Category Archives: Massachusetts

August 4, 2017

Congamond Lakes (Southwick, MA)

Date Of Visit: July 4, 2017

Location: 93 Point Grove Rd, Southwick, MA

Hours: the ramps are open around the clock

Cost: $5 boat launch fee

Parking: there is parking available in the parking lot of the boat launch and there is limited parking on Point Grove Rd.,

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: boat launch, fishing, scenic

What better way to spend July 4th than at one of the busier lakes in Western MA?

Lake Congamond in Southwick, MA, seemed like the perfect place to spend the summer morning hours before our barbecue. But, mostly because I like to say and write Lake Congamond. What a fun name to say and what a fun lake to visit.

As the name suggests, Congamond Lakes is not one lake but, rather, a group of lakes at the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut. There are various boat launches. We stopped off at the boat launch in Southwick (MA).

With a maximum depth level of 35 feet, the Congamond Lakes are a popular place for boating or taking some other aquatic vehicle.

Ducks are common at the lake and they are so used to being fed they will sometimes eat from your own hand.

Congamond roughly translates to “long fishing place” and we saw quite a few people fishing.

The pier offers spots for fishing, places to view the water and the boats or a place to sit with a friend.

Dogs are allowed at Congamond Lakes. I’m just not sure they’re supposed to navigate the boats.

Some dogs prefer land to being on boats. Samurai is a Belgian Malinois.

Today’s featured link is Paul Samson’s Kayaking Blog. People on boats, or in this case a kayak, can get to places those on land can’t get to and Paul found some gems during his kayaking adventure. Paul’s blog post about Congamond Lakes can be found here.

4 Comments | tags: boats, Congamond Lakes, dogs, lake, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Southwick | posted in boats, Congamond Lakes, dog, lake, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Southwick, Uncategorized

August 2, 2017

Unity Skate Board And BMX Park (North Adams, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 15, 2017

Location: Noel Field Athletic Complex on Route 8, North Adams, MA (310 State Street, North Adams, MA)

Hours: open daily sunrise to sunset

Parking: There is a small parking area next to the skate park

Highlights: skate park with ramps, stairs and rails for cyclists and skate boarders

You never know what you’ll find if you just keep your eyes open. While driving home from MASS MOCA (blog posts from there will be posted very soon), I came across this newly constructed bike and skate park.

The recently opened UNITY Skate Board And BMX Park (the ribbon cutting ceremony was July 1) is a great place for kids and adults of all ages to come together and show off some of their skating chops.

UNITY (an acronym for the United, Neighboring, Interdependent, Trusted Youth) has several rails, steps and ramps for bicyclists and skateboarders to use. The park also has some decor that are tributes to famous landmarks in the area.

There park has two structures that are dedicated to two separate landmarks of northwestern Massachusetts. The hole in the box in the first photo is a symbol of the Hoosac Tunnel and the grey ball in the second photo is a symbol of the memorial on Mount Greylock, the highest point of Massachusetts.

The park has lots of space for all of the skaters and bicyclists to attempt their stunts.

It was good to see people from all backgrounds, skill levels and ages using the park.

Below is a video of the skaters at the park. As you can see, it attracts a good crowd.

Today’s featured website is Rye Airfield. Rye Airfield in Rye, NH, is considered New England’s premiere skate park.

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4 Comments | tags: bicyclists, BMX, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, Photography, photos, skateboard, skateboarders, UNITY Skate Board And BMX Park | posted in BMX, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, photography, photos, skateboarders, Uncategorized, UNITY Skate Board And BMX Park

July 31, 2017

Western Gateway Heritage State Park (North Adams, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 22, 2017

Location: 115 State St, North Adams, MA

Hours: Mon – Fri 11:00 – 4:00

Sat & Sun 12:00 – 4:00

Cost: Free

Parking: There is ample parking in the main parking lot (for about 430 cars) and additional parking can be found farther down the street

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: No

Highlights: history of the western MA area, historical items

Website: Western Gateway State Heritage Park

Tucked behind the busy streets of North Adams in an otherwise nondescript office building complex stands a museum highlighting the hidden history of the North Adams area. It was truly a hidden surprise. Just be aware if you do visit, you have to walk a short distance into the commercial space area to find the museum. In fact, the museum/visitor center is so hidden that I accidentally walked into some office building in the front of the parking lot. The man working there was understanding and said it “happens all of the time” and he promptly gave us the directions to the museum which he must have memorized backwards and forwards by now.

More of a visitor center than an actual museum (and certainly not a park), the Heritage State Park museum chronicles the history and development of the Hoosac Tunnel, a 4.75 active railroad that runs through the Hoosac Range, a mountainous region of Vermont as well as other historical events of the area.

Much of the visitor center is dedicated to the Hoosac Tunnel which was built 1851 and 1875 (and you thought construction projects took a long time these days). The museum had many. exhibits on display that range from what the area looked like before the construction began to documenting what was involved in the construction of the tunnel. As an fyi, the lighting was very dim and I think they frown upon using your flash. So, some of the photos came out a little dark.

The museum also has some of the tools, equipment and vehicles used to create the tunnel and transport goods.

One hundred and ninety five people were killed during the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel which has added to its lore. The section of the visitor center that deals with the mining history of the area, with its dim lighting adds to this spooky history. There are also examples of rocks that prevalent in the area where the Hoosac Tunnel was built and had to be blasted or removed during the construction of the tunnel.

There is one section pf the visitor center that befuddled me a bit. Apparently, there have been reported UFO and alien sightings in the area. Apparently, Western Massachusetts and the Berkshires are a hot bed for extraterrestrial activity. However, many of the documents and exhibits had to deal with Area 51 in Roswell, New Mexico. I know. My sentiments exactly.

The last section of the visitor center has travel guides, books and exhibits with information about the area.

As I walked to my car from the visitor center, I noticed Prada, a 5 year old Siberian and wolf mix, being walked near the Heritage State Park. She was nice enough to pose for a few photos for me.

Today’s featured link is Wishes And Horses blog. Wishes and Horses recently posted a blog post about the Hoosac Tunnel.

Leave a comment | tags: dog, Hoosac Tunnel, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, Photography, photos, Western Gateway Heritage State Park | posted in dog, historical, Hoosac Tunnel, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

July 27, 2017

Wonder Woman Rosey House (Lee, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: May 31, 2017

Location: 22 Robert St, on the corner of Center St. and Robert St, Lee, MA

Cost: Free

Hours: Accessible everyday, 24 hours a day.

Parking: You can park on Roberts St.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: House decorated with statues, designs and other decorative items

Most houses are decorated for the holidays, birthday parties or some other celebration. But, the Wonder Woman Rosey House on the corner of East Center St and Robert St in Lee, MA is decorated all year round.

Without knowing the back story or reason for decorating the home, the house and property may seem crazy or a little bizarre. However, it is more of a tribute and memorial than some random decorations. Rosey (or Rosemarie) was the wife of painter and resident of the house, Bob Dupont, a professional painter. He painted and decorated his home and property as a tribute to her.

The garage next to the house is decorated primarily in red, white and blue.

The decorations do not stop there at the garage, though.

The house and property are also decorated with decorations and statues ranging from Santa Claus to rabbits.

I would have loved living in a house like this when I was a growing up. It looks like a real fun place to experience!

There are many randomly placed decorations scattered around the property.

The home owner doesn’t seem to mind having visitors. I wasn’t bothered or questioned while I photographed the area. But, it is private property. So, visitors should be respectful of that.

The featured link of the day is another decorated home called The Crazy Christmas House in Coventry, RI.

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14 Comments | tags: art, decor, decoration, decorations, fun, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photohgraphy, photos, statues, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman Rosey | posted in art, decor, decorations, house, Lee, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, statues, Uncategorized, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman Rosey

July 23, 2017

Windsor Lake (North Adams, MA)

By New England Nomad

9 Comments | tags: birds, boating, flower, lake, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photograohs, Photography, photos, plants, rafting, trees, water | posted in birds, lake, Massachusetts, New England, north adams, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, water

July 21, 2017

The Amazing World Of Dr. Seuss (Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: July 3, 2017

Location: 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA (2 hours west of Springfield, MA)

Hours:

Monday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pm
Sunday: 11 am–5 pm

Holidays: Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Cost: One ticket gives you access to all 5 of the museum buildings (including the Dr. Seuss Museum). You cannot buy one ticket for just one building. Since it is such a popular attraction, tickets for the Dr. Seuss Museum are times for one hour and only 200 people during each hour time block are admitted at one time. You can purchase advance tickets on their website (see below)

Adults: $25
Seniors (60+): $16.50
Youth 3–17: $13
Children Under 3: Free
Students: $16.50

Springfield Residents (with valid ID): Free – youth included

Parking: There is parking for about 50 cars in the main parking lot in front of the Springfield Museum and about 50 more in the lot across the street

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, there are elevators in the museum.

Highlights: art, statues and other items related to Dr. Seuss

Website: The Amazing World Of Dr. Seuss Museum

Oh the places you’ll go and the things you will see at the Amazing World Of Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, MA. The museum, which opened June 3 of this year, is like walking into a Dr. Seuss book.

The museum is a tribute to Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, who was a Springfield, MA native.

From the moment you enter the museum, you are bombarded with vibrant colors, familiar characters and a sweeping sense of nostalgia.

The Amazing World Of Dr. Seuss is a two floors with a basement. Each room on each floor has a theme. Fairfield St, Readingville and Oh The Places You’ll Go are a few of the rooms on the first floor. The first floor of the museum is dedicated to many of Dr. Seuss’ characters and his books. Children, and the occasional adult, get the opportunity to play games based on his works.

The first floor also has a section dedicated to Young Ted in Springfield which celebrates his time in Springfield, MA.

The basement floor has more Dr. Seuss memorabilia and artwork as well as an activity area where visitors can make their own Dr. Seuss works of art.

The second floor mostly has letters, mementos and photos from Dr. Seuss’ lifetime. There must be hundreds of writings, cards, works of art and other memorabilia from his early days and from others writing to him It’s very interesting seeing some of his early work before he became famous and hit his stride as an artist.

There is also a display that shows the process of how they make the statues located at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Garden which is located just outside of the building on the museum’s property.

There is also a Dr. Seuss statue I missed when I first first photographed the statues at the museum. This statue is tucked away to the side of the museum.

Today’s Nomad link is Paper Clippings. Paper Clippings is Denise Ortakale’s WordPress blog. She recently had some of her work displayed at the Springfield (MA) Museum as part at the Cats In Hats exhibit. I wanted to photograph this exhibit. But, since it was the work of other artists and not their own exhibit, the museum did not permit people to photograph the exhibit. I am glad that Denise has posted her work so I can share it with everyone else.

10 Comments | tags: art, Dr Seuss, Massachusetts, museum, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Springfield | posted in art, Dr Seuss, Massachusetts, museum, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Springfield, Uncategorized

July 16, 2017

Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary (Attleboro, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Visits: May 20 & June 19, 2017

Location: 1417 Park Street, Attleboro, MA

Hours: Trails are open daily dawn to dusk. Office hours are:

Summer:
Mon-Fri, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Closed Sat & Sun

Spring, Fall, Winter:
Tues-Sat, 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Sun, 10 am-4 pm
Closed Mon

Cost: Free but a $2 donation is suggested for visitors who aren’t members of the Mass. Audubon Society

Parking: There is ample parking inthe main parking lot for about 40 to 50 vehicles.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 1.5 miles, easy

Handicapped Accessible: The nature center and rest rooms are handicapped accessible. The trails at Oak Knoll are not.

Dog friendly: No, most Audubon trails are not pet friendly

Highlights: wildlife, pond, easy trails, geo-caching, summer camp for children, nature center

Website: Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary

Trail Map: Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Map

Located about a mile and a half from Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary, Oak Knoll is a fun trail with with scenic views, abundant wildlife and a few other surprises along he way.

Spring was in the air and a rebirth of sorts was happening on the trails. During my first visit, I found these two Northern Water Snakes getting friendly. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what I was looking at. But, I did think at the time I did hear the faint sounds of Al Green in the air. The naturalist at the nature center told me you could tell they were mating by their interlocked tails.

The Northern Water Snake can be dangerous. Although they usually tend to avoid confrontations, if they feel threatened the snake can bite their predator or perceived predator and their bites can require medical attention. This is why I always tend to keep my distance (these photos were taken with my telephoto lens) and from behind in most of the shots I took except for the one front facing photo.

During my second visit in June, I noticed this turtle on the trail. Since it is unusual for a turtle to be in the trail and its even more unusual for a turtle to not flee when they see a human (I could have pet the turtle I was so close although of course I never would at least not int he wild), I notified the naturalist since I thought maybe the turtle might be injured. The naturalist told me the turtle was most likely laying her eggs as they often do this away away from the water and it was that time of the year when turtles will lay their eggs.

The naturalist also informed me that turtles also tend to lay their eggs on warm areas, such as the side of paved roads. This is one of the reasons why turtles often get hit by cars on the side of the road. So, be careful while your driving this time of the year!

The trails at Oak Knoll are easy with some boardwalks that pass over red maple swamps and freshwater marshes. There are a few very slight inclines. But the trails are primarily very easy.

The main trail at Oak Knoll is a loop that leads to and circles around Lake Talaquega (say that 5 times fast). There are some pretty views of the lake along the way.

I also spotted this geocache off the trail. Apparently, a regular visitor at the sanctuary installs these geocaches from time to time.

There are a wide variety of birds and other critters at the sanctuary. This colorful insect is a six pointed tiger beetle. I think they call him Ringo.

There was also butterflies, garter snakes and a variety of birds.

The nature center at the entrance to the trails has amphibians in tanks that are being taken care of while they are rehabbed or are there for educational purposes, particularly for the children who are attending the summer camp they host. They also have some pretty flowers and trees on their grounds.

Today’s Nomad link of the day is the North Attleboro Fish Hatchery by Trails And Walks In Rhode Island. Trails And Walks offers informative and detailed summaries of different trails in and around the Rhode Island area. I appreciate the short but sweet synopsis of each trail and the posts always include one pretty photograph of the area. I may have also used the website to find some places to visit!

19 Comments | tags: Attleboro, birds, Massachusetts, New England, Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, photographs, Photography, photos, sanctuary, snakes, trail, turtle | posted in Attleboro, birds, lake, Massachusetts, New England, Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, photographs, photography, photos, snake, Uncategorized

July 15, 2017

Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary (Attleboro, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Visits: May 20 & June 19, 2017

Location: Park St, Attleboro, MA (behind the La Salette Shrine at 947 Park St) (45 minutes southwest of Boston, MA, and 15 minutes northeast of Providence, RI)

Hours: Open daily sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free but donations are appreciated

Parking: There is room for about 10 cars in the lot next to the trail. You may also be able to park at the Lasallette Shrine in front of the trail.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 3 miles total (.5 handicapped accessible), easy with a few gentle inclines

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, .5 miles of the trail are handicapped accessible with boardwalks, along the pond and vernal pool. The rest of the trails are dirt, narrow and rocky and not handicapped accessible.

Dog Friendly: Dogs are not usually allowed on the Audubon trail but they are allowed in certain sections of the trail at Attleboro Springs (on the reflection trail I believe)

Website: Attleboro Springs

Trail Map: Attleboro Springs Trail Map

Highlights: wildlife, vernal pool,

Fitbit Stats: 2,712 steps, 242 calories, 1.19 miles

Often overshadowed by the more well known cities and towns south of Boston, Attleboro, MA, is one of the more underrated sections of Massachusetts. It is also the site of two beautiful Audubon sanctuaries (Attleboro Springs and Oak Knoll) . I decided to visit Attleboro Springs first.

Attleboro Springs is a little hard to find. Basically, look for the La Salette Shrine on Park St. The path to the trail is the very next turn after the shrine.

From the entrance to the park, one word comes to mind – charming. A pavilion and map of the trail are located on the trail at the entrance.

The main trail at Attleboro Springs is the Reflection Trail. The Reflection Trail encircles a pond. A vernal pool with a vernal pool are also on the trail. It is the easiest trail to take, although there are additional side trails.

Birds, frogs, tadpoles and other kinds of wildlife are abundant along the trail, particularly at the pond and vernal pool.

I love side trails and going off the beaten path. So, of course I tried them. There wasn’t much to see except a brook and a cool bridge on the side trail.

The Reflection Trail is very easy with few inclines or rocky terrain which makes it ideal for jogging on or taking walks on, particularly since it is a short trail (about 3/4 of a mile).

I know I write this often. But, what the heck. I could spend all day here. The trails are easy. The pond is a popular spot for birds and aquatic life (naturally). And there are seats to watch all the life around you. As an added bonus, it’s free to visit. It’s usually the smaller, charming places that stick with me. In fact, I liked it so much I visited it twice.

The Nomad’s link of the day is a blog post by WordPress blogger and fellow New Englander Kristen. Kristen’s blogs are peppered with book reviews, pretty photos and interesting observations. Kristen posted about place that is very close to this trail and is one of the more popular places in Attleboro, La Salette is a popular place to visit year round. But, it is especially busy during the winter each year when they host a holiday light display. You can find Kristen’s wonderful blog post here.

6 Comments | tags: Attleboro, birds, frogs, heron, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, tadpoles, trails | posted in Attleboro, Attleboro Springs, birds, frog, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, trail, Uncategorized

July 2, 2017

Harold Parker State Forest (No. Andover, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: June 25, 2017

Location: 305 Middleton St., No. Andover, MA (about 30 minutes north of Boston and about 1 hour southeast of Concord, NH)

Cost: There are several parking stations to pay per the hour or you can park at the headquarters which is what I did. There wasn’t a charge to park at the headquarters the day I visited. The charge to park at Berry Pond is $5 for MA vehicles; $6 for non-MA vehicles

Hours: trails are open sunrise to sunset. Berry Pond Beach is open 10am-6pm from June 25- Sept 5.

Parking: There are several parking lots throughout the automated pay stations.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 35 miles of logging roads and trails/easy with some challenging inclines

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the main paves trail is and Berry Pond has several handicapped parking spaces right near the beach.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, beach, lakes, extensive trail system, campground area, rock climbing

Website: Harold Parker State Forest

Trail Map: Harold Parker State Forest Trail Map

One of the more vast state forests I have visited to date, Harold Parker State Forest boasts over 35 miles of trails and roads, a beach (Berry Pond), several ponds and lakes and a variety of wildlife. I spent over 6 hours there and, while I did cover a lot of ground, there was surely some a lot I didn’t see. Tip of the day: if you do go, bring a trail map!

The trails at Harold Parker are generally easy with some moderate inclines. Due to the various streams and wetlands, there are also several boardwalk trails.

Harold Parker is a popular spot for cyclists. According to the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) the single track riding rates at Harold Parker State Forest are: 30% easy, 30% moderate, and 40% difficult with some rocky sections.

It is a little difficult finding the exact entrance to Harold Parker (I found 3 different addresses but I included the address of the headquarters at the top of this post). It’s not a bad thing, though, because you can park in any of the various parking areas. Just to make sure to pay at the pay station when you do park. You can also drive to each different parking area as the main road is paved and fairly wide enough for traffic, cyclists and hikers to share the road.

I began my day at Stearns Pond, one of the many ponds in the area. Fishing is allowed and I met a friendly fisherman who goes there regularly to cast his lines. They also allow non-motorized boating in the ponds. There is an annual fishing festival held in September at the state forest.

Stearns Pond is only one of the many ponds, rivers and streams at Harold Parker State Forest. In fact, it’s hard to keep track of which pond or river you are at, even with the aid of a map. But, there were some amazing views from the various bodies of water.

Unexpectedly, I came across this huge rock. I bet there’s a good story about this rock. I couldn’t find anything about in my research, though. It’s one big rock, though! Right!?

One of the highlights of Harold Parker is Berry Pond which is essentially a beach area and playground for children and families. It was a perfect beach day and the beach was packed. But, with photographic trickery I was able to photograph the beach without showing the sun bathers and swimmers. After all, not everyone wants to be seen in their Speedo.

Walking along the SKUG Reservation Trail, I came across the site of an old quarry and soapstone mill, the Jenkins Mill. There’s not much now to indicate it was once a quarry. If not for the marking on the map and a few rocks dispersed around the area, I would not have known it was once there. It’s kind of a shame that something that meant so much to so many people and was once such an important part of the area is now little more than a blip on the screen.

There are lots of birds, chipmunks, frogs and other critters visible along the trail and in the water at Harold Parker.

Harold Parker State Forest is a dog friendly park. However, I didn’t see as many dogs as I thought I would. I did manage to see these three cuties, though!

Suzie is a 7 month old English Setter. She is hearing impaired. So, she can hear some sounds. Her dad uses signals to help him communicate with her.

Bella (or “Bell”) is a 9 year old Beagle and Lab mix.

Herbie is a 1 year old Pit mix.

Below is a video of one of the brooks that runs through Harold Parker State Forest. Enjoy!

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3 Comments | tags: dogs, Harold Parker State Forest, Massachusetts, New England, North Andover, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trails, trees | posted in birds, dogs, Harold Parker State Forest, Massachusetts, New England, North Andover, photographs, photography, photos, trails, trees, Uncategorized

July 1, 2017

Pope John Paul II Park (Dorchester, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Visits: June 17 & 18, 2017

Location: There are several entrances at Gallivan Blvd. and Hallet St., Dorchester, MA

Cost: Free

Parking: There are multiple parking lots at the entrances

Hours: Open from sunrise til one hour before sunset

Trail Size/Difficulty: 2 miles, easy with moderate inclines

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, scenic, easy trails, ball fields

Website: Pope John Paul II Park

With its rolling hills, abundant wildlife, pretty trees and flowers and beautiful views, it’s hard to believe it once was the home to a drive in (remember those?) and a land fill.

Connected to Senator Joseph Finnegan Park, Pope John Paul II Park is part of the extensive Neponset River Greenway.

Pope John Paul Park is not only beautiful for it’s natural beauty, there are also two murals at the park.