Brewster offers great Bay beaches, ponds, Nickerson State Park, the Cape Cod Rail Trail, wonderful restaurants, shopping and family friendly activities. Spend some time visiting Brewster. Brought to you by WeNeedaVacation.com.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Best Places to See on Cape Cod
There are plenty of places to see on Cape Cod, but where are the best places to see on Cape Cod? If you like driving, you're in luck, because the best sightseeing on Cape Cod is spread out through all of the towns, not just in any one town. Listed here are some great things to see on Cape Cod, including towns like Falmouth, Provincetown, and Chatham.
Scargo Tower, Dennis
This stone tower gives a great panoramic view of the mid Cape region. Climb to the top and see the towns of Yarmouth, Dennis, and Cape Cod Bay to the north. The walk to the tower itself is also a lot of fun. You can find Scargo Hill Observation Tower on Scargo Hill Road in East Dennis, which is right off of Route 6A.
The Sand Dunes at Provincetown
Provincetown has some of the best sites on the entire Cape (figures, it's the furthest away from the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges!). The town has beautiful hilly sand dunes that pile up all over town. Travel down Route 6, then take Commercial Street through the center of town. At the end of Commercial Street, you'll find more sand dunes straight in front of you on Province Lands Road. Take this road to Race Point Road to view the giant dunes at Race Point Beach, then head back south towards Truro.
The Lighthouses of Cape Cod
There are plenty of lighthouses on Cape Cod to visit. Like the rest of the scenic spots on the Cape, they're all spread out. There are 3 in Provincetown, 1 in Truro, 1 in Eastham, 3 small deactivated lighthouses also in Eastham (the Three Sisters of Nauset), 2 in Chatham (3 if you include Monomoy Island), 1 in Dennis, 1 in Sandy Neck, Barnstable, 1 in Falmouth, and 1 in Bourne. The majority of these lighthouses are located between Chatham and Provincetown. Some of the more popular ones to visit are Highland Light, or Cape Cod Light (Truro), Chatham Light (Chatham), and Nauset Light (Eastham).
Scenic Route 6A
Route 6 and Route 6A are two highways that are vastly different. Route 6 is the main highway that connects towns from Bourne to Provincetown. Route 6 also crosses the Sagamore Bridge, and heads west towards Providence (and eventually much further west). Route 6A, however, is the Old King's Highway. It is the old road on Cape Cod that has been used for centuries, and is now paved as Route 6A. This road today still has some of what made it such an attraction long ago, with beautiful trees arching over the road, providing a partial canopy. Route 6A also has many furniture galleries, art galleries, local restaurants (no chains here), and antique shops to browse and shop. Route 6A begins in Bourne, and ends at Orleans. Without stopping on a non-traffic day, expect this trip to take approximately 1 hour. However, you're going to want to take much longer than that to see all that this road has to offer. To the north of 6A, you can find some of the quietest beaches on Cape Cod in towns like Brewster and Yarmouth Port.
Sandy Neck Beach
Located in the town of Barnstable, Sandy Neck is true essence of what makes the Cape so unique. There are 6 miles of sandy beaches and dunes that jut out into Cape Cod Bay on this peninsula. To get to Sandy Neck Beach, take Route 6A to Sandy Neck Beach Road, on the Sandwich-West Barnstable town line. The area also has hundreds of acres of pristine salt marsh, called Great Salt Marsh, with endless opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Pleasant Bay, Chatham
Pleasant Bay is located off of Route 28 in the towns of Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans. These three towns share the amazing view to the east of Strong Island Marsh and Pleasant Bay. Here, boats calmy sail about the protected cove area, while the view has spectacular sunrises and sunsets. There are pullover spots so that you can get out and enjoy this area, but be careful of the busy Route 28 traffic.
Monument Beach
This small beach in the town of Bourne is located on the west side of town, near Pocasset. It offers extraordinary views of the Wings Cove, Mashnee Island, Onset, Marion, and the Elizabeth Islands to the southwest. You can find this beach by taking Shore Road from the Bourne Bridge Rotary, and following it until you reach Monument Beach. Shore Road itself is a beautiful drive that would make a great cruise.
Cape Cod Canal
Last, but not least, is the Cape Cod Canal. A lot of people bypass this man-made engineering marvel to head to inner cape destinations, but they're missing something. Did you know that the canal has over 14 miles of bike paths, and some of the best fishing on the entire Cape? Just because it's the first part of the Cape doesn't mean it's not worth visiting. If you head to Onset in Wareham, you can also take a Cape Cod Canal cruise to enjoy gazing at the boat traffic on the canal. They also have summer sunset cruises that pass underneath the bridges.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Save Gas This Summer - "Staycation" in Boston!
Gas has gotten more and more expensive over this past year. I'm sure that we can all remember, even 6 months ago, our horror at the possibility of a gallon of gas hitting .00. As prices stand today, the average is currently .00 here on the East Coast and there is no end in sight. For those of us who love taking summer vacations with our friends, family, and loved ones, this is a depressing thought. It's impacting not only the price of filling up our own personal gas tanks, but also the price of airfare, cruises, and all other forms of transportation to get us out of town on our vacations.
However, there is no need to worry! Here in Boston, we live in a world-class city, and in all of our travels around the country and world, we have really taken that fact for granted. Mayor Menino himself feels our pain and has created a campaign called "Visit the Pin" and he has chosen 10 attractions around the city at which to place giant, 12-foot, red "push pins". The pins have been created to grab our attention and alert us to all the wonderful attractions that Boston has to offer. However, while the places he has chosen are pretty great, they are also very touristy and if you have lived here for a while, you have probably already been to them - maybe even several times.
I have created a list of some of the great, under appreciated spots in Boston that you should visit for the first time, or visit again! I've organized them into 10 can't-miss "day" trips. This list is chock-full of ideas. You may find that each "day" trip contains more than you would be able to accomplish in one day, so you might have to choose the attraction(s) that appeal most to you. Be sure to visit the websites for each of the suggestions for more information. I have tried to choose cost-effective suggestions so that your week off won't break the bank. All you need is your T pass (and not an ounce of gasoline) for a wonderful "Staycation" week in Boston!
1. Day Trip #1: Fine Arts and Culture
If you live here, you have probably spent time at the Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall at some point, but there are MANY other ways to explore arts and culture in Boston. Stop by two or three of these lesser known spots for a very enriching day! I would suggest an art museum or two in the morning and afternoon and a performance in the evening. You could even head over to the waterfront to have lunch at the Channel Cafe (food and drink/art gallery). Be sure to click below and visit the various websites ahead of time for hours, special show and exhibit info.
* Take in some art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
* Visit the new Institute of Contemporary Art now on the waterfront
* Get tickets to a show at or take a tour of the newly restored Boston Opera House
* See a show at Emerson College's Cutler Majestic Theater...
* ... or at Harvard's American Repertory Theater
* ... or at Boston University's Huntington Theater
* ... or at the exciting Boston Center for the Arts
* Watch some Shakespeare on the Common presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
* Catch some amazing music at the Berkelee Berformance Center
* Support music of the 20th century through the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
2. Day Trip #2: Sports Appreciation
It seems that Boston is the center of the sports universe at the moment - the Red Sox moved into the All-Star break in first place after winning two World Championships in the past 4 years. The Patriots had an undefeated regular season this year after winning the Super Bowl in '01, '03, and '04. This year, the Celtics won the NBA Finals in dramatic fashion. Even the Bruins and the Revolution made great showings in the playoffs. When thinking about what to see in Boston, sports appreciation is at the top of the list! While watching a major sports game might be out of your price range, there are countless ways to appreciate sports in this city. Check out a few of these options:
* Take a tour of historic Fenway Park and check out the famous Citgo Sign
* Run the Boston Marathon (or at least up Heartbreak Hill!)
* Visit the Sports Museum (in the TD Banknorth Garden)
* Attend a game at BC, BU or Northeastern (some are easier to get tickets to than others!)
* Visit the site at Northeastern that was once Huntington Avenue Grounds (original Red Sox home)
* Stop by the historic Boston Braves Field (Now BU's Nickerson Field)
* Catch a horse race at Suffolk Downs
* Visit Harvard Stadium
* Watch a Boston Lobsters Tennis Match
* Visit the Science Museum's current Exhibit: "Baseball as America"
I would suggest lunch/dinner at the Sports Depot, Game On, The Fours, or Boston Beer Works for the full Boston sports experience!
3. Day Trip #3: City of Learning
Above all else, when people think about Boston, they think of the rich academic culture that our city embodies. Boston has more colleges per square mile than any other city in the world. Naturally, we are a city that is overflowing with learning opportunities. Why not spend some time appreciating those opportunities? Here are some wonderful ways you can spend the day learning in Boston. Break for lunch at Novel, the Boston Public Library restaurant!
* Visit the historic and beautiful Boston Public Library
* Stop by the Boston Anthenaeum
* Take a free walking tour of Harvard University or MIT
* Spend an afternoon in one of many used book stores in Boston or Cambridge
* Take a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education
* Learn about how beer is made! Take a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery
* Visit the Mary Baker Eddy Library and it's famous Mappariam
After your intense day of learning, you'll need to kick back - stop by the Thirsty Scholar Pub for some dinner and a drink and give your brain a break!
4. Day Trip #4: History
It can easily be argued that there is really no city in the United States that is more historically significant than Boston. The city wears this identity well while still looking toward the future, mixing centuries-old beautiful buildings with modern towering skyscrapers. If you work downtown, unless you walk slowly and read the signs you pass each day (and who does that around here?) you may not realize the significance of the buildings around you. I'm sure that if you grew up around here, you have walked the Freedom Trail once or twice, but there may be more obscure historical landmarks that you have never even noticed! Take a day to walk around a little more slowly, visit some of these interesting landmarks, and look up once in a while! While you are at it, stop by Boston's oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House, for dinner.
* Learn about the lives of a well-to-do family in historic Boston at the Gibson House Museum
* Visit the headquarters of Historic New England at the Otis House Museum
* Pay your respects to our forefathers and foremothers at Granary Burying Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground
* Visit the Museum of African American History and take the Black Heritage Trail
* Talk a walk along the Boston Women's Heritage Trail
* Tour the historically and architecturally significant Trinity Church
5. Day Trip #5: Island Hopping
If you are anything like me, you have never taken full advantage of the fact that we have an amazing National Park right off the coast of Boston. The park is comprised of 34 small islands (11 of which are open to the public) just minutes away by boat. The islands vary as far as what you can do on each of them, so use this list as a guide to get you started. The National Park Service recommends picking no more than two islands to visit in one day, so take a look and choose one or two that look interesting to you. Concession stands are available at Georges and Spectacle Islands, but why not bring a picnic lunch for your visit to the islands! It's a perfect excuse for a picnic!
* Camp overnight on Grape, Bumpkin or Lovells Island - Permits are required
* Visit Lovells Island for the day for trails that pass by dunes and woods, picnic areas, an unsupervised swimming beach, and the remains of Fort Standish
* Visit and explore Deer Island and learn about its fascinating history
* Visit popular Georges Island, the transportation hub for the system of islands, its open fields, paved walkways and gravel beach - be sure to tour historic Fort Warren while you are there
* Check out Little Brewster, home of Boston Light, the country's oldest continuously running light house
* Experience a wide range of natural beauty and check out historic Fort Andrews at Peddocks Island
* Visit Spectacle Island, which features a marina, visitor center, cafe, a life-guarded swimming beach, and five miles of walking trails that lead to the crest of a 157 foot-high hill, offering panoramic views of the harbor and the city
* Take a tour and enjoy nature at Thompson Island, which is a particularly good choice if you have a large group (like a company or school)
* Picnic, fish and enjoy walking trails at Webb Memorial State Park
* Enjoy Hingham Bay, rocky beaches, ledges, cliffs, patches of salt marsh and an area of freshwater marsh at Worlds End Reservation
6. Day Trip #6: Beach Bum
If the only great vacation you can imagine is one in which you are lying on a beach for at least a day, there are many great options for you around here! You might assume that you have to drive down to the Cape or up to the North Shore for great beach experiences, and if so, you will be pleasantly surprised by the following recommendations. There are several great options easily reachable in or very near the city by subway or bus. A day at the beach requires beach food, in my opinion, and so I suggest a stop at Sullivan's at Castle Island or Kelly's Roast Beef in Revere. I've also suggested a few options that are outside the city, but easily accessible from the commuter rail, if you really want to get out of the city for the day.
* Take the Blue Line to America's First Public Beach, Revere Beach
* Throw on your swim suit and take advantage of The Boston Harborwalk
* Take the Red Line to JFK and visit Carson Beach, L & M Street Beaches, Pleasure Bay and Castle Island, which are all connected
* Take the Commuter Rail north to Ipswich Station, then board the Ipswich-Essex Explorer Shuttle to Crane Beach
* Take the Commuter Rail north to Manchester-by-the-Sea and walk a short way to Singing Beach
* Take the Amtrak Downeaster to Old Orchard Beach in Maine
7. Day Trip #7: Appreciation of Unusual Things
If you are someone who enjoys exploring the unique and unusual aspects of a vacation destination, you have plenty of options to appreciate the quirky - right here in Boston! As you are exploring a few of the following unusual spots in Boston, a couple of well loved, but certainly unique, Boston restaurants worth your time during this day would be Fire & Ice Improvisational Grill for a fun, interactive experience and the Beehive, for some great food, atmosphere and live jazz.
* Visit America's oldest car collection at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum
* Learn history from a unusual perspective on New England Ghost Tour!
* Experience Boston's most interactive entertainment at Tomb by 5Witz
* Appreciate some art that's too bad to be ignored! Visit the Museum of Bad Art
* Explore invention, ideas and innovation (including holograms!) at the MIT Museum
* Visit the Harvard Bridge and count how many Smoots long it is!
* Take a Duck Tour (come on... you know you want to!)
* Visit the spots where your favorite movies were filmed on one of the Boston Movie Tours
* Discover the secrets of Boston through an Urban Interactive sight-seeing adventure
* Find out what is so special about the Scarlett O'Hara House
8. Day Trip #8: Nature
If you are stuck in Boston, but prefer a more serene, natural vacation, there are many options for you, even within the city limits! There are many opportunities in the city that will allow you to spend time appreciating the nature around you. I recommend exploring some of the following recommendations. If you want a fully natural day, take a break and visit Grezzo Restaurant for lunch, Boston's 100% organic, raw food restaurant.
* Take a ride on the Swan Boats while visiting the Boston Public Garden
* Hang out with the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo in the heart of Franklin Park
* Visit Arnold Arboretum, the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants
* Spend some time at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (especially great if your "nature" themed day turns out to be a rainy one!)
* Go for a peaceful and quiet run in the Fens nature trails
* Visit the Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
* Find a Boston area State Park near you for everything from hiking to mountain biking
* See "Day Trip #5" (Above) for info about the Boston Harbor Islands - spend a while at one!
9. Day Trip #9: On the Water
We are so lucky to be living right on the water here in Boston. As I mentioned above, this opens up many possibilities as far as enjoying wonderful beach days, as well as visiting the Boston Harbor Islands right off the coast. However, a huge benefit to having so much water nearby is the opportunity to get out on it for the day. Whether you are an accomplished sailor or have never stepped food in a boat, there are options here for you. Read through this list and choose an adventure or two just for you! During the day or evening, if you are hungry, stop by Tia's On the Waterfront for a bite, a drink and a chance to enjoy the view of the water!
* Contact Community Boating, Inc. to find out how you can learn to sail - Use your vacation day to get started on the Charles River
* For a relatively inexpensive chance to spend time in a boat on the water, take an Inner Harbor Ferry or Commuter Boat or the Rowes Wharf Water Taxi
* Take a sunset or sightseeing cruise through the Charles Riverboat Company
* Take a Boston Light Tour and experience first-hand the oldest lighthouse site in the U.S.
* Join in on a sail aboard the 125' Schooner Liberty Clipper
* If you can't bear to actually get out on the water, you can enjoy WBZ's Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell - enjoy the breeze of the Charles from safely ashore, and watch a movie under the stars!
10. Day Trip #10: Festivals
Summer in Boston always reminds me of all the neighborhood parties and celebrations in the city. Every weekend throughout the summer, there is at least one festival somewhere in the city that is an excuse to enjoy Boston and its cultural diversity. A day at any of these festivals would be worth building into your "staycation" week schedule. I don't need to recommend a restaurant for you, since the mark of a great festival is the amazing food it serves. Enjoy!
* Choose a weekend this summer and stop by the North End for the North End Festivals of Saints
* Stop by Government Center on August 2 from 4:00-8:00 for the Peace Hip Hop Festival
* Spend August 17 in Chinatown for the August Moon Festival
* Head to Dorchester on August 23rd for the Caribbean Carnival Parade & Festival
* Show off and add to your ink from September 12-14 at the Boston Tatoo Convention
* Settle in from September 12-18 for the Boston Film Festival
I hope that you enjoy all my suggestions and that they inspire you to rediscover our great city in these times of high gas prices! These are also great suggestions for you if you are visiting Boston from out of town. If you are stuck in another city, and these suggestions sound fun to you, look for similar ideas near your home. I bet you will be surprised by what you will find!
Please respond and let me know what you love to do when you are spending time in Boston - I am very interested to hear!
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Sunday, November 6, 2011
Guide to Haunted Lighthouses - Massachusetts
Massachusetts, well known for Plymouth Rock, where the first pilgrims landed, and the Salem witch trials, is also home to five of America's most haunted lighthouses.
The Haunted Bell
Baker's Island Light
Baker's Island Light, just six miles off the coast of Salem, home of the infamous witch trials, is reputedly haunted by a phantom foghorn bell.
This mechanized bell sounded a warning to sailors of impending danger, and rang just once, before being struck by lightning that destroyed it. The lighthouse keeper had to go out in the storm and manually strike a hammer against the bell at precise intervals to keep mariners safe. The bell was replaced, but the new bell repeatedly failed and the frustrated keeper left his post.
Seventeen years later while visiting the lighthouse by steamer, the keeper and his fellow passengers heard the bell. After dropping a few passengers off at a nearby harbor, a waterspout suddenly rose from the sea, capsizing the boat and drowning all but a few passengers. The former keeper, who survived, believed the bell was sounding a warning.
According to legend, this bell, also destroyed by lightning, can be heard sounding the alarm even when there is no apparent danger.
The Ghost Walk
Boston Harbor Light
Boston Harbor Light on Little Brewster Island was the first lighthouse built in the pre-revolutionary war colonies. The original structure, cone shaped and first lit by candles, and later oil lamps, was destroyed by the British Army garrisoned in Boston, after colonial militiamen twice attacked it.
When the war was over, a new tower was erected, that stood 75 feet above the sea, and prevailed against hurricanes, gale force winds and high seas for more than 200 years. A new Fresnel lens was installed in 1859, making Boston light visible for sixteen miles.
Little Brewster had its share of shipwrecks, though not as many as other lighthouses. Sailors still speak of a "ghost walk" several miles from the island, where the lighthouse signal cannot be heard. New Englanders and others believe this area is haunted.
The Pirate Keeper
Bird Island Lighthouse
The first keeper of Bird Island Lighthouse was alleged pirate, William Moore. Moore, who fought against the English in the War of 1812, owed the government enough money to justify their banishing him to the lonely life of a lighthouse keeper.
He was assigned to Bird Island Light in 1819, taking his wife who apparently married him when he was financially prosperous. Mrs. Moore, suffering from tuberculosis and addicted to tobacco, was forbidden to leave the island, as her husband feared that once gone, she would never return.
The dampness of the lighthouse aggravated her condition, and her desperation for tobacco so distressed her that people on the mainland could hear her cries. The local doctor implored Moore to allow her tobacco, but he staunchly refused. The townspeople, disturbed by her wailing took pity on her and smuggled tobacco to her, despite fearing her husband.
When she finally died, Moore raised the distress flag, and a minister went to the island, performed the funeral rites and laid her to rest. The angry townspeople blamed Moore for her death, and he in turn blamed them for not respecting his wishes. Rumors flew that Moore murdered her and covered up the true cause of her death.
According to legend, several of Moore's successors reported seeing an old woman's ghost, hunched over, knocking at the door late at night.
The Long Goodbye
Gurnet (Plymouth) Light
Gurnet, or Plymouth Light, America's oldest wooden lighthouse dating back to the Revolutionary War, is also one of its most haunted.
Today, the Coast Guard operates Plymouth Light, yet many believe the spirit of a former keeper's wife haunts its rooms, waiting for her husband's return.
Hannah stayed behind to tend the light while her husband went off to fight for America's Independence from Great Britain. Her neighbors noticed her standing vigil at her window each evening, waiting for her husband, who unfortunately was killed in action.
Some say Hannah still keeps her faithful vigil, briefly appearing at the window, and then quickly vanishing from sight.
Warning Cries-Nightly Shadows
Minot's Ledge Light
Minot's Ledge Light is no more than a tower that sits on a reef jutting out to sea off the coast of Scituate. The first tower lasted less than a year before an angry sea claimed it.
Isaac Dunham, the first keeper at Minot's Ledge urgently warned his superiors about the lighthouse's instability to no avail, and he retired after fourteen frustrating months.
One day, Dunham's successor, John Bennett flew a flag from the lighthouse indicating he needed a ride to shore. He left his two assistants, Joe Wilson and Joe Antoine in charge, when suddenly a savage nor' easter packing one hundred mile an hour winds attacked them. Bennett watched helplessly from shore as the storm destroyed the lighthouse, killing his two assistants.
Several fishermen reported seeing Antoine swinging from a ladder, yelling, and "Stay away!" in his native Portuguese. Subsequent keepers reported seeing shadows in the lantern room, hearing ghostly whispers at night, and hearing or feeling soft taps upon their shoulders. The two Joes used these taps to signal the end of a shift. One keeper, hearing the taps committed suicide, and another went insane and was taken to shore in a straight jacket.
Then there are the windows...It generally takes an entire day to clean windows soiled by overhead seagulls, yet each new keeper's assistant reported the windows sparkling clean before ever reaching them.
Are these stories truth or legend? Visit one and find out.
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Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
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