Category Archives: dogs

February 6, 2017

Great Barrington Kennel Club Dog Show (Eastern States Exposition Center, West Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: February 4 and 5 (the dates may vary but usually it is the first weekend in February)

Location: Better Living Center at the Eastern States Exposition Center (1305 Memorial Ave, West Springfield, MA)

Hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Cost: Free (there is a fee to park)

Parking: $5 to park at Gate 9 for the entire time you stay. There is ample parking for the event

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Of course!

Web Site: Great Barrington Kennel Club Dog Show

Great Barrington kennel Club Web Site: Great Barrington Kennel Club

The Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA has gone to the dogs. Literally.

The Exposition Center hosted the Great Barrington Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend and there were a wide variety of dogs to view, sometimes pat and of course photograph! Every dog was beautiful in her or his way and there was dogs of all kinds for any dog lover to appreciate! I tried to photograph dogs of a variety of breeds and sizes. There were so many cute dogs so this wasn’t a problem. I hope you enjoy the photos of these cute beasts!

There were large dogs like this 2 and a half year old Great Dane named Leo.

And small dogs like this 15 month old Pomeranian named Scarlett.

And there were dogs of all shapes in between! As you can tell, there were dogs of all sizes and colors.

The dogs were judged in groups at different times throughout the day and the winning dogs received ribbons. One of the things that stood out to me There were so many cute dogs to see at the event. Below are some of the beautiful dogs I saw at the show.

Annie is a 1 year old Belgian Tervuren.

Albert is a 15 month old Lhasa Apso

Cooper is a 4 year old Irish Setter.

Charlie is a 6 month old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

This smiley 18 month old Siberian Husky is Squishy.

But, how does he see? Jambo is a 2 and a half year old Briard.

Named after the hot and humid southeast to southwestwinds originating as hot, dry desert-air over Northern Africa, Sirocco is a 4 and a half year old Portuguese Water Dog.

As you may be able to tell the second photo, the Portuguese Water Dog is often groomed to show off his posterior. In addition to their tails, which act as rudders, the short trimmed fur helps them swim.

What would a dog show be without a Golden Retriever? Sometimes you just gotta have Faith, a 4 year old Golden Retriever.

Jubi (short for Jubilee) is a 1 year old Samoyed.

Sadie is an 8 month old German Shepherd.

Tess, a 1 and a half year old Airedale Terrier, is a search and rescue dog in training.

This affectionate 2 year old Burnese Mountain Dog is Dylan.

Breanna is a 7 month Clumber Spaniel

Blaze is a Portuguese Waterdog.

Lucca, named after the Italian city by the same name, is a 3 year old Belgian Shepherd. All of that posing makes you hungry!

Kensi, an adorable 6 month old English French Bulldog, barked at my camera while he posed for me. Cameras can be scary things!

Tasha is a 2 year old Gordon Setter.

Believe it or not, even Saint Bernards are small at some point in their life. Night Blu Sky is a 3 month old Saint.

That’s one way to get his attention! Hampton is a 3 month old Skipper Key.

Harleigh, a 9 month old Great Pyranese, is a therapy dog for special needs people and seniors.

Dizzy is a 2 year old French Bulldog.

Clyde is a 1 year old German Short Haired Pointer.

Billy is an 11 month old Irish Setter.

Flair is a 19 month old Saint Bernard.

Maikai Maika is a 13 month old Saint Bernard.

Eliza is a 6 month old Smooth Collie.

Sophie (in the back and on the left in the photos from left to right) is a 5 year old Newfie. Berg, her daughter , is 5 months old.

Titan is a 9 month old Great Pyranese.

Limerick, a 2 year old Brussels Griffin, looks like he’s saying, “What are you looking at?” Just looking at a cute dog.

Leo is an 8 month old Cavalier King Chafrles Spaniel.

Peyton is a 1 year old Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier

Benjamin is a 3 year old Corgi

Mac, a 15 month old English Mastiff, is a gentle giant.

Maybelline is also an English Mastiff.

Tabitha is a 7 month old Chow.

Apollo, a 200 pound and 5 year old Saint Bernard, won “Best Of Breed.”

Timber is a 2 year old Rodesian Ridgeback.

Brie is a 4 year old Standard Poodle.

Capone is a 2 year old English Mastiff.

Juice, named after the acclaimed singer Juice Newton (yes I am being serious), is a one year old Chinese Shar-Pei.

No, that is not “Cousin It.” Sorry for the decades old reference. Mirror is a Bergamasco Shepherd.

Jasper is a 4 year old English Sheep Dog.

Elda is a 2 year old English Setter.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get the name of this cute Colored Bull Terrier

Mica is a 2 year old Wire haired Pointing Griffon.

There were also vendors at the event who sold everything from clothing and jewelry to pet treats and toys.

While the dogs were judged and winners were selected, they’re all winners in my book!

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22 Comments | tags: dog show, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Western Massachusetts | posted in dog show, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, West Springfield, western massachusetts

January 25, 2017

Fort Foster State Park (Kittery Point, ME)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: January 21, 2017

Location: Pocahontas Rd, Gerrish Island, Kittery Point, ME

Cost: $10 per vehicle; pedestrians or bicyclists $5 adults/$1 under 12 (free during the off season)

Hours: Dawn to dusk for pedestrians; gates open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (presently closed for the season, opens in May)

Parking: The gate was up during my visit so everyone parked along the road in front of the entrance. When the parking is officially open, there are parking areas available.

Park Size/Trail Difficulty: 88 acres, easy trail difficulty

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: fort, trails, family friendly, play area for children, jetty, views of Kittery, lighthouse

Web Site: Fort Foster State Park

As a disclaimer, since it had previously snowed in Maine and the weather turned much warmer, the trails were slushy and muddy and I didn’t have my boots on. So, I wasn’t able to walk the entire trail system at the park. However, the trails I did walk were pretty even and easy to navigate with a few slight inclines.

Named after John Gray Foster, a Major-General in the United States Army, Fort Foster Park has so much to offer the entire family. Kids (and a few adults) will love plating at the playground area, especially the playhouse with the tree growing out of it.

Or, if you’re a military history buff,you will enjoy the various military installations. This is one of the forts at the park.

The trees at Fort Foster State Park are particularly majestic.

The southernmost park in Maine, Foster Park also has a pier with wonderful views of the Piscataqua River and the Whaleback Lighthouse. To the right of the lighthouse isWood Island Life Saving Station on Wood Island. It looks like a bridge or perhaps another pier in the water to the left of the pier on the way to Eood Island. I loved how the clouds played with the landscape and gaave an ominous yet beautiful backdrop to the river. .

The tide was low and the sand was surprisingly firm,. So I was able to walk out pretty far and get some shots of the water and the landscape across the water. The Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse can be viewed across the river in the final photo.

The Piscataqua River, which flows into Portsmouth (NH), is a busy waterway for birds and boats. I saw quite a few of both in or above the river.

It’s funny how you see so many funny things on the trails at parks. Anyone lose a shoe or croc?

Fort Foster State Park is a dog friendly park. I saw many cute dogs at the park during my visit. But, as one visitor told me, during the spring and summer the park is packed with dogs. Since it was an unseasonably mild January day, I ran into a fair share of them.

While I was walking the path to the park, I saw a man throwing a ball to a cute dog. So, of course, I had to ask for a photo. Charlie, a 1 and a half year old Feist, is looking so intently at his dad because he wanted him to throw the ball to him.

As I walked along the park, I saw another beautiful dog in a beautiful setting. Omar, an 8 year old Greyhound, is a rescue who used to race. He is now retired but he still likes to run and play. And, as you can see by the photos, he loves his mom.

Missy, a Golden Retriever, and Ruby, a Flatcoat Retriever, (from left to right) both 6 months, are sisters. Because of the sharp, dark color of Ruby’s fur and the shadows from the sun, it was hard to pick up her features. But, trust me she is beautiful.

Java The Pup is an 8 year old (almost 9) Poodle. Not only is he cute, he also does tricks!

Below is a video (360 degrees no less) of the low tide at Fort Foster.

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12 Comments | tags: boats, dogs, Fort Foster, Kittery Point, lighthousses, Maine, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, trees | posted in boats, dogs, family friendly, Kittery Point, lighthouse, Maine, photographs, photography, photos, trees, Uncategorized

January 2, 2017

Feeding Time At Stanley Park (Westfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: December 28, 2016

Location: 400 Western Ave, Westfield, MA (about 2 hours west of Boston, MA and about 20 minutes west of Springfield, MA)

Cost: Free

Hours: Presently open everyday 8 a.m. -4:30 p.m. (hours change depending upon the season)

Parking: There are a few different parking areas. The main parking lot on Western Ave has room for about 200 cars.

Handicapped Accessible: The playground area, fields and picnic areas are but the trails and many of the walkways are not.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: hiking trails, birds, wildlife, pond, flower garden, statues

Often considered the jewel of Westfield, Massachusetts, Stanley Parkis one of the prettiest parks in Western Massachusetts and it looks even more picturesque after a snowfall.

Due to the recent cold spell and snow, the pond and much of the vegetation at Stanley Park had been iced over so they were eager to get some food. As a disclaimer, most parks do not encourage you to feed birds. But, if you do, there are certain foods you should never feed to ducks. Bread is the biggest no-no on most list. These are some better foods to feed to birds.

At any rate, visitors like to feed the birds at Stanley Park and that gave me an usually good chance to photograph some beautiful ducks.

There were so many birds congregating at the pond waiting for a nibble of food.

Luckily, one of the visitors at the park, Jim, brought some food for the hungry birds.

Jim’s dog took the birds in stride.

I have photographed Stanley Park before and, since it is very close to my mom’s house, I always try to make a visit out there as often as I can.So, you may sees posts about this park from time to time.

Stanley Park, or Stanley as it is more commonly known as, is a popular spot for dogs like Sansa is a 5 month old Siberian Husky.

Below is a video of feeding time at Stanley Park:

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13 Comments | tags: birds, dogs, ducks, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, Westfield | posted in birds, dogs, ducks, ice, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, pond, snow, Uncategorized, Westfield

November 25, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving (Robinson Park, Agawam, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: November 24, 2016

Location Robinson State Park, 428 North St, Feeding Hills Rd (Agawam), MA

Parking: about 10 parking spots are avaiilable in the back entrance on Feeding Hills Rd. There is additional parking in the main entrance and by the beach area.

Cost: Free this time of the year when the park is unstaffed, $8 MA vehicle, $10 non-MA vehicles during “season”

Size: 1,025 acres

Handicap Accessible: Yes, but some parts of the main trail, which is paved, have sharp inclines.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: pretty views, wildlife, biking/hiking trails

Thanksgiving in Western Massachusetts. What could be more emblematic of New England? As it turned out, I’m not the only onr who feels this way.

As I approached the back entrance to Robinson State Park, every parking spot was taken (some spaces were parked 2 cars deep). I did find a spot just in front of the main entrance )the gates were closed on this holiday, however). Who knew a park would be so busy on a holiday? At least that is how I used too think. Now, it makes complete sense.

In the past, I never understood why people would spend Thanksgiving Day, or part of their Thanksgiving, at a park or some other outdoor attraction. People should be home with their family, watching football or the parade and stuffing their faces, the younger me would say to myself. But, now I get it. What better place to spend the early mornings of Thanksgiving? What better way and what better place to be thankful, especially at one of my favorite paarks. In fact, I like it there so much I have posted about Robinson Park in the past. But, I took a few different trails that I had never hiked on before this time. At 1,025 acres, Robinson State is so big it could take days to thoroughly walk or even bike all of the trails. So, I figured I would work up an appetite for my Thanksgiving dinner with a jaunt there.

The trees were barren and leaves carpeted the ground. Only a few months ago these brooks were teeming with frogs and other amphibians.

I always love to see that one plant that has survived the elements.

Theere is also a lot of eviddence of what the park used to be like. A beam stands in the Westfield River, a reminder of the railroad bridge that once ran through the area.

This looks like a damn or some other waterflow management system that is now dry save for a brook that dribbles on by below.

I came across this falcon during my hike. I was surprised at how close I got before the bird flew away.

I also came across lots of squirrels. This one was resting ona tree limb enjoying a snack

Robinson Park is a dog friendly paark. I saw and heard lots of cute dogs during my time there. All of the dogs I photographed happened to be rescues. It was very refreshing to see so many rescued dogs there.

Annie, a mixed breed rescue, struck a pose for me.

Jessie, on the left, is a 3 year old Lab mix. Shadow, on the right, is a 13 year old Lab mix as well. They are both rescues.

Daisy, a yellow Lab rescue from Tennessee, had fun playing with her stick.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

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12 Comments | tags: Agawam, dogs, flowers, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, trees | posted in Agawam, dogs, flowers, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, trees, Uncategorized

November 22, 2016

2016 Ethan Howard Memorial Charity Rig Race (Auburn, NH)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Events: Nov 12 & 13

Location: Little Lake Massabesic, Depot Rd, Auburn, NH (about an hour north of Boston and 30 minutes south of Concord, NH)

Cost: Free to attend, registration fees apply if you participate in the event

Parking: Ample parking was provided on the grounds and there are additional lots on Depot Rd

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Highlights: sled dog races

Web Sites: Ethan Howard Memorial Rig Race

New England Sled Dog Club

Named after the late Ethan Viktor Howard, the Ethan Howard Memorial Rig Race is an 2 day annual dog racing event held in Auburn, New Hampshire. In addition to working for Manchester Water Works (which is located near the venue of the race), Howard was an avid sled dog musher and outdoor enthusiast.

The Ethan Howard full day racing event includes racing rigs of 2,4 and 6 dogs. There were also races with bicyclists and their dogs. The racing rigs raced first because of the weather conditions. The colder weather conditions, which are more evident in the morning, affect the cyclists more than it affects the rig racers. As the weather warms, it is easier for the cyclists to race.

Some of the rigs used for racing are shown below. Whips or any other devices are not used to encourage the dogs. Lead dogs respond to the vocal commands of the racer. Many of the racers encouraged their dogs with phrases of appreciation such as, “good girl/boy” and other chants.

I was able to photograph from the sides of the racing trails. But, with my telephoto lens, I was able to take a few photos while I stood on the trail and still had time to get out of everyone’s way.

Some of the dogs looked as though they were looking at me and mugging for the camera as they ran by.

Little Lake Massabesic is a wonderful park. The trails were pretty even with some slight inclines. It is perfect for runners, hikers and cyclists as well as the occasional sled dog racer. The distance of the trails for each race was different. But, they ranged from 1 to 3 miles.

You could see evidence of how hard the dogs were working on the trail.

Indie, the black and white spotted dog on the left, and Virgil, the brown and white marked dog on the right, were particpating in the race later that day. I thought the markings on Indie and the shape of Virgil’s ears were very striking.

There is a misconception about sled dogs and their guardians. It is one that I, too, used to think. Some people think the dogs are mistreated or abused. Nothing could be further from the truth. The guardians of these dogs love them as much as we love our pets. The dogs also enjoy racing and are bred and raised to race. Much like how a horse or human runner likes to compete and run, so do these dogs. And the connection between the dogs and guardians couldn’t be any more obvious.

Not all of the cute dogs I saw were competing in the races.

Theo is a 5 year old Wooly Husky.

Henry, a 15 month Husky, Pointer and Greyhound mix, was very excited to go to the race!

Lexie is an 8 month mixed breed. I think I see some Retriever in her.

A few more dogs I saw at the event.

Video of one of the 8 dog sled racing teams.

8 Comments | tags: Auburn, dog sledding, dog sleds, dogs, New England, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in dogs, New England, new hampshire, photograph, photographs, photography, photos, sled, sled dogs, Uncategorized

November 14, 2016

Massasoit State Park (East Taunton, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: November 6, 2016

Location: 1361 Middleboro Ave, East Taunton, MA (about 45 minutes south of Boston, MA)

Cost: Free this time of the year. Seasonal prices are not posted on the web site or at the park.

Hours: Open Daily 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (hours may vary depending upon the season)

Parking: There were roughly 50 to 60 parking spots in the lot

Handicap Accessible: No. The side trails can be very rocky and, in some areas difficult to navigate. The main road is paved but cars and other vehicles do travel along the road often.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Time To Spend During Visit: 2 to 3 hours

Highlights: pretty trees, pretty views, bodies of water, dog and horse friendly, cranberry bogs, boat launch (the seasonal camping sitees have not been opened since the 2008camping season)

Web Site: Massasoit State Park

Trail Map: Massasoit State Park Trail Map

Named after the sachem, or leader, of the Wompanoag Confederacy, Massasoit State Park boasts 1,207 acres of trails, 5 bodies of water and a beach area. Add to that some pretty sweet views.

The first thing you’ll notice, and perhaps the main attraction, at Massasoit State Park are the cranberry bogs. The colors of the cranberry and the trees clash to make some pretty contrasts, particularly during foliage season.

The trails at Massasoit State Park are mostly easy with a few moderate inclines. There were a few boardwalks and makeshift bridges made out of trees and other debris.Many of the trails were carpeted with leaves.

Signs of foliage were everywhere. Trees burst with orange, red, yellow and green this time of the year.

Massasoit has 5 ponds and a beach area. The bodies of water are surrounded by pretty trees and vegetation.

Swans and other birds inhabit the ponds.

As you can tell by the photos, the weather changed about, oh, 16 times during the day. In other words, it was your typical New England day. It rained, hard at times, for short periods of time and the sun crept out as well.

Another thing I noticed at Massasoit State Park are the rocks. There are white rocks placed throughout the park and other big rocks with crystal-like elements in them.

The park is also popular with cyclists. I saw dozens of cyclists during my visit. This friendly cyclist was nice enough to let me photograph him.

With its wide paved trail and abundant side trails, Massasoit is the perfect place to bring your dog and I saw several dogs enjoying the fall weather during my visit.

Rex is a 6 and a half year old Blue Tick Coon Hound. Never heard of a Blue Tick Coon Hound? Join the club. Apparently, Blue Tick Coon Hounds are hunting dogs that are prevalent in West Virginia, which is where Rex is from.

Granger is a 4 year old Black Mouth Cur.

Cocoa is a 10 year old Chihuahua and terrier mix breed. He lives nearby and visits the park often.

I also saw these two playmates at Massasoit.

Grace, a 2 year old Doberman and Sydney , a 1 year old Golden Doodle, affectionately played at the park.

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13 Comments | tags: dogs, foliage, Massachusetts, Massasoit State Park, New England, Park, photographs, ponds, swan, trails, trees | posted in dogs, foliage, New England, park, ponds, trails, Uncategorized

November 5, 2016

SoWa (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date of Event: October 30, 3016

Location: 375 Harrison Blvd, Boston, MA

Hours: Every Sunday, May 1 – October 31, 10-4 with special events throughout the year

Cost: Admission is free

Parking: There is limited free parking on Thayer St for up to 90 minutes. There is also metered on street parking and garages on Albany and Harrison streets and other garages in the area.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: Graffiti artists, vendors, dj, costume contest

Web Site: SoWa Boston

SoWa, South of Washington (Street), is an outdoor entertainment/shopping/food festival held in Boston on every Sunday from May until October (weather permitting). I made it to the last SoWa of the season on October 30. There will be another SoWa Winter festival scheduled for the weekend of Dec 2-4 at the Harrison Ave venue.

Before I entered the venue, I saw lots of graffiti on the exterior of the area and on some nearby buildings.

SoWa was held in an empty lot off Harrison Blvd, a busy side street in Boston. You could see views of the skyline from the parking lot.

For a small area, they had a lot to do there from pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and a dj with dancing. Bon Me, Sante and Chik Chak had food trucks there, providing a variety of food choices.

As a side note, it is really so much more than a shopping festival. I really had alot more fun than I had expected. The people are very friendly and the entertainment, as you will see, was very, well,…entertaining.

People,as well as dogs, came dressed up on costume to SoWa.

The great thing about SoWa and other local shopping and entertainment festivals is that you get to promoted and support local artisans. I found a few interesting shops there.

Another thing that really stood out to me was how it is such a family friendly atmosphere. I didn’t hear one person swear or do or say anything unruly. In fact, many of the artists had their children stop by and spend time with them as they worked on their piece.

Also, the camaraderie they have for each other was noticeable. It didn’t seem like they were competing against each other, even though they took a great deal of pride in their work. Artists shared spray cans, complimented each other and jokes with each other.

The artists worked on blank canvases and started with their own sketches from pictures or diagrams they had on sheets of paper. I am not sure but I think they added their own flavor to some of the artwork.

The tools of the trade.

As they kept working, you could see the art coming together. They worked fast. Most started at 11 and were done by 4. I appreciated how they kept adding tone and contrast too the art in an effort to perfect their piece. They weren’t satisfied until every piece was just so. In fact, I had to leave a little after 4, after being there for several hours. So, some of the pieces may not have been completely finished by the time I left.

As they kept working, you could see their art come together. it’s very cool how they seem to work so casually and yet, at the same time, so deliberately.

The completed versions of their art works contrasted sharply from the begining of their art or the way it looked half way through.

SoWa is a pet friendly event. Since this particular event took place the day before Halloween there were quite a few dogs in costume at the event.

I actually met a few cute dogs before the event started.

Eloise is a 2 year old YorkieTerrier rescue dog with an Instagram account! You can follow her on her travels at @eloisethedog (https://www.instagram.com/eloisethedog/).

Penny is French bulldog. I had to stand next to her mommy so she would look at me!

At the actual event, I met a variety of dogs.

Fitz, a Yorkie, looked very patriotic in his red, white and blue outfit.

Otis, a 9 month old and 90 pound bullmastiff/bulldog mix, was helping his mom sell collars. You can check out his mom’s store at Wiggle Collars.

Lyla is a 7.5 month shark, I mean mixed breed. I like how everyone stood around her as I photographed her as though it was a real photo shoot.

Twain, dressed as a pumpkin, is a 4 year old terrier mix.

Gus, dressed as Tootsie Roll, is a one and half year old Lagotto Romagnolo. There, say that three times fast. Lagotto Romagnolos are better known as Italian Waterdogs.

Sissy (the dog on the left) and Lilly (on the right) are 10 month old Yorkies.

Zoey, a 7 month old chihuahua, wore her spider outfit to the festival. Her pet parents, Kyle and Jessica, were working at Intrinsic Journeys when I saw her.

Birdie, a golden retriever, was one hot dog!

Rogue, a 1 year old Shih Tzu mix, wore a very creative costume.

And there was this wonder dog whose name and breed I did not get.

Below are two videos. The first video is of the artists working on their art. The second video is a video of the works of art in their final or near their final stages.

Please connect with me on Facebook to view photos, videos and other content not included in this blog. Here is a sneak peak at something that I posted from my Facebook page:

Creepy or cool? You be the judge.

Periodically, the Fort Point area in Boston by the Congress St Bridge will host different floating art works. Last year, there were (floating) sheep in the water. Now, there are orange people in the water.

Created by Ann Hirsch and Jeremy Angier (known as A+J Art + Design), “S.O.S.” (“Save Our Swimmers”) is a statement on the immigration and refugee crisis. The 22 orange “people” are said to be refugees clinging on for dear life.

Most seem creeped out by it, except the cormorant who found a nice place to rest.

(photos taken 10-12-16)

cormorant-orange

11 Comments | tags: art, Boston, dogs, graffiti, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, SoWa | posted in art, Boston, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, Uncategorized

November 3, 2016

Halloween In Salem (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: October 31, 2016

Location: Salem, MA

Parking: Parking is always difficult In salem during the Halloween season. Tourists and travelers are urged to take public transportation. Streets are also shut down during the day which makes parking even more difficult.

Handiscap Accessible: Yes

Dog friendly: Yes

Where else would anyone want to be on Halloween than Salem, MA?

Known world wide for its tragic history of the Salem Witch trials, Salem, MA, has turned a tragedy into a money maker. Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to Salem during October to get a taste of the spooky side of the city. But, as the photos below show, it’s not all witches and scares in Salem, although there were a lot of witches there duringmy visit!

For kicks, I took the train in to Salem. Normally, I prefer to drive. But, the workers at the visitors center stressed to me that it is better to drive. I like having my own vehicle because I can leave whenever I want to, I don’t have to wait for the scheduled trains and since I live very closse to Salem the drive is easily under one hour under normal circumstances. I timed my travel times and it takes a little longer going by train (about half an hour longer). I had to make two train transfers so that added to the travel time. Plus, I left during the day while everyone else would be at work or school. So, the driving and lack of parking wouldn’t have affected me as much since I left during in the morning. In the future, I would probably never go by train again but it may be useful for people coming from longer distances within Massachusetts.

Salem is a beautiful city and it was no different on Halloween. Salem was very festive for the big day. Many homes, businesses and other buildings were decorated.

Of course, there were lots of people dressed up for Halloween. The most common costumes were Donald Trump, witches, Mike Myers and, somewhat surprisingly, Jason.

Of course, what would the wicked witch be without her flying monkeys?

What’s great about the costumes is that people from all backgrounds, ages and sizes get dressed up and enjoyy the day!

Of course, the couples, friends and family that dressed up looked great.

The rest of the dressed up visitors were just as scary, pretty and funny. The costumes were very creative and, at times, kind of scary!

And what would a trip to Salem be without dogs? There were so many dogs dressed up for their big day!

Jazzmine proved that witches hats aren’t just for humans.

Sophie was a devilish dog!

Roxie the rufferee, a 2 and a half year old pittbull, lab, terrier mix, was very excited to be in Salem!

Zao “the man”, a 5 year old Brussels Griffon in a banana costume, posed like a pro . I think this is his Pinterest page:

Zao on Pinterest

Dodger, a golden retriever, proved you don’t have to wear a costume to look cute!

And some of the other dogs I saw in Salem…

Not all of the cute animals in Salem were dogs, though. Hamlet was in Salem to drum up support for Question 3 (a law that would expand the sizes of cages animals are kept in at farms and other places where they store livestock)

There were also street performers at Salem. This card magician, Darren Yong, attracted a lot of crowds.

You can find him here on the internet: Darren Yong Live

Here is a video of one of his tricks

Once again, Salem didn’t disappoint me this Halloween! I hope you all had a great Halloween!

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14 Comments | tags: costumes, dogs, Halloween, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in dogs, Halloween, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

October 31, 2016

Pumpkin Decorating Festival (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: October 29, 2016

Location: Salem Commons, Washington Square North, Salem, MA

Hours: They lock up the cart the pumpkins are stored in each night so they are not accessible to be viewed until around 9 or 10 a.m. and they lock them up in the evening.

Parking: Parking is available in the two main parking garages in Salem or you can try your luck with on or off street parking. Parking restrictions are strictly enforced this time of the year. It’s $20 a day to park in most garages and lots no matter how long you stay.

Cost: Free

Dog Friendly:Yes

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: pumpkins decorated by children in various age groups

What would Halloween be without pumpkins? You do not have to worry about if you visit Salem, MA. Pumpkins are everywhere; in front of businesses, on people’s porches and in a little cart in Salem Commons.

The pumpkins, which were decorated earlier in October, have been on display in Salem Commons during the entire Halloween season as part of the Haunted Happenings festival in Salem.

The pumpkins, arranged by age group, range from the humorous to the (sort of) scary. I especially like the elephant pumpkin.

Salem Commons also has a variety of food trucks, amusement rides for children and Halloween decor. In fact, it may get overlooked with so many other things going on in the city.

During my stay in Salem, I saw lots of costumed beings, both human and pet.

Grayson, a Yorkie who will be 3 in December, was the bomb in his Galaxy Samsung Note 7 costume. If you want to see more of Grayson, and you really should, you can connect with him on Instagram @GRAYSON_THE_YORKIE (GRAYSON_THE_YORKIE)

I saw Grayson later that day on Essex in a different costume.

Ginny, a 6 year old Siberian Husky, looked like an angel with her wings on.

The K-9 police dog of the Salem Police Department below is Perky. I love the look of complete attention to his partner in his eyes.

The humans who dressed up for the day wore even more interesting costumes than their canine counterparts.

While I think some of the costumes may be self-explanatory or from sources I am not aware of, I will do my best to describe the costumes. Feel free to correct me or add to these descriptions in the comment field if there’s a costume I cannot identify.

first row (left to right): zombie, night of the living dead zombie, more zombies – pirate zombies maybe, Kramer

second row (left to right): colonial-era guitarist, pirates

third row (left to right) Jawa, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, zombie, wolf and little red riding hood

fourth row: man dressed as woman, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle….I almost said it three times with Lydia (although I think she looks more Alice In Wonderland)

fifth row (left to right): headless horse person (I think it was a woman in the costume), not sure but it was a very cool costume

sixth row: “Alex” (from “A Clockwork Orange”), “Frank” from “Donnie Darko”, “Frankenstein” and I’m not sure about the last one (possibly Rusty Jones, Brawny, Grizzly Adams, OK now I know I’m dating myself here…)

And, yes, I have even more (many more) costumed people and animals to show you in future posts! Happy Halloween!

Here is a video of the decorated pumpkins:

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October 19, 2016

Nelson Memorial Park (Plymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates of Visit: October 8, 2016 & October 16, 2016

Location: Nelson St, Plymouth, MA

Hours: Open everyday, dawn until dusk

Cost: Free

Parking: There are about 50 parking spots

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: Free parking, handicap-accessible, picnic benches and tables, playground area, beach area, restrooms, boat docking area, seasonal water play area, bike path

Web Site: Nelson Memorial Park

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.