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.
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
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.
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!
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)
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.
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
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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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.
There are a variety of birds at Pope John Paul Park (but I didn’t see any cardinals which was unusual).
This bird had a meal for his or her babies,
There are many pretty trees, plants and rolling hills along the paths.
The paths at John Paul Park are easy with some moderate inclines.
The paths are perfect for running, riding your bicycle or rollerblading with your dog.
There are some wonderful views along the Neponset River which separates Dorchester from picturesque Quincy, MA.
People like to use the river to cruise along with their jet ski, boat or other aquatic vessel.
There is also a stream that flows under the bridge at the park.
There are also soccer and lacrosse fields as well as pavilions and benches for people to sit and watch the games.
Pope John Paul Park is a great place to bring your dog. Zoey, a 5 year old mixed breed dog, brought her ball with her to the park.
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Location: corner of Taylor St. and Water St., Neponset area of Dorchester, Boston, MA
Hours: Open sunrise to sunset
Cost: Free
Parking: Parking is available by the main entrances on Water or Taylor St. You can also park at Pope John Paul II Park on Hallet St or Gallivan Blvd as the trails for each park are connected
Part of the Neponset River Greenway, at a scant 15 acres Finnegan Park is one of the smaller yet more charming parks to open in the Boston area.
Dedicated in May of this year, Finnegan Park is a small yet popular destination for anyone looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city it borders.
Some of the park’s more appealing features are the scenic views and birds that inhabit the area, if you find that sort of things appealing that is. In the background you can see some of the residential buildings in the lovely Quincy, Massachusetts neighborhood. Egrets and Canadian geese are common visitors at the park.
There are also blocks of what looks like granite with words like “Charity” as well as the history of the area and descriptions of the wildlife in the area engraved on them.
One of the really cool things about the park is the train that passes by. The very same train I take to work.
Named after former state senator and representative Joseph Finnegan who worked hard to revitalize the area, Finnegan Park is a great place to ride your bike, play hopscotch or take your dog for a walk.
Gladys had a fun time walking along the trails at Finnegan Park.
Finnegan Park is only one segment of the Neponset River Greenway. In a future post I will be showing off another beautiful part of this project.
Once the site of a gravel pit, Stodder’s Neck is now one of the most popular dog parks in the South Shore (south of Boston). In fact, as the photo below shows, the park was designed as a dog park, although humans can also use it for birding, observing other dogs or just taking a leisurely walk.
The park has a water fountain with a spigot at dog’s level.
There is also a board for people to hang lost dog tags (on hooks at the side of the board) and photos of dogs (many of whom have passed on) who enjoy the park as well as other notes of importance.
Even the entrance to the park has been designed to help prevent dogs from running ahead into the parking lot by having a narrow entrance. I believe you may also open the gate at a different point if you need more room to enter or exit.
The dirt trails at Stodder’s Neck have benches and picnic tables dotted along the way for you to sit and give your dog a chance to rest.
The views along the trail are impressive.
But, the best part of the trails has to be the Weymouth Back River that forms the peninsula the park sits on.
And dogs seem to like the river as well.
There are also a variety of birds and other animals at Stodder’s Neck. Egrets also nest there during the spring and summer. I came across this Egret hunting.
I guess I got too close and scared him or her.
And what would a dog park be without, you guessed it, dogs!?
Moose is a 5 year old Lab.
Harley, 7 years old, is part German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Malinois.
Kylie is a 5 year old poogle
Mindy is a 4.5 year old rescue.
Mya is a 4 and a half year old Shepherd and Lab mix.
Macy is a one and a half year old pitbull and boxer mix.
Yuki is an 8 month old American Eskimo. Yuki, for those of you not in the know, means “snow” in Japanese.
Cost: Free (if you take a cruise out to see to the boats as I did fees would apply. It costs $35 for adults and $30 for seniors. Children and students also get reduced rates)
Parking: Due to the increase in visitors (they are expecting 2 million or more people) parking is limited. The closest public transportation station is South Station on the Red line of the MBTA (fares are reduced for this period of time while people visit the event)
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: tall ships from all over the world in Boston Harbor
Normally, when we see foreign boats in our harbor, it would be cause for alarm, especially given our past. But, this group of ships from all over the world came in peace.
Millions have been predicted to descend upon Boston as we celebrate Sail Boston 2017.
To avoid the crowds and get a better view of the ships, I decided to book a boat on Mass Bay Lines to cruise by these majestic ships. The boat was comfortable, wecould roam around the boat to get better views and we got so close to some of the freighters that we could wave and even shout to the crews on the boats. In fact, some people on our boat shouted greetings in the language of the crew based on their point of origin. I highly recommend taking a boat cruise if you plan on going to Sail Boston before the ships leave Thursday.
Our boat, The Freedom was docked at Rowes Wharf in the heart of the seaport district.
The views leaving the pier were beautiful.
The first ship we noticed was the Europa.
From Netherlands, the Europa has a steel hull and has a rig height of 33 meters. It was built in 1911.
When the ships did not have their sails up, it was difficult to identify them. Someone did announce the names of the ships as we passed by them. But, it was hard to hear him at times and it was also hard to keep track of them all. I think this is Thomas E. Lannon, a 93 foot schooner from Gloucester, MA. It was built in 1997.
This is the Esmeralda, the pride of the Chilean Navy. Check out the condor on the figurehead. To show just how different the ships look with and without their sails up, look at the photo below from the Sail Boston website. Big difference. Oh yeah, and their photography might be a little bit more professional. Just a little though.
The Oliver Hazard Perry from Newport, RI, is a baby compared to most of the other ships from the Tall Ships festival. It was built in 2016.
Again, it looks much more impressive with its sails raised.
Alert is a 70 foot schooner from Bailey Island, Maine. It has a wood hull and it was built in 1992. I was able to get the ship in various stages of dress.
The Adirondack III is an 80 foot schooner from Boston, MA. It was built in 1997 and it has a wood hull.
The Schooner Adventure is from Gloucester, MA. It was built in 1926 and it is 122 feet long.
When and If is another 80 foot schooner. It is from Key West, Florida and it was built in 1939.
The Formidable is a brigantine from Boston, MA. It is 72 feet long and was built in 2000.
I was hoping to see more ships, especially with their full sails on. But, I still think we saw a variety of pretty ships and boats. What really caught my eyes was the buildings and structures against the ships and boats in the harbor.
These kayakers may have had the best views. But, I think being dry on the boat was better for taking photographs.
Dogs like the tall ships also! Cole, an 8 year old poodle, and his mom came by to view the tall ships.
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