Road Trip :: Boston, MA

I.

LOVE.

Boston.

 I want to live here. 

Within 10 minutes of being in the city, Jasper and I turned to each other with stars in our eyes.  THIS is our kind of city. It's absolutely perfect. Unlike any city we've visited before. Perhaps someday, we will be able to live here...

Now for the magic.

The one major thing on my 'to do' list for Boston's drive-through (only a day there, not even a night) was to visit the Public Garden -- ahem --- Make Way for Ducklings by McCloskey, anyone?

It is amaaaaazing. Like stepping into the pages of the book.

Then, after lunch outside (Jake sat under the table) :) -- we found the COOLEST ice cream shop!  Emack and Bolio - parent/inspiration for Ben & Jerry - home of rockers a few decades ago.... born in Boston.  Some of the creamiest, tastiest ice cream I've ever tasted!  (And trust me, we're tasting it in nearly every town we stop in!)

ahhh... Beacon Hill -- perhaps the neighborhood of a future home!?

(after our hoped-for chapter overseas, perhaps...)

Road Trip :: New England Coast

 Head East out on Long Island -- up to the North Fork, along 2 lane route 25.  Wow.  We both want to come back to this spot, sans kids, to do all of the WINE TASTING!!  Beautiful, quiet, subdued wine country with white sand beaches.  This area is purported to be the most unchanged of all Long Island.  It has a great feel.  Fresh farm stands all along the way.  Quaint, living, breathing towns. 

one of many OLD cemeteries along our route (this is props to you, dad)

 

ferry at Orient Point (north fork, Long Island)

 

skinned knees - sign of a good time!

stealth submarine hanging out in Groton, CT

Working drawbridge, from 1920, using counterweights - on Mystic River, CT

 

Mystic, CT



drawbridge from down the footpath



Mystic, CT

First camp meal!

 We've gotten pretty darn good at cooking over an open fire.  MacNCheese, Spaghetti (aka "twirly pasta"), hot dogs...

our cabin - one of many similar ones at KOA's

 When we left our Mystic, CT campground - we decided to chart our own path, throw the AAA directions to the wind and take scenic route 1 along the coast to our next stop.  Trouble was .... Westerly, Rhode Island.  This town will give you a migraine.  The signs for route 1 literally circle you around until you can't see straight anymore.  I think we criss-crossed the NH, RI border at least 7 times.  OY! We lost a good hour of time, but we made it in reasonable spirits and did enjoy a scenic route through Rhode Island.

one of many similar scenes along the drive

 Next, we hit Boston - but that merits a post of its own.  So you'll see our last real "coastal" photo below.  MAINE. 
MAINE.
MAINE.
I have so longed to go to Maine.  Not only did we go - it has been our all-time favorite (by far) KOA of them all.  Talk about a great feel - and the cicadaes, crickets and frogs didn't drown us out that night. It was all quiet.  I trekked to a little seafood shack down the road - and picked up steamed lobster to go (caught that morning by a grizzly, weathered man who happens to be friends with the guys who run the lobstah truck in DC).  3 large lobsters, clam chowder, and fresh corn on the cob: $30.  Yes, folks, that's right. 

Ainsley chowed her entire lobster and begged for more.  'atta girl!

Perhaps another separate trip to Maine is in order - a week in Acadia Park, we think. Add that to the 'someday' list.

Road Trip :: Brooklyn, NY

Ahhhh - a family vacation just for vacation's sake!

We have begun our NE camping trek ... well, mostly 'kamping'. :) Something we have dreamed of for at least a decade now.  Schlepped the cargo bag on top of the car, cooler, kid, dog, and accoutrements.  Off we go!

Journey with us ~

Brooklyn Bridge

Resting under the bridge is a fantastic park: Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Dotted with art sculptures, phenomenal view of Manhattan, subway rumbling overhead, and the Bridge looming above.  Such a mix of people.  I absolutely loved this spot.  And Ainsley's shrieks of glee testify she loved it too!

random old building

glorious playground!

As luck would have it, Matt and Alona had flown in for Alona to perform!  She danced a quartet and a duet with Center for Performance Research.  She was stunning!  Debut in NYC! So proud of my dear friend!  Dinner with Matt at very small funky restaurant whose kitchen was half the size of mine, which is saying something! (polenta with goat cheese and mushroom, shrimp, steak. brushetta with roasted tomato, goat cheese & fig, and gorgonzola & candied bacon).  Showtime, and then talked till 2 a.m. while Ains slept in our incredibly tiny hotel room!

Next morning - a long walk to Prospect Park.

Ah - then to Coney Island!  Fantasy place. It's REAL!

We even had a hotdog at Famous Nathan's!

I love that this ride boasts popularity since the year my Dear Grandpa Curly was BORN. 1920. And Ainsley RODE it. :)

A little grimy, and watch your step, but funky cool and certainly a festive place to hang out with kids!  So happy we did Coney Island!  (We can thank Dora for that -- as she goes there in an episode to get ice cream... which we did... Ains had 2 scoops!)