A resource for independent travelers
In the summertime, there is more than one reason to put L.L. Bean on your list of “Stuff To Do While Visiting Maine.” In the summertime, the park outside the flagship store in Freeport, Maine, becomes a hot spot for live entertainment. Summer in the Park starts in May with a Community Market which includes [...]
What I love is when a recommended restaurant lives up to the recommendation. I’ve been hearing about P.F. Chang’s China Bistro for a while now…in t.v. shows, from friends, from family. The nearest location to home is well over two hours away. So, on a recent trip to Phoenix, I was happy to finally have [...]
On a hot summer day, when the beach is two hours or so away, Lower Falls, a stop on the Kancamagus Highway in White Mountains National Forest and about 8 miles from Conway, NH, is a perfect destination. Lower Falls is an extremely popular swimming place where kids of all ages can jump or slide [...]
As a rule, I don’t tout chain restaurants. There’s too much room for inconsistency from store to store. I believe I’ve found an exception. I recently had the opportunity to dine at Texas Roadhouse in two different states. The quality was consistent. It was fun…unlimited peanuts in the shell and an invite to drop those [...]
L.L. Bean offers a pair of pants that I feel is perfect for traveling. They are called ‘Perfect Fit Pants’, and there is a style to fit most women’s shapes as they are available in misses’ and women’s sizes. They come in traditional pants, cropped, straight leg, boot cut, and slim. What makes them perfect [...]
Whenever a group of more than two people is traveling together, the potential for missteps increase exponentially. You all should know the ‘rules’ of where you’re going and follow them. I went to Italy in 2000 in a group of 6 to see family we’d never met. The sons of the family worked for Roman [...]
I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, next to a town park right on Lake Erie. On a recent visit home, my sister and I took several walks through this park, as one of its entrances is only a couple hundred feet from our mother’s front door. With the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, [...]
Recently, my sister and I went to Florida to celebrate her birthday. We have a 92-year-old uncle who lives there, and any trip to Florida includes a visit to Uncle Frank. Similarly, any visit with Uncle Frank includes a meal out. This time was no different. I did not know there was a robust Amish [...]
I went to Italy in 2000, a great year to be in Rome. The Sistine Chapel had just been restored; much of the sculpture in public had been given a facelift; the city was alive. So, What made the biggest impression on me? Besides the Sistine Chapel, that is… The Colosseum. The movie Gladiator was [...]
The city of Boston has no shortage of sights to see. While you’re planning which to include on your visit, consider the New England Aquarium. In addition to a stellar sea life display, including a four-story coral reef tank, the Aquarium offers an IMAX theatre, whale watches, a penguin presentation, classes and special programs. There [...]
I grew up in the northeast corner of Ohio, and Sunday drives were part and parcel of that growing up. Several times a year, we’d end up in Amish country. Our sole purpose was to pick up fudge made with goat’s milk, a remarkable treat if you’ve never had it. Anyway, I’ve never forgotten the [...]
West of Naples on Route 302 in Bridgton lies a goldmine of entertainment. Grant Auctions in the Rivard Auctions building offers several auctions a month for the savvy shopper or the casual browser. The second and fourth Tuesdays of every month are dedicated to so-called Tailgate Auctions. Items for auction are provided both by the [...]
Located near Lake Champlain, the Shelburne Museum houses a pretty spectular collection of Americana. Included is the steamship Ticonderoga, pictured above, which, in an amazing feat of engineering, was moved overland the two miles from Lake Champlain. There is also a lighthouse from Lake Champlain that was disassembled and moved to the museum and a [...]
The Shakers are a people whose number may not yet be many, but whose cultural impact is still strong. In New Gloucester, Maine, is the only remaining active and functioning Shaker community IN THE WORLD. Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is an anachronism in the 21st century and a tribute to a more simple, traditional life. [...]
The Kancamagus Highway is a 26.5 mile scenic drive that runs through the White Mountain National Forest from Conway to Lincoln, New Hampshire. This drive is beautiful year-round, and is a particular draw during foliage season. In the summer, there are places to swim in the Swift River with natural water slides and pools. There [...]
There is enough budget wise stuff to do in and around here to fill a day. Boutique window shopping, street performers, amazing food (or pack a lunch), and room for kids to leap and hop are just some of the attractions. Planning a trip to include Quincy Market (Faneuil Hall Marketplace)? Make it on a [...]
There is no one who comes to visit Maine for a week, a weekend or a summer that doesn’t aspire to see, at least, a moose. The intrepid wildlife seeker can find an alternative to driving the highways and byways in the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, Maine. Open from April to Veteran’s Day, the [...]
This is a gem of a museum. It is the oldest art museum in Maine and is home to over 17,000 objects d’art. Found on the corner of High and Free Streets, and visible from Congress St., the PMA is conveniently located for access on a walking tour of Portland. In addition to rotating special [...]
When it comes to traveling to Boston from Maine or New Hampshire, one option stands head and shoulders above the others, in my humble opinion. That option is the highway coaches run by Concord Coach Lines. Concord’s routes all end at either South Station or Logan Airport. The price is reasonable — $25.00 same-day round [...]
The old-fashioned charm of a roomy, plush home town movie theatre with hundreds of seats is the stuff of nostalgia for a lot of people. Those theatres often have been restored and used for different purposes or have been replaced with sterile, non-descript multiplexes that are synonymous with cinema to at least one or two [...]
This view was photographed from a castle wall near Bolzano, Italy. There are many castles in the area, as well as wineries, farm stays, ecological experiences and cultural performances. The area is also a popular destination for ski holidays in the winter.
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This Andean woman takes a break from selling her wares to socialize with tourists in Peru's Sacred Valley.
The ancient Nabatean city of Petra, Jordan provides a peek into ancient civilization and also into the local Bedouin culture, which values the social experience of drinking tea highly.
This stand of palm trees against a blue sky is located in Florida's Longboat Key, one of the islands of Sarasota. It's a popular getaway with tourists and Florida residents alike, when one wants a taste of forgotten Florida.
Exploring the world-famous archeological site of Machu Picchu takes some time. In order to make the most of your visit, it's best to arrive at Aguas Calientes an afternoon ahead of schedule and head up the mountain first thing the next morning.
This command module is part of the Saturn V rocket display at the Kennedy Space Center, which is a must-see exhibit if you only have one day at the KSC. The entire venue is right down the road from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, another fun family attraction on Florida's space coast.
This abandoned mosque in Israel lies along the shores of Lake Tiberius, otherwise known as the sea of Galilea. The view of the ancient stones and overgrown plants struck me as sort of an Indiana Jones image with a bit of Middle Eastern flair.
This resort cottage photograph was taken at the thermal hot springs resort of Papallacta, located in the mountains of Ecuador. The mist rising off of the thermal pools brings a bit of a mystical quality to the image.
