Category Archives: Massachussetts

January 3, 2016

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame (Springfield, MA)

Date visited: December 26, 2015

Although the city does not have a professional sports team, Springfield, Massachusetts is the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame. Of course, the game was invented there. So, it is an appropriate location.

The great thing about playing hoop is all you need a ball a net and a decent pair of sneakers. The Hall has the nets outside the entrance. All you need is a ball. I’m not sure how long you could play before they make you leave. From this entrance the Hall is deceptively big (three floors).

There is a big parking lot at the Hall but there are other business in the parking lot. We arrived early to make sure we got a good spot. It costs adults $22 a ticket, seniors (65 and older) pay $17 a ticket, $16 for youths (ages 5 to 15) and kids 4 and under get in free. You can also sometimes purchase tickets at third party vendors at a reduced price (we got ours at the Big Y grocery store). So, it doesn’t hurt to look around for other places to get your tickets.

I only wish I had gone there when I was younger. In fact, when I was a kid I could easily see myself telling my folks they could drop me off when it opens (at 10) and come by and get me at closing time (4 or 5 on Saturday). I could easily pass 6 or 7 hours there. I am not sure they would go for it, though. As time passes, our interests change. While I do still love playing and I like watching, I am in no way even close to the fan I used to be. But, the charming Hall of Fame made me a fan again.

Whether it is Pete Maravich’s “floppy socks” (one of my favorite exhibits)

Or the creatively crafted flag made of sneakers

Or the jerseys and sneakers of the best three of all time (sorry Kareem, Lebron and Wilt)

There is something for everyone.

The Hall is also a great family friendly place. There are so many activities geared for children. Want to recreate when “Havlicek stole the ball?” You can do so by telecasting that play and many others in their play by play booth. Want to try to block a shot by one of the NBA’s elite players? There’s a game for that too.

There are also videos galore. Along the wall there are little monitors with short videos of speeches, highlights and informational clips. This video below is a video about the newest class of NBA Hall inductees (congrats Dikembe). There is also a amphitheater in the hall.

Being a native of the Boston area, I was drawn to the Boston Celtics’ memorabilia. Such as a Larry Bird statue (striking resemblance)

One of Red Auerbach’s cigars. He used to light a cigar during every game he coached for the Celtics if/when he thought the game was over (before the official end) as a gimmick to psyche out the opponent.

But, there are statues, mementos and reminders of every team from every era, even non professional teams like the Harlem Globetrotters (who did have some would be professional players play for them such as Wilt Chamberlain). I used to love the Globetrotters. I always felt badly for their rivals, the poor Washington Generals, though!

There are certain players that you’re drawn to. They may not be the best player or even the best to ever play their position, although one of my favorite characters is certainly in the top 3 at his position. Charles Barkley played with an intensity and perseverance only matched by the other elites he is enshrined with. But, he did it with flare and intensity. I looked up one of his YouTube videos if you’re unfamiliar with him (the play 1:12 is ridiculous) . Oh yeah and he is funny as hell.

Below is one of his rings for being on the NBA 50th anniversary all time team.

My visit to the Hall of Fame was also a learning experience. Even though I was a pretty rabid fan as a younger person and still a casual fan, I learned a lot during my visit. For instance, have you ever heard of Teresa Edwards? I hadn’t either before my visit. She is the most decorated basketball player of all time. Among her achievements are 5 gold medals, a bronze medal, gold medals in the Pan Am, Games, Jones Cup and FIBA World Championship, among many other awards.

The best part for me was the lower level of the museum. Several basketball hoops are set up so that all the patrons can shoot around (balls are provided free of charge). Some of those kids can ball!

My trip to the Hall rekindled my fondness for basketball (it hadn’t been the same for me after Michael Jordan retired). It also brought back a lot of memories from what I consider the “glory days” of the game. It was a trip down memory lane.

Yeah, I still got some skills.

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14 Comments | tags: attractions, basketball, Massachusetts, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame, NBA, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Springfield | posted in attractions, basketball, Massachussetts, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame, Naismith Memorial Hall Of Fame, NBA, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Springfield, Uncategorized

December 26, 2015

Maple Brook Farm (Westfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates visited: December 16, 2015 and December 21, 2015

Tucked away one of the many side roads of West Springfield, MA, is an unexpected place.

The Maple Brook Farm is home to a variety of alpacas. It’s not everyday that you get to see alpacas grazing from the road so I thought I would stop by.

They tend to cluster together so it was hard to take photos of them alone.

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The driveway to the farm is usually open, at least during non holiday daylight hours. When I went to visit, there was no staff or anyone else there but the public is welcome and there is no charge. I just wish I knew what alpacas eat. I would have brought them a treat.

The grounds of the farm are well groomed and there are many structures and statues that liven up the area. It is definitely worth a visit.

17 Comments | tags: alpacas, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, West Springfield, Western Massachusetts | posted in alpacas, animals, Massachussetts, photographs, photography, photos, statues, Uncategorized, West Springfield

December 24, 2015

Yankee Candle Village (Deerfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date visited: December 23, 2015

Every year during the holidays, I make my annual trip to Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield, MA.

The flagship shop of New England, the Yankee Candle Village is known for his decorative and at times eccentric displays. But, during the holidays they go the extra mile.

From the moment you walk onto the property, the Yankee Candle Village welcomes you with holiday cheer and some unique decorations.

Inside the store, there is an assortment of holiday decorations and not just holiday decorations. Wizard of Oz statues, model cars and other displays can be found throughout the shop.

There are Christmas trees galore. Every where you look it seems there is a tree decorated in a unique way.

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There are also Christmas village light up displays located in one room. They also have a Halloween village set up.

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There is also a stream with koi fish

Try as we might, we could not find Santa. He wasn’t at his regular place

He wasn’t at his desk either

Finally, I found him in the shopping area

There is also an area where customers can make their own candles with the colors and scents they choose. They can also have a candle made in the form of their hands whether it be a fist, peace sign or index finger extended (no middle fingers allowed)

There is also a fountain in the shopping area and a mechanized band that plays for the children. It looks kinda creepy to me, though.

As I left the shop and day turned into night, the lights from the trees and decorations outside lit up the area. It was raining pretty hard so some of the images produced spots that almost look like snow. Sadly, it was only raindrops. There will not be any snow on Christmas for us this year.

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There are also many automated attractions at the shop. For instance, in the front of the store there is a toy train that runs along the wall.

Every 4 minutes, it “snows” at the Snowplace Factory in the North Pole of the store.

To get a full appreciation of the light display, I am including a short video showing off all the lights outside the store.

40 Comments | tags: Attraction, Christmas, decorations, holiday, lights, Massachusetts, New England, Photography, photos, shop, store, trees, video, Yankee Candle Shop | posted in attraction, Christmas, decorations, lights, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, shops, site seeing, store, Uncategorized, video

December 17, 2015

Myles Standish State Forest (Carver, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date visited: December 6, 2015

Spending a crisp autumn day at Myles Standish State Park makes you long for summer days.

Since it is so big, Myles Standish has several parking areas. I parked at the main parking area where the ranger headquarters is located on Cranberry Rd. There were about 30 or 40 parking spots at this parking area. It wasn’t a problem finding a spot when I went but I bet it fills up quickly if you don’t go early during the spring and summer. Myles Standish also has camp sites for tents and some for RV’s. It costs $8 for MA residents and $10 for non MA residents to visit for the day when the park is open for the season. It is free off during the off season.

As beautiful as the forest is in late fall, it must be even so much prettier when all the flowers are in bloom or during foliage season. The wind was just strong enough to give the water a little ripple effect.

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There were birds a plenty at Myles Standish. The woodpecker in the second photo was too busy pecking to be scared away.

Myles Standish is a huge forest and it extends into several towns. There are 16 ponds, 13 miles of hiking trails and 15 miles of biking trails in Myles Standish. I stopped by Fearing Pond.

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There was also quite a few pretty trees and vegetation at the forest.

My one gripe about Myles Standish is the amount of trees they had cut down. It wasn’t clear why they had the trees down. But, it was unsettling nonetheless.

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7 Comments | tags: birds, Carver, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, pond, ponds, scenic, trees | posted in birds, Carver, Massachussetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, ponds, scenic, trees, Uncategorized

December 10, 2015

Faneuil Hall (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

There may be nothing more festive than the holidays in the city. The city is so alive. Lights illuminate the dark city streets. Children gaze at all the trees and decorations. Even adults get into the spirit of the season. This was not more evident than at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

There are many statues and memorials at Faneuil Hall. This statue of Samuel Adams stands in front of Quincy Market. You can see some of the lights in the background. There is so much to photograph in the area and I will include other shots from the area in a blog post another time. I wanted to focus mainly on the holiday decorations and lights in this post.

Trees are lit up throughout Faneuil Hall.

Stores and restaurants also decorate for the season.

The main attraction has to be the tree, though. The lighting was not very good so I included a few different photos in the slideshow below.

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Some of the lights blinked, which was hard to get in the photos. So, I have added a video below to show off the really cool display

32 Comments | tags: Boston, Christmas, decorations, family friendly, Faneuil Hall, Historical, holiday, lights, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, statues, tree, trees | posted in architecture, Boston, Christmas, decorations, family friendly, historical, holidays, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, statues, trees, Uncategorized

December 7, 2015

Boston Common (Boston, MA)

By New England Nomad

The only thing missing from the holiday display at Boston Common is a fresh layer of snowy ground covering.

I’m still getting the hang of my long time nemesis: night time photography. So, some photos are a bit grainy or blurry.

The Menorah was lit today (Sunday) as Hanukkah began today. It was not lit during my visit Friday night.

Boston Common has become a family friendly spot for people of all ages to enjoy. The Tadpole Playground is a fairly new addition to the Common.

The Frog Pond is iced over during the winter for skaters young and old, and of various skating ability.

the zamboni’s coming right at us!

More pretty decorations and lights

There’s not a shortage of things to get even the Scroogiest folks in the holiday spirit.

The Prudential Tower is visible from the Boston Common. Each day in December they are lighting the top of the tower in the colors associated with a different charitable cause, as part of their 31 nights of lights. The night I went they were recognizing the Catching Joy organization. Lucky for us, the charity’s logo has a variety of colors in their name. My photo is a little blurry but I am posting a video of the tower’s lights changing colors below.

The State House, located just behind the Boston Common, is also decorated for the holiday.

Lilly and Cameron (left to right) were both in the holiday spirit

To get a better sense of the fun that can be had at Boston Common, especially this time of the year, click on the videos below. Someone interrupted my video recording to ask for directions in the first video ( :

5 Comments | tags: Christmas, decorations, dogs, holiday, lights, New England, parks, Photography, photos | posted in Boston, Christmas, decorations, dogs, holidays, lights, Massachussetts, New England, pets, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

November 24, 2015

Webb Memorial State Park (Weymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

Once a seasonal campsite for Native Americans as well as the site for a fertilizer factory and a missile launcher warehouse, Webb Memorial State Park has gone through many changes over the years. It has since been cleaned up and developed into one of the lesser known jewels of the South Shore of Massachusetts.

Named after William K. Webb, a World War II and police officer from Weymouth, Webb Park is a popular spot for joggers and other outdoor enthusiasts. There are many different paths that offer various pretty views of the skyline of Boston and the surrounding cities.

You can see planes flying to and from Boston’s Logan International Airport. They are so loud you can hear them clear across the harbor.

There are also several monuments at Webb State Park.

This memorial is named after John Cole, a former resident of Weymouth, MA.

This memorial is dedicated to Chief Engineer Donald F. Haviland. Haviland was on the Henry Bacon which took heavy damage from enemy bombers. He refused to take a seat on one of the lifeboats because the lifeboats were running out of room and not everyone could fir on the lifeboats. Haviland gave up his seat on the lifeboat to a younger person and he died when the ship sunk. He is certainly worthy of our admiration and this token of our appreciation. This memorial certainly makes you think.

Another monument memorializes the Grape Island Alarm which was a Revolutionary War battle where a Weymouth militia fought back the British Navy.

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There is also a memorial dedicated to Domenic J. Sansone.

There are a variety of birds in the area. I was lucky enough to photograph this woodpecker

a sparrow

and this female cardinal. You might have to enlarge the photo at the top of one of the branches toward the right side of the tree.

I also spotted this bird. Another one that might be a little hard to see unless you zoom in.

There were many additional land animals at the park during my visit. (top left to right – Nandi, Molly and Ziggy, bottom left to right – Ellsbury, Louie and Olly)

There were so many beautiful spots at Webb Memorial Park. I have included a few more miscellaneous images in the slideshow below.

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10 Comments | tags: birds, dogs, ducks, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, water, Weymouth | posted in birds, Boston, dogs, Massachussetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, Uncategorized, water, Webb Memorial State Park, Weymouth

November 19, 2015

Jenney Grist Mill (Plymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

Most people are aware of the more popular attractions in Plymouth, MA, such as Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation. But, there is another hidden jewel in Plymouth.

Located only a few miles from Plymouth Rock, the Jenney Grist Mill is a replica of the mill which was originally located in the Plymouth Colony.

When I went to visit the foliage was still peaking in the area.

But the real gem of the grist mill area is the pond.

Ducks, swans and a furry friend inhabit the area.

15 Comments | tags: cats, ducks, Fall, foliage, grist mill, Massachusetts, New England, Photography, photos, Plymouth, swan | posted in cats, ducks, Fall, foliage, grist mill, Massachussetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Plymouth, pond, swan, Uncategorized

November 10, 2015

Whitney And Thayer Woods (Cohasset, MA)

By New England Nomad

The unseasonably mild weather (at least mild for New England) has allowed for a longer than usual fall hiking season. Taking advantage of this unusually warm weather, I traveled to the South Shore jewel of Whitney And Thayer Woods in Cohasset, MA.

With the exception of a stray cloud here and there, a clear blue sky, bright sun and an intermittent breeze greeted me at the woods.

The park is a loop that covers a few miles. There is a bike trail and runners frequent the trails.

Although the peak of the fall foliage season has passed, there were still some vibrant orange, gold and amber colors hanging on to the trees.

A rolling stone gathers no…never mind.

There were quite a few dogs on the paths. It was a perfect day for dog walking. I have determined that getting most dogs to pose for the camera is about as easy as splitting the atom.

Lilly enjoyed the warm sun.

Chester was very excited to be at the park.

Olive was happy to see me. Don’t worry. She was a sweetheart.

I didn’t get this dog’s name. But he or she posed perfectly!

I have more shots from my trip to Whitney And Thayer. So, I am breaking up this blog into two parts. The second part will include some photos from the Weir River Farm located just outside of the wooded area. For a sneak peak and for some additional photos not included in this blog, stop by my Facebook page: New England Nomad

Check out my other blog, Mr. Wayne please. Thank you.

13 Comments | tags: Cohasset, dogs, foliage, leaves, Massachusetts, New England, Park, Photography, photos, rocks, Whitney And Thayer Woods, woods | posted in Cohasset, dogs, foliage, leaves, Massachussetts, New England, park, photography, photos, rocks, woods

November 5, 2015

Callahan State Park (Framingham, MA)

By New England Nomad

If you have a dog or if you are a pooch lover like I am and you live in the Massachusetts area, then you must make a trip out to Callahan State Park in Framingham, MA. In fact, they should rename it Canine State Park.

When I arrived at the park, shortly before 9 on a Saturday morning, the fairly ample parking lot was already almost full. It did not take long to find some cute canines to photograph. I had more trouble deciding which dogs to photograph.

Casey wanted to get an extra close up photo.

Lucky’s dad used a ball to get his attention.

Luna looked right at the camera for me.

Shelby wasn’t sure if he should play with his ball or pose for me.

Finn, an Australian cattle breed mix, wanted to say hi. Right after I took this photo, he ran up to me and snuggled with me.

Heboo dressed for the seasonably chilly weather with a sweater.

Ella gave me a big smile for her photo.

Duke (on your left) and Pete (on your right) were busy looking at their mom/walker.

Gracie looked sharp!

This guy was a great poser!

Leaves carpeted most of the trails and the foliage was not at its peak. But, there were still so many pretty views.

There is lots of open land for dogs to play or run around on.

There is a creek that runs across the park

It began to rain, only for a few minutes, when I was at the creek. It stopped just after I get a few shots of the rain making ripples on the water.

Callahan State Park also has a pond.

There is a little island in the middle of the pond.

This rock caught my eye.

The dogs went in for swim and one of them even retrieved a stick.

The park has a circular path which is great for joggers and anyone who wants to take a leisurely walk. The Greater Framingham Running Club held a 5k/10k run the day I was there.