Category Archives: attraction

The Day Roswell Landed on the Map

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“A glowing disc‑shaped UFO hovering in a dark, misty night sky, shining bright green beams of light onto the ground below.”

Seventy‑nine years ago today, on July 8, 1947, the Roswell Army Air Field casually announced they’d recovered a “flying disc.” Just tossed it into the news like someone found a lost hubcap in the desert.

By the next day, the Army said, “No no, wait — it was a weather balloon.” And that was the moment America collectively raised an eyebrow and said, “Sure it was.”

That tiny headline didn’t just make the local paper — it put Roswell, New Mexico on the map. Before the “crash,” it was a quiet desert town. After the “crash,” it became the Alien Capital of the World, complete with:

  • UFO museums
  • alien‑themed diners
  • green‑skinned mascots
  • and an annual festival that looks like Comic‑Con met Area 51

All because someone typed “flying disc” before their morning coffee.

The whole modern UFO craze — the sightings, the documentaries, the late‑night radio callers, the government cover‑up theories — traces back to that one moment in 1947.

And decades later, The X‑Files summed up the entire Roswell vibe with its iconic slogan:

“I want to believe.”

Roswell still does. Do you?

 

Everyone Loves a Parade

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The giant turkey float wearing a blue top hat in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, moving past crowds and tall city buildings.”

Massachusetts: More Parades Than You’d Expect

New Orleans has Mardi Gras — and truth be told, probably a parade for something every other week. They’re America’s party town for sure. But Massachusetts has more parades than you might think. We’ve got the big national ones, yes, but we’ve also got some wonderfully quirky, uniquely‑ours traditions.

A Quick Roll Call of Bay State Parades

Here are the ones that come to mind without much effort:

  1. First Night, Boston (New Year’s Eve)
  2. St. Patrick’s Day, South Boston
  3. Patriots’ Day Parade, Concord
  4. Ducklings Day Parade, Boston
  5. Memorial Day Parades, Every Town
  6. Fishtown Horribles Parade, Gloucester
  7. Fourth of July Parades, statewide
  8. Carnival Parade, Provincetown
  9. Haunted Happenings Parade, Salem
  10. America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, Plymouth
  11. Christmas Eve Parade, Lynn

Championship Duck Boats: Our Modern Victory Marches

And then there are the Championship Parades — our modern‑day victory marches. The crowds gather, the duck boats roll out, and the players ride through Boston like triumphant warriors returning from battle. No chariots, but close enough.

St. Patrick’s Day: Southie’s Biggest Tradition

Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Southie is one of the oldest and largest in the country. Bagpipes, marching bands, Irish dancers, politicians shaking hands, and half the city wearing green — it’s a celebration that feels like Boston down to its bones. If you’ve never seen South Boston on March 17, you haven’t truly experienced St. Patrick’s Day.

Patriots’ Day: A Parade You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

See that Patriots’ Day Parade? That one is truly unique. Patriots’ Day is strictly a Massachusetts holiday — and some years we even get an extra day to file our federal taxes because we’re special like that.

Ducklings Day: Boston’s Sweetest Tradition

One of the sweetest parades is the Ducklings Day Parade, celebrating the Make Way for Ducklings statue. It’s traditionally held on Mother’s Day and is pure Boston charm.

Fourth of July: Cannons, Fireworks, and Local Flavor

Everyone has a Fourth of July parade, but we go one better with the concert on the Esplanade, complete with cannons and fireworks. And up in Gloucester, they celebrate with the Fishtown Horribles Parade — a wonderfully chaotic, satirical tradition where floats poke fun at political figures, local issues, and whatever else needs a good ribbing.

Provincetown Carnival: Color, Creativity, and Community

Head to the tip of Cape Cod and you’ll find Provincetown’s Carnival Parade, a joyful celebration of diversity and creativity that the town is famous for.

Salem’s Haunted Happenings: Halloween Done Right

Rounding out the unusual lineup is Salem’s Haunted Happenings Parade. Other places may have Halloween parades, but there’s no place like Salem in late October for witches, goblins, and costumed chaos.

Plymouth’s Thanksgiving Parade: History Marches On

And while America crowds around the TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, our own Plymouth — home of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving — holds its America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, a tradition all its own.

Take That, New Orleans

So yes, New Orleans may have Mardi Gras, and Disney may have a parade every time someone sneezes — but here in Massachusetts, we do things our own way. Who else has cannons on the Esplanade, championship duck boats rolling through Boston like returning warriors, and a parade for just about every season? Take that, New Orleans.

 

Make Way for Ducklings

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Make Way for Ducklings: Boston’s Most Beloved (and Frequently Kidnapped) Family

If you’ve ever wandered through the Boston Public Garden, you’ve probably met the city’s most famous residents: Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, immortalized in bronze and endlessly climbed on by children, tourists, and the occasional overly enthusiastic adult who should know better.

They’re based on the classic 1941 children’s book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey — which, in a very Massachusetts move, has been officially declared the Commonwealth’s children’s book. Because of course it has. If we love something, we legislate it (remember the chowder?).

A Duck Family Cast in Bronze

The bronze duck family was created by sculptor Nancy Schön and installed in 1987. They’re lined up in a neat little row — Mrs. Mallard in front, followed by Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack — and they are:

  • rubbed shiny by millions of tiny hands
  • photographed more than the average Kardashian
  • climbed on daily
  • and beloved in a way that borders on civic obsession

If you stand there long enough, you’ll see at least one toddler attempt to ride Mrs. Mallard like a Kentucky Derby contender. 

Years of tiny hands have polished them so shiny they practically glow — and honestly, that tracks. New Englanders love to touch bronze animals for good luck. It’s right up there with eating chowder on a hot day and pretending we don’t mind the weather.

Dressed for Every Occasion

People dress these ducks up more often than most folks I know change their own outfits. Depending on the season, you might find them wearing:

  • Easter bonnets
  • Patriots jerseys
  • Red Sox gear
  • Scarves in winter
  • Pride flags in June
  • Pumpkin hats in October
  • Graduation caps (because Boston has more colleges than Dunkin’ locations, and that’s saying something)

There’s no official “duck stylist,” but somehow the outfits appear like magic. It’s very Boston: no one admits to doing it, but everyone approves.

Honestly, they get dressed up more often than the average Bostonian heading to a Patriots game in January — and we’ll wear anything as long as it’s warm and vaguely team‑colored.

Make Way for Ducklings statues in the Boston Public Garden

The Great Ducknappings of Boston

Here’s the part that always makes people blink:
The ducklings get stolen. Frequently.

Not all eight at once — that would require a level of planning usually reserved for heists — but one or two at a time. Usually it’s:

  • a prank
  • a drunken college student
  • or someone who thought, “You know what my dorm room needs? A 40‑pound bronze duck.”

They almost always get returned, sometimes anonymously, sometimes by a sheepish parent dragging a guilty teenager by the elbow. The city keeps replacement molds on standby because Boston has accepted that this is simply part of life now.

It’s practically a local sport, right behind candlepin bowling and arguing about which place has the “real” clam chowder.

Why We Love Them

There’s something about these statues that hits people right in the heart. Maybe it’s nostalgia for the book. Maybe it’s the charm of a duck family marching through the Garden like they own the place. Or maybe it’s that deep New England instinct to adopt anything small, cute, and slightly chaotic — see also: our weather.

Whatever it is, the ducks are woven into Boston’s identity. They’re whimsical, sturdy, slightly chaotic, and beloved — which, come to think of it, describes the city pretty well too.

 

Meet Webster Lake: Home to the Longest Name in the U.S.

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Welcome sign in Webster, Massachusetts featuring the full name of Webster Lake (Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg) and referencing the Nipmuc Indian heritage.

A Lake Name That Looks Like a Scrabble Accident

I thought I knew my home state pretty well. I’ve lived here long enough to pronounce “Worcester” without breaking a sweat, and I can even handle “Leominster” on a good day. But apparently I’ve been walking around completely unaware of a lake whose name looks like someone dropped a Scrabble bag down a flight of stairs.

Meet Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.

Yes, that’s real.
No, I did not just make that up.
And no, I cannot pronounce it — I’m already out of my depth and possibly in over my head.

Why Locals Just Call It Webster Lake

With 45 letters and 14 syllables, this Webster, Massachusetts lake holds the title for the longest place name in the United States and one of the longest in the world. Locals, being practical New Englanders with no time for linguistic gymnastics, simply call it Webster Lake.

Honestly, I don’t blame them. If I had to say the full name every time I wanted to go kayaking, I’d never leave the house.

The Real Meaning (and the Joke One Everyone Knows)

The name comes from the Nipmuc people, and the real translation is something along the lines of “fishing place at the boundary.”

But New Englanders being New Englanders, a joke translation has been floating around for decades:

“You fish on your side, I fish on my side, and nobody fishes in the middle.”

Is it accurate? No.
Is it delightful? Absolutely.

A Beautiful Lake With a Sense of Humor

The lake itself is lovely — calm water, tree‑lined shores, and a whole lot of pride from the town of Webster, which has embraced its famously unpronounceable claim to fame. There are even signs with the full name, just in case you want to test your eyesight or your patience.

And honestly, if my GPS ever tried to pronounce this name out loud, I’d have to pull over. I don’t need my car swerving because the navigation system had a nervous breakdown.

I had never even heard of this lake until today, so discovering it felt like stumbling onto a secret Massachusetts side quest.

Things to Do When You Visit Webster Lake

Webster Lake or Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg if you are feeeling linguistically brave,  is tucked into central Massachusetts, where you’ll find no shortage of lake‑day activities

• Enjoy Memorial Beach
A sandy public beach with lifeguards in summer, picnic tables, and plenty of space to relax.

• Take a lake cruise
Seasonal boat tours give you the full view — and you get to hear the captain pronounce the name so you don’t have to.

• Rent a kayak or paddleboard
The lake is calm and perfect for paddling. Plus, you can brag later that you kayaked on a lake with a 45‑letter name.

• Explore the shoreline
Quiet spots to walk, sit, or just enjoy the water without needing to swim.

• Grab lunch in downtown Webster
Casual diners, pizza, ice cream — all close by and very Massachusetts.

• Snap a photo with the famous sign
The full name is printed loud and proud. It’s practically a requirement to take a picture with it.

Final Thoughts

If you decide to visit, don’t worry — calling it “Webster Lake” will get you there just fine.

 

 

Bridge of Flowers Opens for the Season

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The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA is open for the season. This one‑of‑a‑kind flower‑covered trolley bridge is cared for by skilled gardeners and volunteers, making it the perfect spot for a quiet, restorative stop. Enjoy the blooms — and take care of the environment while you’re there.

The Bridge of Flowers announces it's annual spring opening

The Bridge of Flowers began as a simple trolley bridge, reborn as a public garden in 1929.  The Bridge of Flowers Committee lovingly cares for the floral displays  season after season for everyone to enjoy. Open from May to October.