Category Archives: travel

October 19, 2016

Nelson Memorial Park (Plymouth, MA)

By New England Nomad

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

Location: Nelson St, Plymouth, MA

Hours: Open everyday, dawn until dusk

Cost: Free

Parking: There are about 50 parking spots

Dog Friendly: Yes

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

Web Site: Nelson Memorial Park

When people think of Plymouth Massachusetts certain places automatically come to mind; Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth Rock, Nelson Memorial Park. No, that’s not a typo. In fact, Nelson Memorial Park may be one of the best kept secrets in Plymouth (except may be the Grace Trail).

Located approximately a mile from the aforementioned rock, Nelson Memorial Park is a family friendly park with activities for children, pretty views and ample parking.

The water activity area, called a “splash pad” is an area that shoots out water for children, and probably even a few adults and dogs, to play in. A sign states that due to water restrictions the pad will be on only on days when the air temperature is above 80 degrees. There’s little threat of that happening for some time, although we have had some unseasonably warm weather lately.

The park is relatively small but it still offers some very pretty scenery. I’ve always marveled at how clouds, even wispy clouds, can really accentuate the beauty of an area, especially by bodies of water.

Some kayakers took advantage of the warm weather and calm water.

There is also a bike path from Nelson Memorial Park that goes all the way to North Plymouth (roughly 1.5 miles from Nelson Memorial Beach or over 2 miles if you start from Grace Trail which is located behind the park’s parking lot).

Although it is a small park, Nelson Memorial is a wonderful, peaceful area just minutes from the busy waterfront and downtown areas and a must-see if you’re in the Plymouth area.

A boy and his dog take in the views at Nelson Memorial. This is why dogs are so great. No matter how bad your day is or how lonely you might feel, you always have your dog.

There were many other dogs at Nelson Memorial Park and I was able to get some great shots of a few of them.

Remy is a 13 year old Lab, Boxer and Rottweiler. He had head and leg injuries when he was adopted. But, he looks fine right now!

Stella is a 7 year old Boston Terrier with a special talent. She likes to chase balls and hit them with her head, soccer style.

Below is a video of Stella playing.

Similar Places In New England I Have Visited:

Salem Willows (Salem, MA)

Odiorne Point State Park (Rye, NH)

4 Comments | tags: blog, dogs, fun, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Plymouth, travel, water | posted in beach, dogs, fun, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, Plymouth, travel, Uncategorized, water

October 27, 2015

Haunted Decorations (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

There’s something magical about Halloween. It’s a time when adults can still pretend to be a kid again, even just for one night. Even the most mature, sober person can forget their responsibilities and relive their carefree days just a little.

For the remainder of the week, I will be posting the remaining photos from my trips to Salem, MA. In this edition, I am posting photos of the various decorations, some other miscellaneous things and, of course, a few dogs from my travels in Salem.

Salem is known world wide for getting into the spirit of Halloween. Everywhere you look, there are decorations of the season.

Besides the vendors selling merchandise there are also games and other fun types of activities. This particular activity was meant to see if people could maintain eye contact with a complete stranger and possibly make a connection, even on just a platonic level. It sounds like a good ice breaker to me. The comments about the activity on the board are very interesting and humorous.

Salem is also creative in how they tie the season to other causes like this witch who encourages people to keep Salem “wicked” clean.

Even Witch’s Brew Cafe got into the mix.

Other stores and attractions, many open only for the Halloween season, decorate for the season.

Some stores have humorous names without even realizing it. Of course, this is a name of a hole in a barrel that often contains alcohol. But, it may have a double meaning..

This is why Salem is so great. The people even get into it. This resident decorated his or her residency and put out a can for donations for the Lion’s Club.

This ghostly figure was seen in Salem harbor.

Salem is also known for its art and not just during the Halloween season. There is art everywhere it seems. These paintings on Essex Street portray a mermaid and a fish-type creature.

The dogs in Salem also get into the Halloween spirit. It’s hard to tell from a front view but Astro had tarantulas drawn on his fur.

Molly was quite the cute pumpkin.

Oz was dressed as a Cadaver dog for Halloween.

I will continue my Halloween in Salem themed photoblogs throughout the week. Thank you for stopping by and Happy Halloween!

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10 Comments | tags: art, attractions, decor, decorations, dogs, Fall, Halloween, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photos, Salem, scary, statues | posted in art, attractions, decor, decorations, dogs, Fall, massachusetts, New England, photography, photos, road trip, Salem, scary, statues, travel

September 27, 2015

Waterfront Park (Woods Hole, MA)

By New England Nomad

The last leg of our summer’s swan song at Cape Cod was spent at Waterfront Park in Woods Hole. Waterfront Park has several statues and sculptures. The most recent statue is a memorial to environmentalist Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring and the Sea Around Us. Both books are considered influential books in the environmentalist movement. Carson had worked with Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) which is located in Woods Hole.

The waterfront also has a shaded sitting area for the weary traveler to rest their bones.

There is also a sun dial statue dedicated to Robert Crane, one of the original financial supporters of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The sun dial was constructed so that you could tell what time it is from any direction. And, yes, it is accurate. A somewhat elaborate explanation is included on the ground in front of the sun dial.

The “Flukes” is a bronze sculpture by Gordon Gund. Gund, a successful businessman, was inspired to sculpt The Flukes after seeing pilot whales off the coast. It looks like more of a slide or play thing which explains the sign in front of the sculpture. I suspect it is not much of a deterrent.

The Waterfront is also the main point of embarkment for the ferry to the islands of Cape Cod, mainly Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

The waterfront also has some pretty views of the water and pretty flowers.

The waterfront park is also known for its friendly visitors. I met this friendly guy named Charlie as I was leaving.

Goodbye summer! See you again in 2016.

Leave a comment | tags: cape cod, dog, flowers, memorials, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, road trip, sculpture, statues, summer, travel, water, waterfront, woods hole | posted in cape cod, dog, memorial, park, photographs, photography, photos, road trip, sculpture, statues, summer, travel, water, woods hole

September 25, 2015

Nobska Beach (Woods Hole, MA)

By New England Nomad

After a short stay at Scraggy Neck, it was time for our next stop on our Cape Cod Farewell Summer trip.

Our next destination was the Nobska Beach in the quaint village of Woods Hole in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The Nobska area is so pretty and there are so many attractions because of its sheer beauty, I decided cover the Nobska area in two separate blogs.

The first thing that stands out at Nobska beach are the array of flowers and the makeshift trails at the beach (that and the lack of parking). The only parking available is on the side of the road along the beach and a scant few spots in front of the light house (I’ll be posting photos of the light house in the second part of the Nobska photo blogs).

Nobska Beach offers views of both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island.

Boats and the ferry make frequent trips to the islands

If you hadn’t noticed, one of the treasures of Nobska Beach are the rocks and the rock formations.

But, to capture the real beauty of the views from the beach, it was necessary to walk down a narrow trail down to this modest rocky ledge.

But, the ledge was wide enough for me and my camera. And the views were well worth the extra effort.

Nobska Beach is also home to a variety of wildlife.

At the base of the beach there are two memorials. A memorial for Dennis Jeff Sabo lies under some plants, almost unnoticed. The memorial does not give any more information than his date of birth, date of death and name. A Google search yielded no results. The lack of details about Dennis adds to the memorials’ mystique.

The other memorial is dedicated to Neilie Anne Heffernan Casey. Neilie was a passenger on Flight 11 on September 11, 2001. A memorial and bench bearing her name lay in the area now dubbed “Neilie Point”. A beautiful reminder of an awful day.

1 Comment | tags: attractions, beach, besutiful, birds, boats, cape cod, clouds, flowers, landscape, landscapes, memorial, memorials, Photography, photos, road trip, rocks, sand, summer, sun, travel, traveling, view, views, water | posted in beach, beautiful, birds, boat, boats, cape cod, flowers, memorial, photography, photos, road trip, rocks, travel, traveling, trip, views, water

September 23, 2015

Scraggy Neck (Cataumet, MA)

By New England Nomad

After a brief but rewarding stay at Amrita Island, it was on the next destination on my Farewell Summer Cape Cod trip. Scraggy Neck is a private beach in Cataumet, a village in Bourne, Massachusetts.

The beach is usually monitored by guards during the summer season. But, since summer was basically over, there were no guards when I arrived at the beach.

The entrance to the beach is grassy. But, there is a makeshift trail you can follow. The occasional flower stand in the grass

The beach is long and it was high tide when I visited. But, there wasn’t much of a beach head when I was visited. The water did look clean and clear.

Seaweed and shells littered the beach.

Scraggy Neck is divided into two sides by a road that is frequented by joggers, bikers and cars. It was on the other side of the road that showed off Scraggy Neck’s more scenic views.

A narrow path leads to the water.

The fish is visible through the transparent water.

This part of Scraggy Neck is mostly grassy. So, it would not be the ideal area to lie out for a tan.

Scraggy Neck is also a popular spot for boaters to launch from.

After visiting Scraggy Neck, it was on to our next adventure….

1 Comment | tags: beach, boats, cape cod, landscape, Photography, photos, road trip, scenic, scraggy neck, travel, view, views | posted in beach, boats, cape cod, flowers, landscape, photography, photos, plants, road trip, scraggy neck, summer, travel, trees, views, water

September 20, 2015

Cape Cod Canal (Buzzards Bay, MA)

By New England Nomad

One last summer weekend. One last chance to soak up the dwindling magic of summer. What better way to laze away the remaining summer bliss than at the iconic Cape Cod Canal?

The canal stretches for 7 miles for Sandwich, MA, to Buzzards Bay. There are several entrances to the canal. We chose the entrance near the end of the canal at Buzzards Bay.

The views at the canal are one of the main attractions.

Fishermen and fisher women dot the rocky edges of the canal and it is a popular starting point for bikers, runners and walkers. The canal also is a bustling point for ships carrying a variety of cargo, particularly since it is so close to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I caught one as it passed under the railroad bridge.

Ducks and seagulls also find the canal too be a fun place to enjoy the summer.

This lady thought I was spying on her.

Well, until next summer…I’ll meet you at the canal.

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1 Comment | tags: birds, canal, cape cod, New England, Photography, photos, road trip, ships, travel | posted in attractions, birds, canal, cape cod, ducks, New England, road trip, ship ships, travel

September 13, 2015

Olde Mystik Village (Mystic, CT)

By New England Nomad

Tucked away in the quaint village of Mystic, Connecticut, stands the hidden gem known as The Olde Mystic Village.

At first glance, Mistick Village may seem like a nondescript shopping center. But, Mistick Village is much more.

There are many cramped stores for specialty merchandise such as custom made clothing and hand made jewelry, pet shops and eateries that dot the village. It would be easy to dismiss it as just another shopping center. But Mistik Village has many unexpected charms. One of the biggest surprises at Olde Mistik Village is something very unique.

Right there, smack dab in the middle of the village is a pond.

Forget about the cinema and the fudge shop. The ducks are the most popular attractions at the village. People feed them their dietary recommended food. Signs prominently remind people crackers and bread are not safe for the ducks to eat.

They are not restricted to the pond area either. You can regularly see the ducks roaming the walkways of the Mistik Village.

And, since so many people feed them, they are not shy.

The flowers and trees at Mistik Village are another unique feature of the shoopping center.

Yes, that is a birdhouse on the flag pole.

Keeping with the aquatic theme, a waterfall leads to a stream with koi fish.

Some of the most charming elements of the village are the decor. Walkways are furnished with wooden gateways.

Wooden chairs rest in front of this fashion shop.

Various structures are scattered throughout the village.

Of course, the Mistik Village is a dog friendly area.

I met Theo and Rebel. Theo was happy to see me. Rebel, on the left, not so much.

I also made a friend at Old Mistik Village. Charley is a rescue dog from Hurricane Katrina. His dad told us how, after noticing Charley, he arrived at the dog shelter at 5 a.m. to make sure he could adopt him. Charley is a very special dog.

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4 Comments | tags: attractions, connecticut, decor, dogs, ducks, fish, flowers, mystic, New England, Photography, photos, plants, pond, shopping center, site seeing, stream, trees, waterfall | posted in animals, attractions, connecticut, dogs, ducks, fish, flowers, New England, shop, shopping, shops, travel, traveling

New England Nomad

Category Archives: travel

Nelson Memorial Park (Plymouth, MA)

Haunted Decorations (Salem, MA)

Waterfront Park (Woods Hole, MA)

Nobska Beach (Woods Hole, MA)

Scraggy Neck (Cataumet, MA)

Cape Cod Canal (Buzzards Bay, MA)

Olde Mystik Village (Mystic, CT)

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