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.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
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)
James Thurber, writer and cartoonist (1894-1961)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
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!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
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.
Friday, January 05, 2007
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."
Monday, January 01, 2007
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.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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