Sleepless in Sturbridge

Let's take a trip to the state's capital - Boston, MA.  We've spent many great days and nights in the big city.  Some of our most memorable moments have been catching a whale watching tour from Boston Harbor, staying overnight for a bachlorette party and spending a day at the Museum of Science.  There are so many things to do and places to see in Boston.  I'd still like to take a Boston Duck Tour and enjoy a romantic dinner cruise.  If you'd rather travel the city by foot, check out the Freedom Trail or experience one of their guided tours.  Grab a bite to eat at Cheers or one of my favorites, Legal Seafoods.  Your trip wouldn't be complete without seeing our beloved Boston Redsox play or catching a Boston Celtics game.  Bostonis a city by the sea, full of history and charm.  It's a must see if you're in the Central Mass area, plan your visit today! 

Since living here in New England, we have taken many trips to Newport, Rhode Island.  Known as the city-by-the-sea, Newport is full of shopping and activities.  Historic downtown Newport is filled with cobblestone walkways lined with shops offering eveything imaginable to the shopper.  There are beautiful spots to see the ocean crashing along the rocks and magnificent mansions you can tour.  Pack a picnic or eat at one of the many oceanfront restaurants.  Newport offers a glimpse of the past with it's museums, miles of coastline, scenic walking trails and historic architecture.  You can enjoy wine tasting at one of the three local vineyards.  Newport is your typical quaint New England town full of charm.  There is no shortage of places to stay, come experience one of the many Bed and Breakfast Inns or fine hotels.  Come and check it out for yourself!

When I was about 8 1/2 months pregnant with our 1st son, James Jr., James and I took a little day trip to Block Island.  We caught a ferry over from the Block Island Ferry company and had planned on renting mopeds for the day to cruise around the island.  Once we arrived, the rental company would not rent mopeds to a woman as pregnant as myself, but they gave us a great deal on a Ford Mustang Convertible.  We cruised around with the top down and the heat blasting in the month of May.  We ate lunch at Sharky's and I must say, I had the best Rhode Island calamari of my life!  The food was delicious and the staff was great.  We drove around the entire island and checked out all of the mansions and beaches.  If you live in Central Mass, take a trip to Block Island in Rhode Island, it's well worth the trip! 

For one of James' birthday trips James and I decided to head to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania.  We stayed at the Pocono Palace Resort in a fun (but cheesy) champagne jacuzzi tub suite with our own indoor pool and sauna.  We sipped champagne while watching the NBA playoffs in our room.  We only stayed out there one day and night, but there are many things to do in the area.  It's a year-round vacation destination with skiing, casinos, swimming, boating, fishing and plenty of hiking.  You can also enjoy world class golf out in the Poconos.  It's a great place to visit and only about a 4-5 hour drive from Central Mass.

James, James Jr. and I took a trip to Niagara Falls to visit some of our old friends from North Carolina that were staying in Buffalo, NY.  I was about 8 months pregnant with William and we were taking a risk since Niagara was about 6 hours away from home and my doctors!  We spent a few days out at the falls and it is by far one of my favorite places to visit.  I can remember when we first got there (and it was my first time, but not James') I looked at the falls from the United States side and thought "wow, I don't see why this place is so popular and talked up!".  The next day we went over to the Canadian side and what a difference!  It's absolutely beautiful.  And do you know what else I saw out there?  A black squirrel!  I never knew they existed, it was so cool!  There are many ways to enjoy the falls whether you take a helicopter tour, an exciting Jet Boat tour, a casual tour on the infamous Maid of the Mist, a Whirlpool Aero Car tour or a thrilling Niagara SkyWheel ride, you will be in awe of the breathtaking Niagara Falls. 

A few years ago it was pouring like crazy on Mother's day.  I love the sunshine.  James packed up the kids and decided that we were going to drive and drive until we found some sunshine to enjoy!  We headed up the coast and into Maine.  Not sure where we were going, we ended up in Acadia and Bar Harbor, Maine.  There wasn't much daylight left, but the rain was gone and the kids were hungry so we rented a small cabin on the water and got some pizza at Pizza Hut.  We visited Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain and of course the Atlantic Ocean.  We loved it so much, we planned a second trip with James' family and rented a house out there for a week.  We took the cat ferryfrom Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia for a day and had a great time.  There is plenty of shops, restaurants and things to do in this lovely part of Maine.  If you like nature, you'll love all of the things there are to do outdoors - hiking, boating, fishing, swimming & more!  Acadia is definitely one of the best places to visit in the Northeast and a great reason to be close by in Central Mass. 

New York City!  What else do I have to say?  Bright lights, big buildings and billions of things to see and do.  When we first moved to Massachusetts, James and I decided one night to drive to New York city and back.  We were gone all night long...took a few hours to get out there, drive around for about an hour and then drive back.  It was crazy!  We planned a better trip a few years later where we could relax and actually see the city.  We stayed out on Long Island by the ocean and drove into the city for dinner.  I had never had fondue so I found a place that had some fondue on the menu called Swizz Manhattan located in the Time Square theatre district.  We walked around Time Square and the city in awe of it's size and glamour.  There were people rushing around everywhere, buses loaded with people hopping on and off going to clubs and bars.  We were going to take a trip to see the Statue of Liberty, but you need to make your reservations well in advance.  We'll keep that in mind for next time!  There's so much more to see and do out there in NYC, but we'll have to plan another trip.  It's definitely a great place to visit when you live as close as Central Mass.  Check it out! 

What do you do when you visit the Big Apple? 

Let's take a 90 minute drive to one of my favorite places in Massachusetts - Cape Cod.  I'm definitely a beach kind of gal and so are my kids.  There is just something about the sun and the sand and those crashing waves, it's so relaxing.  I'm sad to say I haven't made it to the beach yet this summer!  We've had too much rain.  From the Cape you can take a ferry to Nantucket Island or Martha's Vineyard.  There are so many great beaches to visit and if you travel down to the very tip there's a great place to see dunes, rocks and seals.  Cape Cod is home to great seafood and wowing sites.  Truly a magical place whether for a day or a week, this is a must see place in Massachusetts.  Take a whale watching tour, collect seashells or just take a long walk on the beach.  Come see all the Cape has to offer!

A little over an hour away from Central Mass there is a wonderful place you MUST visit if you are close to this area.  The Berkshires in Massachusetts are full of culture, art, skiing, bed & breakfasts and more.  There is absolutely something for everyone to enjoy in this part of Western Mass.  I planned a getaway trip for James' 30th birthday out here.  We stayed in a timeshare at the rustic Jiminy Peak Resorts and went to see Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.  We had special reservations at a very nice restaurant called Bistro Zinc in Lenox, MA.  We rented a pontoon boat and spent an afternoon cruising around Onota Lake in Pittsfield, MA.  Whether you enjoy golfing, theater or the great outdoors, I know you'll fall in love with the Berkshires.  This is a year round place to visit.  Come and see the beautiful foliage in the fall, snow in the winter and blossoms in the spring. 

One crazy night James and I decided to go on a drive to wherever we ended up.  We both agreed to drive to Canada and cross the border for fun.  I had never been outside the US before.  Once we got there we decided we hadn't driven long enough so we went on until we made it to the city of Montreal.  We checked into a hotel called Loews Hotel Vogue.  It was a very luxurious hotel with beautiful accomodations.  We just planned on staying the night and then we would head back home, probably never to return.  Well...when we were waiting for vallet to bring our car around after checking out, they informed us that they backed our car into a column in the parking garage and were very sorry.  They gave us a certificate for a free stay the next time we were in town so we decided to plan a trip for our wedding anniversary that year. 

For our anniversary we spent the weekend in Montreal visiting the Casino de Montreal, took a jet boat ride through the Lachine Rapids and enjoyed some shopping around the city.  We also visited the Canadian Six Flags - La Ronde where we ate some good old fashioned McDonalds.  Only a few short hours away from Central Mass, Montreal is one more great reason to live in this area.