Tag Archives: Travel

Seals and more beach, Chatham Ma

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We had a great lunch on the patio at the Kreme and Cone in Chatham, MA. Over fish and clams, shrimp and  onion rings we planned the afternoon. It was going on 2:30 pm by then anyway. The kids wanted to go to the Zooquarium in Yarmouth but they also wanted to see the seals. Since we were right there in Chatham we adults made an executive decision to go to the Fish Pier and see the seals.

We had great timing because the fishing boats were coming in with their catch. When we first got there a boat was off-loading lobster. Another boat had dogfish. Alex loved watching the unloading process.

The seagulls were swooping and there were 3- 4 seals that kept diving and swimming around the boats.

The nice thing about the Fish Pier is that a 2nd floor wrap around deck with a railing gives spectators an awesome place to watch the whole process. There’s a takeout seafood restaurant and a couple of picnic tables too as well as a decent restroom. Parking is a challenge. The parking lot is very tiny and always packed. Once you park you walk down to the pier.

The activity here held the kids attention much longer than I expected and we had a great time. When it was time to leave the kids made one last request. They wanted to walk the beach to look for shells. So it was back to the car for their buckets and flip-flops so they could wade in the water.

It was really neat. The little beach combers were very cute. A couple of the seals came around the dock and played in the water just off shore. This is the inner harbor and there hasn’t been any problem with sharks this far into the harbor but even so Nancy & I went on high alert to keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.

We wrapped up the day by stopping for soft ice cream at the Seafood Shanty in Bourne. While we were eating our ice cream at the Herring Run recreation area across the road a huge barge passed us and traveled under the Sagamore bridge. It was just nearing sundown and it was easy to see why these are considered the golden hours for taking pictures.

The Sagamore bridge seemed to glow a burnished gold. It was the frosting on the cake. I had a great day and I think the kids had fun too. Next time we’ll have to get to the Zooquarium.

 

Don’t forget to vote : http://www.nhdreamvacation.com/browse-and-vote/

Mud Flats and Salt Marsh our Brewster Adventure Continues

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After we wrapped up our visit at the museum I took Dawn and Alex outside so that Nancy could pop into the gift shop real quick. We wandered around the building and found some picnic tables and a sand box.

Dawn was into that sand box in a heartbeat. It was almost lunch time. I expected that we’d be heading back to the car to find a place for lunch but when Nancy joined us she had other ideas. It was time to walk the trails.

The trails were amazing. The only problem was that I wasn’t prepared so I was dragging along behind everyone. It was kind of embarrassing when I’m used to setting the pace but I have noticed that I have definitely begun to slow down.

Anyway it wasn’t long before we reached the salt marsh. A narrow board walk path crossed the marsh. The osprey nest was to the right and there were two osprey on the nest. I wish I had the tripod and the bigger lens. I have to come back!

After crossing the salt marsh the kids spotted some standing stones. It was a solar calendar. A marker gave us information on how it worked and then the kids were off again! 🙂

We continued on down the trail with me bringing up the rear. We began to meet  people returning. They told us to keep going and we’d get to the water. Sure enough. Once we got out of the trees we were looking out over the dunes. The path sloped downward through the scrub grass and sand until we mounted the last rise to find ourselves looking out over the mud flats with the ocean beyond.

Nancy and Dawn walked down the beach to look for shells. I sat on the bank and Alex hung back with me. A lady with a couple of dogs stopped by to talk and we made friends with the canines, a little chihuahua and another medium-sized curly-haired black dog. They were really cute and the view was spectacular.

When Nancy and Dawn came back we headed back to the car. We drove back across the cape to Chatham where we stopped at the Kreme and Cone for a seafood lunch.

How we Spent our Morning In Brewster, MA

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Brewster Ma is located on Cape Cod, a wonderful place almost anytime unless you dislike snow. But spring, summer and fall are certainly beautiful times to explore the Cape and Brewster is right in the middle.

Mapquest wanted us to get there by following route  6A. This is a great way to see the sights as the little country-style road meanders through all the little hamlets and towns along the coast of the Cape.  However we had two young children in the car (Can you hear the famous query? “Are we there yet”) so we chose to take  the Cape Highway also known as RT 6. It’s not as scenic but it’s certainly faster. We got off at the Dennisport exit and crossed the cape back to 6A South for our last little bit to our destination.

We were heading to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.

 The Museum is pretty tiny but it’s really well-appointed. The mission statement or purpose is to increase awareness of the environment around us.

There’s a library for research, an activity room where the kids can look at terrariums with snakes and toads, or enjoy the stuffed animals and birds in glass cases.

 There was a video feed from the Osprey nest and a large window looked out on bird feeders and bird baths. There were binoculars supplied to help with the bird watching.

In the short time we were there I spotted a family of cardinals, a yellow finch as well as an assortment of sparrows. The chipmunks were in attendance too.

There’s also a long activity table where the kids can color or trace the animals etched on the surfaces.

 Downstairs was a small aquarium with local fish, crabs, lobsters  and turtles. The jelly fish tank is a see through tank. Everyone was taking pictures through the tank, myself included.

A large shallow tank that looked like a “touch tank” was really a “No Touch tank” which was monitored by a volunteer who answered questions and pointed out the various creatures.

 She also made sure that no little fingers made their way into the tank. This was a bit of a disappointment for the kids but there were quite a few animals in this tank that would not do well with handling.

The museum is set on the edge of a salt marsh and mud flat but there is no admission for the trails. The only admission is charged for going into the museum itself. Even that is nominal, less than $10.00 per person.

You can go through the museum fairly quickly as we did with 2 energetic children towing us along but if you are an adult and go without  the kids , you may want to linger at some of the exhibits or sit in the comfy chairs in front of that big window and spend some time bird watching. I could have spent more time there without question. But today’s trip was for the kids and we moved at their energetic pace.

If you get to Brewster this is definitely worth a stop.

C is for California, Colorado, Connecticut

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The dilemma with “C” is that I have been to California and Connecticut and more than just a touch down at the airport. I haven’t vacationed in either state so I don’t think that I should check them of my list.  When I set the goal I was thinking along the lines of a vacation to really explore each state. I’m hoping that eventually I’ll have a travel trailer/RV and tour the lower 48 at my leisure. In the meantime my paltry vacations will have to suffice.

I went to California in 1996 for a business trip but I didn’t really get to see much. We did take a few hours to visit the Queen Mary but there’s so much more to the state. From Baja in the south to the famous Highway 1 that follows much of the Pacific Coast there’s just so much to this state. I want to see the LaBrea Tar Pits and Channel Islands National Park and the giant Redwoods of northern California.

Of course the first Disney Park is out there and even though I’m not a huge Theme park fanatic, it certainly deserves at least 1 visit. Hollywood on the other hand isn’t high on my list. I think I’d be happy just taking a picture of the Hollywood sign. 🙂

Connecticut is one of my neighbor states. I like the Connecticut River Valley a lot.

 I really hope to get back there again this year. It was pretty cold when I went eagle watching in March. I want to explore Gillette Castle too. I only saw it from the River.

 I spent a spa weekend in Connecticut once. I was kind of bored because I’m not a big “pampering ” kind of person. Once I got my  massage I was ready to go home while everyone else went shopping. That’s just not me. I do want to visit the Mystic Seaport and their aquarium. It’s supposed to be terrific. Still, I’m not sure I want to spend a week’s vacation there. Day trips work for me. I think I can check that State off the list.

Colorado… Sand Dunes National Park, look for mountain goats in the  Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, spy bald eagles swooping above the reservoir in Navajo State Park, and that’s just the beginning.  There are Dude ranches and waterfalls, John Denver country. Gaze at the sunset behind the rugged Rocky Mountain’s peaks. This state is definitely on my must-do list.

Have you been to any of the states? Do you live in one of these three? What do you think are the best places to visit in these states?

New Hampshire Dream Vacation Images

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I reviewed the website and official rules. The Grand Prize is a $2,500 vacation. There are 2 first prizes each for a $500 NH vacation. The pictures have to be uploaded all at once and the deadline is September 5, 2011. That means I have no chance for a “do- over” or to hit the state line attractions. Work has launched into it’s Fall-Rush mode so we’re all working overtime for the next 3-4 weeks.

A lot of pictures have been uploaded already and the current leader has 15,751 votes! I have a feeling I’m not going to get an honerable mention but it’s fun browsing and seeing what other’s have done. I’ll have a better idea for next year. Plus I’ll have to work on my networking skills. I’m really blown away over that number 15,751!

The 2nd place picture at the moment has 6, 525 votes. After that the vote levels starts to be more realistic..the third place in the popular vote as of today has 2.008 votes.

I was also told by a volunteer at one of the locations that there are a couple of groups that have rented busses and are going around taking pictures to submit. They said there was over 100 in one of the groups. Wow. If they win I wonder how they will divide up the prize?

I think to garner lots of votes it’s good to upload your photos early in the contest. So my meager offerings are here so you can see them. I’ll upload them next week but you are getting a sneak preview.

Once they are uploaded, I’ll post the link . I hope you’ll vote for at least one of mine. 🙂

As you can see, I missed a lot of opportunities. My vacation photos were much better, like the Cog Railroad and the Flume gorge or the Cannon Mountain Tram. The problem was remembering to bring that sign. So like I said , there’s always next year. I have a better idea about the contest now.