower garden and pool reminiscent of a French palace.
Before leaving Lenox, we ate at an old inn that has probably been standing for 300 years. I love these places for their charm and character. The food wasn’t bad either!
We chose to go back the way we came which was nice as I had hoped to stop at the Yankee Candle Village on the way home. This is definitely a tourist stop. Hosting a maze of rooms filled with Yankee Candles and other home goods, this place was packed with all kinds of people. Though it says Yankee, and it’s located in New England, I felt as though I’d been transported straight to Branson, MO as it contained all that down home country aura so reminiscent of southern Missouri. The highlight for me was the Christmas rooms with the village displays. It must have made quite the impression as that was the only thing I chose to photograph.
What a day. The Wharton house was everything we’d hoped for, and the Yankee Candle Village was a been there done that moment. It’s fun to have a balance in our adventures. New England sure does provide plenty opportunities for both!
One of the best parts of living in New Hampshire has been how close we live to water. It is no problem to wake up early on a Sunday morning and travel to Hampton Beach to spend a few hours soaking in the sun. However, New Hampshire’s shoreline is only 30 miles long. Though the beach is a popular attraction a much larger water feature is the lakes region. The largest of the lakes is Winnipesaukee. It and the half dozen other sister lakes draw countless visitors and campers throughout the summer months. It is not uncommon to see bumper to bumper traffic on I-93 on Friday nights heading to the lakes.
On the banks of Winnipesaukee lies the beautiful town of Meredith. Each year my technology director colleagues have a conference at Church Landing at Mills Falls. This year our board also held their summer retreat here. At lunch, I took the opportunity to photograph the grounds, the lake, and the sculpture walk along its shores. This arm of the lake is but a small portion, but it’s obvious to see why so many spend weeks and often the entire summer here.
Janet’s brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Kim have been frequenting Silver Lake for years and finally chose to invest into a permanent camping location. We were invited to visit a few times throughout the summer and easily saw why so many are drawn to the area. While there is no such thing as a warm body of water in New England, this lake is shallow enough to allow the temperature to rise enough to be comfortable to swim. Lilee, their youngest, has literally become a mermaid and spends most of her days splashing around, standing on her hands, and making friends with anyone who will swim with her.
Upstream and around the bend is lake Winnisquam. Much larger than Silver Lake it is most known for the town of Laconia that sits upon its shores. Our friends Pat and Diane have a cottage and boat on Winnisquam. On a beautiful day in September they invited us and other friends to join them for a day of good food, boating, and roasting marshmallows around the campfire.
We have found a new place to relax and enjoy the wonders of the area. The lakes region is another one of those special things that make all New Englanders feel like tourists!
As loyal readers may know, I tend to respond to travel suggestions fairly quickly. Earlier this week my network administrator mentioned that she and her husband had visited Castle in the Clouds in the lakes region. She said they loved it and thought we would too. We’ve passed the entrance a couple of times while driving in the area so I thought it might be a neat adventure. I didn’t really know much about the place except it was a house on top of a mountain that catered to events and weddings.
The drive itself is worth the trip as the lakes region in New Hampshire is very beautiful. The estate is at the summit of a one of the foothills of the White Mountains. It’s quite a climb to the parking area which is a few hundred feet lower than the estate. A trolley picks visitors up at the carriage house and transports them the final way to the mansion.
Tours are self-guided but docents are available in each room that supply lots of information regarding the house and the couple who owned it. Making their fortune in the shoe industry, the husband and wife lived a life of luxury and decadence for about 20 years hosting parties and engaging in many outdoor sporting activities on the mountain. After a few years of mismanaged funds, they lost their wealth and he eventually died. She moved back to Chicago to live with her family. The house was eventually purchased by a historical society and has been in the process of restoration since.
The rooms have been beautifully restored though the organ pipes are no longer within the house. The lawns and gardens are immaculately kept and provide scenic backdrops to numerous weddings. I found it very interesting that the front of the house and the back of the house are nearly identical as if they were two houses that had been placed back to back and shoved together.
Front
Back
Rather than board the trolley again, we chose to walk the stairs and woodland path back to the parking area. The shade was a nice reprieve from the heat of the day. The Carriage House Restaurant was closed due to the labor shortage. That was a little disappointing as it offered terrace seating with beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee. We opted instead for the Cafe in the Clouds, a sandwich shop at the edge of the property. It was humble but good. If it weren’t so hot, we may have hiked a trail to see the waterfalls, but the temperatures were climbing toward 90 degrees. Nevertheless it was a wonderful day discovering another treasure in New England.
Throughout the pandemic we had to cut down our traveling. One trip that has not been impeded has been our trips to Kansas City. With our 3rd granddaughter being born last October, we really felt the need to journey back a few times to visit the family and imprint ourselves on our newest family member. Though the travel restrictions are not what they were last year, we are still very careful and try not to engage in activities that would expose us to the virus. That being said, we love to explore new things with the kids and have a great time.
Our big adventure this trip was to Crown Center in downtown Kansas City. Crown Center is the home of Hallmark Cards and forms a type of town square for the city. At Christmas it is host to the Mayor’s Christmas tree and throughout the summer there are free Friday night concerts in the large open courtyard. The shopping and eating venues used to be much better, but there are still things to see and do like the underwater play area for little people. The girls had a great time weaving through the maze and poking their heads through holes, steering ships, and playing hide and seek.
Picture time with Grammy and Papa is a must and I thought we chose the perfect backdrop.
Our big destination for the day was the aquarium. We’ve been there before, but like the zoo, it’s always an adventure to see the animals on display and enjoy the interactive experiences. There’s a Legoland next door and I think Papa will have to make sure we visit that area sometime soon.
We love spoiling our kids and grandkids. Sometimes we get spoiled as well. My brother, David and his wife Jennifer graciously let us stay with them each time we visit. They bought a new boat this year and were able to take us for a wonderful ride and swim.
It’s always a treat to be able to travel and see our family. My mother is always glad that we are taking the time while we are able to see and do as much as we can.
Sometimes living in New England feels like you’re walking through the pages of an American History book. You don’t have to go very far to be in a place where an important moment of history happened or someone famous lived. Old Sturbridge Village was never an actual town, but instead an outdoor museum recreating the life and times of a village in 1830s New England. We’d driven by this area on our way to New York and New Jersey many times. Janet had even commented once that she’d like to visit the place. Of course, I lodged that comment in my brain for future reference and decided to play that card today. With beautiful weather on our side we drove to the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut to explore this attraction.
The village contains a working farm and many trades shops like a pottery shop, blacksmith, mill, and cabinet making. We had just watched a pottery competition series on television so it was neat to watch the potter throw a cup or two.
The school was a favorite as well. Since both of us are teachers, we gravitate to that type of thing. I was amazed at how they could fit over 50 students into such a small space. I’m sure that during the winter it was nice to pack them in and keep the students warm.
Costumed characters talk about their trades and craftsmanship like docents in a museum. They also mix a little of modern day events into the narrative to relate to the times of the 1830s.
It’s a relaxing day filled with old world sites and sounds. You learn a lot about rural life in the 19th century. Like Plymouth plantation, I found this adventure educational as well as fun. Many families strolled the grounds and I’m sure that there are many school field trips scheduled for this venue.
I truly believe that the one thing I missed more than anything throughout the last year and half was attending live theater! That wait finally came to an end this week at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. I’ve written about Ogunquit before. After all it’s undoubtedly my favorite town in all of New England. Just to recap, Ogunquit is a beautiful little town on the southern coast of Maine about 30 south of Portland. The town boasts quaint shops, local restaurants, plenty of places to stay, and a beautiful mile long coastal walkway called the marginal way. If that weren’t enough, the town boasts one of the last summer stock theaters of the east coast. The summer season includes Broadway shows with equity stage, television, and film actors.
Like so many shows, Spamalot is one that I’ve known for years but never seen performed. It’s the stage musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. First seen on Broadway in the early 2000s the show boasted a stellar cast including Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria, and Sara Ramirez.
This year’s season is different due to the pandemic. Instead of utilizing the playhouse, a large tent was set up on the side of the property and folding chairs were placed in pods that were socially distanced. Masks were required everywhere except when seated. I really appreciated these efforts as it made the season possible.
The show was as funny as I’d hoped it would be. Charles Shaughnessy, Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny, played a great King Arthur. The rest of the cast played multiple roles and were very adept at the zaniness of Python humor. While the sound was certainly loud enough, it often was difficult to distinguish some of the intricate dialogue. Still, the cast performed well under the circumstances.
I’m not opposed to outdoor theater productions. We attended many great shows at Kansas City’s Starlight Theater. That being said, I would not want them to continue in this venue longer than necessary. Still, I’m so glad that theater is back, whether in a tent or in a playhouse, this New Englander is thrilled to be in the audience looking at the bright side of life!
Most people who have been to Vegas will tell you that three days is usually enough. After that, you either get overwhelmed or just run out of money. I suppose that’s true if you’re there to gamble or see shows. However, Janet and I are sight seers. Because of the pandemic, there weren’t any shows to see nor were the buffets open. In that regard, there was a certain element of Las Vegas that we missed. We made up for that in our experiences. Looking back I suppose I would have been OK with a four day trip, but knowing I probably wouldn’t be back, I’m glad we booked a whole five day experience.
On the third day we booked a hop on hop off open air bus tour of the city. I found this very interesting as it took us to places that we considered much too far to walk. We headed down the strip past some of the resorts we had seen and learned about new structures like Resort World which is billed as the largest hotel in North America and was opening the next day. We drove past the International Hotel where Elvis Presley used to stay and perform. The guide pointed out the gym where Muhammed Ali trained before his fights. She also shared the history of the mob influence and how it eventually died down as well.
Beyond the strip we discovered the downtown area of Freemont Street. I had really wanted to see that as it is the historical Las Vegas of the 30s and 40s. The street is covered with an LED light show. I thought that was really cool. There are also street entertainers that draw lottery tickets in order for the chance to perform throughout the day. Every where you turn there are also frozen daquiri bars that you can drink from a very long daquiri cup. All this was a little overwhelming for us as we had been seeing and doing all day. Maybe it was just us, but it didn’t feel as safe as other parts of the city we’d been to so we only stayed about an hour before hopping back on the bus and heading back. It was a great day of sightseeing but really tiring as well. We’d had a pretty big lunch at New York, New York so we opted for a sorbet dinner. Oh the things you do on vacation!
Being it was our anniversary we wanted to do something to really spoil ourselves so I booked a cabana at the pool for day four. The cabana included drinks, snacks, a mister and really plush lounge chairs. Servers brought additional drinks and lunch and I even booked a massage. The day was perfect but for an hour of rain. Every once in awhile it’s good to pamper yourself.
Later that evening we took a final stroll down the strip and enjoyed the fountains from the street side. We also took our one and only chance at the slot machines. We each had $20 to spend. The goal was to win the money back or see how long it would take before it was all gone. I lasted about 10 minutes, and Janet lasted about 30. I guess we’ll have to get rich the old fashioned way by working.
Our last day in Vegas was kind of impromptu. Our flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until midnight so we needed to find a way to enjoy the day but not pay for another evening at the Bellagio. So we rented a car and got away from the strip. Our first adventure was to Red Rock Canyon outside the city limits. It was quite the change of pace and filled with beautiful scenery.
After that we drove back into town, ate lunch, and headed to the Neon Museum. Back in the days of the Rat Pack, Vegas resorts were known for their neon signs and lighting fixtures. A few of those still exist on Fremont street and the Flamingo, but mostly the neon is gone or in this graveyard. Since it’s all outside we had to endure the heat, but it was pretty cool to see the famous signs that had stood over the resorts of the past.
We dinked around some more and took a selfie at the Las Vegas sign. We were satisfied to be farther away rather than wait thirty minutes to take a picture. By then we knew we had had our fill of Vegas and were ready to go home. It was great, and if we never get back we can say we had plenty of memories and good times. Time now to get back to New England for more adventures!
Living in New England Like a Tourist 