September 2008 Archives

The call came all too soon, even though it was 2:00 am in the morning. Time sure can get away from you at Wally's. The call signals it's time to close but no one seemed to be ready to head home.

Not your ordinary, touristy attraction appeal, Wally's is about the best place for jazz one can find. A place the locals gather, Wally's really packs em in. Tiny and crowded, enthusiastic patrons ranged in age from the young crowd of mid-thirties to the older generation, who might remember years ago when Wally's was first opened. It was interesting to watch as they gathered round the bar and engaged in conversation while ordering another round.It was like a portrait painted long ago.

Sipping our morning coffee, we decided to set off down Route 7 in western Connecticut to see where the road leads us.

We cruised alongside sweeping meadows lined with rustic wooden fences, dotted with red barns when we saw a majestic stud farm. The horses were grazing contentedly, oblivious to the cars racing by on the highway. The outdoor cafes and the white churches lend a certain charm to the town of Kent. Historically, this town stands out as one of Connecticut's leading iron-producing towns for most of the 19th century.

Boston isn't the old style city many people think of it as, it's a great mix of the old and new offering a variety of out of the ordinary activities which makes it a great vacation destination. Visiting I.M. Pei's John Hancock Tower or shopping the always chic Newbury Street offerings are phenomenal, but everybody does that and you demand something different. Here are a few hidden treasures in the Boston area.

Looking for some out of the ordinary things to do in Boston? A visit to one of the islands in The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is an unusual way to see Boston and a fun way to spend the day. The 34 islands in the recreation area offer an array of activities. With swimming beaches, camping, historic forts and the nation's oldest lighthouse these islands have it all! There are often free concerts, plays, tours and lessons.

For me, no trip to Boston is complete without a day trip to the small seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut. A quick one and one-half hour drive south on I-95 takes us straight into Mystic. It's also accessible by train in the same amount of time, as Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) offers a route from downtown Boston directly into the Mystic station. For those wanting to escape driving in Boston traffic, this is an effortless and relaxing way to go.

For an out-of-the-ordinary day trip from Boston, take a couple of days off from the usual tourist hot spots in the greater Boston area and go explore Ipswich. Located on Boston's North Shore, Ipswich is the quintessential New England town, renowned for its beach, fried clams and historic homes, homes of "First Period" architecture dating from 1625. Stroll around the town to admire these homes and their beautiful gardens, browse the shops and galleries for a unique gift, or dine at any one of their fabulous restaurants.

Located just 10 miles south of Boston, Quincy Massachusetts is an out of the ordinary place to visit in the Boston area. It has the distinction of being the birthplace of not one but two American presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Quincy is deserving of it's nickname "The Birthplace of the American Dream".

Mangia Calamari! Seafood in the North End. If you are touring Boston, make sure that you put the North End on your list of places to visit. Only a few blocks from the Fanuiel Hall marketplace, the North End is Boston's little Italy. While I have watched in recent years as the many of the traditional Italian markets and restaurants have closed and been replaced by chain stores. There is one place that has remained pretty much unchanged, The Daily Catch.

It might not be the hippest place to visit in Boston. In fact, truth be told, it's kind of nerdy. But if you like books, polished wood, gourmet food and out-of-the-ordinary exhibits, you might want to head to the Boston Public Library. I've spent many hours perusing the library's volumes and sitting in its wood paneled reference room, working on my laptop. And when I get tired of reading, writing, and people watching, I go in search for a cup of coffee and a gourmet sandwich without leaving the library.