Boston's Northend and the Freedom Trail

What started off as an attempt to follow the Freedom Trail through Boston, wound up as a destination trip to the Northend.  Boston is one of those places where getting lost is not really a problem, it's an adventure.  The Freedom Trail is easy to follow.  It's a 2.5 mile trek through the heart of Boston with stops along the way that can be really exciting for a history buff who loves architecture.  From Boston Common we made it past Faneuil Hall and were on our way to Paul Revere's house when we wound up in Little Italy, at lunch time.  After that there was no chance we were going to finish the Freedom Trail. We found a little restaurant, Piccola Venezia, where we had a wonderful, quiet lunch with great service.  After our meal we wandered up Hanover Street and found Mike's Pastry.  For those of you who have never been you have to be patient, the lines can be a deterrent. We got there at a perfect time, because the line was only out to the door.  Before we left it had wrapped out the door and around the block.  Maybe I'll get to Paul Revere's House next time.  Two things to think about for visitors.  Bring cash for lunch, pastries and a quick stop at Haymarket on your way home because you can't use your debit card and be prepared to change course. -AMA Frommer's Boston 2010 (Frommer's Complete)Top 10 Boston (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)Streetwise Boston Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Boston, Massachusetts - Folding pocket size travel map with MBTA subway map & trolley lines Boston: History Comes Alive! (Great City Guides Travel Series)

Moss Glen Falls VT

Did you know that there are actually two water falls in Vermont named Moss Glen Falls?  Pictured on the right is Moss Glen Falls in Granville on Route 100.  These falls drop down into a valley that runs through the Green Mountain National Forest.  A boardwalk, created by an Eagle Scout winds through the woods until you get to the main water fall.  Walk twenty feet into the canopy and you can barely hear noise from the road. Fresh cool air washes over you, but be prepared for mosquitos.  The boardwalk is meant to last, but is not maintained by the Vermont Department of Transportation, so use it with caution. As you approach the falls, water roars down from high above and just makes you want to jump in, but don't. These falls are dangerous, rocks tumble down them constantly. Over thirty young people have died from swimming here. A sign used to warn visitors but was washed away during the floods a few years ago and has never been replaced.  Where is the other Moss Glen Falls?  Well, that's up Route 100 just past the center of Stowe, near Mount Elmore.  A short walking trail and a minimal climb is required to get to the big show. One of the best parts of traveling in New England is seeing geological wonders like these. -AMA New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 400 Cascades and Waterfalls (Second Edition) (New England Waterfalls: A Guide to More Than 200 Cascades & Waterfalls) 

Robert Frost Farm, Derry

Sunny, hot and humid, not exactly the kind of day that you want to spend in a barn, but the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, NH is special.  Right on Rte 28, about two miles from Pinkerton Academy is a pretty little farmhouse with an attached barn that wouldn't really attract much notice if you didn't realize that one of our nations most famous poets once lived here with his family.   The three story barn has been fixed up into a visitors center, and if you're lucky the park ranger Bill, might be playing his guitar when you pull in.  The barn smells like most barns do when they're no longer in use as animal shelters.  A little musty, with phantom smells of sweet grass hay and dry pine shavings. 

For a small donation ($4 for NH residents) you get a tour of the house with a little history lesson on the Frost family, about their time living and working in Derry. One of my favorite parts of visiting is the Hyla Brook Nature / Poetry Trail. The trail runs through the woods and around the pasture behind the house, small signs and a trail guide give you snippets of Frost's poetry and information about your surroundings. 

The best time to visit is summer, because the house is open for visitors then, but it is not air conditioned so be prepared for the heat and some parts of the house are not accessible in a wheelchair.  Avoid the woods during the fall unless you are wearing hunter's orange.  -AMA

Robert Frost: The Poet as Philosopher    Hyla Brook

Rockport

History Of The Town Of Gloucester, Cape Ann; Including The Town Of Rockport (1860)Gloucester and Rockport (MA) (Images of America)

When visiting Rockport, one of the most beautiful views is from Marmion Way.  This little road has a high concentration of inns, because the view is absolutely wonderful.  Thacher Island with it's twin lighthouses stands guard over Rockport. You can visit the island through the Thacher Island Association, but space on the boat is limited and you need to call two weeks ahead of time to reserve your spot.  Straightsmouth Island is also easily viewed from here, but it's a sanctuary so people are not allowed to visit.  There are so many things to do in Rockport it's hard to name them all, but a few fun things include walking down Bearskin Neck and seeing all the little shops and lobster pots along the way, visiting the beaches and looking for sea glass and stopping at Tuck's Candy is always a hit. There are several really good restaurants in Rockport, so come prepared to eat. What to avoid: You cannot take a car safely down Bearskin Neck during the summer so park at the meters out on the main road and walk down. Parking meters are reasonable, .25 cents for half an hour.  There is a small beach near downtown with lots of seaglass so make sure you bring something to carry your treasures in, but you need to wear foot protection to avoid the sharper pieces and don't forget your camera! - AMA

Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch in the White Mountains National Forest is an adventure waiting to happen. Driving through the notch on 93 is an experience not to be missed.  Beautiful mountains on either side of the road, with geological attractions every 1/2 a mile, it can take the whole day if you stop at all of them.  On this trip, I decided to visit the Flume.  The visitors center explains the history of the Flume Gorge and how it was formed by lava, ice and flowing water to become the beautiful landmark it is today.  This is not an easy walk, as it requires the visitor to climb steadily for 7/10's of a mile and then use stairs and boardwalks to reach the top.  Getting up the Flume and being rewarded with the view is well worth the effort-AMAFranconia Notch and the Women Who Saved It (Revisiting New England: the New Regionalism)Old Man on the Mountain', Franconia Notch State Park, NH Photographic Poster Print by Kindra Clineff, 24x32