Parking is limited. There are about a 10-20 parking spaces but many people park sideways rather than horizontally since there are not clearly defined spaces in the lot. So, sometimes only a dozen or so cars can fit in the lot. It’s best to get there early in the day.
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
No dogs or fishing are allowed since it is a reservoir.
Ashley Reservoir is a photographer’s dream destination. You don’t have to try hard to find pretty places to shoot. One of the things that stood out from my shoot was just how much the weather changed in the hour and a half that we spend there.
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Ashley Reservoir is a 4 mile loop (there is a shortcut you can take that is about 1.5 or 2 miles). The trails are well defined and, when there isn’t snow and ice on the ground, would be easy to navigate.
One of the many interesting parts to the trail are the paths that seem to cut across the reservoir and connect back to the trails.
The photo below was not doctored. It is the particles in the snow as the sun melted the snow. But, I thought it looked pretty cool. The last video posted below shows these sparkles.
Since it is a popular destination for runners, walkers and nature lovers, the geese, ducks and other birds are not as skittish as they are in other parks and reservoirs. It was luncj time for the geese. The last video at the end of the post shows the sparkling snow.
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Now, this is what I call a cluster duck.
Despite the cold temperature and the icy trails there were several runners out at Ashley reservoir.
The trees and plant life were grand even during the winter when some of them were bare.
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Check out the videos below for more fun from Ashley Reservoir
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There are about a dozen parking spaces in the main parking lot. If needed, you can also park on the side of the road by the parking lot.
Cost: Free
Hours: open daily, sunrise to sunset
Before you even begin climbing the ascent to Signal Hill, the views from the parking lot are astounding.
Besides the historical significance (it used to be the home to the Paleo-Americans who settled on what would become the Neponset River) and the active wildlife (hawks are said to nest there and many amphibians inhabit the area by the river), Signal Hill also offers grand views of the Boston Skyline, Blue Hills and the Neponset River Valley.
The hill to the scenic outlook at Signal Hill is modest at best. It should only take 10 minutes to go from the parking lot to the outlook.
The views are worth the short hike.
The scenic overlook has some pretty trees and rocks.
One of the charming features of Signal Hill is the short loop (1.6 miles) at the base of the hill. After climbing and trudging along so many long and steep hills, it’s refreshing to be able to take a leisurely stroll along the clearly defined trail. There are also trails that veer off a little.
Off the main trail there is a canoe launch site on the Neponset River. The upstream launch site goes to Norwood (MA) while the downstream site leads to Milton (MA).
Since there is little traffic on the road, the road to Signal Hill is popular with joggers and cyclists.
I met Charley during my visit. He was having fun playing in what remained of the snow on the trail.
Hours 8 a.m. – 8 p..m. (during the regular season, open without staff during the off season)
There are about 10-20 parking spots by the main entrance but there is a parking lot across the street for overflow traffic (watch out for the holes and bumps in the lot)
Cost: Free but it may cost to put a boat or other watercraft in the lake
“Massabesic” (pronounced Mass-A-Bee-Sick) is a Native American word for “place of much water” or “near the great brook”. True to its translation, Massabesic Lake Watershed is definitely a place where you will find much water, albeit frozen. Manchester Airport is nearby so it is not uncommon to see a plane fly by as is evident in one of the photos in the slideshow below.
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Normally, I would consider visiting a lake, pond or any body of water during the winter something of a waste. Little did I realize though, lakes can be as much fun in the winter as they are during the summer.
A sign on the trail in Massabesic Lake warns you to stay on the trail. This is partly because the houses are so close to the trail. Also, you have to cross busy roadways at some points to continue on the trail.
There were people ice fishing (the orange flags on the poles in the water stick up when they get a bite). Since Lake Massabesic is used as a watershed, people are not allowed to swim or put their bodies in the water. But, you can fish, sail and canoe on the lake.
There were people sailing on their ice boats. You can hear the gentleman talking to me in the video below. Are there any friendlier people on this planet than the people of New Hampshire?
or relaxing in their favorite chair
The Massabesic Lake is home to a trail that leads to Portsmouth, NH as part of the Rockingham Recreational Trail. As much as I love Portsmouth, I wasn’t up for hiking that far (The Rockingham Recreational Trail is 26 miles total). It is called a “Rail Trail” because it used to be part of the railway system and was converted over to a trail. It is very popular with cyclists. The cyclist pictured below had wide tires, presumably to deal with all off the ice as it was very icy. He is a braver man than I. There is also a 4 mile loop at the lake.
Overall, I would rate the trails I hiked easy to moderate in some parts. The only hard part was dealing with the ice on the trails. It went from being very easy to manage to downright dangerous due to the icy conditions. As the snow melted in the morning it turned to mud, then iced over again. During the morning hours, the ice was melting at a rapid pace. Then, a few hours later, you could walk on the lake again because the temperatures dropped so much. While the weather was warmish (by New Hampshire standards), you could hear the ice making noises as it melted. You may be able to hear the “groaning” noises in the video below.
I did manage to walk out on the ice myself, after seeing everyone else out there first of course.
Meet Jackson, a Siberian husky. Jackson has one blue eye and one brown eye. I tried to photograph his eyes but he was blinking when the photo was taken. You may be able to see his different colored eyes if you zoom in on the first photo. He was very playful and friendly and what about that smile in the second photo!
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Price: $20 for adults, $10 for children (ages 3-11) and seniors (over 65)
This was a special cruise and is not something they do regularly in the winter. During the spring, summer and fall they have cruises scheduled regularly.
Twenty degree weather and an impending winter storm; what better conditions for a harbor cruise. Ironically, that statement could not be more accurate.
We were greeted by gulls and rough seas when we arrived at the wharf.
As we made our way on to the boat for and they announced the cruise would be a three hour tour (in retrospect, that Gilligan’s Island reference should have been a bad omen), I was surprised by how roomy, comfortable and modern it was. The three story boat had booths on the sides of the cabin area and ample seating.
Even before we left the wharf I took some shots of the bay. You can see Logan Airport in the distance in some of the photos.
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As the boat left the bay, I took some obligatory photos of the skyline.
I had to bundle up (and hold on tight to the railing) for the shoot. I was surprised at how well I handled the overly active ocean. I’ve never been particularly fond of roller coasters, wavy oceans or anything that moves to and fro quickly. But, I did fine. The only time I felt a tinge of sickness was when a fellow traveler described his own feelings of sea sickness (gee, thanks random stranger). But, that quickly passed.
There was a variety of sea life, although the choppy waters made it difficult to photograph all of them. DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) officials were on the boat with binoculars on the lookout for wildlife and other points of interest and announcements were made whenever a bird or other animal was sighted.
I did photograph this Eider as he swam with friends.
and a few other elusive birds.
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Even though it was a cruise for wildlife viewing some of the best views were of the harbor and the islands.
This is Spectacle Island. Spectacle Island was made entirely from the dirt from the huge construction project known as the “Big Dig”. it is much prettier during the summer.
These are some photos of Boston Light. Boston Light is the first Lighthouse in America. It is still working today.
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The Deer Island Waste Water Treatment Plant began operations in 1995. It is clearly the jewel of Boston Harbor. Prior to the construction of the sewage plant, sewage from Boston’s treatment facilities had contaminated shellfish after the sewage had been released. Lunch, anyone?
These structures are what is left of the bridge to Long Island (not the one in NY – we didn’t go out that far). It was dismantled recently. Personally, I think they should keep them. They make for a good background for photography.
Below is a slideshow of some of the other shots from my cruise. It was very windy and the sea was pretty choppy. I tried to capture this in the photos.
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Finally, I found a cute furry animal named Bailey to photograph when I disembarked from the boat.
See below for videos of the cruise to get a better idea of just how windy it was.
Adults: $18 Seniors: $12 Youth 3–17: $9.50 Children Under 2: Free Students: $12
Springfield Residents (with valid ID): Free – youth included
There is a parking lot by the science museum entrance with about 50 or so spaces. There is an overflow parking lot across the street. Parking is free.
The museums in Springfield, MA, are not your usual museums. For one, there are four museums, rather than one. Secondly, on the grounds of one of the museums is another perhaps bigger attraction, the Dr. Suess National Memorial Garden.
There are four museums are the Springfield Museums. I spent most of the time at the Springfield Science Museum
and the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History
The two art and sculpture museums do not allow photography.
The Springfield Science Museum is bigger than it appears on the outside. It is three floors (a first and second floor with a lower level). The exhibits range from live animals (mostly fish and other smaller animals such as turtles) to dinosaur bones and artifacts.
There was so much to absorb in those few levels. But, my two favorite parts of this particular museum had to be the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the demonstration put on by the staff in which the patrons, the children who were visiting, got to find out how fortune teller fish work.
From the moment you enter the science museum your senses are attracted to all of the interesting items in the main entrance. The main themes of the museum are the products of the Springfield, MA, area such as Dr. Seuss and Indian Motorcycles which were manufactured in Springfield.
Two former residents of Springfield reside in the museum.
Snowball
and Jynx
These animals used to be part of the The Zoo In Forest Park (post about this wonderful park to come in the spring or summer). When they died, they were stuffed and put on display.
There is a wide variety of fish and other animal life on the lower level. You have to look closely but the first image is of a shy salmon camouflaged against the rocks. In fact, many of the animals were shy.
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There were also a variety of toys, art work and fun items for kids of all ages and sizes to enjoy like the skeleton with the Dr. Seuss hat on (note the tie-in to Springfield) and mirrors that make you look smaller and wider, just when I didn’t think I could feel worse about my weight ( :
The second and third levels of the museum have a dinosaur exhibit, planetarium, historical items, models of animals and a variety of other items.
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The historical museum, located across the street from the science museum, is a little smaller but it also has a wide variety of displays.
During my visit, the museum was displaying the Better Angels tribute to the fallen firefighters from September 11, 2001. The portrait artist who made the display is from nearby East Longmeadow. The exhibit will be on display until June of this year.
After seeing this touching tribute, some of the other attractions seem trivial. There are a variety of old time cars and a fire exhibit in the main area. There is also an educational play area for children (and adults if you’re inclined).
The Springfield Museums are a great place to visit. Time seems to go by quickly while you’re there so it’s easy to lose track of time. But, it is fun for the entire family.
Located on the grounds of the Springfield Museums, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden pays homage to one of Springfield’s most famous people, Theodor Seuss Geise (aka Dr. Seuss), and some of his characters.
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The grounds are accessible to the public during the museum’s normal hours without a fee. You only need to pay if you want access to the museums. The garden does not only have sculptures and art work related to Dr. Seuss’ characters. There are statues and other pieces of art and buildings on the grounds.
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I will be posting about the Springfield Museums in a later post. Here is a quick preview:
Although the area is mostly known for being the home of the New England Patriots and its adjacent marketplace, Patriot Place has another impressive attraction – The Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog. Admission to the trail and bog is free and the parking is ample evident by the photo below. You can also park in the lots in front of the store and walk down to the trail.
From the entrance the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog greets you with a charming sitting area and pretty trees.
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Although most of the vegetation is dead (save for a few stubborn blueberries and cranberries), a thin layer of ice covered most of the pond and the trees are bare this time of the year, the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA, is just as beautiful in the winter as it is during the summertime.
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Located directly behind the expansive Bass Pro Shop, the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog is a .5 mile loop with a 3 percent grade and some inclines as much as 12 percent.
It is a mostly dirty trail with a few boardwalks and bridges. There are two benches in the middle of the first walking bridge. Overall, it is an easy to semi-moderate trail. I saw people of all age groups handle the trail, inclines and all, with little difficulty.
I found this strange, creepy looking branch or alien arm protruding from the ice.
An extra bonus for any Patriots fan is you can see Gillette Stadium (the stadium the Patriots play in) from the main road on the way to the Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog. You can also catch a quick glimpse of some of the stadium from the entrance to trail and bog.
After finishing the loop, I met Chandler, a beautiful 6 year old tri-colored English Setter (thank you for the clarification, Adam).
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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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As the year draws to an end I thought I would share some of the photos taken from my mother’s house throughout the year. Since she lives in an area that used to be farmland there are a lot of wooded areas that attract a variety of wildlife. She also has a couple of bird feeders that attract birds of all types. There are many other animals in the area over the years that I have heard or seen but not photographed such as deer, a horse, cows, mountain lions and reportedly even bears.
Check out the slideshow below to see some of the friends that have visited us this past year. My cat, Bailey, is included in the slideshow. I always bring her when I visit.
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I always like investigating the area when I visit for the holidays and long weekends. I’ve always thought it would be a great place to retire. The storms and sunsets can be jaw dropping.
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There are also a variety of plants, flowers and trees in her yard.
When I first started my blog my intention was to photograph and create a journal of my trips in the New England area. It wasn’t until I went on my first photography shoot that I realized just how proud people are of their pets. And they should be. In fact, the only thing cuter than the dogs I have photographed is the reaction of the owners when I ask them if I can photograph their pooch. They are most often thrilled or at least flattered. Only one person has declined to let me photograph their dog and that was because the person I asked was walking someone else’s dog.
So, please enjoy the dogs of 2015. I look forward to photographing many more in 20116!
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