A trip to Boston promises more out of the ordinary activities in a day than almost any major city can boast. Some of the things to do in Boston include walking the Freedom Trail, a visit to Americas oldest tavern, or viewing breathtaking art created by masters old and new. No matter what you are looking for Boston has the attraction.
My favorite unique Boston-area attraction and one that I recommend to tourists looking for something a little out of the ordinary in the Boston area is the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. Located just off route 95 in beautiful Lincoln, Massachusetts, the museum is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Boston and is open year-round during daylight hours.
If you are touring the western suburbs of Boston you should plan on stopping at the Minuteman Airport (K6B6 in pilot lingo) in Stow Massachusetts. Certainly off of the beaten path, it is the home to Nancy's Airfield Cafe. While restaurants at airports are not uncommon, Nancy's is truly a cut above with great food, nice atmosphere, and a wonderful view of the airport and airplanes.
I was retuning back to my home in New England after a recent business trip in New Jersey. As I was driving up interstate 84 through Connecticut around dinner time, I noticed a billboard for Blue Colony Diner. I am a big fan of the diner and I often lament the fact that they are becoming harder to find in northern New England. The sign indicated that the diner was at exit 10, only a few miles from where I was. "Great", I thought, just in time for dinner!
Looking for a day trip that is off the "beaten path"? Check out Salem Massachusetts. It has much to offer because the town is jam packed full of history. Located about 16 miles north of Boston on the Atlantic coast, Salem, which is well known for witches, also has a fine collection of Federalist Style mansions. One of my favorites is The Phillips House.
The cynic in me used to think that if you've seen one aquarium, you've seen them all. However, after visiting the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration in Mystic, Connecticut, this is clearly not the case. True, there are plenty of standard glass cases filled with fish, but it's the unique exhibits and the focus on education that sets Mystic Aquarium apart from the rest.
My first time whitewater rafting was on the Deerfield River in the northern Berkshires of Massachusetts. My husband and I were invited by a friend to go on a guided rafting trip, and I'll admit I had reservations. My only rafting experience to this point was paddling a canoe on calm water! I envisioned white-capped, churning waters cascading into our inflatable raft. Once I learned there were seasoned guides manning each raft, I felt much better.
Chances are you'll find Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens in South Deerfield, Massachusetts a relaxing respite from an otherwise hectic world. This is a rare chance to see butterflies in their natural environment. The conservatory houses tropical gardens that are modeled after the butterfly's natural habitat. The main attraction at Magic Wings is an 8,000 square foot conservatory that is home to more than 4,000 free-flying butterflies.
Tucked into the southeast side of Mount Washington, New England's highest mountain, Tuckerman Ravine is a one-of-a-kind skiing experience that is famous worldwide. There are no lifts, and you have to hike nearly three miles to get to the skiing. Because of its location, though, it collects an enormous amount of snow and people ski the ravine well into summer. Skiing Tuckerman is a right of passage for many New England skiers.
If it's March, it's maple syrup time in New England! So how do you make pure maple syrup? As daytime temperatures rise above freezing, the sap begins to run and the sugar houses come to life. Sugaring season, as it's known up here, typically runs from late February to mid April throughout New England. The southern and eastern areas begin the earliest, while it might take another month for the northernmost areas to start their syrup operations. The season runs as long as the weather allows, which can be a couple of weeks to nearly two months. Visiting a sugar house when the sap is boiling is an event to behold, and the end product is a delight to taste.
