Drop of Hope Photography Project

The Roots & Shoots youth organization invites everyone to participate in this year's Drop of Hope Water Photography Project. There are even a couple of spaces left in a special photography workshop at Deer Island on Sunday, August 23.

The project encourages youth participation in celebrating bodies of water, building awareness about water issues, as well as creating and enjoying art. Roots & Shoots is again working with the Griffin Museum of Photography and Boston Photography Center on this project. Roots & Shoots is founded by chimpanzee researcher and environmental activist Dr. Jane Goodall.

This project involves three stages:

1. Young people take photos and briefly write descriptions about bodies of water they have visited, projects they have done with water or water issues that are of concern to them.
2. Exhibit the photos and descriptions in an online Roots & Shoots photo gallery, allowing visitors to the gallery to learn about and comment on the photos. (Anyone may submit photos for this portion of the project.)
3. The eventual exhibition of a selected number of the photos in the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA. (Only photos taken by Roots & Shoots members can be selected for this opportunity.)

click here for more information

Into the Mystic - and Stonington

Stonington & Mystic, Connecticut, are less than 2 hours from Boston and make a fabulous extended day trip at any time of year.

Stonington's big draw is a charming, very walkable village known as Stonington Borough, with several terrific restaurants on Water Street, which is the narrow, one-way main road along the water through town. Noah's and the Water Street Cafe are both charming, casual, with upscale menus, open for lunch and dinner, reasonably priced, and Skipper's Dock is on the water, in good weather definitely opt for the deck, good food, especially seafood. Boom is at Dodson's Marina and has a view of the water, a little pricier and the food's richer. The best and most charming place for coffee, tea and cookies in Stonington Borough is The Yellow House.

Water Street is lined with wonderful antique stores, art galleries, marine shops, unique clothing boutiques, and such, but it's relatively low key, very tasteful and not too touristy. Lots of artsy New Yorkers summer here, but there's also a working group of fishing boats. Down near the boats, there's a house where you can buy local fish and scallops on the honor system. You just pick out what you want, put the money through a slot, and take your change out of a can. There's a farmer's market nearby every Saturday morning in season, and some gorgeous old captain's houses. Everyone likes to walk around on the docks and see the boats at Dodson's - there are some beautiful classic yachts there. The lighthouse (above) and museum at the end of the Water Street is open to the public, and you can climb up to the light for spectacular views. Nearby, the Palmer House is also worth a visit, as is Stonington Vineyards, which is open year 'round and offers tours. (continued below)

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Just down the road is Mystic (interesting note, Mystic is not a town - half of it is part of Stonington and half is part of Groton). The Mystic Seaport Museum is definitely worth a visit - you and/or your kids will love climbing over the old ships. There are restaurants in and near Mystic Seaport, but the best is Bravo Bravo in Mystic Village for either lunch or dinner. The village has good shopping, a little touristy, but the drawbridge is fun to watch - the river's busy, so it goes up and down a lot.

On the way home, go via Rt 1 through Westerly, RI. In Charleston, stop at the Fantastic Umbrella Factory on the Old Post Rd. - a unique shopping experience. It's a collection of artsy shops in old barns and sheds with treasures like great inexpensive clothing, cards, musical instruments, toys, jewelry, and posters - a really crazy mix. There's also a good vegetarian restaurant called the Spice of Life alongside a garden center and petting zoo and farm. It's straight out of the hippie sixties! I think it's just open weekends. Definitely not upscale, but fun.

The nice thing about heading to Rhode Island and Connecticut is that people from Boston mostly go to the Cape, so even on busy summer weekends, there's not a lot of traffic coming and going - and it only takes a bit more than 1.5 hours to reach Stonington and Mystic.

- The Day Tripper Divas thank reader Betsy Baldwin for this excellent roundup!

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The Trees of Harvard Yard

Harvard University turns out to be a great place to take out-of-town guests - and take in some natural splendor at the same time (see map). As the center of Harvard University since its founding in 1636, Harvard Yard has always been a popular tourist attraction. Each year, countless faculty, students, locals, and tourists from every corner of the globe pass through the green oasis in the middle of the urban jungle. Even with outrageous real estate costs, Harvard has chosen to expand its space in the Allston area of Boston rather than sacrifice its priceless green space. The diverse green canopy that extends over the campus each summer only adds to the reputation and tradition that surround Harvard. "The [trees of the] Yard exude a sense of security and stability in a dynamic and ephemeral society," muses Harvard grad Ryan Lynch, creator of a fabulous interactive map to the arboreal splendor of this icon of American acadaemia.

Get More with Your Mass Value Pass

Times may be tight, but help for DayTrippers is at hand. Click here to sign up for the monthly Dispatches newsletter, and we'll zip you the amazing Mass Value Pass, which provides hundreds of summer-season discounts on lodging and day trip destinations across the Commonweath through August 31. To request by email, click here and specify "Mass Value Pass" in the message subject. If you aren't a subscriber, request the pass anyway and we'll add you to our free and secure "opt-in" mailing list. You'll be able to unsubscribe any time you wish. It's our way of saying "thanks" and encouraging DayTripping in times that are tough for many of us.

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Meadow Magic at Garden in the Woods

New England Wild Flower Society will celebrate "Meadow Magic" Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2009, at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA. Garden in the Woods is open both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., however, special Meadow Magic events are scheduled noon to 4 p.m. There is free parking on premises both days.

See peak meadow bloom from ground level and above on the new Observation Deck. This will be the inaugural event for the 12' X 24' Observation Deck which will put a whole new perspective on looking at the meadow. Be amazed at the height of the wildflowers in the meadow. This can mean native species in bloom up to 7 or 8 feet tall. Beside these "giant sized" plants are others that are quite small and delicate.

Look for butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and more as they fly from flower to flower collecting and spreading pollen. Learn about plant pollinators, play games, and more. The Bugmobile brings craft projects and live bugs to the meadow. Enjoy a scavenger hunt in the Garden too. A beekeeper will join us at the Garden to explain how bees work in the web of life. Discover what a bee hive is all about, how bees make honey, and which bees make honey. Meet some fun, costumed characters who explain their roles in our ecosystems.

Take a special walking tour of the 45-acre botanic museum, scheduled at 2 p.m. both days. Tours, included in the price of general admission, cover the Invasive Plant Jail, Idea Garden, Lily Pond, Lost Pond, and unique New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants.

Visit the Garden Shop and its nursery to find which plants could bring beautiful insects and wildlife to your garden. Our knowledgeable staff will assist you in a butterfly garden design, birdhouse selection, or plant combo for a great container garden. Books and eco-friendly gifts complete the Garden Shop experience. Visitors receive a special discount on merchandise at he Garden Shop on August 15 and 16; 10% off the cost of native plants, books, eco-friendly gifts, clothing, and tools.

Founded in 1900, New England Wild Flower Society, the nation's oldest native plant conservation organization, promotes the conservation of temperate North American flora through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy. The Society owns and operates Garden in the Woods, a 45-acre public botanic garden in Framingham, MA, and Nasami Farm, a 75-acre native plant nursery in Whately, MA, as well as ten sanctuaries located in New England. The Society's vision is a future where vigorous native plant populations live in healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems—protected, enjoyed, and beneficial to all life. For more information, visit newenglandwild.org.

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Beat the Heat at Reservoir Beach

Finally, it feels like summer! DayTrippers can keep cool locally - and frugally - at Arlington's Reservoir Beach. Located on Lowell Street in Arlington Heights, Reservoir Beach has a filtered/chlorinated swimming area, bathhouse, playground, and is supervised by certified lifeguards. Get a daily or a seasonal pass at the Recreation Department at 422 Summer Street or at Reservoir Beach. Arlington residents get a break on the gate price; season tags are an even better deal.

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Exploring the "Emerald Necklace"

"We want a ground to which people may easily go when the day's work is done, and where they may stroll for an hour, seeing, hearing, and feeling nothing of the bustle and jar of the streets where they shall, in effect, find the city put far away from them..." ~ Frederick Law Olmstead, 1870 ~

Late one night I got a phone call from my sister Fran. "So, what are you doing tomorrow," she said. "I was thinking you should ride up to the city. Some of my art is being showcased at the Thayer Gallery and I thought you might like to see it." I did want to see the exhibit but I also had a bee in my bonnet. Wednesday was Earth Day 2009 and I wanted to explore "The Emerald Necklace", a series of parklands surrounding the city of Boston. Over the years I have visited Franklin Park and of course Boston Gardens and the Commons, but I had never explored the rest of the "necklace." click here for the full photo essay by Elizabeth E.

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North Shore Secret Spots and Favorite Views

"One of my favorite spots is Salisbury Beach State Reservation (off Beach Road in Salisbury)," says a DayTripper on the Massachusetts Outdoors Facebook site. "I've spent a lot of quiet time in the off season sitting on the jetty by Ben Butlers Toothpick. The place is crowded in summer but is very quiet and peaceful in the fall and winter. Other favorites are Sandy Point State Reservation (at the end of the Parker River NWR on Plum Island) at sunrise or sunset. Trustees of Reservations: Old Town Hill (off Newman Road in Newbury) offers fabulous views of the mouth of the Merrimack River and Plum Island. There are so many great spots in Massachusetts, but those are a few of my favorite North Shore spots." For more secret spots and favorite places, see Massachusetts Outdoors on Facebook. Used with permission.

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Obama Proclaims Outdoors Month

GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

The United States is blessed with unparalleled natural beauty. From remote forests to urban parks, these spaces have inspired visitors for generations. Today, these areas continue to raise the human spirit in those who experience them. During the month of June, I encourage Americans to pay tribute to and preserve the great outdoors.

Americans of all ages can find calm and enjoyment in our Nation's vast outdoors. Those desiring quiet or solitude can explore one of our many National Parks, which offer tranquil and pristine surroundings. Those seeking recreation can also explore public lands, or they can simply run, bicycle, or fish in areas close to their homes. Whether near or far, the outdoors offers unique experiences.

Exploring the great outdoors can also help improve one's health. These spaces provide countless venues for walking, hiking, running, swimming, and boating, among other activities. Americans can combine the enjoyment of being outside with the exercise we all need to stay healthy.

My Administration is working to connect America's youth with our treasured landscapes, which should be viewed as classrooms for environmental education and gateways to careers in natural resources. These efforts will include outreach to those who typically lack representation in, and exposure to, these fields. The Department of the Interior is launching a summer mentoring initiative as part of this effort. This program invites families and friends to teach children about the joys and wonders of the outdoors. My Administration is also increasing the number of youth involved in national service on public lands. Through AmeriCorps and other programs and partnerships, we can continue our Nation's proud tradition of service and respect for the environment.

Americans are fortunate to have so many beautiful natural wonders and open spaces. I encourage all in our Nation to enjoy these resources and to help protect them for future generations. Together, we can carry forward our Nation's proud tradition of admiration and preservation of the great outdoors.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Great Outdoors Month. I encourage all Americans to spend more time outside and to participate in the nationwide events marking this occasion.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

The White House - Press Office - Presidential Proclamation Great Outdoors Month

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Free Pizza at LazerZone

Dispatches readers get a free slice of delicious pizza at LazerZone in Marlboro and Randolph this Sunday. Just purchase an unlimited lazertag pass and tell them the DayTripper Divas sent you!

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Lazer Tag with Your Dad in June!

Dad's never too old for LazerTag, right? DayTrippers can pay tribute to Dear Old Dad with some FREE heart-pumping lazertag at LazerZone! All through June, if you purchase one mission of LazerTag, your father plays free! Stop by on Sunday, June 21st and Dad plus one of his offspring can play a free Nova Mission! Call or stop by LazerZone for details and restrictions. LazerZone has two out-of-this-world locations: 21 Condlin Drive (Rt. 28), Randolph 02368; 416 Boston Post Rd East (Rt. 20), Marlboro, MA 01752. Be sure to tell them you're a DayTripper Dispatches subscriber for the best rates.

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Highland Dance Boston in Concert

This Sunday, the lasses and lads of Highland Dance Boston offer an afternoon performance of both traditional and original Scottish highland dance. If you enjoy music and dance or are interested in Scottish culture then that you will enjoy this vibrant performance. Live music will be provided by fiddler Barbara McOwen, pianist Beth Murray and piper Tom Childs.

DETAILS:
Boston University Dance Theater
915 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
June 14, 2009 at 3:30PM
General Admission $15.00

Tickets are available via email at HDBtickets@gmail.com

Sweet Meadow Farm Open House June 6

Sweet Meadow Farm is a favorite destination of the DayTripper Divas, and we highly recommend their annnual open house this Saturday, June 6! Head over to Sherborn for an afternoon of fun as owners Al & Patty Michaud unveil their brand new indoor horse riding barn at Sweet Meadow. Decorate a horse shoe for the permanent display, take a pony ride, check out their amazing summer camps and Saddle Club Saturdays, and pet a wide array of adorable animals, including deer, a wallaby, peacocks, bunnies, birds, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and more. Al, Patty, Julie, and the rest of the crew will have information about their weekend, after-school, and summer programs. At Sweet Meadow Farm, the Michauds offer a variety of hands-on programs, each with its own focus on education and animal care, and plenty of all-out fun and of course, horseback riding. See you at Sweet Meadow!

North Shore Outings

Opening Day Celebration, Ipswich Historical Society, Ipswich - May 23

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - What better way to launch the summer season and check out this favorite North Shore destination? View the Student Clothesline Art Show, timber frame construction demonstration, new colonial house display, maypole dance, antique carriages, crafts, food, and more. Visit the new and improved gift store or take a tour of the houses. The event is co-sponsored by Mercury Brewing Company, makers of Ipswich Ale, who will present the history of beer making. Admission: free. Address: Ipswich Historical Society, 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938. Information: 978-356-2811.

Also around the North Shore this weekend and in the coming week:


Stevens-Coolidge Place House Tours, Stevens-Coolidge Place, North Andover - May 23- 24

• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Discover how the Coolidge family transformed an early 19th-century farm into a bucolic summer estate in the early 1900s. The house features murals, a tavern ballroom, and original collections of furniture, glass, porcelain, textiles and personal belongings. Recommended for children 8 years and older. Fees: Members: Free and Nonmembers: Adult (18 and older): $8 and Children: $5. The spectacular gardens are free and open to all, sunrise to sunset. Address: Stevens-Coolidge Estate, 137 Andover Street, North Andover, MA 01845. Tel: 978-921-1944 x4009.

Newburyport Spring Fest, Downtown Newburyport - May 24 - 25

• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Enjoy spring and merchant hospitality in Newburyport as art, crafts, food & music fill downtown for Newburyport Spring Fest 2009. Downtown Newburyport, Market Square, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 978-462-6680.

Young Farmers, Appleton Farms, Ipswich- May 26

• 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Become a first-hand farmhand as you dig in the dirt, compare compost, plant seeds, grow crops, churn butter, spin wool, care for cows, and more! Fees: Members: $72 per session and Nonmembers: $90 per session. Please pre-register. Address: Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938. Tel: 978-356-5728 x15.

Traditional Quilting, Ipswich Museum & Historical Society, Ipswich - May 26

• 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Classes to adults and middle school students in the traditional quilting by teacher and quilter, Rhonda Galpern, of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell. Times: Adults: 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Students: 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fees: Adults: $65, students: $55. Address: Ipswich Museum & Historical Society, 54 South Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938. Tel: 978-356-2811.
  

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Tag Your Mom in May!

It's Mother's Month at LazerZone!

Since free Lazertag for moms on Mother's Day was such a hit, we decided to extend this LazerZone Dispatches offer until the end of the merry month of May! Purchase a mission of lazertag for your child & Mom plays free. Mention the DayTripper Dispatches when you sign in (restrictions apply).

Moms Play Free in May!

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Get Your Spring Mass Pass!

Email for your printable copy of the Mass Value Pass; visit the website listed on the pass for the latest offers; then print and take the card with you when you go. The MVP gets you big discounts on everything from hotels to zoos; plus it will get you out there enjoying Massachusetts! We'll also put you on our free monthly DayTripper Dispatches mailing list for the latest day-trip destinations around Greater Boston, Cape Cod and the Islands, Spokane & Eastern Washington, North Texas, and other regions as they come online.

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Boston by Subway

Boston’s subway system, known affectionately as the ‘T’ is America’s first subway system. The first green line subway cars began running in a tunnel underneath Tremont Street in 1897. Park Street Station and Boylston Station were the first two to open - both sit at the bottom of the hill within walking distance of the Massachusetts State House. Park Street Station is directly adjacent to the Park Street Church. more

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Road Trip to Romance

Who says you need a fat wallet to enjoy a romantic getaway with your beloved? If you are thinking of surprising your partner with a romantic weekend getaway, take a road trip. more

DayTripping from Farm to Factory

During the early days of the industrial revolution, thousands left their farms for work in Massachusetts's growing cities of industry. Later, immigrants came to work in the great mills. Together, these forces changed indelibly our natural and cultural landscape. This day trip links three Department of Conservation and Recreation facilities through the story of MA’s transition from a farming community to an industrial society. Begin your trip at Great Brook Farm State Park to see an example of the landscape from which mill workers originally came. Examine a display of agricultural history, and then take a walk among the fields and forest. In Lowell, see how the power of the Merrimack River transformed Lowell into an industrial center. Drive along the Merrimack, looking across at the industrial landscape it enabled. Complete your trip at Lawrence Heritage State Park, where waterpower, the planned city, and immigration are illustrated in its engaging museum exhibits.

Visit Farm to Factory: the transition from Farming to an Industrial Society by Tim Rayworth, Mass. DCR Environmental Education Coordinator

Secret Spots and Favorite Places

This isn't really a secret, since it's an Audubon trail, but the High Ledges in Shelburne are beautiful. To get there you take Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) West from Boston, take a right at the sign for Davenport's Sugar House, and then follow the signs to the High Ledges. The signs are small and wooden, not big road signs. The walk is an easy, flat 30 minutes, and the view of the Deerfield Valley when you get to the ledges is spectacular. Great for little kids or older folks.

• from Facebook | Massachusetts Outdoors
  

Political Places of Boston - Downtown Walking Tour

Political Places of Boston
by Muddy River Press

Many of the places covered in the guidebook Political Places of Boston are located downtown or in adjacent neighborhoods. Walking is a wonderful to visit these places. This guidebook complements the other walking tours of Boston such as the popular Freedom Trail. However, if you limit yourself to the Freedom Trail, you will miss several, important, downtown political sites. Click here for a fascinating, in-depth tour that brings you back to where you began. Take the book with you for a complete experience.

Wilderness Rafting Trips & Jobs

Many DayTrippers are planning spring and summer travels already, and this one's fairly close to home. Magic Falls Rafting Company is celebrating their 20th birthday on Maine's wilderness rivers this season. Owners Dave and Donna Neddeau, invested their savings to buy a raft, van and house trailer in 1989 and carried 38 passengers the first year. Today, the company is still family owned and operated with 41 rafts, 25 inflatable kayaks, a campground, lodge and inn for groups; recreation pavilion, retail shop on 15 acres alongside the Dead River. In 2008 the Neddeaus carried more than 6,000 rafting passengers. Note that Magic Falls is also hiring fit & experienced 18-plus guides for the summer.

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Passport to Science

Association of Science & Technology Centers - Passport Program

You can visit nearly 300 renowned science centers or museums in countries like Italy, Sweden, Beijing, or Capetown—for free! First, join your local participating science center or museum (like Museum of Science, Discovery, or HMNH). Then check the ASTC Passport Program list to find other participating museums where you will be traveling. There are now 290 affiliated museums and science centers in over a dozen countries around the world.

CraftBoston Is Back!

CRAFTBOSTON will open to the public March 27-29 with 200 contemporary craft artists, a lecture series, an artist mentor program, and of course, amazing art, including stained glass by DayTripper friend Dan Maher.

First Maple Sugaring!

• EVENT: Maple Sugaring at Land's Sake Farm
• DATE: Saturday, February 7th, 2009
• TIME: 10am-1pm
• LOCATION: Meet at the parking lot of First Parish Church (349 Boston Post Rd.)
• DETAILS: Kick off the maple sugaring season by helping tap approximately 200 maple trees around Weston. Land's Sake staff will provide a tapping demonstration and participants will be divided into groups and assigned to various locations across town. After the event, convene at the Bill McElwain Sugar House for some hot cocoa and cookies! Land's Sake is limiting this event to 50 people, so RSVP is required.
• REQUESTS: Land's Sake will provide most of the supplies, however, participants are encouraged to bring their own power drill and a 5/16" drill bit, if availalbe. This will allow for more people to be tapping at the same time. Please be on time, as groups will disperse to various locations.
• RSVP: Dave Quinn; (781) 893-1162; dave@landssake.org.

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En Garde in Worcester!

PLEASE NOTE: The Higgins Armory Museum has been closed. The collection was distributed  to other museums in the Worcester area.

Last weekend, we revisited one of our favorite winter indoor destinations - the unique Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester. Worcester steel magnate John Woodman Higgins assembled this one-of-a-kind collection in the early 1900s, and when when his wife kicked the collection out of their house, he erected a stunning steel building to house it!
On weekends, the Higgins offers demonstrations on armor, swordplay and other aspects of medieval life and combat. There's also a great kids' zone with a giant chess game and dress-up area, and a several authentic pieces of armor that kids can try on. At kids' birthday parties, the birthday boy or girl gets to be King or Queen in the Great Hall (for members only). Originally recommended by stained glass artist Dan Maher for one of our early Dispatches. About an hour from Boston but street access in Worcester is tricky; take a good map. Phone 508-853-9697.

Up, Up, & Away at Fruitlands

Forget the ballooning deficit and go hot-air ballooning at WinterFest, which contines weekends through Feb. 15 at a DayTripper favorite, the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard. The museum is closed on weekdays for the season, but if you're in the area on a Saturday or Sunday, join the Winterfest celebration for ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bonfires, and more. On Feb. 1 and 15, you can even hitch a (tethered) ride in a hot air balloon (weather permitting). On Jan. 31, watch snowshoeing and cross-country skiing demonstrations, then test techniques on nearby groomed trails. Although the Fruitlands shops are closed, the Harvard General Store Snack Bar stands by to provide the family with hot drinks and snacks. Admission is $5 per vehicle plus a non-perishable food item for the local Loaves & Fishes food bank. Winterfest is sponsored in part by Harvard Parks & Recreation Dept.

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Audubon's Superbowl of Birding!

You too can attend the Superbowl! RSVP now for the Superbowl of Birding this Saturday January 24, sponsored by Audubon's Drumlin Farm Sanctuary. Prep meeting on Thursday Jan. 22.

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Facebook | Updates

FACEBOOK BULLETIN: This just in -- The DayTripper Divas plan to centralize the DayTripper Dispatches on Facebook, with frequent updates via Twitter and the blogs. We're also about to release two new books and a GPS VERSION of the greater Boston edition of The Compleat DayTripper!!!! Tell your friends - Facebook fans and blog followers will get great deals on books, discount day trip destinations, and much more! Be a Diva/Divo!

Saddle Up for a Birthday Party!

Winter? Schminter! We're bundling up and heading out next week to celebrate my daughter's 9th birthday party at Sweet Meadow Farm in Sherborn (where she and her friend Anna blissfully attended camp last summer). At the farm, owner Patty Michaud starts birthday parties at the barn and kids get to work with ponies, then tack up the horses. Weather permitting, each guest gets to ride and feed the horses. Then everyone heads up to the pet store at the Michauds' house, where they can observe and handle the guinea pigs, kittens, birds, and other small animals. Finally, guests go upstairs at the farmhouse for a small party which includes a Sweet Meadow gift for the birthday girl. It's a bit pricey at about $30 per guest, but we are huge fans of Sweet Meadow and the party is a reward for other achievements. (Grownup Alert: Sweet Meadow is also near the Natick Mall if you want to drop off!) When we return to Lillian's, there will be a movie and "campout" in a tent in the living room. Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream on Saturday morning. Wahoo!

First Snow

First Snow

The snow
began here
this morning and all day
continued, its white
rhetoric everywhere
calling us back to why, how,
whence such beauty and what
the meaning; such
an oracular fever! flowing
past windows, an energy it seemed
would never ebb, never settle
less than lovely! and only now,
deep into night,
it has finally ended.
The silence
is immense,
and the heavens still hold
a million candles; nowhere
the familiar things;
stars, the moon,
the darkness we expect
and nightly turn from. Trees
glitter like castles
of ribbons, the broad fields
smolder with light, a passing
creekbed lies
heaped with shining hills;
and though the questions
remain – not a single
answer has been found --
walking out now
into the silence and the light
under the trees,
and through the fileds,
feels like one.

by Mary Oliver
from the Busa Farms winter newsletter

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Walden in Winter

The sunlight was perfect at Walden Pond from 2 to 4 pm on on Jan. 4. My son and I found that walking the 1.7-mile pond trail loop was a great time to reconnect and have a free-flowing talk, easy and from the heart. Strangers seemed oddly familiar and wished us "Happy New Year." The parking is $5 but the machine was broken so we wrote a note that we would leave a donation; the store reopens on January 15.

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