Trip to New England: Plymouth

My very last stop was Plymouth.  What a neat place....the first home of the first, well, successful settlers in America. 

We spent some time at the museum before headed out to the rock, but since the rock has been moved and a little abused over time, they house a piece of this rock at the museum that you can actually touch....which is a good thing b/c it's one of those items I really....really....would have wanted to touch even without permission.

We also got to see some of the items that came over on the Mayflower, including this bible, which I love.  Men and women setting out for religious freedom, that story speaks to me.

Under this shelter is 'the rock' that marked this place as home.

I've read how 'little' this rock is, but....it impressed me. 

There is also a replica of the Mayflower sitting in the harbor within site of the rock.

New England ends my goal of reaching all 50 states, but it's just the beginning of many more American adventures.  I count my birth place is one of many blessings I've been granted in this life, and the ability to get in a car, hop on a plane, or, upon occasion, a train and see it as a great privilege. Here is a link to more of my photos from the trip.

Trip to New England: Cape Cod

One of my last stops before heading home was Cape Cod.  I didn't get to spend a lot of time here because we were heading towards Plymouth before they closed.  We got just enough time to hit the beach, and we got to see some of the amazing houses that call this area home.  Cape Cod's beaches were beautiful, even on a gray day, but I think it's the kind of place that needs more than a minute or two.

Trip to New England: Concord, MA

One of my very favorite stops on the trip was Concord, MA.  We headed here the third morning of our trip.  It is a 30 minute drive, but it took us an hour because of morning traffic.  We began our day at the Colonial Inn ( a suggestion from a friend when they found out I was going to Boston....so glad we chatted because this wasn't even on the radar).  The service was slow, but the breakfast was WORTH it.  It was on of my favorite stops.  The portions were ginormous and kept us full the rest of the day.  It was also pretty neat to be sitting in an Inn older than my state's birthday.  The thing about a relatively young country is that 'old' is really relative and south of the Mason Dixon line we use the term even more loosely.  After breakfast we drove out to Walden Pond (the above picture).  The site many writer's sat and wrote, or wrote into the plots of their stories. 

We drove out to the North Bridge (reconstructed, but still), the site the first shot of the American Revolution were fired.  'The shot heard around the world.'

We also drove by the houses of the famous authors that called this home.  Below in Orchard House, the house that inspired the setting of Louisa May Alcott's Little Woman.  Her house was next door, which was also the home of Nathanial Hawthorne, and Margaret Sidney through the years.  I'd say it holds a record for housing the most famous American authors.

After a quick morning in Concord, we headed down the road to Maine. 

Trip to New England: Salem, MA

Day Two in the Boston area, we headed out of town to Salem.  It was a a thirty minute drive from Boston.  Of course, I wanted to go because of the famous 'witch trial' that took place here, but also, I was curious to see one of the first settlements.  A lot of the Witch Trial sites have been turned into more commercial Halloweenish sites instead of historical buildings for sharing the stories of a town that got caught up in a lie that ruined the lives of so many in their town.  We decided to opt out of most of these tours, but just like the Freedom Trail, there was a red line on the side walk that led us by some of the famous city sites and ports that told the story of the town.  One of my favorite stops....the country's oldest candy store. 

We also walked by the House of Seven Gables.  We saw a little bit of blue sky here for the first time in two days. 

There are two National Park sites, one is along the sea ports that welcomed in commerce once upon a time as the Boston area built up and blossomed...and eventually spilled over into the rest of America.

There was a memorial area for the victims of the witch trial.  The entrance is stamped with the last words of the victims, all stating their innocence. 

We only spent a few hours in Salem, but it was a pretty little town with a history to celebrate and learn from, before leaving we did grab lunch at a great little place called Custom House Rotisserie.  I had yelped it before going and it had great reviews.  You know what?  All those reviews were right.  I got my 'Thanksgiving' meal in the state that hosted the first Thanksgiving.  The cornbread tasted like white cake.  The staff was super friendly and welcoming.  There are only two tiny tables inside, and a few more outside.  We got there when it opened, so we were able to sit, but I would have done take out and found a spot to enjoy this food.  The food was awesome, but the service put it over the top.  If you are ever in the area.  Go!

Trip To New England-Boston, MA

OK, first, I promise it's back to crafts and cooking in three short days, but something I love as much as crafts, if not more, is travel.  I got back from vacation about a week ago.  I'm packing up again for another vacation (soon) and I just want to document my memories.  I'm taking three days, and about 30,000 post from the stops I made on my trip to New England.  I collected tons of craft and cooking ideas (a few I've already thrown together and will start working on and posting soon).  After this vacation, I can now officially say I've been to all 50 states.  I've been working on this for about 10 years.  No particular reason, just because I can.  I've learned a lot through the adventures, and....I'm thinking of a bigger 'blog' project soon in honor of those fifty states.  BUT.....first, my vacation.  My Mom, cousin and I flew up to Boston.  We spent three days in Boston.  Most of the time it rained, and I wore a jacket.  This is a foreign concept to me in June.  I ended up getting sick by day two and carrying along that souvenir, but it did not diminish some of the really cool things I got to see. 

Boston-wow, much neater than I even anticipated.  The traffic is a little wild.  The streets all seem to merge in something called a 'roundabout'.....we don't have many of these down south.  Highway spokes go off in multiple directions, and it would be a little more frightening if I didn't get to do it at about 4 miles per hour.  Traffic is a bugger, but....the sites are good, so I just enjoyed the ride and the site seeing as I sat in traffic.  Someone told me the streets don't have a lot of rhyme and reason because they are all old carriage routes, so.....they just built the roads where the carriages roamed and called it city planning.  The roads were a little different, but the subway system was great.  It was clean, swift, and it took us to all the major stops.  We spent two days exploring the Freedom Trail.  It's a walking trail in Boston that takes you by some of the historical sites our nation recognizes because some pretty monumental decisions and scenes took place here once upon a time. 

It also takes you down a part of town with a lot of Italian heritage (apparently 'not' called Little Italy), but.....I stopped at a pastry shop called Mike's.  I was apparently not the only one that read about this shop in the guide book either.  The line was out the door the entire time we were there.  The wait staff was a little harried, the line (at least when I was there) didn't exactly do 'first come first serve' (you do NOT want to try 'aggression' as a line standard back where I'm from), but the desserts....the desserts were worth the culture confusion.  Canoli's, cakes, and Boston Cream Pie.....

Not far from this destination is the North Church.  I read many a story about this church and Paul Revere's ride.  Two lanterns were hung in the tower to let him know the warning he was to shout was that the British were come (two if) by sea.  He did.  We fought.  We won.  Assuming I'm referring to the 'we' in my family that was actually residing here at the time. 

Not far from the church was Paul Revere's house. 

 

This in Faneuil Hall.  Lots of shops and history around every corner and in every nook and krannie! 

This is the Old State House where the Boston Massacre occurred (in front of the steps of the domed building). 

So many meeting houses (Old South Meeting house below).  So many decisions made.  So much history. 

After walking around and exploring Boston, we spent the first evening at Revere Beach, America's first public beach.  There was a little site we read about called Kelly's that is famous for it's roast beef.  The best compliment I can give it is that I don't do much red meat and this was so good I had to go back the last night we were in town and eat a second sandwich.  It really was 'that' good.

Another to do item in Boston.....Fenway Park.  I'm a big fan of baseball, so this was a must see. 

Tickets were a bugger to get.  We got in a virtual waiting room the second they went on sale in the spring, but it was a neat experience to be at America's Oldest Ballpark.  It was a quiet ride....the quietest ballpark I've ever been to....and I was a Ranger's fan in the 90's....so...., after staying ahead most of the game, they lost it in the last few innings, but it was fun to sit in the old green seats, be serenaded by organ music and bagpipes.....and just do the baseball/hot dog thing.