Location: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth , MA (45 minutes south of Boston, MA, 1 hour west of Providence, RI)
Cost: (Memorial to Labor Day) Weekdays: $15
Weekends: $15
Bus (by reservation): $50 (check this fee with Town Hall above)
You can also purchase a sticker for the beach for a $50 annual fee
Free after Labor Day until Memorial Day
Parking: There is ample parking available (at least 100 spots)
Dog Friendly: Yes, in certain areas (signs are clearly marked in these areas)
Highlights: Rocky jetties, scenic views, ample parking, restaurant on premises, fishing, boating and other aquatic activities
Plymouth Long Beach, more commonly known as just Plymouth Beach, was another spot I happened upon unexpectedly. While trying to find the painted lobsters in Plymouth (blog post to follow soon), I pulled over into this parking lot to get my bearings. Since I was there, I figured I would check the place out and take some shots. I’m so glad I did!
There is a rocky jetti you can walk out to get some photos of the bay. Yes please.
The waves were pretty, well, wavey. But, otherwise it was a pitcure perfect beach day.
One of the great things about the beach is there is a deli and comfort stations as well.
On the other side of the beach is a stream that runs between the beach area and the residences of the neighborhood. There are also some bridges that connect the residents to the beach.
The birds aren’t very shy at the beach, probably because they are so well fed by the beach goers.
In fact, some of them lurk around, waiting for crumbs.
People also like to go fishing, mainly for stripers, at Plymouth Beach.
Plymouth Long Beach is beach friendly (but only in designated areas).
Proving that it is indeed a small world, I ran into Vivi, a dog I had photographed during my visit to Chestnut Hill Reservation. Vivi is still her playful self.
Daisy, a 4 year old Black Lab, and Cricket, a 2 year old Chocolate Lab, had fun playing in the water.
Below is a video of the waves and scenic views of Plymouth Beach
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Location: 1 Stonewall Lane York, Maine (1 and 15 hours north of Boston), (45 minutes north of Manchester, NH), (45 minutes south of Portland, Maine)
Hours: Open everyday, 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
Parking: There are many metered parking spots along the beach. They do fill up quickly on “ideal” beach days.
Beach Size: 1.5 miles
Dog Friendly: Yes, Long Sands Beach has the following dog rules: From April 1 to June 15, leashed dogs are allowed at any time of day; from June 16 to Sept. 15, dogs are only allowed before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Highlights: Scenic views, swimming, surfing and other aquatic activities
October is not usually the month that comes to mind when one thinks of beach weather. This is not the case at Long Sands Beach. The 1.5 mile long beach is a haven for sun seekers and water sport enthusiasts alike.
Maine is known for being hardy folks. You have to be when the weather can be so extreme. As my friend told me when she saw my photos, “They will surf in any weather.” I would add, the more active the water the better. When I drove by the beach an hour later, and the weather had intensified there were even more surfers and paddlers in the water than when I had first arrived to photograph the beach and off street parking was almost nonexistent.
As is often the case with our best experiences, I had not planned on visiting Long Sands. Rather, I happened upon it on my way to Nubble Lighthouse. When I saw the active water and the activity in the water, I had to pull over to see and photograph the beautiful beach.
The waves were very active and there were many surfers and paddlers in the water taking advantage of the waves. It was very cool seeing people with such athleticism and grace in the water.
I met these two friendly surfers on the beach.
Long Sands is a dog friendly beach (see the dog rules above). I met Ollie, a 1 and a half year old Hound mix at the beach.
Below is a video of the surfers and stand up paddlers at Long Sands Beach. As you can see, it was very windy and a little hard to control the camera.
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Location: 1 Colt Drive, Bristol, Rhode Island (about half an hour from Providence and 1 hour from Boston, MA) (401) 253-9062
Hours: presently open Tue-Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 15 – April 15 Open Weekends, 10 am to 4 pm
Open February 16 – 21, 2016 for February vacation
April 15 – December 15 Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Cost:
Weekdays
Adults: $5
Seniors: $3
Children (3–12): $3
Children under 3: Free
Weekends
Adults: $7
Seniors: $5
Children (3–12): $5
Children under 3: Free
You can also purchase a membership for unlimited visits, free access to special events and discounts at their gift shop. If you plan on going more than once or twice a year and especially if you go with your family, the membership is probably the best rate:
Individual membership: $25
Couples: $35
Family: $50
Parking: There is a space for about 4 or 5 cars across from Coggeshall Farm. You can also park at Colt State Park, which is adjacent to the farm but you may have to pay a fee to enter the park.
Size: 48 acres
Time To Allot For Visit: About An Hour
Dog Friendly: No (except for guide dogs)
Highlights: living museum, character actors, farm animals, historic style homes
You often find the most wonderful places in the most unexpected places. On an otherwise nondescript trail at Colt State Park used for cycling and running, lies a farm frozen in time.
Established in 1973, the Coggeshall Museum Farm features interpreters and authentic reenactments of farm life in the year 1799. Every last detail from the tools they use to the bedding (mostly hay) is authentic to the time it represents.
I loved the houses and workshops at Coggeshall. The homes and interiors were definitely the highlight of the trip for me. The rooms were modest and fairly bare (and I thought my room was small).
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Even the papers and bills in the houses are accurate to those days. They don’t accept them as legal tender though, in case you were wondering.
Coggeshall Farm Museum also has a variety of animals. When I came to visit there were 2 steer, 11 sheep and several chickens, turkeys and other fowl. I also got to see some newly hatched chicks.
When I asked how long they keep the animals there I was told they usually live 6 to 8 years and then they have a “retirement plan.” Yes, everything gets used at the farm.
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There were several character actors working during my visit. This gentleman was cutting wood to store (it’s never too early to get ready for long, chilly winter nights). When I asked how long it would take to cut all the wood he said, “util it is done”. Where has that work ethic gone?
The grounds are well kept and very pretty. They also have a large grazing area for the animals.
Then there was Moe – the resident cat and pest control manager. He was very friendly and playful as you can see. Believe it or not, the chipmunk he’s hunting and carrying so gently escaped only a little worse for the wear.
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Coggeshall Farm also lets the patrons partake in some tasks (such as cutting wood) as long as it is supervised and they have many events throughout the year such as Arts On The Farm and Farm Camp. Check their website for more details.
Location: 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 508-347-3362 (about 45 minutes east of Springfield, MA and an hour west of Boston, MA)
Hours: presently, open Daily | 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
November 1-27
Open Wednesday through Sunday | 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23
Christmas by Candlelight | 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Fri/Sat/Sun
Please Note: CLOSED during daytime hours
CLOSED December 24, 25
Cost: $28 for adult, $26 for seniors (55 and over), $14 for youths (3-17), children under 3 are admitted free. They also have annual long family memberships.
Parking: about 200 parking spots, fills up quickly. Cars were parked on the grass and other non designated parking spaces when we left because of the large crowd
Time To Allot For Visit: I could spend all day here but 3 hours should do it.
Dog Friendly: No
Highlights: historical actors and portrayal of life in the colonial area era, historical homes, animals, family friendly events, special events throughout the year, stagecoach rides
What better time than the fourth of July to take a trip back to the colonial days of our country where they relive those early days everyday?
Old Sturbridge Village is 200 acre living museum which recreates life in rural New Ebgland during the 1790’s through the 1830’s. It is the largest living museum in New England.
As you enter the grounds of Sturbridge Village you see flags that represent fallen servicemen and women.
From the moment you walk into the museum, there are symbols and characters from the past everywhere.
The day began appropriately with the flag raising. One of the historical actors selected two children from the crowd to help him raise the flag.
Throughout the day there were many more reenactments. There was the firing of the cannons, marching, drilling and even musket firing (with blanks of course).
Of course, the houses are one of the biggest attractions. The woman in this house was making stays. This house is called the “Small House.”
The Meetinghouse is another big attraction. For 100 years, Friends, also known as Quakers, worshiped in this building. This particular meetinghouse was originally set in Bolton, MA. As you can see by the photos, there was no pulpit, altar, statues or other decorative symbols. Men and women entered the meetinghouse separately in different entrances and sat on separate sides of the building. The Quakers are remembered for their temperance and anti slavery beliefs.
While the exterior of the houses were very pretty, the interior of the houses were even nicer. It also gave you a real feel of what it was like to live back then. The historical actors were both entertaining and engaging.
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The other great thing about the village was the animals. Meet Jim and Jerry (from left to right). Jim and Jerry are the horses who drive the carry all wagon.
There were also a variety of farm animals. This sheep was wandering around until he heard his mom calling out to him for feeding time and he came running.
The rest of the animals at the village were just as beautiful.
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The village also has little shops and buildings with craftsman and people common to the era like a blacksmith and a tin maker as well as a band call the Quintebrass who played patriotic music of that era.
You could spend all day visiting the many buildings and attractions at the village or just taking in the beautiful views and atmosphere of the area.
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Sturbridge Village even has toys from the era that kids (or adults) can play with.
The River Ride on the Quinebag takes you around the Quinebag River. The boat driver also gave a historical overview of the area. The ride costs $3 a person and lasts about 10-15 minutes.
On the way out, there was a nice surprise. We noticed a building set off to the side; the J. Cheney Wells Clock Gallery. The clock gallery was a quiet clock museum. It was fascinating seeing the evolution of time keeping and it felt like a library because it was quiet and set off by itself. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the historical museum area.
There is also a cafe there (most of their food is cooked outside barbecue style during the warmer seasons and the smell is sure to make you hungry). There are also several comfort stations scattered around the area.
Below are some videos of the various recreations at Sturbridge Village.
The first cannon firing below was just to get the debris out of the cannon and prep it for the actual cannon firing which is in the second cannon firing video below the first cannon firing video. The second video is a little long because the men wanted to wait until the stagecoach passed by so they didn’t startle the horse.
Location: 380 Corys Ln, Portsmouth, RI (about 15 minutes north of Newport, RI and 1 hour south of Boston, MA) (401) 683-1267
Hours: Open everyday 10-5 seasonally (May 21 – Oct. 10 this year but the dates may change each year)
Cost: $15.99 for adults, $6.99 for youth (ages 6-17). There are discounts available if you provide an AARP card (I’m not quite that oldyet) and if you have AAA and possibly if you’re in the military. Take note that the Green Gardens is considered part of the Newport Mansions and their prices are based on how many houses you visit. In this case, the price was based on a one house tour because there is only one mansion on the premises (the Brayton House)
Parking: Free parking for 24 vehicles
Dog Friendly: No (service dogs may be allowed)
Highlights: shrubs and bushes cut into shapes of animals and other shapes, pretty flowers and gardens, mansion (Brayton House)
If you think the grass is always greener on the other side, you’ve never been to the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Located adjacent to the Brayton house, the Green Animals display is the brainchild of gardener Joseph Carreiro. Carreiro began the topiary in 1905 and the 80 pieces of topiary have been in place at the garden ever since.
The topiary may be the main attraction. But the flowers and plants are also very pretty. In fact, as much as I loved the different shapes at the topiary, I found the flowers and the garden near the side of the topiary to be just as appealing.
The website states there are 80 different shapes sculpted into the greenery (although I don’t remember seeing that many). I have included the most interesting of these 80.
The Damask Rose Garden is featured at the entrance of the topiary.
The topiary has shapes of all kinds of animals. Like this giraffe.
with her/his baby giraffe (the black dot in this and some other photo is dirt on my sensor which I didn’t notice until after I got home unfortunately)
And this duck.
This is a growly bear (it is standing on its hind quarters)
Not all of the shapes are made in the image of creatures that are presently with us. This dinosaur was one of the scarier shapes in the garden.
This colorful shape is of a yew rooster
I don’t usually get this close to lions.
This swan peaked her head out among the other green animals.
This appears to be a bird
It was a little warm for a polar bear
Reindeers aren’t just in the North Pole.
There are even human shapes cut into the greenery. This human is riding a horse.
This police officer helped direct traffic around the green garden. I am not sure if he is affiliated with the Portsmouth department.
There’s even a mythical unicorn
This baby bear just wants a hug
There are even inanimate objects cut into the greenery. For instance, you can take a seat in this chair if you get tired (I am just kidding, you’re not allowed to climb and/or touch the greenery)
One of the few birds who actually sits still long enough for me to photograph him
I looked like this elephant was going to charge!
I don’t mean to boar you with this piece from the topiary.
The handout I received did not have a description for this shape. it appears to be a train.
This mommy and baby bear were sitting outside the Brayton mansion.
There is also a pet cemetery located at the topiary. Four pets of the owners are buried there. This section is very peaceful and decorative. The cemetery has a bench for sitting and reflecting and gravestones with the names of the deceased friends. It is very tranquil.
The flowers and garden are well kept and have some very vivid colors. I thought it was cute how they had “scarepeople” instead of scarecrows. I also liked the different chairs and wind vane and other decor around the grounds.
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There is also a fish pond with goldfish in it.
I also liked the Brayton House. They do not allow flash photography in the house (although you can take photos with your cellphone). I don’t like how photos look on my cellphone so I didn’t take any photos in the house but it is a must see on the tour.
Hours: Open 365 days a year, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A sign at the front gate of the parking area states cars still parked in the lot after 7 p.m. will be fined $25.
Costs: According to the website it is $5 for MA residents and $6 for non-MA residents. There is a parking payment station located at the front of the parking area. I have a parking pass which allows me to park in all state run parks so I do not know exactly how the parking stations work or how they charge each patron.
Parking: The parking lot is pretty big. It looks like there are easily 200 spaces. When we left, on a busy day at peak hours, there were still plenty of parking spots available, albeit far from the entrance to the trails. There is also an alternate parking area before the main parking area for people with special passes.
Highlights: mansion, 6 ponds, quarry, 20 miles of hiking trails, large field for frisbee golf and other activities. Fishing, canoeing and horseback riding are allowed. Leashed dogs are permitted. Easy to moderate trails, teeming with wildlife. Peaceful feeling, even when the park is packed.
*Please note, some of the slideshows take some time to load, unfortunately (especially on tablets and cellphones). You may have to refresh but they may take a few minutes to load*
Created during the early 1900’s by artist and suffragist Blanche Ames and her husband Oakes Ames, Borderland State Park has been a state park since it was purchased by the state in 1971. The Ames’ home, a three-story stone mansion built in 1910 still stands on the grounds.
The grounds of the mansion are manicured impeccably. They even take care of those pesky witches (or whatever that is on the lawn) .
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Bordering on the towns of Sharon and Easton in Southern MA, Borderland has a variety of trails for runners, walkers, cyclists and even horseback riders. The trails are easy to moderate and I saw many runners on the trail.
Located about 45 minutes south of Boston and half an hour north of Providence, Rhode Island, Borderland State Park is a popular destination for people from all sections of New England. It is easy to see why so many people flock to the park when you see the views.
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Sometimes it’s the little things that make the park so much fun. Whether it’s the frisbee golf course on the lawn in front of the mansion (I can only imagine what the Ames’s would have thought of that) or the benches that are liberally scattered throughout the park or the always full bowls of water thoughtfully left out for the thirsty dogs, the park really does think of everything.
here was also an abandoned building along one of the trails.
There are always pleasant surprises when you go to visit the different parks in New England. One of those surprises was a mother bird feeding her babies in the nest on the beams of the roof of the abandoned building pictured above. I did my best to seem as unobtrusive and I used my telephoto lens from a distance while I took these photos. I love how the mother looks so protective and is surveying the area for potential threats.
Then, as I was taking photos of the pond, I saw these little critters. Look at how the frogs almost perfectly camouflage themselves. It’s almost the perfect disguise. Man, I love nature!
Ok, the snake isn’t so “little.” But, I wasn’t about to get closer to see just how big he was.
And the animals didn’t stop there.
There were dogs a plenty also at Borderland State Park.
Beef is a 6 year old American Bullweiler (American Bulldog and Rottweiler mix). He was being trained by his dad. I thought the last photo showed just how much affection he has for his guardian.
Mason, a chocolate Labrador, took advantage of the warm weather to go for a swim.
Romeo, an English Chocolate Labrador, celebrated his 10 month birthday at the park!
Balto, a 7 month German Shepherd, wants attentively for the rest of the family to show up.
Thank you for stopping by and reading and please consider connecting with me on Facebook and check out my future trips around New England: 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.
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.
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….
After spending the morning at the Cape Cod Canal, it was time for the next stop on my day trip. The next leg of my Cape weekend tour was spent at the hidden jewel of Bourne; Amrita Island.
To view the blog about the first leg of my Cape Cod trip check out my blog about the Cape Cod Canal.
An island in the town of Bourne, Amrita Island is one of the lesser known islands of Cape Cod. The reason many people may not know about this island is because it looks like any other side street in the area. The only indication there may be an island there is an inconspicuous sign you could easily miss unless you were looking for it.
Amrita Island is connected to Cataumet (the village within Bourne where Amrita Island is located) by an ornate, albeit short, stone bridge.
There are spectacular views from the bridge.
But, to get the best views, you have to get off the bridge and walk around the surrounding area
There is also an abundance of plant life and pretty trees.
There is also a variety of wildlife on Amrita Island. Fish, ducks and birds are abundant onthe island. The fish were swarming in a circle for some reason.
I also met Hadley, a resident of the island.
I will be posting the next installment of my Cape Cod trip later this weekend. Stay tuned!