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)

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

Fuller Gardens

The Organic Rose Garden

Roses are my favorite flower, so every year I head to Fuller Gardens. These gardens are all that remain of Governor Fuller's fine estate on Little Boar's Head in North Hampton. Each year a section of the garden reveals itself to me.  Unusual rose varieties, a restored fountain or new sculpture provide a pleasant surprise. The roses are a big draw here, with over one hundred varieties to view, people come to see the color explode in summer. When you walk into the gardens the warm raspberry smell of these roses is almost overwhelming. Perenials are mixed in here and there. Cosmos and morning glories surround the well, while beds of dahlias with sunflowers guard the conservatory.  Inside the conservatory are tropical blooms, a variety of cacti and a tranquil pond with gently flowing water. Statues and strategically placed benches enhance the sense that an artist created this place. While the flowers and roses in the gardens are extraordinary, one of my favorite spots is the little Japanese garden. Beautiful and quiet it's an absolute oasis on a hot day. Sitting among the red cedars, with the water fall and bamboo fountain gently rocking behind you, for a moment you get a sense of perfect peace. Plan to arrive when the gardens open at 10 for quiet enjoyment, after 10:30 until closing at 5:30 the gardens bustle with activity. A sign on 1A directs tourists to the garden. Cost of admission is $7 for adults.  -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

Summer in Vermont

Stowe: Classic New England

Vermont in the summer is always a treat. In the heart of Vermont is a beautiful road, Route 100. If you ever visit and want to take a ride that will leave you breathless, this is the road you want to follow. From the border of Massachusetts to Newport, VT the views and stops are amazing. Meandering through the Green Mountains and past Sugarbush, Killington and Stowe those great skiing resorts become lush hiking trails in summer. Beautiful water falls, mountain views and great little shops make the trip a lot of fun for everyone. If you take this route up through Vermont there are a few places that are worth stopping for: Moss Glen Falls and the Wooden Bowl Factory in Granville, Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury, The Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Ziemke's Glass Studio in Stowe. Even the most hard hearted teenager gets excited when you pull into Ben & Jerry's. -AMA
The Catch: A Joe Gunther Novel STOWE, VERMONT Travel Guide to the Best Restaurants, Attractions and Lodgings in One of Americas 100 Great Towns

Surfing in New Hampshire?

When you think about New Hampshire, you probably think about the White Mountains. Don't you? Eighteen miles of New Hampshire is coastline. Rocky shores with pretty little beaches and beautiful views of the Isles of Shoals. Not many people realize that there is great surfing in New Hampshire, particularly in North Hampton. It's not crazy waves like you see in Hawaii or Australia, but the waves get pretty big. This picture is right after a storm. Just makes you want to head to the beach doesn't it? While you're at the beach you might want to head down 1A and pick yourself up a Lobster Roll at the Beach Plum. Be prepared to share it, they are usually too big for one person! - AMA
The Book of Surfing: The Killer Guide