Hit the Ground Skiing!

While we finish up the new edition of our book, The Compleat Day Tripper: Greater Boston, we thought we'd celebrate the region's first snow by sharing a great state website where you can find convenient places to cross-country ski, and some list detailed information about downhill ski areas as well. Don't forget to check out the Appalachian Mountain Club's listings, too. You can also call the DEM at 617-626-1250.

Middlesex Fells Hiking

The DayTripper Divas & families love the Fells, year-round! Click here for photos.

Dispatches Photo Contest

Here are some of our favorite photos from recent day trips. If it doesn't have a caption, identify the photo location in a comment and win a free PDF of the Day Tripper! Click the speech bubble for captions, and click on the photo to see a larger version on Picasa.

Cross-Country Skiing for Kids

Get your kids involved with a fun, healthy, inexpensive, safe and relatively cheap lifetime winter sport! There is an excellent cross-country instructional league based at the Weston Ski Track, called the Bill Koch League. They encourage parents to get in on the act, too! They welcome all abilities and will teach kids 7+ how to ski and even do a bit of fun racing. There are over 80 kids in the local program. The season has a wonderful grand finale ski festival in Gunstock, NH. In December, practices will start again at our usual home-base at the Weston Ski Track on Saturdays at 9:30. In years past, our first on-snow practice is generally in mid-Dec., due to excellent snow-making equipment at Weston. For more details, email Lauren Hefferon of the Arlington Outings Club.

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See the Compleat Day Tripper for Weston and other family-tested cross-country ski destinations!

Going to Walden

by Mary Oliver

It isn’t very far as highways lie.
I might be back by nightfall, having seen
The rough pines, and the stones, and the clear water.
Friends argue that I might be wiser for it.
They do not hear that far-off Yankee whisper:
How dull we grow from hurrying here and there!

Many have gone, and think me half a fool
To miss a day away in the cool country.
Maybe. But in a book I read and cherish,
Going to Walden is not so easy a thing
As a green visit. It is the slow and difficult
Trick of living, and finding it where you are.

From The River Styx, Ohio and Other Poems, published in "New and Selected Poems," 1992. Found in the Busa Farm newsletter, November 2007

"A Rotten Log Is Never Board"

In this video clip, Lauren Hefferon, who heads up the Arlington Outings Club and the Arlington-based European bike touring company Ciclismo Classico, explains a bit of nature at Great Brook Farm State Park. Hiking, biking and cross-country skiing are fabulous on the well-maintained trails, where we found, it's even fun getting lost. And the ice cream shop is awesome, with inside seating and a viewing window into the milking barn. Call ahead to book a farm tour. 984 Lowell Street, Carlisle, MA 01476; 978 369-6312.

How to Like a Monadnock Hike

Monadnock is a great climb - the 3rd or 2nd most climbed mountain in the world, they say. (Weekdays are more 'tranquil' as a result). I've hiked it to the summit twice. My daughter and wife made it most of the way up and then we decided to take another trail back down, but it doesn't get harder as you go - the difficulty level for 5-8 year olds is 'moderate to a lot' but fun, I would say. This is due to the scrambling up and down that you do. I wouldn't take them on a day when rain threatens, because a lot of the trail is scrambling over rocks and you don't want water pouring over those when feet are trying to get a good foothold - and would recommend you take children that you feel comfortable supervising, since the last thing you need is a daredevil kid bounding ahead and not taking his/her time on the rocks. - by Carl Wagner, Bishop "Green Bees" Roots & Shoots parent

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Click here for a good photo tour of Monadnock hiking.

Gobble Gobble

Fancy picking out your own Thanksgiving dinner and working in a day trip at the same time? You're in luck - Yankee Magazine just published a list of turkey farms in & around New England. If you're aiming to get a free-range or organic turkey, quiz the farmer first. Some equate any amount of outside access with "free range," which can make a big difference in taste and size.

Go Colonial - Make it Real

It's the beginning of the school year, and we all know what that means - our kids have cracked open their history books and started reading all about Jamestown, Plymouth, and the American Revolution.This fall, take history out of the classroom and make it real with a visit to one of The Trustees' colonial homes. Located in some of the state's most picturesque towns - and with beautiful grounds to explore - these homes are a terrific way to enjoy the season's foliage outside while uncovering Massachusetts' extraordinary history inside.

The Colonel John Ashley House, Sheffield
Built in 1735, the Ashley House has ties to the American Revolution and the anti-slavery movement.

The Old Manse, Concord
Overlooking the Old North Bridge, The Old Manse is the site of the famous "shot heard 'round the world" on April 19, 1775.

The Paine House at Greenwood Farm, Ipswich
Discover the unique charm of this 1694 house on its original saltwater farm location.

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Fall Events Near You

Near & Far - Our Gather Dispatches

Bike the Boston Area with Ciclismo Classico Short, local bike tours around Greater Boston, emphasis on open spaces, wildlife, farms, & natural settings.

Follow-up On The Number 7 Engine
by Webduck
September 20, 2007 02:40 PM EDT

	Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone - A Photoessay
	by Jennifer F. September 20, 2007 02:10 AM

	Tower Falls and Roosevelt District, Yellowstone
	by Jennifer F. September 18, 2007 02:49 AM EDT

	Route 66 Rendezvous, San Bernardino
	by Jennifer F. September 16, 2007 01:39 AM EDT

Art of Farming at Old Frog Pond

Around the farmer's art
glow bountiful raspberries
accenting green bushes;
ample apples invite
your pies and crisps
as Old Frog Pond Farm
yields autumn fruit.

Visitors to Old Frog Pond Farm are picking organic Macs, Cortland and Golden Delicious in the orchard - Heritage is the variety of their splendid fall raspberries (photo).

Pick-Your-Own
Farmstand on the front porch
Sculpture in the studio and around the farm
Certified Organic by Baystate Organic Certifiers
Directions

Day Trippers Get Giddy

"I am absolutely giddy at the prospect of the new Compleat Day Tripper!" says loyal DayTripper Judi McLaughlin. Yes, it's true - we've thrashed though and thoroughly revised the Greater Boston edition and with the addition of the brand-new and equally opinionated Cape Cod Day Tripper by Marlissa Briggett, WE NOWHAVE A SERIES! Both books are due for launch before spring. Sign up for our mailing list and be there to meet the authors, and for great deals on signed books, drawings for free books, and fabulous Day Tripper destination giveaways and discounts!

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Please visit us at the DayTripper Books website!

Sea Turtle Rescue on Cape Cod

One of the great things about living on Cape Cod is the tremendous number of opportunities to get involved with ongoing work to preserve the environment and to protect wildlife, reported reader Rick Silva on the Dispatches Gather group. Rick and friends volunteer at the Humane Society's Cape Wildlife Center, and are involved in saltmarsh monitoring through the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (also see the author's recent article on fish monitoring with the APCC). On Monday, Rick was among a large crowd of spectators who came to Dowses Beach in Osterville MA to watch a group of sea turtles get released into the wild.

MORE

A few of the turtles seemed a bit confused at first, but then slowly headed down the beach...

Stone Zoo's Amazing Birds of Prey

A Day Tripper reader highly recommends the Birds of Prey show currently at The Stone Zoo. The group putting on the show is from the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. They present all rescued birds and the performance is educational as well as awe-inspiring, according to Eileen E. of Arlington, who adds that the show features about a dozen different birds and audience participation. The birds are majestic and the theatre is so small you get to see them up close. They swoop down from outside the fence and land on the trainers arm, lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" - even really little ones were engaged. There are three shows a day, and it's well worth a day trip.

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Nature Educates at Harvard

This week's report from Rob Gogan's Nature Watch:

COTTONTAIL RABBIT hops leisurely through the grass by the Business School's Cotting Hall.

RED-TAILED HAWKS perching on light towers hunt young rabbits hopping out from beneath the shelter of Newell Boathouse. "Only the cautious survive," notes a boatman. Another curious red-tailed cocks its head 90 degrees to peer inside Holyoke Center 10th floor windows. Up above the roof of Holyoke Center, two red tails circle together. One of them alights on a cell phone antenna about 20 feet above Holyoke staffer...Cineaste immature red-tailed calls out plaintively for its parents from the tower of Memorial Hall, where Denzel Washington's large crew films "The Great Debaters.

WILD TURKEY returns to the HBS campus. She trots outside the fenced-in children's playground at the Soldiers Field Park day care center.

DOWNY WOODPECKER inspects the trunk of a maple on the bank opposite the Weld Boat House. Meanwhile, another downy feeds in a tall maple behind Widener and another patrols the bark of a tree near the Fogg... Black and white checker of another downy flashes into an elm near Memorial Hall.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE comes to light among the plane tree leaves on the corner of Western Avenue and Soldiers Field Road.

WHIPPOORWILL calls just before dawn behind Greenough Hall.

CAROLINA WRENS sing near 5 Bryant Street.

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE flies about in the branches of the tree in front of the Fogg, calling sweetly.

ROBIN behind Grays Hall pulls up an earthworm and arranges it in his bill before flying off to feed his fledgling in a secure spot. A robin and several STARLINGS happily share the bathing opportunities of a puddle behind Sever Hall.

WHITE BUTTERFLIES flit among the white pine in Harvard Yard, on the ivy of the brick wall in front of Lamont on Mass Ave, and flit across Quincy Street towards the Yard.

RED ADMIRAL butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta) rests on a chainlink fence post by the experimental garden by the OEB Greenhouses. Three more Admirals butterflies also cross Quincy into the Yard from the Barker Center and the Faculty Club, probably after enjoying nectar and the flower garden in full bloom.

Big BUMBLE BEE enjoys a cone flower in front of Loeb House.

Blue CHICORY and yellow EVENING PRIMROSE come into bloom up and down both banks of the Charles.

See Ryan Lynch's fabulous website mapping and identifying (nearly) every Harvard Yard tree!

Thanks to birder and Harvard facilities associate manager Rob Gogan and his "Campus Nature Watchers" including Pete Atkinson, Betsey Cogswell, Marge Fisher, Justin Ide, Sonia Ketchian, Joe Shea, Bob Stymeist and Ray Traietti!

History Comes Alive in Sturbridge

See history come alive in quiet simplicity in Old Sturbridge Village, a little southwest of Worcester. This is a settlement created by gathering together and restoring original buildings from towns throughout New England. Trained guides demonstrate colonial life in this re-creation of an 1830s New England village. There are more than 40 restored structures, including a school, a tavern, a few churches, a meeting house, a bank, some shops, and several homes. In addition, there's a working farm and a water-powered mill. The costumed staff demonstrates the making of soap, bread,shoes, tinware, and even horseshoes, all in historically accurate costumes. Map

Feed Your Day Trips!

The Day Tripper Divas are posting new discoveries, contact information, and day trip tips on a daily or sometimes more frequent basis. Click here to get the Feedburner widget for your desktop, and you'll see the freshest Dispatches, the minute they are posted!

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Oceans of Fun in Woods Hole

Woods Hole makes a great day destination from Greater Boston. In the far part of Falmouth, there is the free Woods Hole Science Aquarium run by the National Fisheries Service (check hours) and a museum at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute focusing on underwater exploration and climate change.

Woods Hole and Falmouth also have some neat beaches that usually aren't overrun with tourists. Our favorite, especially for young children, is Woodneck Beach in Falmouth - part of it is a very calm marsh/sandpit area with tons of hermit crabs, and other creatures. .

There 's a fun bakery called Pie in the Sky in Woods Hole with outdoor tables, casual but nice, with great meal choices. Also Falmouth proper, near the center of town, has a brand new large playground with all kinds of cool ocean-related things; including a little
lighthouse you can climb up; it's very close to the library; by an elementary school.

We have family in Falmouth; so we go there quite often. It's about 1 3/4 hr. drive, with no traffic (we go down the 128 to Rt. 24 way). It's best to avoid rush hour, for a day trip, leaving VERY early in the a.m. is recommended.

Many thanks for this day trip tip from Jeanne Wells Hobbie, formerly of the Arlington Family Connection board, and director of Mystic River Musik.

Be a Compleat Day Tripper!

The Compleat Day Tripper

• New Metro Boston Edition coming in September - completely revised & updated
• Cape Cod & South Coast Edition due out by October!
• Vermont/NH and Western Massachusetts editions in development!

Get out and about with these wildly popular, newly revised and expanded guides to family-friendly expeditions. By popular demand, the latest editions will feature sections on accessible activities, birthday parties, and swimming pools. You'll find some very frank reviews, plus great index, destination websites, and contact information for each family-tested Day Trip. A portion of the proceeds benefit local public schools. The electronic editions make perfect companions to the books, and include clickable website links. Put the PDF on your PDA or iPhone!

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Click Here to Order

Take a Nice Jaunt to Nahant!

We've had a lot of fun taking our kids to Long Beach, Nahant Because our 2-year-old can generally only handle a couple of hours at the beach, we found the parking prices on the North Shore a bit prohibitive. The great advantage of Nahant is that there's loads of parking (1300 spaces!), it only costs $3 per car during the day and !bonus! it's free after about 4.30pm. So it's perfectly suited to a quick visit. The parking is very close to the beach too. We're often parked only 30 yards from where we sit, which makes exits nice and speedy. The beach is a relatively short drive from Cambridge/Somerville (map) and is sandy and quite shallow and good for kids. As the name suggests, it is very long, so is much less crowded than Walden Pond or the closer North Shore beaches. Plus, there's a Dunkin Donuts at the entrance to the car park -- great for a parental iced coffee or bagel snack for the kids. - Thanks to Serena Hildenbrand, Somerville, for this beach tip!

Canobie Lake: Now Toddler Tested!

We just took our (22 month old) daughter to Canobie Lake Park last week, and she loved it. Loads of great kid rides, and she loved the train that went around the park. Totally worth it (especially because she was free - up to age 3). Love the Compleat Day Tripper, thanks! - Jess McDaniel, Somerville

Perfect Fun at Kimball Farm

Recognize the cover of The Compleat Day Tripper? Once again, my son's annual birthday party expedition to Kimball Farm on Friday night was perfect. This is the fourth in a row! Birthday parties are an easy do-it-yourself operation at Kimball Farm. We went from the bumper boats, to the mini-golf, back to the bumper boats, then pizza and ice cream! There's also a driving range and playground, and a great grill service during the summer with shaded picnic tables. You can put together goodie bags with candy & knicknacks from the Country Store. Kimball Farm can be crowded with school & camp groups, but it wasn't yesterday, probably because of the heat & humidity (not a problem for five 13-year-olds with 3 gallons of ice water! The crowds seemed to thin out after about 5 p.m. Phone (978) 486-3891. Prices range from $7.50 for bumper boats to $10 a round ($6 repeats) for mini-golf; discounts bundles and children to age 12.

Time Flies When You're Having iCamp!

Time flies when you're having fun, especially at CTW's iCamp. If you've been to iCamp this summer, contact Children's Technology Workshop to sign up for our new newsletter and learn some neat ways to share your games and movies. If you haven't tried iCamp yet, now's the time! We still have openings next week in Wellesley, the next three weeks in Arlington, and the last two weeks of August in Newton. Fall after-school classes are being scheduled in several areas, as well.

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Dispatches subscribers: click here for a special discount.

A Hidden Gem of a Beach

In the summer, life in New England is all about finding beautiful beaches that not everybody knows about. Demarest Lloyd State Park has one of the best kept secrets in the Massachusetts forest and park system, according to Leland Stein of Arlington's Regent Theatre, a Dispatches sponsor. At this little-known gem, an 1800-foot saltwater beach is backed by rambling hills of beach grass and shaded, grassy picnic sites. A broad, scenic marsh lines the Slocum River on the park's eastern edge. The beach is ideal for families with children. The Buzzards Bay surf is calm and shallow, giving rise to warm watertemperatures through most of the summer. It is also a great spot to see egrets, herons, ospreys, terns and hawks.

Notes another Dispatches reader who has a house nearby: "At low tide, you can walk straight out a sandbar that crosses the bay. It's actually a pretty long walk out, but beware! While the sandbar walk is a really cool experience, the current around the bar is very, very strong. There have been drownings there, so do not swim off the sandbar, as tempting as it may be!"

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Click here for exclusive Dispatches coupons from the Regent and other sponsors.

Experience History on the Menotomy Trail

Created as a Scout project, the new Menotomy Minuteman Historical Trail guide tells the exciting history of Arlington, Massachusetts, the site of the most fighting and bloodshed on the opening day of the Revolutionary War, April 19th, 1775.

You can bike or walk the Trail past many important historic landmarks, such as the Jason Russell House, the Old Schwamb Mill, and the Uncle Sam Memorial. At roughly the halfway point along the trail, walkers stop at the Foot of the Rocks, where the largest engagement occurred as over 1,500 British troops were ambushed by colonial militias from all over Massachusetts at the start of the Revolutionary War.

The 4-mile Trail follows a loop that begins and ends at the Jefferson Cutter house in Arlington Center. It is designed for self-guided walking tours for anyone interested in American history, including families, school groups, and Boy Scout and Girl Scout units. Parking is available in the municipal parking lot in Arlington Center. Anyone interested in walking the Trail should dress for the weather and wear comfortable, supportive shoes. For those unable to complete the entire loop, there are opportunities to return to the starting point via MBTA buses.

You can download the Trail guides on-line, or pick up a printed copy at the Jason Russell House, the Jefferson Cutter House, the Old Schwamb Mill, or the Robbins Memorial Library. For more information, feel free to click here to contact the Arlington Boy Scouts.

Gather with the Day Tripper Divas!

Tide Pooling at Wingaersheek

Dear Dispatches: Recently, we visited Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA, about 40 minutes from 2/128 up on the North Shore. The weather was great and it was low tide, which is perfect at this beach because there are tons of really cool tide pools to play around in. The kids, even the small ones, had a great time in the extended stretch of shallow water off the beach. On the way back we stopped for some fried whole clams and scallops in Essex. The lines were long, but it was worth it. - Stacey Sao, publisher of Boston Central

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Editor's Note: We recommend getting to Wingaersheek early or late for close-in parking ($20 weekdays; $25 on weekends; $15 after 3; free after 5), or bring an extra adult for dropoff so small children don't have to walk too far.

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Explore Hundreds of Family-Tested Destinations in The Compleat Day Tripper Boston & Cape Editions!

Great! Brook Farm

We love Great Brook Farm! The parking fee is only $2; there are easy hiking trails, the pond has a canoe launch and they claim it has fish. You'll see farm animals, there are honey bees in a see-through enclosure (my son loves that part), and the ice cream is delicious! Arguably, the best time at Great Brook Farm is the winter - the trails are open for cross country skiing. They even have one trail that is lit by lanterns so you can cross-country ski under the moonlight. The directions are on the DCR website. - Sue Leone Linder, Arlington

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Explore 350 Great Destinations in The Compleat Day Tripper!

Heading to the Harbor Islands

The Harbor Islands make a great day trip out of Boston Harbor Tours at Long Wharf. The boat ride itself is a blast, and George’s Island offers tours of Fort Warren, an old stone fort that's fun to explore, with lots of paths to walk on and open areas to run around (wear shoes and dodge the goose gifts).There are tons of fun kid-friendly things to do on many of the Harbor Islands and at Hull. Nantasket Beach on the Hull peninsula is a favorite, but be advised that the boat landing in Hull does not really get you very near the beach, though there are taxis.

The Care & Feeding of Day Trips

The Day Tripper Divas have teamed up with Google's Feedburner (below). Get the widget for your desktop, and you'll see all the updates the minute they are posted!

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Perpetual Motion Saves the Rainy Day

I just have to thank you again for your book. My friend and I (plus two 2 year olds and a baby) just spent 3 blissful hours on a rainy day at Perpetual Motion in Lowell. We would never have heard of it without the Compleat Day Tripper. - Christine Power Thielman, Arlington

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Editor's Note: Perpetual Motion now offers areas for school-age kids as well as pre-schoolers, plus they offer a coupon for Dispatches subscribers. Please visit our sponsor site to claim your discount!

Botanical Delights in Acton

The Day Tripper Divas recently rediscovered that Acton Arboretum, near the town's center, is an easy place to take a stroll and get a beautiful botanical education. Choose from the Orchard Loop, the Wildflower Loop, or the Highland/Bog Loop; and/or take a picnic and visit the nearby nursery. Enter via Wood Lane, Minot Avenue, or Taylor Road. Information is availalble at the website or by calling the arborists at 978-264-9631. The site is in Acton, about 15 minutes from 2/128. Many pathways are wheelchair/stroller friendly, and the Arboretum is working on making more trails accessible.

Low-Carbon Road Trip

Have you ever wanted to drive across the country? A New England Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council member's family is doing just that – on biodiesel fuel! Here’s a passage from their blog: "This summer we are planning a cross-country activism trip to see as many of the National Parks and the lands across America as we can before they are permanently impacted by the effects of climate change. Along the way, we will be visiting as many organic cafes, farmers markets, "green" yoga studios, biodiesel stations and sustainable businesses as possible to include in our video documentary." Stay tuned for more about this amazing trip!

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Roots & Shoots New England is now a Day Tripper Dispatches sponsor! Click here to learn more about Roots & Shoots, the international youth organization founded by renowned primate researcher and environmental activist, Jane Goodall.

Discover the Forest on Drumlin's New Trail

Drumlin Farm's new Forest Discovery Trail is a favorite with younger children, reports Banks Poor of Mass Audubon - a fact confirmed by my own daughter, who is attending Explorers Camp for incoming 2nd graders there this week. This interactive trail through the famous Red Pine Forest lets visitors explore the forest as one of the animals. You can get a hawk's-eye view of dinner, build a gnome home, and cozy up in a giant bird's nest. The trail habitat is a unique change of pace from the farmyard and a wonderful place for nature lovers of all ages to hike, explore, and learn more about the forest and the animals who inhabit it. - by Charlotte Pierce

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We invite you to "Gather" with the Day Tripper Divas!

Art Goes Wild! at Garden In The Woods

Garden in the Woods' ART GOES WILD! exhibit runs daily through October 31, 2007. The site-specific environmental art installation features eleven "Destination Gardens" by W. Gary Smith, and celebrates 75 years of New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods. Live demonstrations and exhibit are included with admission.

• July 28: Demo "Best Native Plants for Fall Color"
• July 29: Family series "Les Julian and Color Outside the Lines"
• Aug 6, 10 am: Live Animal Show "Owls of New England"
• Aug 26: ART GOES WILD Meadow Madness festival
• Aug 11, 5:30 pm: ART GOES WILD Twilight Music Series with D'Rafael of Gitano
• Sept 15, all day: Gardener's Day Festival
• Oct 14, 12-4 pm: Fall Family Festival

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"WILD" gift purchases, native plant purchases, and memberships support the Society’s plant conservation programs. Click here for Exclusive Garden in the Woods Dispatches Coupon

'Tripping Into Plimoth

Early one morning this week, I traveled down Route 3A in Plymouth on my way to Manomet to have breakfast with [some friends]. This is a Saturday morning ritual . . . it's a time for us to connect, share ideas and talk about the books we're reading and the places we have been during the week. After a hearty breakfast at The Three Sisters, by 8:45 I was traveling north on 3A when I saw the sign for Plimoth Plantation. Although I knew that as a Massachusetts teacher, admission would be free, I chose not to go in the Visitor's Center and check in. Instead, I took the winding staff path past the Visitor's Center to the Wampanoag Homesite. Though it was fun watching the young women in the Pilgrim costumes and imagining being a young maiden wearing layers of long skirts, but I'm glad I live in the 21st century! - adapted from a contribution by Elizabeth Mills Evans of Gather (see Golfing for Crabs)

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Explore the Massachusetts South Coast with our Upcoming Cape Edition! Pre-Order Now at a Special Price!

Golfing for Crabs

Netting crab on a small brook that runs into Cape Cod Bay this week yielded some improvement in her golf swing as well as 20 tasty crabs, said Dispatches reader and Gather member Elizabeth Mills Evans While her friend Laurun snapped photos, Elizabeth said she "got into the swing" of it and started to "feel like an old pro." After enjoying crab salad the first day, she was inspired to write up another recipe:

Crab & Rice Casserole

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup cooked rice; 6 to 8 oz. crab meat; 5 hard-cooked eggs; 1 C. mayonnaise; 1/2 Tsp. Worcestershire sauce; grated onion; 1 6 oz. can evaporated milk; pinch of tarragon. DIRECTIONS: Mix all ingredients. Put in buttered shells or casserolle dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly.

"While I was crabbing, Laurun took these pictures of this 'old pro' with my camera," noted Elizabeth. View more photos and read about our upcoming Compleat Day Tripper: Cape Cod & South Coast edition.

Greener 'Tripper Transport

Back by popular demand from the green-travel crowd are a couple of sites that Dispatches readers discovered last year for determining how to get from point A to point B via train, bus, boat, foot, bike, roller blades - or all of the above! You can plan HopStop trips in Boston - and New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago. The MBTA's "Trip Planner" is a great tool for getting around Metro Boston and the suburbs, too.

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Click here for a preview of recent Dispatches postings!

Bike 'N Play

We found a great playground just past Lexington Center on the Minuteman Bikeway. Called Parker Field Playground, this bike 'n play destination has playing fields of all sorts and a beautiful, large, new playground that's ideal for toddlers as well as older kids. If you remember the multi-tiered wooden climbing apparatus that used to be at Parker, there's a shiny new structure there now. There are the typical climbing contraptions and slides, plus a really neat artificial rock to climb, which was a big attraction for our 3 1/2-year-old. There were probably a dozen or more parents there with bikes and kids, and we even met another family from Arlington Heights, so it seems to be a popular destination for Minuteman Trail users. Highly recommended! - Thanks to Dispatches reader and "Velo Fellow" Andrew Conway for this destination review! Click map image to enlarge it, or click here to download a PDF map of the Minuteman Bikeway.

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Read about 350 other family-tested destinations in
The Compleat Day Tripper: Metro Boston Edition!

The Great Beach Cape'R

(Drum Roll, please! . . . ) ...and now, the first of several samplings from our upcoming Compleat Day Tripper: Cape & South Coast edition! The new book, scheduled for release in Summer 2008, is researched and annotated by our latest Day Tripper Diva, Marlissa Briggett, herself a longtime summer Cape Cod visitor and writer for Cape Cod Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix and other publications.

Off-the-Beaten Beaches

Cape Cod vacationers traditionally make a beeline for the beaches, but what if you want some space to fly kites, have a picnic, or go beachcombing? Diva Marlissa has discovered some lesser-known beaches you might like to try, and some great strategies for avoiding the crowds (you'll read more in the book):

• Scusset Beach State Reservation, Sandwich
• Bass Hole/Gray's Beach. Yarmouthport
• Rock Harbor, Orleans
• Uncle Tim’s Bridge, Wellfleet
• Red River Beach, Dennis
• West Dennis Beach (kite flying area)

Exclusive Sponsor Coupon

Help your children be creative with technology rather just consuming it! Design video games, then play them. Produce animations, then watch them. Children's Technology Workshop brings quality after-school and summer-camp programs to Arlington and the greater Boston area. References available.

• CLICK HERE for details, and enter code DIAAF for 5% off a week of 2007 summer-camp tuition, exclusively for Dispatches subscribers!

Wonderment

Loss Gives Permission

I walk through broken landscape
---that's been around a long, long time.
It's beautiful, these cornices now at knee level.
---Wrong, but beautiful.
A mist floats me to a different place
---I couldn't have gotten to on my own.
The greens of the garden are heightened, multitudes of smells effuse.
I belong, it is familiar. A bit of wonderment as to how.
No frolicking, no running.
---Slowness seeps in.
A new speed to step into.

By Julie Kuhn, Jamaica Plain

Organic Education

Strawberry picking with 3 kids last week at Land's Sake Farm was a great experience, and even though it was the day after their Strawberry Festival, we managed three quick pints. The farm stand offered a nice selection of early greens, shallots, jam & honey, and the promise of much more was growing nearby.

This 30-acre organic farm emphasizes education with camps like Green Power for middle schoolers going throughout the summer, programs for urban kids, and after-school and weekend educational offerings during the school year.

Boston Movie Tours

Video: BMT stop by the State House at Boston Common

From Amistad, Mystic River, and Good Will Hunting, to such classics as The Thomas Crown Affair and The Brinks Job, Boston is a favorite destination of film makers and actors. Catch a comfy bus with Boston Movie Tours and get a low-stress, fact-filled, behind-the-scenes tour of Boston and its legendary cinematic sites, plus tidbits about TV favorites like Cheers, Ally McBeal, The Practice, and Boston Legal. New information is added daily - contribute your own to the tour guide!

The Word Is the Bird

Did you find a robin's egg in your yard this year and look up to follow the chirping you heard admid the foliage? Report it to Mass Audubon and help enhance our understanding of how populations of Massachusetts' breeding birds have changed in the previous three decades. Noted local birder Marj Rines reported that scores of volunteers are now fanning out across 970 ten-square-mile blocks to spot nesting birds and collect data on them for the Massachusetts Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas II. After five breeding seasons, the new data will be compared to that collected for the 1974-1979 breeding seasons, detailed in the first Atlas. MBBA II will serve a critical role in documenting population trends – not only of the rarest species, but of all of the 200-plus breeding birds of the state. For information on how to join this vast and amazing volunteer effort, please visit MassBird.org, which is coordinated by Rines, or contact the Massachusetts Audubon Society project website.

Parlee Will Berry You

Parlee Farm in Tyngsboro makes a nice family trip, suggests Mary Gilbert of the Busa Farm CSA and farm stand in Lexington. In addition to their pick-your-own strawberries and other fruits, Parlee has a baby animal petting zoo, “Annie’s Goats in the Trees,” and Mary’s Country Kitchen with desserts and ice cream. The Day Tripper Divas request that if you go to Parlee, please report back whether the ice cream is also locally made. Parlee Farm’s website contains a good map and lots more information. - From the Busa Farm CSA Newsletter, June 18.

Ripe for the Picking!

The Divas recommend Tougas Family Farm in Northboro for your share of the delectable strawberries that should be coming on strong now. On June 11, Phyllis Tougas reported "plenty of strawberries in the field." Hours hours are 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 AM to 4 PM on Sundays. Tougas said they expect to pick through early/mid-July. Tougas and many other area farms, while not certified organic, use IPM methods to reduce the use of pesticides. And it really is a family farm, with apple orchards, and store, and field picking for pumpkins in the fall. Take exit Exit 24 off I-290 on the Boylston-Northboro line. For the Dept. of Agriculture's list of other you-pick farms with strawberries on now, click here or refer to your Compleat Day Tripper for more recommendations.

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Clear Views of Takeoff

If you've already been to Castle Island, Winthrop or Thompson Island to view planes taking off and landing at Logan Airport, another great spot is Drydock Avenue. Take the Red Line to South Station then the Silver Line to Boston Marine Industrial Park, and get off on Drydock Avenue. Walk down to the end of the dock by the Harbor Patrol and you can see all kinds of aircraft landing and taking off. Logan is maybe a half mile away, at the most. Thanks to John Galligan, Arlington for this nugget.

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Paddle One, Paddle All

Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton and Spot Pond Boating will be running the Universal Access paddling program in concert with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) this summer. Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and physical abilities are encouraged to contact Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton at or email on or after June 9th to reserve a spot. You can reserve weekly or for the entire nine-week season. Gear and assistance is provided on request.

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Zoo Tomorrow, Zoo Tomorrow

Mama's taking us to the zoo tomorrow - only which one? Local parents report that the Franklin Park Zoo's new gorilla exhibit is great, although you can get so close to the gorillas that it might be scary for little ones - "my 2 year old liked it from a distance," said Dispatches reader Claire Grimble. Folks who recently visited the Providence Zoo (about 1 hour from Arlington) note that the new baby giraffe is a huge hit. The Day Tripper Divas would like to throw in a plug for the less-visited Stone Zoo, if folks haven't been there recently. It's small but they've done a lovely job of fixing it up, and there are lots of informative little nuggets and byways. Southwick's "Zoo" in Mendon may be worth a trip especially for little kids, though some adults find it "dreary." My daughter still talks about her camel ride at Southwick's. So go to the zoo...and you can stay all day!

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Easy! Fast! Sublime! You Saw It On TV!

Sometimes, you never know where a day trip's going to take you. My son and I stumbled upon the Home Show at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center the other day, and ended up spending an absolutely sublime afternoon, four straight hours of wandering up to friendly vendors desperate for human contact (the convention center was nearly deserted) and happy to answer in endless detail my son's hilarious questions about how boiler condensors are engineered, and happy to listen to his stories about Zammy, our darling dog. And then it was topped off by winning a gadget (A Handy Dandy Super Sized Space Saving Space Saver Storage Bag!) at Dr. Gadget’s presentation and crowned with a cup of clam chowder on a table of crystal and china at Anthony’s Pier Four. The most amazing day trips can start out as accidents like this one. We’d go again if we could (still pining for a Miracle Mop, or maybe an Easy! Fast! Simple! You Saw It On TV! Sushi Maker!). Contributed by Robin Schoenthaler , Day Tripper Diva extraordinaire and co-author of The Compleat Day Tripper: Metro Boston Edition

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Who Is That Strange Little Man?

The Regent Theater's Family Fun Saturday Series presents the Makeshift Theatre Company in Rumpelstiltskin, the fourth installment of Jack Neary's Misdirected Series at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 17. This imaginative collection of plays for young audiences is based on classic fairy-tales, but with an added twist. This time MTC presents their version of the story of the mysterious little man whose name seems to elude the entire kingdom. Come see the company as they pool their storytelling talents yet again to bring you and your family this thrilling and entertaining tale! Local favorite, musician & playwright Liz Buchanan, arrives for the Feb. 24 FFS show.

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Care for Some Nettle Tea, My Dear?

Care for some Stinging Nettle tea with your Milkweed muffins? Russ Cohen, noted local wild foods enthusiast and environmentalist, and the author of Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, will be giving several of his engaging lectures and walks on wild foods foraging in Greater Boston this summer. Some talks & walks require pre-registration (see website).

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Day Trippers Rave

"Wow! This Day Tripper project has developed beautifully over the years. Congratulations on such beautiful and excellent work! And imagine the wonderful impact on families new to the area, they will feel like they have been here forever and know all the cool places!"

- Kim F., Arlington

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"You are a wealth of information on places to go with kids on the North Shore. I will definitely subscribe to the Dispatches and look foward to your Cape & South Shore edition next year!

- Jennifer Allen, Lexington

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It's a Jungle in There!

Go ahead, take off that parka - you're surrounded by more than 1,000 varieties of exotic plants glistening with a tropical humidity that belies the date on your calendar. Short of a Caribbean cruise, the Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses at Wellesley College are the best pick-me-up around for frozen New Englanders. Bring a sketchbook and a folding chair, or hunt for the lone bench secreted amid one of the lushest spots in the greenhouses and read a book. Seldom crowded, the 15 interconnected greenhouses are free and open every day of the year from 8 am to 4 pm. Parking's nearby, so leave your coat in the car - you'll warm up when you get inside. Wellesley College is at 106 Central Street, Wellesley, and the website gives good directions through the campus. Tel: (781) 283-3094; 15 minutes from the intersection of Routes 2 & 128.

For the Love of Loafing

It is better to have loafed and lost than never to have loafed at all.
James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)

Trains of Our National Heritage

The Day Tripper Divas recently visited a model railroading exhibition at the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, which runs interesting cultural programs all year, including two railroad shows in the winter. The HUB Division of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) was chartered in 1958 and draws members from Eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. The Northeast Ntrak Model Railroad Club arrives at MONH for a similar show on Feb. 17 & 18. Enjoy the photos!

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Transport Yourself on a Day Trip!

Take the Red Line to Harvard Square, hop the Blue Line to the Aquarium, take the Commuter Rail to Ipswich - or any number of trains or buses to Boston Common for an afternoon of skating at Frog Pond. A day of riding buses and trains can be a a great day trip in itself for many children, and an added bonus is that it's also a great way to teach your kids about the environmental benefits of public transportation. There's even the water taxi at Boston Harbor! A great site for determining how to get from point A to point B via train, bus, boat, or foot is HopStop. The site works for Boston - and New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago. The MBTA has a great site, too.

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New Drop-In Playtime

Arlington Family Connection presents....AFC Playtime, a new weekly drop-in group that will meet every Monday (including holidays) from 10-11:30am at Arlington Enrichment Collaborative's space on the 2nd floor of 1100 Mass Ave. Parents and caregivers with kids 0-4 years old are welcome to drop-in anytime to play with age appropriate toys, have a cup of coffee while sitting in a sunny room on comfy couches and socialize with other families. We will also have craft supplies, occasional guest speakers and will end each Playtime with a circle time including a story and a song. The cost for AFC Playtime will be $3/family and it is open to AFC members and non-members. We will also be selling AFC's 2006 Childcare & Preschool Options Books for $8 and The Compleat Day Tripper for $10 ($2 off). For more info, contact Sarah at 781-316-8181 or via email. You can also visit the AFC website for more information about Playtime and the AFC's new "Parents Afternoons Out."

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Thar She Blows! at the New Bedford Whaling Museum

The annual Moby Dick Marathon isn't the only reason to visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum, one of the more unique museums around. From the giant blue whale skeleton to the Lagoda, the world's largest ship model, this place is pure New England. And, if you were lucky on Jan. 3-4, you caught part of the 11th annual Moby Dick Marathon in about the most appropriate setting possible.

Read an article on the Melville Marathon and more
on the museum by Marlissa Briggett.

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Marlissa Briggett writes for the Cape Cod Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix and other publications, and is the author of The Compleat Day Tripper: Cape Cod & S. Coast Edition (scheduled for publication by Pierce Press in 2007). She can be reached via email.

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