West Brookfield MA Town Common: A Classic New England Village Green

Vermont often gets the press for pretty town commons, but West Brookfield, Mass., could easily compete for the best New England village green if ever there was a contest. Surrounded by churches historic homes and a historic bandstand, the West Brookfield Town Common will bring you into the heart of New England. Sit on a bench, enjoy the historic fountain, marvel at the old trees and unwind!

For more information on this beautiful little Central Massachusetts town, log onto the VisitingNewEngland West Brookfield page.

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Social Media Travel Info in New England

It's time to get more social in New England, and we're ready to break the ice.

I noticed how many great social media travel and local business pages there are in New England, whether it be on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or through bloggers (clearly, a form of social media). From state tourism agencies to the local country store, we plan on sharing what we feel are the very best examples of social media in the six-state region. Hopefully, this will help with your New England trip planning, as well as learning more about some phenomenal local businesses. I'll be blogging about social media in New England over the next few months, and, if it is well received, we'll consider switching full-time here to a New England travel social media blog.

We will also keep you up to date on our own social media pages, including Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Let's get things started by recognizing the New England Aquarium in Boston, Mass., as having one of the best Google+ businesses pages.  Informative, full of photos and videos, timely and sometimes humorous, the world-class presence of the New England Aquarium is very well communicated through Google+. Great job!

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12 Great Downtown Districts in New England

Do you love a good downtown? We have a few favorites in our region that offer small town New England appeal, stores, restaurant, historical preservation and traditional ways, and an overall welcoming feeling. Without further ado, here are some of those great downtown districts where we'll let the pictures do the talking...

Salem, Mass.

Bristol, R.I.

Keene, N.H.

Mystic, Conn.

Milford, N.H.

Northeast Harbor, Maine

Hanover, N.H.

Chatham, Mass. (Cape Cod)

Wickford Village in North Kingston, R.I.

Newburyport, Mass.

Portsmouth, N.H.

Springfield, Vt.

Do you have a favorite downtown in New England? Tell us a little about it by commenting below. Or, please feel free to comment these downtown districts featured in this post. Happy travels!

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Visiting Woodstock in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut

I had a chance a few weeks ago to revisit Woodstock, located in the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. Largely unspoiled and with quintessential New England elements intact, this beautiful little town best represents the "Quiet Corner" region with its downtown skyline being a tall white steeple, well kept old homes that never fail to make me say "Wow!" and an absence of commercial and industrial development that fly in the face of our modern world. I highly recommend visiting here is you like peace and solitude, a sense of historical preservation and memorable rural scenery of farms, forests and landscapes that seem virtually endless. It really feels like you're a million miles from civilization here. I'll now let the pictures do the talking to give you a taste of one of my favorite towns in New England...

The Roseland Cottage was once a summer home to a wealthy New York family and now can be toured between June 1 and October 15. As you can see, it's really a spectacular sight! touring the home, you'll see steep gables and stained glass, boxwood parterre garden, a bowling alley, garden house, aviary, carriage barn, ice house, various outbuildings and some beautiful landscaping.

The Town Cemetery has a beautiful rural look, further enhanced by scenic rolling hills in the distance.

No real New England town is complete without a stately, old church. Here in Woodstock, you can really feel that authentic New England presence.

The Inn at Woodstock Hill sits on a hill overlooking those amazing rolling hills. We've stayed here several times and consider this charming inn the ultimate getaway. I think even the most stressed out person would be forced to relax here.  You can read our full review on the Inn at Woodstock Hill here.

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Traveling New England, Here and There...

New England Travel Thoughts
It's a rainy day here in the Northeast, a good day for travelers to visit some of Boston's best museums like the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts Boston... Congratulations to Bondir restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., chosen by Bon Appetit Magazine's in its "The Best New Restaurants in America in 2011" (September 2011 edition). Bondir bills itself as a restaurant serving "Sustainable Modern American Cuisine."... Today, we give shout outs to Attleboro, Mass., for its great community and patriotic spirit; Narragansett, R.I., for its wonderful ocean beaches; Old Lyme, Conn., for a remarkable sense of preservation; Dover, N.H., for bringing its downtown back to life in a big way; Woodstock, Vt., for its postcard picture perfect look; and South Berwick, Maine, for just being itself, a sleepy, friendly little town... It's amazing how Davis Square in Somerville, Mass., has gone from a rather nondescript neighborhood to an eclectic, interesting area loaded with restaurants and locally-owned stores. In a certain regard, it's now more interesting than Harvard Square in Cambridge. The centerpiece is, still, of course, the old-school Somerville Theater with some great movies playing at low prices...If I had to choose five Boston area towns to live for families, they would be Cohasset, Wakefield, Walpole, Franklin and Ipswich. All of those towns have a friendly close-knit, small town feel, very good to excellent schools, real downtowns, and plenty of activities going on for all ages. Ipswich and Cohasset have the advantage of being located by the ocean. And it's amazing that Cohasset, for all its wealth, has much less of a snob factor than other towns of its class... Best small city/town downtown district for college kids? I'd have to say Burlington, Vt., with its colorful, four-block downtown pedestrian shopping area, walking and bike paths, myriad restaurants and shops and boat rides along Lake Champlain...Looks like there are still some very good "Best Value Red Sox Tickets prices for upcoming games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. The Sept. 19 game against the Orioles has tickets starting at $15, through Ace Tickets!... Some close friends tell us that the indoor "wave pool" at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis, Mass., is a lot of fun, adds to a great family hotel destination... I really like Everything But Anchovies restaurant in Hanover, N.H. (5 Allen St.), A wide menu selection (including pizza), salad bar, and good prices not only make it a favorite amongst Dartmouth College students, but anyone else with a hearty appetite and thrifty spending habits. They actually do serve anchovies here on the pizzas... When the fall foliage season arrives, one place I'd highly recommend walking is Walden Pond on Route 126 in Concord, Mass. The hike around the pond is about 45 minutes and, more or less, level. The foliage colors are typically outstanding and the scenery so pleasing around the pond...Boston Bruins Tickets are now available. Here's hoping to a season as successful as last!...We stayed at the Henniker Motel in Henniker, N.H. a few weeks ago, and have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. We had a nice, clean room with cable television and views of the surrounding hills and open land. We also enjoyed the indoor pool. Additionally, they have a cozy gathering room with fireplace and television. The staff was very nice to us, too. The Henniker Motel is probably made more for the winter, as it is located at the base of Pat's Peak Ski area, but this summer visit was sure nice. By the way, Henniker is becoming one of our favorite New England towns as we find the downtown old fashioned and pleasant -- really quintessential New England. It's walkable, has a few nice restaurants and shops, an independently owned pharmacy and general store, nice views of the Contoocook River, and New England College with its attractive campus. We'll be back and look forward to another stay at the Henniker Motel!...Bishop's Orchards in Guilford, Conn., reports on Twitter that its apple picking season has begun with Gala and McIntosh available... That's about all for now, check in again soon for more New England travel thoughts!

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New England Travel Thoughts

I can hardly wait until The Big E New England States Fair, running Sept. 16-Oct. 2 at the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in West Springfield, Mass. Love the midway, animal exhibitions, parades, musical entertainment and comfort food vendors... Was driving up Route 495 in Hopkinton, Mass., the other day and already saw some leaves changing color. Scary thought, as it seemed like Memorial Day Weekend was just a few weeks ago. I'm looking forward to the peak colors, though, later this month and in October (depending on location in New England)...To answer the age old argument -- which is better for pizza in Boston, Santarpio's or Pizzeria Regina? The answer is "yes!"... Coastal Newburyport, Mass., has a near perfect downtown. The choice of stores, restaurants, the water views, brick sidewalks, historic old buildings and homes make for an ideal, walkable central district... Come to think of it, though, coastal Portsmouth, N.H., is just as nice and a great way to spend some time visiting New England. Portsmouth has a boatload of cultural activities going on near or at the waterfront and Market Square locations, as well as offering lots of locally-owned shops and restaurants. The harbor here is  really beautiful... If I had to choose a Massachusetts town that maintains a quintessential classic New England small town feeling, it would be West Brookfield. The town common is amazing, the surrounding old "front porch" homes so beautiful and the people quite friendly. For a meal, go to the historic Salem Cross Inn on Route 9, just outside the downtown, for tasty New England fare as well as some very nice local ambiance... If you like lodging with waterfront views without the hefty price tag, I would recommend the Katahdin Inn in York Beach, Maine (Ocean Ave. Ext., at Short Sands Beach). I don't know how owners Bob and Rae do it, but the prices are half of what some other similar lodging establishments charge for just being on the water... I think many New England towns have become either generic-looking or overgrown, but Hanover, N.H., remains just as nice as ever. Fantastic, little downtown and with Dartmouth College to add a lot of tree-lined campus appeal... I could watch the Mystic Drawbridge in downtown Mystic, Conn., go up and down all day, only to be interrupted, of course, by some delicious homemade ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream. I always get the lemon chocolate kiss... Speaking of ice cream, the landmark Kimball Farm in Westford, Mass. , is as good as ever. Had a delicious ginger snap molasses ice cream the other night and was it ever good! The place has expanded over the years with two fantastic mini golf courses, an animal area, batting cages, bumper boats, an "outdoor seafood shack and grill," country store and arcade games. It's all so fun and not tacky at all -- everything seems to fit in nicely to make for a great morning or afternoon itinerary... One of the highlights of the summer was dining on lobster and lobster rolls at around $10.00 a dish a Markey's Lobster Pool in Seabrook, N.H. (Route 286, just off Route 1A). How they keep the prices down, I don't know but I'd certainly recommend going there is you love lobster and low prices. Of course, the market value changes the prices, but we've always found the dining bill to be quite low. The outdoor waterfront dining is a real plus, too... I love the Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, Vt. (3600 Waterbury-Stowe Rd.). Cold Hollow makes apple cider the old-fashioned way with a rack and cloth press built in the 1920s. The taste is amazing! Cold Hollow is not just a cider place, however. They have a bakery (including delicious homemade donuts), Green Mountain Coffee, Vermont-made wines and a toy store. This always makes a pleasant fall foliage season destination... The Raven's Nest in Walpole, Mass. (998 Main St.), is what I'd call a "major league" restaurant.  Mark and Maura McCauliffe have gone through painstaking efforts to make the Raven's Nest look like an Irish pub (Mark is from Ireland). The bricks on one dining room wall were even hand-painted one-by-one! It's a ultra cozy place with fabulous contemporary cuisine and upscale pub fare, lots of draft beer selections, open air windows, an outdoor patio, seven plasma televisions to watch the game, and a nice fireplace for the winter. My favorite dishes: the baked mac and cheese, Shepherd's Pie, fillet of salmon with a soy ginger glaze, and the pesto chicken sandwich. Everything about The Raven's Nest just looks and feels right. Love this place; every hometown should have a downtown restaurant like this... All country stores that I have been to in Vermont are worth a trip, but my favorite is still the Vermont Country Store in Weston, Vt. (right in the heart of the quaint downtown). The place is huge and full of everything you could ever want in a country store. They haven't gone "Hollywood" either, keeping the authentic feel well intact... We started this post with a mention about a local fair, and we'll end it that way, too: the Topsfield Fair will be held this year from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10 at the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield, Mass. Not as large as The Big E, it's still worth a trip. The Topfield Fair is the oldest agricultural fair in the United States has a wonderful mix of agricultural exhibits and presentations, a good midway area, and entertainment (Phil Vassar, Sean Kingston and Ayla Brown are a few of the scheduled performers this year)... That's about if for now. Come back soon as we'll post some more New England travel thoughts not too far down the road!

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Portsmouth, N.H., Wins Our Facebook Fan Page Mini-Poll As Best Small City In New England

Downtown Portsmouth, N.H. (photo by Eric)

New England has so many wonderful small cities, so we thought it would be a fun idea to poll our Facebook Fan followers on their favorite communities.

Portsmouth, N.H., won with 24 percent of the vote, followed by Burlington, Vt. (about 19 percent), Newport, R.I. (about 12 percent),  and a tie between Portland, Maine and Northampton, Mass. (both at approximately 8 percent).  Other cities that finished strong were Salem, Mass., Keene, N.H., and Montpelier, Vt. Some fans voted for communities that are technically towns -- Provincetown, Mass., York, Maine, and Bethlehem, N.H., to name a few.

For those not familiar with Portsmouth, this is a wonderful, little coastal town with a population of a little more than 20,000 people.  The feeling is small-town, but the number of downtown restaurants, diverse array of locally-owned shops and cultural attractions give Portsmouth an urban feel. It's a perfect place for strolling, especially the quaint, brick-tinged Market Square business district (and charming side streets), Prescott Park with its waterfront views, and Strawberry Banke -- an early settlement that features restored historic Colonial, Georgian and Federal homes.

For more on Portsmouth, we recommend reading our "Portsmouth, NH, Offers True New England Coastal Charm" article at VisitingNewEngland.com. Log onto our Facebook VisitingNewEngland.com - New England Vacations Fan Page to become a follower of all things New England!

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2010 Spring New England Travel Newsletter is Ready!

Article and photo (Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine) by Eric H.
We are pleased to announce that the 2010 New England Travel Newsletter is available for your reading pleasure at http://www.visitingnewengland.com/New-England-Travel-Spring-2010-Newsletter.pdf .

Our first online newsletter includes spring-related articles on Kennebunkport, Maine, Boston, Mass., Ogunquit, Maine, an amazing castle in Connecticut, a few key spring events, colorful large photos of New England, and more.

The New England Travel Newsletter will be published four times a year -- spring, winter, summer and fall. Please feel free to contribute by emailing your story ideas, tips and calendar of event items.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter, and would appreciate any feedback you have so that we can help this publication grow with each season. Happy travels!

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New Hampshire Fall Foliage Updates, Oct. 1, 2009

New Hampshire foliage press release source: VisitNH.com

With the New England fall weekend just around the corner, New Hampshire foliage should prove to be spectacular in many areas.

The Great North Woods area "is on the brink of peak foliage," and the White Mountains Region is "getting closer to reaching the height of fall foliage," according to a New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development foliage update press release for Oct. 1 ,2009. The rest of New Hampshire isn't too shabby, either, with many reports of vibrant colors in the Lakes, Dartmouth-Sunapee, Monadnock, and Merrimack Regions. The Seacoast Region, typically the last part of New Hampshire to display great foliage, has shown promise with "lots of color throughout the region and most of it is along back roads that are very quiet," according to the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development.

Have a safe weekend, and listen frequently to the weather reports for any potentially inclement weather (Sunday looks like the better day, weather-wise). Here is the detailed press release report on foliage updates throughout New Hampshire:

Great North Woods Region: The Great North Woods region, also called New Hampshire’s Grand North, is on the brink of peak fall foliage! There are lots of strong oranges and deep reds throughout the region, with some nice yellows and a little bit of green in the background. Here’s a loop that will provide beautiful color, optional hikes, wildlife watching and panoramic views: Begin in Berlin, and follow Route 110 through Stark to Groveton; continue on Route 3 north to Colebrook; take a right on Route 26 and travel through Dixville Notch State Park to Errol. From here, you can either take a left on Route 16 north to Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, or take Route 16 south back to Berlin. There is a detour along this road that skirts around part of 16, so watch the signs. Visit the Northern Forest Heritage Park in Berlin on Sunday for the 10th Annual Lumberjack Festival and Competition. Please visit www.northernforestheritage.org for information on this event.

White Mountains Region: Overall, the White Mountains Region is getting closer to reaching the height of fall foliage. Our leaf peepers in this area are predicting the peak to happen in another 7 to 10 days! Most areas are 80% changed, and the colors are beautiful everywhere. Try this scenic drive for panoramic views of the region: Start in North Conway on Route 16 north – take a left onto West Side Road and stop at the two covered bridges. Continue on West Side Road and follow the signs to the Cathedral Ledge auto road. This little side trip will reward you with a sweeping view of the entire Mount Washington Valley. Continue on Route 16 to Route 302 west, and follow this scenic drive that cuts right through the heart of the White Mountains. Look for markers on the sides of the road that indicate hiking trails and waterfalls. In Twin Mountain, take a left on to Route 3 south, and travel through Franconia Notch State Park. A walk through the Flume Gorge is a must-do this time of year; if you’re short on time, take a lift on the Cannon Mountain Tramway for dramatic views. Continue along the parkway to Exit 32, which brings you on to the west end of the Kancamagus Highway, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Follow Route 112 along the Kanc, back to Route 16 in Conway. On Saturday, the 20th Annual Chowderfest takes place in Waterville Valley; Visit www.waterville.com for more information.

Lakes Region: Brilliant reds and oranges await you in the Lakes Region! Travel the following roads for a scenic fall tour of this part of the state: Begin in Alton on Route 11 west to Route 11B to Route 3 north into Meredith. Turn right onto Route 25 east, or continue on Route 3 to Squam Lake, also known as Golden Pond; Route 25 east brings you through Moultonborough, a classic New Hampshire town that’s home to the Old Country Store and Museum, possibly the oldest country store in the U.S. Keep going on Route 25 to West Ossipee, where the road pairs with Route 16. Head south on Route 16 to Milton, where the New Hampshire Farm Museum is holding their Harvest Day on Saturday. There are lots of fall activities here for the whole family; please visit www.farmmuseum.org for more information. Take exit 17 and follow Route 75 to Route 11 west back to Alton. History buffs will want to visit Castle in the Clouds on Sunday for their Foliage Festival.This mountaintop mansion features views of Lake Winnipesaukee that are drenched in beautiful fall colors right now. For more information, please visit www.castleintheclouds.org. Planning on doing some hiking during this fall season? The folks at New Hampshire Fish & Game encourage everyone to hike safe this autumn, and be ready for winter-like conditions, especially in the mountains. Please visit www.hikesafe.com for tips on safe hiking.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region: There’s lots of fall color coming to life in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region. From downtown Lebanon, any road you travel will take you past vibrant reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows. Try meandering along Route 4, Route 10, or Route 120 for breathtaking scenic drives. More recommended drives are Route 114 from Bradford to New London, and Route 11 from New London to Newport. At the Library Arts Center in Newport, there is a quilt show beginning on Sunday and running through October 18th. Route 103A brings you through a beautiful showcase of color on your way to Mount Sunapee, where you can enjoy an aerial chair lift ride on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday the Muster Field Farm in Sutton is holding its annual Harvest Day. This farm is open year round. Please visit www.musterfieldfarm.com for information.

Monadnock Region: The fall foliage is over 50% changed in the Monadnock region, and some areas are nearly 75% changed. Our leaf peepers are reporting outstanding colors along many roads. Take this ride for views of hearty oranges, fiery reds, tawny yellows, flashy pinks, and all shades of green: start in Hillsborough on Route 9 west – this road runs alongside a number of marshy areas that are stunning right now with their red maples in full bloom. Watch for wild turkeys along this road – they are usually clustered in groups of 5 or more. Follow Route 9 to Keene, to Route 12 toward Troy; continue on Route 12 to Fitzwilliam, and take Route 119 east to West Rindge. Take a left onto Route 202 east to Jaffrey, and turn left on to Route 124. Follow this road to Marlborough, and take Route 101 east through Dublin to Peterborough. From here you can take Route 202 back to Hillsborough. Take your time exploring this area; don’t be afraid to venture off on some of the lesser-known side roads. You can see Mount Monadnock from almost anywhere in this region, and word is that the mountain is about 60% changed now, with the base a patchwork quilt of yellow, orange and green. Route 31 brings you to Greenfield, where you can see an authentic trebuchet hurl pumpkins nearly a half a mile in distance! For information, please visit www.yankeesiege.com.

Merrimack Valley Region: In the Merrimack Valley Region, the foliage is coming in very nicely. Most roads are showing bright oranges, flaming reds, and golden yellows everywhere – it’s a mix of colors, with the northern part of the region more changed than the southern part. Here’s a scenic loop that will take you past antique shops, natural areas, beautiful scenery and points of interest. Begin in Nottingham on Route 4, well-known to locals as Antique Alley. This road passes lots of water, so be on the lookout for migrating water birds, especially Great Blue Herons which love to hang out in the marshes. Follow Route 4 to the Epsom circle, and take Route 28 south to Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. With more than 10,000 acres of romping room, there are hiking trails galore in this park – pets are welcome, too, so bring your dogs to help you explore. Continue on Route 28 south and get on Route 101 west in Manchester, to Route 114 toward Goffstown. Follow Route 114 to Route 13 toward New Boston and Amherst. There are great sections that skirt along meadows and brooks that appear to be nearly at fall’s colorful peak. From Amherst, follow the signs for Route 101A to Route 111; travel through the towns of Windham, Hudson, and Nashua, which is holding an Arts Walk on Saturday. Please visit www.artwalknashua.org for the details. The Deerfield Fair is in town this weekend, also – Routes 43 and 107 lead directly to the fairgrounds. Visit www.deerfieldfair.com for information.

Seacoast Region: The Seacoast region is looking pretty nice all dressed in her finest autumn glory. Some parts of the area are still green, but there’s lots of color throughout the region and most of it is along back roads that are very quiet. Here’s a seacoast loop that starts near the ocean and ends up in the inner Seacoast area: Follow Route 107 from Seabrook to Route 125 north in Kingston; follow Route 125 to Route 155 in Lee. This is a country road that takes you past several points of interest, including a winery and an apple orchard. Continue on Route 155 to Dover, and head downtown for the 25th Annual Apple Harvest Day Festival on Saturday. This festival is a family affair, with craft vendors, entertainment, a petting zoo, pony rides, and food, including apples, baked goods and freshly pressed cider. Please visit www.dovernh.org for information.

Editor's note: For great reading on New England fall foliage, we recommend checking out The Colors of Fall: A Celebration of New England's Foliage Seasonby Jerry and Marcy Monkman.

For a list of hundreds of New Hampshire hotels at discount rates,we recommend checking out the VisitingNewEngland.com New Hampshire Hotels guide. Here, you can compare rates, check availability, and book online.

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2009 Topsfield Fair Starts Today, Oct. 2

Article by Eric H.

The Topsfield Fair, the nation's oldest agricultural fair, runs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 12, 2009, at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston Rd. in Topsfield, Mass.

Beginning as strictly an agricultural show in 1818, the Topsfield Fair has evolved into a major New England tourist attraction with myriad things to do, including midway rides, parades, musical entertainment (this year, Susan Tedeschi and LeAnn Rimes!), giant pumpkin contest, and yes, plenty of agricultural-related events.

From personal experience, we rate the Topsfield Fair alongside The Big E in West Springfield, Mass. (running through this Sunday, Oct. 4) as the premier local fair in New England. Quite large and varied with lots of entertaining and informative events and exhibitions (and a whole lot of comfort food vendors), we recommend spending, at least, a morning or afternoon at this beloved local fair. Best yet, spend a whole day!

For all its midway rides excitement and top-notch musical entertainment, we still enjoy most the "simple things" like the Essex County farmyard with its miniature horses, tiny pigs, sheep with their lambs, horses, hens, and other farm animals (including a llama!). Nothing fancy, but a great way to enjoy the outdoors with our animal friends.

Check out this year's Topsfield Fair event schedule for all there is do to, as well as hours of operation.

What a fun time!

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Hi, I'm Slim from Whitman!

Back in the 1970s, the WEEI radio "Sports Huddle" sports talk show (starring Eddie Andelman, Marc Witkin and Jim McCarthy) featured a hilarious topic where callers identified themselves and the alleged local New England town they were calling from to create a famous person's name.

Some examples:

Hi, I'm...
Slim from Whitman (Slim Whitman, hokey pop singer)
Rick from Middleton (Rick Middleton, former Boston Bruins great)
Rick from Springfield (Rick Springfield,rock star and actor, famous for the hit single "Jessie's Girl")
Bobby from Hull (Bobby Hull, former hockey great)
Dave from Maynard (Dave Maynard, former WBZ-AM radio personality)
Ben from Franklin (Ben Franklin, the guy who flew a kite in a lightning storm; OK, he was much more than that)
Karl from Malden (Karl Malden, actor, star of The Streets of San Francisco")

You get the picture. Can you think of any other peoples' names combined with local New England communities that result in a famous person's name? Write us!

Thanks,
Mike from Lowell

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The New Bedford Whaling Museum: A Whale of a Good Time

Article and Photo by Eric H.

Our latest VisitingNewEngland.com feature travel story is on the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA. Far more than a museum with just boats and whale skeletons, this modern, spacious museum educates and entertains in an interactive, non-stuffy way. The staff is tremendously knowledgeable, personable and focuses on thoughtful answers, not generic sound bites left to leave you clueless. Located in the heart of the charming New Bedford Whaling District, the New Bedford Whaling Museum truly captures the historic flavor of New Bedford's presence as the most well-known whaling industry city, back in the mid-1800s -- and one of the richest cities in the country, at that point. The complete article on the Whaling Museum can be read here. Additionally, photos of the charming Whaling District -- a terrific New England urban coastal travel destination -- can be viewed here.

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Pleasantly Surprised by Lee, MA, in the Berkshire Mountains

Article and Photo by Eric H.

Coming back from our favorite destination of Cooperstown, NY, is always difficult. It's hard to leave the picture-perfect, tree-lined Main Street filled with shops, restaurants and grand, old historic homes and inns. The nine-mile long Otsego Lake, the rolling hills and all the other splendid surrounding rural scenery is breathtaking. Of course, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Farmers' Museum and Fenimore Art Museum are wonderful cultural resources, so rare to find in such a rural community of this size.

In the past, we always stopped on the way back home in West Springfield, MA, for a bite to eat, but then, much to our dismay, we found that the Ivanhoe restaurant closed its doors. Not that the typical urban/suburban offerings of West Springfield could ever replace Cooperstown, but eating at this friendly restaurant with delicious food always provided a pleasant, end-of-the-vacation tradition.

Last month on our way back from Cooperstown, we stopped in Lee, MA, one of the first exits in the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts. Only a few minutes off the highway, we were stunned at what we saw upon approaching the downtown: kind of a replica of Cooperstown's Main Street with nice, little local shops, plenty of pleasant looking dining options, American flags proudly displayed all over the place, and a sense of great historical preservation in the buildings and homes. Anchored by the quaint Morgan House Inn and Restaurant and followed up by a great slice of small town downtown Americana, Lee is a place we'll surely call a new tradition upon returning from Cooperstown. We found a terrific dining spot called Panayiotis' Grill & Pizzeria‎, a small, modern yet family-friendly Greek-American restaurant where I had an amazing pesto and shrimp pizza. Panayiotis has just about everything under the sun of on the menu including steaks, seafood, salads, soups and grilled Greek specialties. The atmosphere was warm and inviting inside and the view out on old Main Street lent a nice hometown feeling.

Lee is located in the heart of the Berkshires, next to many attractions and destinations in Stockbridge (the place Norman Rockwell made famous), another great American downtown in Great Barrington, Lenox (home of Tanglewood), an on-the-mend Pittsfield and North Adams (where the Mass Museum of Modern Art is located).

So for now, Lee is more than a name brand of jeans and a flaky pitcher who toiled for the Boston Red Sox in the 1970s. We're looking forward to exploring more of this neat-looking town with a downtown that's as nice looking as any we've seen in New England. And almost on par with Cooperstown!

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Thank-you, Curt Schilling

This is a thank-you letter to Curt Schilling.

Curt, although I do not personally know you, I want to thank you for everything you've done while spending time in the Boston, Mass., area. While some people focus on your strong opinions, I choose to center on your humanity, your mission to help others in need, your support of our brave men and women Soldiers, to fully potentiate your baseball skills with 100 percent effort, and your daily presence as a lifelong student of baseball, history and, most importantly, life in general. Unlike many people who feel that you can stop learning once graduating school, it seems like you have become smarter and wiser every day. We can hear it in your wise and passionate perspectives on just about anything from world politics to the politics in baseball -- and the articulation to effectively communicate the given subject matter (including some informative and entertaining entries on your blog, 38 Pitches.

Unlike some pampered, prima donna athletes who care about the money first, you seem to have connected so well to us New Englanders through candid media interviews and important work in the community. We live in the next town over from you and have heard from neighbors how much of a "regular guy" you are -- a person with a big smile, good listening skills, a kind word to say and a helping hand. One of our friends told us that you were so pleasant to others when watching July 4th fireworks one year in Walpole, Mass. We have heard other examples of your decency that are so much appreciated by "Red Sox and New England Nation." You unselfishly supported that Medfield, MA, family in need on "Extreme Home Makeover," and your work to fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gerhig's Disease) through Curt's Pitch For ALS speaks volumes about your priorities in life.

Boston can be a nasty town -- with a sector of the media contributing greatly to that dubious, self-centered cause -- but you have chosen to recognize and celebrate the Boston sports fan, the New England resident, and to carry on the magic of our National Pastime, which has sadly become somewhat tainted by financial greed and cheating through the years.

You received a lot of credit for that bloody sock incident -- and what a effort you put in to help us win the 2004 World Series -- but your dedication to the game goes well beyond that. It was an honor seeing you pitch every time out -- you weren't given the best athletic skills, but, boy, did you make the most out of them. We hard-working New Englanders with a traditionally strong work ethic appreciate the effort!

Best wishes in your future endeavors. We wish you could stay in New England, but you know what's best for you and your family. Your presence created a lot of memories that we New Englanders can take with us, forever -- including seeing the Red Sox finally becoming World Series Champions after years of suffering. Thank-you again for being such an integral part of our beloved baseball team and region!

Best regards,
Eric H.
Editor and Publisher
VisitingNewEngland.com
CooperstownForKids.com
VisitingCooperstown.com
The Weekly New England Travel and Vacation Gazette

Editor's note: So, you might be ultimately asking , what's a thank-you letter to Curt Schilling doing in a New England Travel Blog? Well, we also like to focus on the people who make New England so special. You'll be seeing a lot more focus on this type of writing, as New England is not just a place of places and things. The people, ultimately, make it a special place!

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