Photo crawl today

Taking a cue from the book's "Sprinkler Park Crawl," the Divas headed out today on a much-needed "photo crawl" to collect images for the new edition. We blasted through four destinations in one day!

First stop was the Butterfly Place in Westford, where we snapped photos of the delicate winged beauties of every hue surrounding us. Then, after fueling up with yummy cheeseburgers and some middlin' fries from Five Guys in Lowell, we swung by Chip-In Farm (Bedford) for fresh corn and peaches and the petting zoo. 

Caitlin held a chicken! The pig was huge! More photo snapping.

With the afternoon waning, we peeled over to Garden in the Woods and New England Wildflower Society in Framingham, where we met up with new communications director Julia Homer, circled the Lily Pond, and checked out the "fern maze" under construction in the children's play area. Then came the slow crawl up 128/95 toward home with the rest of humanity.

Whew! It felt good to return home, but it was so refreshing to spend a day away from the screens.

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Pictured is DayTripper intern and Diva-in-the-making Caitlin Morrow, with the camera bag and the itinerary she prepared for today's photo crawl.

Care for some cranberries with your football?

Photo by Caitlin Morrow

Football season is right around the corner and many New Englanders are setting their sights for Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. But for the rest of us, a picturesque, quintessentially New England secret lurks just behind Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place. For those who've had enough of sports, concerts or shopping, the Ocean Spray cranberry bog and half-mile nature trail is a great spot to take the kids to see wildlife like birds or turtles, and for strolling couples and active walkers looking for a change of scenery.

Look! A Crane!

This cranberry bog was planted in 1929. Because the flower of the cranberry looks like the crane, head, and beak of a sandhill crane, the name "crane berry" came to be. Dating back to the 17th century, these berries have been used for medicinal purposes and health benefits. Along the path, there are red signs that reveal information about cranberries and their environment. It's a perfect blend of history and nature. 

Fauna with your flora

On our recent visit, the DayTripper Divas spotted an adorable pair of turtles, perched on a small wooden plank, basking in the warmth of the sun, and an "aw, so cute" escaped our lips. A variety of other animals are await explorers of all ages here.

Photo by Caitlin Morrow

With a separate parking lot, a sign pointing you in the right direction, and a DCR "Healthy Trail" certification, this destination is a hidden gem. We visited in mid-summer, but it's also strikingly beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing and the bright-red cranberry harvest is underway!

Oishii Desu Yo!

Scorpion bowl to share!
Photo by Caitlin Morrow

If you're gallivanting down Newbury Street in search of delicious sushi or authentic Japanese cuisine, then don't pass up a meal at Itadaki Japanese Restaurant and Bar: just look for the giant "scorpion bowl" outside! With a cute, close-knit outdoor seating area, it is the perfect spot to bring your friends to enjoy a summer night out. The name is a shortened form of the Japanese word "itadakimasu," which is said before every meal in Japan. It is like saying "bon appetit" in French. 

For those that have been fortunate enough to visit Japan, this is pretty darn close to the real thing. They have selected a group of actual Japanese chefs and American servers that know "what's what" in the Japanese food world. A personal favorite, gyoza, or pork dumpling, can be found on the menu and is delicious or "oishii!" In Japan, they have restaurants that serve all-you-can-eat gyoza, which are very popular there. Let's not forget to mention the fresh sushi and sashimi, which is melt-in-your-mouth tasty right here in Boston! 

Everything appears to be served with chopsticks, so it's the perfect place to practice using those wooden utensils or ask a friend to help ya out! 

 With quick service, a happy waitstaff, and a great location...Boston is the new Tokyo :) 

Address: 269 Newbury Street 

Web: http://www.itadakiboston.com