Scenic Chair Lifts & Sky-High Leaf Peeping

Posted on October 6, 2025October 4, 2025 by Dusty Roads

🎢 Scenic Chair Lifts & Sky-High Leaf Peeping: New England’s Autumn Adventures

Oh hey, Leaf Peepers 🍁—ready to elevate your fall foliage game? If you’re tired of craning your neck through car windows or dodging reflections off the windshield, New Hampshire and Vermont have a better idea: take to the skies.

Stock photo

🎿 Chair Lifts & Gondolas with a View
Ski resorts across the region open their lifts to non-skiers each autumn, offering a bird’s-eye view of the blazing reds, golds, and oranges below. You’ll be strapped in, feet dangling, soaring over treetops like a migrating hawk. Feeling bold? Snap a few photos mid-air—if your nerves allow. Prefer something enclosed? Opt for a gondola ride, where you can enjoy the same stunning views from the comfort of a cozy cabin.

Photo Credit Deb Neumann

🎢 But Wait—There’s More (Thrill Seekers, This One’s for You)

🎢 Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster – Berkshires, MA
If your idea of leaf peeping involves adrenaline and velocity, head to Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster in the Berkshires. This alpine coaster climbs 1,500 feet before plunging down Mount Institute in a blur of hairpin turns and forested speed. You might not catch every leaf, but your heart will definitely skip a beat.

Stock photo

🚂 A More Sedate Journey

🚂 Conway Scenic Railroad – White Mountains, NH
For a gentler ride through fall’s splendor, hop aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad. Winding through the White Mountains, this vintage train offers panoramic views of Crawford Notch’s cliffs and fiery foliage. Want the ultimate experience? Splurge on a seat in the glass-domed car—360 degrees of autumn magic.

Stock photo

🌳 Walk Among the Treetops

🌳 Canopy Walk – Vermont Institute of Natural Science
Ever dreamed of strolling through the treetops? Vermont makes it real. The Canopy Walk at VINS invites visitors of all abilities to wander above the forest floor, immersed in golden leaves and birdsong. It’s peaceful, poetic, and perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone craving a gentle thrill.

Stock photo

🧗 Zip Lines & Obstacle Courses

🧗 Adventure Park – Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, CT
Zip lines used to be a novelty—now they’re a staple of fall fun. At the Discovery Museum’s Adventure Park, you’ll zip through a kaleidoscope of leaves, suspended in midair like a squirrel on a mission. But that’s just the beginning: 14 treetop trails await, complete with swinging bridges, ladders, and cable runs. Friendly staff are on hand to help you gear up and get climbing.

The Adventure Park at Discovery Museum: Zipline & Rope Course

stock photo

🍂 Leaf Peeping, Reimagined

New England’s fall foliage isn’t just for slow drives and scenic overlooks anymore. Whether you’re gliding above the trees, racing through them, or walking among their golden crowns, there’s a thrill for every kind of adventurer. Seniors, families, daredevils—everyone’s invited to move leaf peeping off the ground and into the sky.

Photo Credit Deb Neumann

October – Black Cat Awareness Month

Posted on October 5, 2025October 2, 2025 by Dusty Roads

🖤 Celebrating Balboa: Black Cat Awareness Month

October isn’t just for pumpkins and spooky tales—it’s also Black Cat Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the sleek, mysterious felines who’ve long been misunderstood. And who better to represent this cause than Balboa, the regal, mischievous heartthrob of Around Dusty Roads?

Balboa isn’t just a cat—he’s a shadow dancer, a sunbeam chaser, and a purring poet in fur. Yet despite their charm, black cats like Balboa often face unfair odds in shelters due to centuries-old superstitions.

🐾 Myths, Misconceptions, and Missed Connections

From medieval Europe to modern pop culture, black cats have been tangled in tales of witchcraft and bad luck. Some still believe that a black cat crossing your path is a sign of doom. But as Groucho Marx quipped, “A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.” Balboa would add—with a flick of his tail—that it’s probably toward a sunlit nap or a snack.

These outdated beliefs have real consequences. Studies show black cats are less likely to be adopted than their lighter-colored counterparts. Their features can be harder to photograph, and they’re often overlooked in crowded shelters. It’s a heartbreaking irony: the very traits that make them elegant and enigmatic are the ones that keep them waiting for homes.

🐈‍⬛ Balboa Breaks the Spell

Balboa’s story is a reminder that black cats are anything but unlucky. He’s a daily dose of joy, a midnight-colored muse who inspires blog posts, product spotlights, and cozy evenings. His antics—whether chasing shadows or curling up beside a book—prove that love, not superstition, should guide our choices.

A Balboa Blep- photo credit Deb Neumann

This October, let’s rewrite the narrative. Share stories of your black cats, support shelters, and consider adopting a feline like Balboa. Because behind every black coat is a heart full of magic.

photo credit Deb Neumann

🐻 Chuck Reigns Supreme: The 2025 Fattest Bear Champion of Katmai

Posted on October 4, 2025October 1, 2025 by Dusty Roads

Champion 2025

🐻The Bear, the Myth, the Muffin-Top Majesty

Move over, bodybuilders—Chuck the brown bear just flexed his way to victory in the most gloriously gluttonous competition of the year: Fat Bear Week 2025. With jowls jiggling and a belly that could moonlight as a beanbag chair, Chuck waddled his way into the hearts (and stomachs) of fans worldwide. This isn’t just a bear. This is a living, breathing marshmallow with claws.

Chuck – Fattest Bear Champion 2025

Chuck resides in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where the salmon run is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet for bears prepping for hibernation. And Chuck? He didn’t just eat. He committed. His pre-hibernation physique is less “dad bod” and more “entire PTA meeting.”

What Is Katmai National Park, Anyway?

Located in southern Alaska, Katmai is a wild wonderland of volcanoes, tundra, and—most famously—grizzly bears. It’s home to over 2,000 brown bears, many of whom gather at Brooks Falls each summer to catch leaping salmon mid-air like furry Olympians. The park was established in 1918 to protect the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a surreal volcanic landscape born from the 1912 Novarupta eruption.

Photo by Thomas Mangelsen

But today, Katmai is best known for its bear cams and the annual Fat Bear Week, a bracket-style showdown where the public votes for the bear who best embodies the spirit of seasonal snacking.

Chuck’s Winning Strategy: Salmon, Swagger, and Zero Shame

Chuck didn’t just eat salmon—he became salmon. His folds have folds. His shadow has its own gravitational pull. Rumor has it he once sat on a log and turned it into mulch. And when he walks, the tundra trembles.

But this isn’t just about comedy—it’s about survival. Bears like Chuck must pack on the pounds to endure months of hibernation, where they’ll live off their fat reserves. So really, Chuck’s not lazy—he’s a strategic genius with a gut of gold.

Chuck’s Winning Strategy: Salmon, Swagger, and Zero Shame

And here’s the kicker: Chuck did it all with a broken jaw. Wildlife experts believe he sustained the injury during a mating-season brawl, but did that slow him down? Not one bite. He slurped, gnawed, and gorged his way to greatness, proving that nothing—not even a busted bite radius—could stop his rise to rotund royalty.
It makes his accomplishment that much more jaw-droppingly heroic.

Long Live the Lard

So here’s to Chuck: the bear, the legend, the walking beanbag. May his salmon dreams be sweet, his winter nap be cozy, and his legacy live on in every jiggle of joy.

Fat Bear Champion 2025

Yabba Dabba Doo- The Flintstones turn 65

Posted on October 3, 2025September 30, 2025 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Yabba Dabba Doo! The Flintstones Turn 65

On September 30, 1960, television audiences met Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Barney and Betty Rubble—and TV was changed forever. If you grew up in the ’60s, chances are you grew up with that modern Stone Age family. You watched their lives unfold, their families grow, and welcomed Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm into your living room.

I can still hear the theme song playing in my head as if it were yesterday. Yabba Dabba Doo!

Inspired by The Honeymooners

The Flintstones drew inspiration from The Honeymooners, the beloved sitcom starring Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden. Fred Flintstone echoed Ralph’s bluster and charm, while Barney Rubble was modeled after Ed Norton, Ralph’s quirky sidekick. The formula worked—The Flintstones ran for six seasons, from 1960 to 1966.

Prime Time Trailblazers

This wasn’t just a Saturday morning cartoon. The Flintstones was the first animated sitcom to air in prime time on a major network (ABC), and it was originally aimed at adult audiences. That didn’t last long—kids quickly took over. The show’s popularity soared, outlasting many of its live-action peers and paving the way for future animated hits.

From Bedrock to the Big Screen

The Flintstones didn’t stop at television. In 1966, they hit theaters with The Man Called Flintstone, an animated spy spoof. Then came the live-action era: The Flintstones (1994) and Viva Rock Vegas (2000). And now, in December 2025, they return to their animated roots with Meet the Flintstones—a fresh take for a new generation.

It’s safe to say that another wave of kids will soon be shouting “Yabba Dabba Doo!” And of course, we’ll always have their vitamins.

🐚 Scallops: A Neighborhood Delicacy

Posted on October 2, 2025September 29, 2025 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

🐚 Scallops: A Neighborhood Delicacy Worth Celebrating

It seems like all I do these days is write or talk about food—and honestly, I’m not mad about it. This time, I’m diving into one of my all-time favorite seafoods: scallops.

Pan Seared Scallops

Back in the day, Falmouth hosted a beloved Scallop Festival every year. I attended in 2015 and still remember the buttery aroma wafting through the tents. Sadly, I don’t think they’ve held it since before COVID, and I’m not sure why it disappeared. But there’s hope—New Bedford has resurrected Scallopalooza, and I’m definitely planning to check it out next year. Missed it this time, but scallops are always worth circling back to.

✨ Underrated No More

Scallops may have flown under the radar for years, but today they’re getting the fanfare they deserve. Sure, they might not rival lobster in prestige, but when cooked properly, scallops are pure melt-in-your-mouth magic. The trick? Don’t overcook them. A perfectly seared scallop is tender and sweet; an overcooked one turns into a chewy, rubbery lump—no thank you.

deep fried scallops

Because scallops are found in waters around the world, the ways to enjoy them are endless: sautéed in butter, nestled in soup, tossed with pasta, or simmered in stew. There’s a scallop for every mood and every meal.

🍽️ My Favorite Ways to Enjoy

Personally, I love scallops deep-fried—especially the kind served at festivals and roadside stands. But pan-fried scallops are my go-to at home: quick, flavorful, and easy to master. They’re also divine in a wine sauce over pasta, or broiled and baked with stuffing. So many ways to savor these little gems!

Baked Stuffed Scallops

🔥 Perfect Seared Scallops with Garlic Basil Butter

Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Total Time: 10 min
Servings: 4 (3 scallops each)

Seared scallops cook fast—just 5 minutes—and are best served immediately. If you’re pairing them with pasta, veggies, or rice, have those ready to go before you start. I highly recommend finishing them with garlic basil butter for a fragrant, citrusy twist.

🧂 Ingredients

Scallops

12 large sea scallops (1¼ to 1½ lbs)
2 tsp all-purpose flour (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp avocado or vegetable oil

Garlic Basil Butter

1½ tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup fresh basil leaves
3–4 lemon slices

👩‍🍳 Directions

Pat scallops dry with a paper towel. Lightly dust one side with flour, then season with salt and pepper.
Heat a wide skillet over medium-high. Add oil and let it shimmer.
Place scallops in the pan, seasoned side down. Cook undisturbed for ~2 minutes until browned.
While they brown, season the other side with flour, salt, and pepper.
Flip scallops. If they stick, wait a few seconds and gently wiggle to release.
Add butter and garlic to the pan, swirling as the butter melts.
Cook another minute or two, then remove from heat. Stir in basil and lemon slices. Serve immediately.

Perfect Seared Scallops

For more details and a video walkthrough, check out Inspired Taste here.

Scenic Chair Lifts & Sky-High Leaf Peeping