The Double Cheeseburger King!

Article and Photo by Eric H.Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, has been called many things in its 40-plus years of operation: a dive, a clean dive, a dive with great food, a beer joint, a college hangout, a Harvard Square landmark, tacky, loud, fun, and a general source of irritation.What sticks out most in my mind about Charlie's is that it is "The Double Cheeseburger King," and a restaurant that offers a good value. A long-time...

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A Quintessential Small New England Town

Article and Photo by Eric H.Essex, CT, has all the small town bells and whistles required to make it a special vacation destination: a tree-lined downtown with specialty shops and restaurants, big old historic homes up near the sidewalk,, and a pleasing park with gazebos and picnic benches leading to wonderful, relaxing views of the Connecticut River.A former shipbuilding town dating back to the 1600s, Essex looks refined and perfectly manicured...

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Cozy, Connecticut Dining at the Vanilla Bean Cafe

Article and Photo by Eric H.If you're looking for a cozy restaurant serving comfort food in the northeastern Connecticut countryside, then the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret, CT, might just be your favorite, future dining tradition in this genre.Beautifully situated at a quintessential New England town common, the Vanilla Bean's charming post and beam farmhouse structure dates back to the 1800s, but the food, staff and entertainment is wonderfully...

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The Eighth Best Ice Cream Place in the World

Article and Photo by Eric H.National Geographic's "An Ultimate Guide for Travelers" ranked Crescent Ridge Dairy Bar in Sharon, MA, in 2007, as the eighth best ice cream place in the world. That's great news for New Englanders, as other top 10 ice cream places would have required a trip, for example, to Florence, Italy, or Paris, France (actually, a good excuse to travel).Crescent Ridge does have some truly great ice cream, including the current...

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A Wealth of Vacation Attractions in Newport, RI

Article by Eric H. Photo, courtesy of Travel Guide of AmericaNewport, RI, has always been known for its lifestyles of the rich and famous and their mansions, but is it a good vacation destination for the mainstream?The answer is a definitive "yes and no!" We don't mean to skirt around the issue, but as a variation of the pharmaceutical ad moniker, Newport "might not be right for everyone." You'll find crowds, traffic, obnoxious cheap souvenir...

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Enjoying the Middle of Nowhere at Brookfield Orchards

Article and Photo by Eric H.Brookfield Orchards in Brookfield, MA, might sound like a place just to pick apples, but actually offers that proverbial "everything but the kitchen sink."Located in the middle of nowhere in central Massachusetts, the isolated but scenic Brookfield Orchards appears to be, from the outside, a farm stand with perhaps a garage or an apple producing operation attached. Once inside, however, this mammoth network of retail...

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Fast-Food, Naturally, at O'Naturals!

Article and Photo by Eric H.O'Naturals offers food that tastes as good as fast food, but with the wholesome ingredients that are commonly found in your local health food store.O'Naturals, originated by "Gary and his wife, Meg" at Stonyfield Farm, prepares its food without additives and names of ingredients you can't pronounce. The result is some amazing tasting organic and naturally-raised food, including a build-your-own-salad, soups, flatbread...

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A Diner That Goes Beyond Comfort Food

Article and Photo by Eric H.Whether it's a meatloaf "blueplate" special or tofu vegetable stir fry, the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown, MA, has the knack for appealing to every walk of life. Looking like a classic diner with its stainless steel, counters and booths and neon and acting like a restaurant with a chef who should be working somewhere in the upper-echelon Boston dining spotlight, the Deluxe Town Diner represents the best of the modern...

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The Rise of Portland, Maine

Article and Photo by Eric H.File Portland, Maine, under "Most Improved City" in New England.This isn't one of those personal honors that found 1/20th of the city to have improved significantly, or eating at a memorable restaurant that used our appetites to think favorably of Portland. This is an honest-to-goodness, first-hand traveler's account of one who once couldn't wait to leave Portland, but who now can't wait to leave for Portland. Portland's...

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A Castle in Connecticut!

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Gillette Castle in East Haddam, CT, looks so authentic in its larger-than-life stone, medieval fortress construction that you'd expect Cinderella to be walking out of this grand structure -- perhaps, in this day of age, en route to the local Payless Shoe Store.Gillette Castle, located in scenic Gillette State Park, is the former home of famous actor, director and playwright William Hooker Gillette (1853-1936). The...

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Best Fried Clams: We're Just Wild About Harry's

Article by Eric H. Photo, courtesy of Boston's Hidden RestaurantsRestaurants like Woodman's in Essex, MA, the Clam Box in Ipswich, MA, and Kelly's Roast Beef in Revere Beach, MA, get a lot of well-deserved press for their great fried clams, but perhaps the best of them all is at Harry's, a tiny, old restaurant stuck in time on Route 9 West in Westboro, MA.Harry's has many good menu items that we recommend but its signature fried clams tops the list,...

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The Bridge of Flowers Will Help Blossom Your New England Travel

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA, is one of New England's most unusual attractions, sure to please horticulturalists and probably even those who don't like flowers at all.There's no denying the vibrancy of this tourist attraction, as visionaries helped transformed a rusted-out western Massachusetts bridge into a colorful travel destination with 500 varieties of flowers, shrubs and vines as well as great views of...

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Lemonade, Rhode Island-Style!

Article and Photo by Eric H.Del's Lemonade taps into an old cliche about being at the right place at the right time. Just as the hot, New England summer sun is just about the squeeze the last amount of your energy, Del's Lemonade always saves the day with its arsenal of lemonade trucks that seemingly has a honing device to detect thirsty people.Starting as a lemonade stand in Cranston, RI, Del's has actually expanded worldwide but has remained true...

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Burlington, VT: Mountains, Water Views and Big City Amenities

Article by Eric H. Photo by Skye Chalmers from Vermont Vacation Someone from up above blessed Burlington, VT., with one of the greatest city locations in New England. Beautifully situated on Lake Champlain with stunning views of the New York State Adirondack Mountains, this very liberal "college" town also features enough attractions and events to create a great urban vacation.Home of the University of Vermont, Champlain College, Community College...

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Going Green: Finding The Best Town Commons in New England

Article and Photo by Eric H.Some New England traditions never grow old. Take, for instance, the village green, or town common, that dates back to the Colonial days. Traditionally located in the center of a community, the town common has often been used as a meeting place for community events and public ceremonies. Fortunately, these wide-open parcels have stood the test of time -- remarkable in this day of age where commercial, industrial and residential...

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Dining, Family-Style, in Westwood, MA

Article and Photo by Eric H.Several years ago, Vello's came to the rescue to the family dining-starved southwestern suburbs by opening a restaurant offering well-prepared food with flair at affordable prices and friendly service.Owner Victor Servello worked his tail off, spending much of his time at Vello's (which he still does), enjoying his work and making sure he hired help that was interested and content working at his restaurant -- very much...

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Southwick's Zoo: More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys

Article and Photo by Eric H.If you're feeling "caged" in to a dull summer routine,we suggest escaping for a day trip to Southwick's Zooin Mendon, MA (east central Massachusetts, 20 minuteseast of Worcester). Along with Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI, Southwick's Zoo stands as a premier New England zoo. More than just a zoo with caged animals, Southwick's has committed itself to environmental and animal ecology issues through the educational,...

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Our Summer Romance with Brown's Ice Cream Stand

Article and Photo by Eric H.Brown's Ice Cream, in York Beach, Maine, captures the essence of the quintessential New England ice cream stand by garnering crowds, and serving wonderful homemade ice cream into the increasingly comfortable summer twilight. After a day of beach, zoo and amusement park attractions two miles down the road at downtown York Beach, it's especially satisfying and rewarding to enjoy the moment of going to Brown's. After all,...

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Old-Fashioned Shopping in Maynard, MA

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Maynard Outdoor Store in Maynard, MA, brings us back to a gentler, closer time when personalized service, quality merchandise and reasonable prices all came together in a trip-back-in-time interior store design, probably not looking much different than when the store opened more than 50 years ago. It's a wonderful experience shopping here, not only for the old-fashioned feeling, but to buy up-to-date clothing, shoes,...

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In Search of Comfort Food Outside Fenway Park

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Great Sausage Company, located at the corner of Brookline Ave. and Yawkey Way, stands as one of the classic outdoor food stands in Boston. With some of the best sausage in the region, a surprisingly good Italian-style pizza, hot dogs that require ordering beyond a quantity of one, steaks tips as good as restaurants that charge twice the amount, and the much-needed-on-a-hot-summer-day soft serve ice cream, the Great...

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Berry Picking at Jane and Paul's Farm, Norfolk, MA

Article and Photo by Eric H.One of the great joys of a New England summer is the fun and nutritious activity of picking berries. In New England you'll find many farms that grow their owns berries and allow you to load up on these tasty fruits, usually at a low price. One of our favorite Boston-area places to pick berries is the 110-acre Jane and Paul's Farm in the southwest suburb of Norfolk. Jane tells us that strawberry picking has begun on their...

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Summer Travel Fun in Boston Without the Expense

Article by Eric H. Photo,of Swan Boats Ride, courtesy of MOTTA visit to Boston sometimes requires a second mortgage, but, upon closer inspection, there are many ways to spend time in the "Hub of the Universe" without giving away too much of your hard-earned money.WODS-FM (Oldies 103.3) is once again presenting the Oldies 103.3 2008 Free Summer Concert Series at the DCR Hatch Shell Memorial in Boston. This year's lineup includes David Cassidy with...

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Visiting an Authentic Rhode Island Fishing Village

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Galilee section of Narragansett, RI, isn't exactly the glamour child for New England travel, but therein lies its strength. This imperfect, but scenic and interesting authentic, working-class fishing village combines fishermen working hard at their craft on some very weathered boats and a tourist industry that features some great seafood restaurants and the presence of a great ocean beach named Salty Brine Beach. With...

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The 1761 Old Mill Restaurant, Westminster, MA

Article and Photo by Eric H.The 1761 Old Mill restaurant in Westminster, MA (north central Massachusetts), serves as kind of a greatest hits collection of everything good about rural New England. Outside is a waterfall, covered bridge, beautiful pond with ducks swimming, scenic vistas, and hiking trails. Inside this former sawmill are post-and-beam ceilings, a roaring fireplace, a downstairs gift shop with nooks and crannies in its stone architecture,...

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Your Favorite New England Lodging With Ocean Views?

Article and Photo by Eric H.One of the best ways to enjoy your New England vacation is to connect with the sea. There's really nothing quite as enjoyable, travel-wise, than visiting the many quaint, coastal towns in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire (very limited coastline) and Rhode Island.We'd be interested in hearing about your favorite places to stay by the ocean in New England. For us, we enjoy the Katahdin Inn in York Beach,...

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The Traveler Restaurant: Three Free Books With Your Meal!

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Traveler Restaurant is "literally" the most unique restaurant we've been to in New England -- you get three free books with every meal.Just over the central Massachusetts line on Route 84 in Union, CT (near Southbridge and Sturbridge, MA), the Traveler's previous owner needed to reduce his extensive book collection, so he shelved them at the restaurant and the idea was received with "great reviews" by dining patrons....

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Short Sands: One of Maine's Best Beaches

Article and Photo by Eric H.Short Sands Beach, in York Beach, Maine, might be small in size at a quarter mile long, but comes up big as a perfect Maine family beach. Framed by the famous rocky Maine coast on one side and spectacular Victorian homes on the other side, the low-key Short Sands Beach seems like your own travel discovery (even with crowds as well as a bowling alley (!) and arcade at the beach. As well could be expected, the Maine ocean...

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Our Favorite Maine Lobster Roll

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Tan Turtle Tavern in Northeast Harbor, Maine (Acadia National Park), serves an amazing 1 1/2 lb. lobster roll that is not only ample, but high on the taste quality meter. At this writing, the Tan Turtle Tavern lobster roll costs a reasonable $16.95 (subject to change, of course) -- not a bad price for the best lobster roll we've tasted and in this day of age where everything seems more expensive. With many restaurants...

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Providence: More Than Just a TV Series

Article and Photo by Eric H.Providence, RI, has transformed in little time from a city to pass by quickly to one of New England's most impressive cities. With former Mayor Buddy Cianci helping pave the way to his city's renaissance, Providence quickly saw its skyline grow and its cultural, shopping and dining scenes turn into a viable travel alternative to Boston -- and a city with parking! Additionally, the Providence TV series didn't hurt the city,...

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Brimfield Antique and Flea Markets Show, July 8-13, Sept. 2-7

Article by Eric H.The 2008 Brimfield Antique and Flea Markets Show in Brimfield, MA, will take place from July 8-13 and Sept. 2-7. Antique lovers, unite!Antique shopping never grows old at the Brimfield Antique and Flea Market Show. Having been around since the 1950s, It's regarded as one of the biggest outdoor antique shows in the United States. More than 5,000 antique dealers and 250,000 visitors flock to this six-day show, according to BrimfieldShow.com. I always remember my aunt and uncle, both passionate and dedicated antiques aficionados,...

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Heads-Up for September: The Big E is Coming To Town!

Article by Eric H.The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in West Springfield, MA, has been a favorite New England attraction of ours for the past several years. With a seemingly endless offering of agricultural events, a petting zoo, horse riding competitions, musical entertainment, amusement rides and arcade games, junk food and regional shopping, the Big E is sure to bring a smile to even the most dour person. This year's (2008) event will...

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Enjoying the Historic, Renovated Charm of Newburyport, MA

Article and Photo by Eric H.Newburyport, MA, might not be every one's cup of tea, but we strongly recommend visiting this small North Shore city to see "what's brewing."Lovingly restored throughout the years with its brick sidewalks, old-fashioned street lights, charming alleys, and renovated historic buildings that house restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, clothing stores and more, Newburyport is surely one of New England's most attractive coastal...

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Northeast Harbor, Maine: A Quaint, Coastal Maine Getaway

Northeast Harbor, Maine, never has received much press as a premier Maine vacation destination. That is nearby Bar Harbor's job when vacationing in Acadia National Park, Maine.\Bar Harbor is really fine as it has an interesting downtown with loads of shops, restaurants and lodging options -- as well as proximity to all Acadia National Park attractions -- but people like us prefer the quieter side at Northeast Harbor. It's a classic, quaint Maine...

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Rossi's in Millis, MA, Reopens!

Article and Photo by Eric H.When Rossi's closed last year, we were so sad that we wanted to make ourselves feel better by going out for a nice dinner. That was impossible, however, as Rossi's closed!Fortunately, the original Rossi's owners took over this esteemed but somewhat "hidden gem" restaurant and reopened in April 2008. With its several quaint dining rooms within this stately Victorian home and outdoor dining on the veranda, the wonderful...

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Why We Recommend Wolfeboro, NH, as a Great New England Travel Destination

Article and Photo by Eric H.Someone forgot to tell Wolfeboro, NH, to be loud, obnoxious and overly commercial. Unlike other well-known New England vacation destinations that have become a shell of its former charming self, Wolfeboro remains true to its original billing of being "America's oldest resort community."Not that Wolfeboro is an isolated tourist destination with nothing to do. Sure, Wolfeboro has many pleasant downtown clothing, boutique...

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Carmella's: A Hidden Dining Gem in Walpole, MA

NEVER MIND, CARMELLA'S JUST WENT OUT OF BUSINESS!Article and Photo by Eric H.Sometimes, it's hard to find a normal restaurant, anymore. Everything seems "gourmet," "infused," hand-rubbed," or other monikers that translate to higher dining prices. Just what we need during tough economic times!Carmella's in Walpole, MA, on the other hand, keeps things simple. It's like walking into some one's dining room with its small eating area and friendly "local"...

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A Grand 4th of July Celebration in Bristol, RI

Article and photo (downtown Bristol, RI) by Eric H.Looking for a great fourth of July celebration? Then try the 4th of July celebration in Bristol, RI, America's oldest continuously-running 4th of July celebration. This year's parade begins at 10:30 a.m., at the corner of Chestnut Street and Hope Street (Rt. 114) and ends on High Street, between State Street and Bradford Street. Special events are planned throughout the day, with a fireworks display...

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The Best Clam Chowder in the Boston Area?

Article and Photo by Eric H.The Red Wing Diner in Walpole, MA, seems like an unlikely place for what we feel is the best clam chowder in the Boston, MA, area. It's a rather ugly, red-colored shack on commercial, generic-looking Route 1, about 20 minutes from the ocean. Once inside, however, it's a clean place with a plain-looking cafeteria-style dining room and a 1933 dining car, incorporated into the restaurant as a bar. The Red Wing Diner has...

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