Where Did The Summer Go?

Angle Pond, Sandown, N.H.




Where did the summer go? It seems like Memorial Day Weekend was a few weeks ago, or so it seems. While we, in New England, are fortunate enough to have summer followed by the great fall season with all its colors, community harvest events and a crisp, cool feel in the air, there's something discomforting, for some of us, knowing that it could be snowing in less than two months.

So, how was your New England summer? What kinds of travel things did you do that you'll remember with fondness for a long time? Did you vacation by the ocean, the mountains, eat at a great restaurant, stay at a classic inn, visit a special attraction, or attend a memorable event?

The Weekly New England Travel and Vacation Gazette welcomes your input!

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The Beauty of Nantasket Beach, Hull, Mass.

Article and photo by Eric H.
Nantasket Beach in Hull, Mass., is best associated with the former Paragon Park. All those amusements provided many years of joy for locals and vacationers, and memories of an endearing summer of eternal youth. Paragon Park has been gone since 1984 with some remnants still in place like a carousel, an arcade and souvenir shops, but what truly remains is the innate beauty of Nantasket Beach. After all that time being associated with Paragon Park never really allowed us to focus on just the beach. And what a great stretch of beach it is, possibly one of the best outside out of Cape Cod.  For just a nominal parking fee, the couple of miles of beach here is simply one of the places to be to relax during the waning days of summer vacation here in New England.

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Your Impressions of Falmouth, Mass.?

Downtown Falmouth (photo by Eric )

Falmouth, Mass., epitomizes the dual personality of Cape Cod, combining the quaint beach side "outskirts of town" neighborhoods with the highly developed commercial downtown.

It's really the best of both worlds. You can have the quintessential Cape Cod beach vacation of a destination like, say, Old Silver Beach in North Falmouth while having so many locally-owned and operated retail, dining and lodging options in the town's center.

We'd like to know what you like most about Falmouth -- and what aspects you could do without.  We're particularly interested in your feedback on beaches, attractions, restaurants, inns and places to walk. Please feel free to comment below!

A coastal scene from North Falmouth (photo by Eric H.)

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Fun at the Brockton Rox Game And A Surprise Visit on the Way...

We truly enjoyed the Brockton Rox doubleheader last night at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. The stadium is like a miniature Fenway Park -- intimate and full of passionate baseball fans with Boston accents. There's not a bad seat in the house, the concession stands are well-organized and serve all the basics (hot dogs, popcorn, burgers, etc.) and the restrooms are kept clean. The price to watch these well-played Canadian- American Association of Professional Ball minor league games is impressive, too: $5.00 for grandstand seats, $7.50 for reserved seating, $9.50 for box and $15.00 for a "superbox."

 After the game, there was a great fireworks display -- what a nice way to end the evening!

We also heard a PA announcement that Bill Lee, the 1970s era Boston Red Sox pitcher with quite a colorful personality (and with some real pitching talent, too!) will join the club as the team’s starting pitcher for the game on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the Worcester Tornadoes. Amazing, Lee is 63-years-old!


Here is the Brockton Rox official press release:


BILL LEE TO PITCH FOR ROX SEPTEMBER 5

08/16/2010 8:08 AM

Brockton, Mass. – The Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League announced on Monday that former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos lefthanded hurler Bill Lee (pictured) will join the club as the team’s starting pitcher for the game on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1:05 p.m. against the Worcester Tornadoes. One of the best southpaws in club history, Lee pitched for the Red Sox from 1969 through 1978, and owns the franchise record for games pitched by a lefthander with 321. The native of Burbank, Calif., won 17 games each season from 1973 to 1975, was selected to the 1973 American League All-Star team, and was a member of the 1975 American League champions. He was traded to the Expos in 1979, where he won 16 games in the first of his four seasons there. Lee currently lives in Vermont and pitches over 200 innings per year in over-40 men’s leagues in New England and Atlantic Canada. One of baseball’s more colorful personalities during his playing days, he has also published four books, and owns his own bat company which provides lumber for major league players, including David Ortiz. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008. "Having Bill join us will be a great way to cap off our regular season," team president Chris Carminucci said. "He can still get hitters out, and having a New England baseball legend in the house should make it a great Sunday afternoon for Rox fans." Tickets for the game are available through the Rox box office by calling (508) 559-7070, or online through brocktonrox.com.

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Maine Fall Foliage Colors Reporting Begins Sept. 15

We recently received word from our New England travel neighbors at VisitMaine.com that the Maine Department of Conservation will begin its 52nd season of fall foliage reporting on Sept. 15. 2010.
Maine Forest Service and state park rangers report, in detail, the color changes and leaf drop rates in Maine's seven tracking zones in at least six weekly reports. Each report and an updated foliage map are posted on Maine's official season website www.Mainefoliage.com. You can sign up on the site homepage to receive the weekly reports by e-mail, and fans and followers of the Maine Office of Tourism's Facebook and Twitter (@visitmaine) pages can also get the updates.

We, at The Weekly New England travel and Vacation Blog, highly recommend considering Maine as a New England fall foliage destination. While New Hampshire and Vermont rightfully receive a lot of press for their amazing fall foliage, Maine is also a worthy contender. From the beautiful idyllic inland destinations like Bethel and Rangeley to the coastal splendor of travel spots like Acadia National Park and Camden, we think you'll find Maine to be a wonderful place for fall foliage. But, please, use the Maine foliage reporting tools, first, as each season brings different levels of foliage at specific times during September and October.

Wow, hard to believe the fall foliage season is not too far away!

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Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The enchanting county of Pembrokeshire is known worldwide for its only coastal park in Britain—The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The Pembrokeshire National Park runs a program of activities and events both for kids and adults like: crab catching, rockpool safaris, bat walks and more.

Other reasons why Pembrokeshire Park is worth exploring:

Captivating Location

It is known for its breathtaking location and extraordinary animals and birds. The coastal path that runs from St. Dogmaels in the North to Amroth in South is the longest and the most astounding walk, with a distance of over 180 miles. It is along cliff tops so the view is always stunning.

Beautiful Countryside

Towns and villages are to be found in Pembrokeshire Park filled with historical remains and folklore. This antiquated part of Britain attracts visitors every year.

Geology

Some of the oldest rocks dating back to the Pre-Cambrian period, around 600 million years ago, are to be found around the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Castles and Cathedrals

The tiny historic City of St. Davids is located within Pembrokeshire National Park, which is a shrine for visiting Pilgrims thousand years before. Now, visitors come to St. Davids to explore the magnificent Cathedral and ruined Bishop’s palace. Carew Castle can also be found at the South of Pembrokeshire, with a spanning history of 2000 years.

Visiting Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is a definite unforgettable experience for the whole family. The breathtaking views and historical places will keep you coming back for more.

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A Blog That Focuses On Affordable New England Travel Ideas

Nantasket Beach in Hull Mass., is a great place to spend an affordable day (photo by Eric H.)

We recently started The Thrifty New England Traveler blog  at http://www.visitingnewengland.com to help people travel more and spend less in New England.

With a rough economy,  most people interested in New England travel are looking for free and inexpensive things to do, as well as bargains on dining, shopping and lodging.  As lifelong New Englanders interested in low-cost New England travel -- and with neighbors, family and friends also giving suggestions along the way -- we thought this would be a great time to start such a blog.

Some of our most recent posts include an affordable place to watch a baseball game, swim at a lake, visit an educational and entertaining small children's museum, and spend a day at the coast.  As always, we are looking for your ideas on inexpensive New England travel and vacation ideas, so always feel free to contribute.  Hope you enjoy this new blog -- happy, low-cost New England travels!

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Harrods: A Luxurious Department Store in UK

Harrods is a pride of the United Kingdom. This is a prestigious luxury department store that is specifically located at Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. This is one of the largest shopping center in the world. The store aims to provide everything for all people, everywhere, as stated in their motto: “Omnia Omnibus Ubique”. Indeed, true to their objective, this great store covers more than a million square feet of shopping place and more than 300 departments.

Nowadays, Harrods is a brand name that can also be applied to other enterprises run by the Harrods group of companies such as Harrods Aviation, perfect for any business travel since they provide excellent service; Harrods Banks, a private bank exclusively serving London residents; Harrods Estates, focus on residential properties both for sale and for rent; and many more.

Harrods has already been sold many times to different owners and has also undergone several renovations throughout history. The most recent owner of this place is Mohamed Al Fayed; he had made Harrods a very famous brand and very much appealing to the rest of the world. But recently, Al Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings last May 10, 2010 as he has retired at the age of 77 and has still continued to ensure that this national symbol is kept out of the British ownership.

And the latest news about Harrods is that it is planning to expand to Shanghai to tap the rising number of wealthy Chinese. That means that there venturing to a more global approach to reach more people in the world. Harrods shopping center is definitely a place one should go to when you want to find everything you need!

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