Dates Of Event: February 25 & 26, 2017 (photos taken Feb. 25)
Location: Easton’s Beach (First Beach), 175 Memorial Blvd, Newport, RI
Hours: 1:00 -2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Parking: Free (parking was free for this event but usually the beach charges to park at the beach)
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: people on horses playing beach polo
It’s not everyday you get to see polo. It’s even less often when you get to see it on a beach.
As part of their “Winter Carnival”, Newport Rhode Island held a polo match sponsored by the Newport International Polo Series.
Even if you don’t know the rules of the game (I don’t), it is still fun to watch the horses and players. There was also an announcer who did the play by play and explained some of the rules during the game.
While there are some rules of the game I don’t know, the basic goal (no pun intended) is pretty basic. Put the ball between the two orange cones. The team in gold won 10-9 by the way.
The horses looked especially pretty with the wavy water along the beach. Onee thing I noticed about the horses is how they will sometimes use their legs to kick the ball and help the player. Or, they are sick of the player getting all the glory and they may want to score a goal or two.
The players all seemed to really have a lot of fun but they also play hard. And the game is not without risks. One player had to be carted away with a leg injury after she fell off her horse.
Dogs like polo, too. I was surprised and impressed how well the leashed dogs and horses coexisted.
The players and fans have a close connection. At the end of the match, the players trot by on their horses and greet the fans.
Parking: Free parking is located at the beach and in nearby lots.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes, although dogs are not supposed to be on the beach from May to September 30, although they are allowed to walk on the sidewalk along the beach year round.
Highlights: Views of the Boston skyline, pretty, long beach, great place to view sunrises and sunsets.
December isn’t usually considered beach weather. At least, it’s not in New England. But, some of the best sunrises and sunsets can happen any time of the year.
For this shoot, I chose to focus (no pun intended) on the clouds. You never know what you’ll get at the beach, especially during sunrises and sunsets. My neighborhood could be cloudless and clear. But, when I arrive at the beach, a five minute drive from my place, it could be dark and cloudy. Not only that but it could be bright and clear on one side of the beach, it could be quite the opposite on the other side (something I noticed during this visit).
While the clouds on this particular morning looked foreboding and the sun itself was not visible, the colors in the sky were incredible. Often times, less is more. Sure, the sun itself is virtually nonexistent in most of these shots but that seems to add more by letting in pink, orange and blues. The clouds seem to be layered with rays of light poking out threw each layer.
It was a typical December day with temperatures in the 30’s. But the wind made it feel at least 10 degrees colder. The steel blue water rippled with the power of the wind.
The most obvious features of the beach have got to be the jetty and, of course, the Boston skyline.
Bandit, a Japanese Chin, enjoyed his morning stroll along the beach.
When people think of Plymouth Massachusetts certain places automatically come to mind; Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth Rock, Nelson Memorial Park. No, that’s not a typo. In fact, Nelson Memorial Park may be one of the best kept secrets in Plymouth (except may be the Grace Trail).
Located approximately a mile from the aforementioned rock, Nelson Memorial Park is a family friendly park with activities for children, pretty views and ample parking.
The water activity area, called a “splash pad” is an area that shoots out water for children, and probably even a few adults and dogs, to play in. A sign states that due to water restrictions the pad will be on only on days when the air temperature is above 80 degrees. There’s little threat of that happening for some time, although we have had some unseasonably warm weather lately.
The park is relatively small but it still offers some very pretty scenery. I’ve always marveled at how clouds, even wispy clouds, can really accentuate the beauty of an area, especially by bodies of water.
Some kayakers took advantage of the warm weather and calm water.
There is also a bike path from Nelson Memorial Park that goes all the way to North Plymouth (roughly 1.5 miles from Nelson Memorial Beach or over 2 miles if you start from Grace Trail which is located behind the park’s parking lot).
Although it is a small park, Nelson Memorial is a wonderful, peaceful area just minutes from the busy waterfront and downtown areas and a must-see if you’re in the Plymouth area.
A boy and his dog take in the views at Nelson Memorial. This is why dogs are so great. No matter how bad your day is or how lonely you might feel, you always have your dog.
There were many other dogs at Nelson Memorial Park and I was able to get some great shots of a few of them.
Remy is a 13 year old Lab, Boxer and Rottweiler. He had head and leg injuries when he was adopted. But, he looks fine right now!
Stella is a 7 year old Boston Terrier with a special talent. She likes to chase balls and hit them with her head, soccer style.
Location: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth , MA (45 minutes south of Boston, MA, 1 hour west of Providence, RI)
Cost: (Memorial to Labor Day) Weekdays: $15
Weekends: $15
Bus (by reservation): $50 (check this fee with Town Hall above)
You can also purchase a sticker for the beach for a $50 annual fee
Free after Labor Day until Memorial Day
Parking: There is ample parking available (at least 100 spots)
Dog Friendly: Yes, in certain areas (signs are clearly marked in these areas)
Highlights: Rocky jetties, scenic views, ample parking, restaurant on premises, fishing, boating and other aquatic activities
Plymouth Long Beach, more commonly known as just Plymouth Beach, was another spot I happened upon unexpectedly. While trying to find the painted lobsters in Plymouth (blog post to follow soon), I pulled over into this parking lot to get my bearings. Since I was there, I figured I would check the place out and take some shots. I’m so glad I did!
There is a rocky jetti you can walk out to get some photos of the bay. Yes please.
The waves were pretty, well, wavey. But, otherwise it was a pitcure perfect beach day.
One of the great things about the beach is there is a deli and comfort stations as well.
On the other side of the beach is a stream that runs between the beach area and the residences of the neighborhood. There are also some bridges that connect the residents to the beach.
The birds aren’t very shy at the beach, probably because they are so well fed by the beach goers.
In fact, some of them lurk around, waiting for crumbs.
People also like to go fishing, mainly for stripers, at Plymouth Beach.
Plymouth Long Beach is beach friendly (but only in designated areas).
Proving that it is indeed a small world, I ran into Vivi, a dog I had photographed during my visit to Chestnut Hill Reservation. Vivi is still her playful self.
Daisy, a 4 year old Black Lab, and Cricket, a 2 year old Chocolate Lab, had fun playing in the water.
Below is a video of the waves and scenic views of Plymouth Beach
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Location: 1 Stonewall Lane York, Maine (1 and 15 hours north of Boston), (45 minutes north of Manchester, NH), (45 minutes south of Portland, Maine)
Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
Parking: There are many metered parking spots along the beach. They do fill up quickly on “ideal” beach days.
Beach Size: 1.5 miles
Dog Friendly: Yes, Long Sands Beach has the following dog rules: From April 1 to June 15, leashed dogs are allowed at any time of day; from June 16 to Sept. 15, dogs are only allowed before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Highlights: Scenic views, swimming, surfing and other aquatic activities
October is not usually the month that comes to mind when one thinks of beach weather. This is not the case at Long Sands Beach. The 1.5 mile long beach is a haven for sun seekers and water sport enthusiasts alike.
Maine is known for being hardy folks. You have to be when the weather can be so extreme. As my friend told me when she saw my photos, “They will surf in any weather.” I would add, the more active the water the better. When I drove by the beach an hour later, and the weather had intensified there were even more surfers and paddlers in the water than when I had first arrived to photograph the beach and off street parking was almost nonexistent.
As is often the case with our best experiences, I had not planned on visiting Long Sands. Rather, I happened upon it on my way to Nubble Lighthouse. When I saw the active water and the activity in the water, I had to pull over to see and photograph the beautiful beach.
The waves were very active and there were many surfers and paddlers in the water taking advantage of the waves. It was very cool seeing people with such athleticism and grace in the water.
I met these two friendly surfers on the beach.
Long Sands is a dog friendly beach (see the dog rules above). I met Ollie, a 1 and a half year old Hound mix at the beach.
Below is a video of the surfers and stand up paddlers at Long Sands Beach. As you can see, it was very windy and a little hard to control the camera.
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Location: Revere Beach, Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere, MA
Hours:
The hours of the sand sculpting festival were:
July 22 and Sat. July 23 from 10AM to 10PM and Sun. July 24 from 10AM to 8PM
Revere Beach is open 365 days a year
Cost: No Admission Fee
Parking: One website states there is free parking on Revere Beach Boulevard where the beach is located. But, I noticed signs said read there is a 4 hour parking limit on the boulevard during weekdays. Parking is free on the boulevard during weekends and holidays. If you can’t find parking on the boulevard there is a $5 parking fee at the Wonderland Greyhound (1300 North Shore Road, Revere MA). You can also park at Suffolk Downs (525 William F McClellan Highway, Boston MA) about 20 minutes away. A free shuttle can take you to the beach on the weekends There are literally hundreds of parking spots on the boulevard.
Time To Allot For Visit: About 30 minutes to an hour to view all of the sand sculptures
Dog Friendly: Yes, on the sidewalk but not on the beach
Highlights: Sand sculptures, pretty beach, long, well kept beach
Each year, sand sculpting masters come to Revere Beach from all over the world to test their skills at the International Sand Sculpting Festival. The family (and dog) friendly event is usually held the 4th weekend of July. In addition to the intricate works of art and pristine beach, there are also many activities and vendors for the entire family to enjoy. The theme of this year’s main sand sculpture pictured above was “Hands On The Wheel” (a not so slight jab at texting while driving I would gather) and the gracious sponsors.
Being the early riser than I am (have become), the shading and sun was tough to work with. It’s actually easier in some ways to shoot when the sun is higher or when there is cloud cover, I have learned.
The big winner in the solo competition at this year’s festival was Melinage Beauregard of Montreal, Canada, for her “Go With The Flow” sand sculpture. This is the second year in a row Melinage has won this competition. She won both the overall competition voted on by the audience and she also won the sculptors choice award which was voted on by the fellow sculptors.
One thing I have noticed about these impressive sculptures is the subtle things that still must take an inordinate amount of time to create but make a huge improvement, like grading on the side of a sculpture.
Second prize in the solo competition went to Italian sculptor Leonardo Ugolini for his work “Together.” Ugolini paid close attention to detail in his sculptuure. In the front, just above the astronaut’s head he etched “We Are Alone”. On the back of the sculpture, he etched “We Are Alone” backwards.
The third place winner in the solo competition was Guy-Olivier Deveau of Montreal, Canada, for his sculpture “Carcass.”
In the duo sand sculpting competition, the team of Dan Belcher of St. Louis, Missouri and Marianne van den Broek of Key West, Florida for their sculpture, “Body Art.”
One of the interesting things about this sculpture is there is supposed to be a hidden image if you look at it from a certain angle (straight ahead), As the arrow and instructions in front of the sculpture directs you, you should see a frog in the sculpture.
Do you see it? Me neither.
Second place in the duo competition went, appropriately enough, to Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island, Canada and Morgan Rudluff of Santa Cruz, California for their piece “Le Numero Deux” (the number two). This sculpture looks innocent and harmless enough until you take a closer look.
Well, you get the jist of it.
Third place in the duo competition was awarded to Deborah Barrett/Cutulle of Saugus, MA, and her partner Steve Topazio of Tiverton, Rhode Island. They also took home the People’s Choice Award. As a side note, you may notice that some of the sculptures seem grainier than other sculptures, this is because it rained Saturday night and when I took the photos on Sunday there was a different texture to the sand. I included a closeup of the sand in this group of photos for a better perspective of how the sand looked.
The other contestants'(there were 20 contestants total including the duo and solo artists) sculptures are posted below.
“I Love You So Much” by Marielle Heesels from the Netherlands.
“Always Connected” by Pavel Mylnikov from Moscow, Russia.
“Peaceful Dreams” by Nikolay Torkov of Moscow, Russia (maybe not so peaceful dreams?)
“The Last Flight” by Benjamin Probanza from Acapulco, Mexico.
“Redemption” by Jonathan Bouchard (aka “Jobi”) hailing from Montreal, Canada.
“How They View Us” – an interpretation of the Statue of Liberty holding a weapon. This was the only sculpture with any inkling of a political theme.
“Fractal” by David Durcharme of British Columbia and Enguerrand David from Brussels, Belgium.
“Little Owl”by Paul and Remy Hoggard of Bulgaria.
They also held a children’s sculpting lesson activity for ages 5 to 12. I am sure there were some future sand sculpters in that class.
Dogs like the sculptures also. Revere Beach is a great place to walk your dog. The long walkway along the beach will wear out even the most active dog.
Here are a few of the cute pooches I saw during my visit.
Neelix is a 4 year old pure breed Keeshond. Neelix is named after the Star Trek Voyager character and he is so cool he even has his own Facebook page which you can like and follow here. I did.
Darby is a 14 year old Boston Terrier Lab.
Lucy is a 10 year old Labradoodle.
James, a 6 year old French Bulldog, preferred to ride with his mom on her bicycle.
Below is a short video of one of the sand sculptors working on his sculpture.
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Location: 180 Ocean Blvd, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire (an hour north of Boston)
Parking: There are about 100 to 200 parking spots in front of the beach – you pay at a parking metered machine. Or, you can find parking at parking lots on Ashworth St. The prices for parking vary depending on the season or month or when there is a special event such as the sand sculpting competition. In April, metered parking costs $1 and hour and it costs $2 an hour from May until Nov. Free parking begins Nov. 4. Parking on Ashworth St. can vary depending on the time and day during “beach season”. During my visit, parking was $10 in the morning but was increased to $15 in the afternoon for all day parking (until 2 a.m.) and $20 all day parking during the weekends in the summer.
Cost: The beach does not have an admission fee.
Dog Friendly: Yes, but not on the beach (at least not during beach season)
This time of year past 16 years, people flock to Hampton Beach to show off their sand sculpting skills. It may seem like child’s play. But, these are no run of the mill sand castles. They really are works of art.
It takes a long time to construct these complex sculptures. The photos below show the progression of the works of art. It’s hard to believe some of the photos of the works of art are the same as the final work of art. Some of these photos do not show the sculptures in their final phase.
“Emerge” by David Andrews (third place)
“Rising From The Abyss” by Guy-Oliver Deaveau of Quebec (first place and Sculptor’s Choice)
“She Loves Me” by Justin Gordon of Massachusetts (People’s Choice Award winner)
“Dada Read” by Carl Jara of Ohio (4th place)
“Let It Be Magnificent” by Mélineige Beauregard of Montreal
“Phoenix Rising” by Karen Jean Fralich of Toronto (5th place)
“Selfie In Sand” by Damon Langlois of British Columbia
“Hunters Of The Sky” by Michel Lepire of Quebec
“All Together Now” by Abe Waterman of Prince Edward Island (2nd place)
“It’s About Time” by Greg J. Grady of New Hampshire
There were also some sculptures that weren’t part of the contest like this sand castle (what would a sand sculpture contest be without one?) and a sand sculpture designed for the sponsors of the event.
There were some other cool things at the event like Ronald McDonald (ok, I said some cool things) and a cool car that was being raffled off.
Dogs love the sand sculpting competition also.
Tuckerman, a 9 year old Golden Retriever, looked like a teddy bear!
Caspian, whose name is made up of the first letter of his guardian’s relatives, is a 4 year old Siberian Husky. As you can see, he loved to be petted.
Minnie got dressed up for the event!
Lola’s smile was infectious.
Becca, a terrier mix who turned one in May, wanted to play in the sand.
As if one Burnese Mountain dog wasn’t enough, Brooksie, pitcured above, (3 years old) ran into his friend Guiness (5 years old)
Guiness is on the left and Brooksie is on the right in this photo.
As you can see from the photos, the sand sculpting competition is a big hit with both people and dogs!
Although they all look great, I liked the “She Loves Me” sculpture (the third one listed in the photos) best. What is your favorite sculpture?
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Location: 1000 Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA
Parking: There are about 70-100 spots or so in the park itself but plenty of off street parking as well.
Cost: Free
Hours: Dawn until dusk
Dog Friendly: It sure is!
Highlights: forts, lighthouse, jetty, beach, war memorials, walking trails, playground with slides and swings for children (or adults if you’re so inclined), military museum, war reenactments, pretty views
The highlight of the park for most visitors has to be the jetty. Fishing off the jetty, or anywhere else at the park is allowed. But, they have a strict “catch and release” policy because most of the fish are contaminated with PCB (poly-chlorinated bipenyls). So, they would not be safe to eat. PCB’s are known cancer causing toxins. The New Bedford Harbor is lined with these cancer-causing toxins that were released into the harbor between 1938 and 1973 by factories such as the electrical component manufacturer Aerovox. The harbor is in the process of being cleaned. But, it could take many more years before the job is complete.
Seashells and seaweed were scattered along the bridge, evidence of some recent stormy seas.
There are so many beautiful views and interesting things at Fort Taber Park. The lighthouse in the photos is the
Since New Bedford has been known for its whaling and seafaring history, the park (and all of New Bedford) is also known for its lighthouses. In the background of the fort in the photo below you can see Clarks Point Lighthouse, first originally built in 1797 (it was replaced with a stone tower in 1804).
The lighthouse below is the Butler Flats Lighthouse, originally built in 1898.
There are several war memorials dedicated to the men and women of Fall River who have served their country, with a specific emphasis on those who were killed in action.
The memorial below is a Vietnam War Memorial that really stood out to me. If you look closely at the board in the final photo, you can see photos of the service people from New Bedford who were killed in the war. Everything about this memorial has meaning. The 43 stars on the memorial represent all of the 43 people from New Bedford who died in Vietnam. The outline of Vietnam is in orange as a reference to Agent Orange who died from Agent Orange. Even the service ribbons on the memorial have meaning. The blue ribbon represents the National Defense Ribbon which is representative of everyone who served in Vietnam. The other two ribbons represent in country veterans. The two plants at the memorial signify life.
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There are also several memorials to all of the 20th century wars America has been in, although I did not notice any memorials for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I am assuming this may be because those actions are still not officially over even if we have pulled out most of our military presence in those places.
A tribute does stand for Army Staff Sargent Joseph Camara of New Bedford, MA, who was killed in action on September 1, 2003 while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom when the humvee he was traveling in hit a land mine. He was serving with the 115th Military Police Company as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard in the Iraq War. He was 40 years old when he died. He was also a member of the New Bedford Police Department. His memorial is located at the bottom of the gallery below.
There is also a replica of a Sherman tank stands as a tribute to the LST amphibious force T-4 who lost their lives in training for the invasion on D-Day. During the training exercises, sadly, many men lost their lives training for the invasion.
While I was visiting it was 17th century drill day. Reenactors from the Dartmouth militia, in full 17th century garb, showed how weapons were used, described the different types of warfare of the day and answered any questions the public had.
The staff also allowed visitors inside Fort Taber. The guide explained they stopped using this Civil War fort once the ballistics that were used became too effective against the barricades of the fort.
Grass and rust had overtaken what was once a formidable fortification.
One of the best parts of my visit – on the way to my car, I saw this man and woman playing their instruments.
One of the great things I noticed about the New Bedford area as I walked around taking photos and from the crowd at Fort Taber is the diversity of the cultures and people of the area. The photographs above illustrate this. The music sounded like it had an up tempo flamenco influence. It sounded beautiful. And I love their attire.
Fort Taber/Fort Rodman is a dog friendly park. The park is a great place for dogs. There are miles of trails for your dog to wander.
Sadie is a miniature poodle. She will be 5 in August! Early happy birthday wishes, Sadie!
I also met Yoda, a 10 year old Yorkie.
Below is a video of the inside of one of the forts at Fort Taber. It’s kind of spooky!
This video is a video of the military reenactors firing their weapons.
Parking: about 8 parking spots. Parking is also available at the beach which is located about half a mile away on Quincy Shore Drive and is an easy walk to Moswetuset.
Highlights: great views, easy trail, secluded, not usually very busy, a lot of historical significance
Mosewtuset may seem much like all the other small parks that dot the Massachusetts shoreline. But, its significance in the historical landscape of Massachusetts and all of the colonies and commonwealths should never be minimized.
Moswetuset is not only significant because the commonwealth of Massachusetts derived its name from Moswetuset but it is also the original trading place of Chickatawbot Sacamore and Myles Standish in 1621 that spurred the trade of the early settlers and the Native Americans. Moswetuset was also the area they used as their planting grounds.
What does a funky name like Moswetuset mean, you may ask. Moswetuset has been translated into “shaped like an arrowhead” (the area does have a distinct arrowhead shape) and “site of the great house.” The area is shielded by rows of trees and growth.
The trail is an easy loop with a very minor incline.
Only underscoring how small things can be very big in their place in history, Moswetuset is only a quarter of a mile loop, if that. But, it does offer some pretty views and it is a nice place to take a short stroll or sit on one of the many rocks along the beach (Moswetuset is located next to Wollaston Beach). It was low tide when I went so I was able to get out onto the rocks and get some decent views of the water and the surrounding neighborhood of Squantum (which is technically part of Quincy) which is in the background of the photos.
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Of course, what would a park or attraction in Quincy be without graffiti? There were some interesting works of graffiti at Moswetuset.
Moswetuset is a popular place for dog walkers. But, for some reason, there weren’t any dog walkers at Moswetuset when I visited. I found Buddy, though, on my way to my car as I walked along the beach.
Cost: I paid $15 (the weekday fee) to get in (I went on a Saturday). But, the prices on their web site show the cost as being $13 for CT residents and $22 for non CT residents on weekends and holidays (it’s worth every penny) and $9 for CT residents and $15 for non CT residents. Also, if you enter at 4 or later it costs $6 for CT residents and $6 for non CT residents to enter the park (bear in mind the park’s gates close at 8 pm when it is in season). There are also additional fees for camping there.
One workaround to paying a fee is to park at 1288 Boston Post Road instead of driving down the access road to the payment booths and walk (almost 2 miles) to the beach. I would recommend this option when it is nice out or if you are bicycling. However, since the park is so big it may be hard to see everything on foot. So, riding your bike from 1288 Boston post Road may be a best option.
Hours: The beach is still accessible, by foot or bike, in the off season without any staff.
Connecticut’s largest public beach, Hammonasset Beach is split into different areas for camping and for people who want to visit the more than 2 miles of beach.
Meaning “where we dig holes in the ground”, Hammonasset is actually part of Long Island Sound.
The campground at Hammonasset has 556 campsites and 8 rustic cabins for reservation during camping season which runs from mid-May until October 8. Hammonasset also has a nature center at Meigs Point and acres of wetlands.
After paying the entrance fee, we asked the helpful woman at the booth where the best place to go for photography is and she suggested Meigs Point.
Meigs Point runs along the shoreline of the beach. There are lots of ducks, birds and lots of other wildlife on the beach and on the trails behind the beach.
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The beach has some pretty views. There are also restrooms with showers and changing rooms at Meigs Point if you decide to go for a swim. During my visit it was overcast and chilly. The lack of sun didn’t take away from the beauty of the beach.
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There is also a jetty. It went out quite a way. Since the rocks were pretty slippery, I made it about half way out before turning back.
Hammonasset is a beautiful beach, although it can get crowded as many beaches do during the summer months. If you live nearby it may be best to get a seasonal pass rather than paying the somewhat hefty fee each time you visit.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach during the off season (from November until April). They are still allowed on the trails but not on the beach from April until the end of October.
I met Summer, a golden retriever, on the trail Meigs Point. Especially after this unseasonably cold winter, we all could use a little more summer in our lives!
Jessie, a chocolate Labrador, had a great time on the trail.
New England Nomad 