The Latest New England Updates at VisitingNewEngland.com

Article and photo (Dick and Jane's General Store, Walpole, Mass.) by Eric H.

We have some exciting new articles -- and a special new feature -- that we'd like to alert you to at VisitingNewEngland.com.

The latest feature story centers on ALLCANEAT, a 100 percent gluten-free food facility that will open soon in Randolph, Mass. Located at the former Zeppy's Bagel site, ALLCANEAT will feature breads, pizza shells, cakes, cookies and other foods that people with Celiac's Disease typically cannot eat. ALLCANEAT will also feature a cafe/store. There's quite a story behind the business as executive vice president of sales and marketing David Ford saw, first-hand, a family member diagnosed with autism make a remarkable turnaround after starting a gluten-free diet.

We were also the first to break a story on Dick and Jane's General Store, a fantastic "retro" store located in Walpole, Mass. With bins of penny and old-time candies, homemade fudge, coffee, bagels, muffins rolls, gelato, educational toys and games, Dick and Jane's is not only a wonderful addition to the "Main Street USA" look of old-fashioned downtown Walpole, but perhaps a positive sign that more downtowns can find themselves thriving in a big box store world by simply returning full circle to what made them so special in the first place -- that is, offering a great mix of locally-owned shops and restaurants for the whole family. Dick and Jane's helps the "thriving downtown" cause greatly with a mission to help bring more people to Walpole center through an appealing, back-to-another-time presence.

Speaking of locally-owned stores, we recently launched the "Shop Local, Buy Local New England!" blog at VisitingNewEngland.com. This blog informs readers of -- and celebrates -- the many high quality, locally owned businesses in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. ALLCANEAT and Dick and Jane's General Store are part of this special blog, with several other New England stores written about, also. If you have a favorite locally-owned New England store, please let us know and we'll consider it for publication.

Enjoy our new features, and happy travels (and shopping) in New England!