Me & Baby B ready for the shower at Cinquecento in Boston's South End. 

Safari themed invitations from Tiny Prints  

Baby B now has a drawer full of creative, colorful, funny and clever onesies - all made by friends and family.

We left the shower with a barrel of safari animals used to decorate the room. They are currently eagerly waiting  to play with their new friend. 

Aunt Jen found us this adorable "guestbook" poster on Etsy. Guests signed the balloons and stuck them to the poster which will be framed and hung in baby's nursery. 

Party favors!!!  Everyone loves a Lindt truffle.

[Pictured Above] The beautiful grandmas!  I know, they look WAY too young to be grandmas. 

We had some pretty adorable kiddos in attendance. These two little ones give the BEST hugs. 

The lovely party planners - Lisa & Kim. I swear we didn't coordinate outfit colors. 

Grammie announcing the answers and winners to the Chris & Eva trivia game. Who knew us best?

It was a tie between long time friend Hanna (an occasional BV guest blogger!) and baby bro. Luckily it was an easy prize to split in half. 

Buddies! These three, along with our friend Mike, are part of an elite club called Steak Hunters. Maybe one day Chris will write a Culinary Delights feature about it (hint hint). 

Attention cheese lovers!  Vermont should hold high rank on your travel bucket list.  With 45 different cheese makers scattered across this small state, you'll surely find a new favorite snack at one of these farms nestled in New England's mountains.

In early April, Chris and I decided to embark on an impromptu self-guided tour of Vermont's cheese trail.  For years we have enjoyed Vermont cheeses sold at local markets in Boston, but we have never ventured out on the cheese trail to taste freshly made cheese directly from the source.  

The Vermont Cheese Trail map along with some pamphlets we picked up along the way. You can print your own map here or see it in Google Maps: 

I quickly learned two lessons from our cheese tour experience:

1) Early April is not the best time to go. Many of the cheese makers are closed for the season and the weather is unpredictable. The first day was sunny and a balmy 70 degrees F. The second day was freezing,windy and snowy.  Early May might have been a better choice. 

2) Going on a cheese tour while pregnant can be a bit...well...tortuous.  Much of the cheese is freshly made with raw milk - a no-no food for pregnancy.  Luckily there were a couple of options made with pasteurized milk so I could partake in sampling.  A tip for the pregnant ladies: you can eat raw milk cheese as long as you heat it up. So bring on the grilled cheese! 

During our two day tour, we visited three cheese makers:

1. Plymouth Artisan Cheeses
2. Cabot Creamery Cooperative
3. Shelbourne Farms
   

We would have been able to squeeze in two more had we planned our trip beforehand and called ahead to arrange a time at those creameries that are appointment only.  But this was a last minute get-in-the-car-and-go trip so c'est la vie! 

Not only is it fun to taste the cheese, but the drive through Vermont is beautiful and each property has a really fascinating history.   Here is a brief recap of each:

Plymouth Artisan Cheeses: Presidential Roots

• Operating for 124 years, it's the second oldest cheese factory in the USA. 
• The factory was founded by the father of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the USA.
• The factory's location has not changed since it's inception in 1890. There is a little museum above the shop where you can see the original cheese making equipment. 
• Here we purchased the Sage & Herbs cheese and two bags of our favorite almonds from The Mapled Nut, a Vermont owned gourmet nut company.  These almonds are so good that we finished them in a matter of minutes!

The charming and tiny town of Plymouth, VT. It's the birthplace and childhood home of USA President Calvin Coolidge and long time home to Plymouth Artisan Cheese.  The former President is buried across the street.

Above the store is an exhibit of old fashioned cheese making tools and the history of the factory. 

Present day cheese factory. Unfortunately, they weren't making cheese while we were there. 

Our favorite snack -The Mapled Nut gourmet almonds!  I also loved the unique design of each cheese label. 

Cabot Creamery Cooperative: Strength in Numbers

• Cabot isn't just one cheese maker, it's actually a cooperative of over 1,000 dairy farm families! 
• In the early 20th century, there was an excess supply of milk so farmers from the Cabot region joined forces and combined their extra milk to make butter under the Rosedale brand name. 
• Although the number of Vermont dairy farms shrank in the mid 60's, Cabot retained hundreds of members supplying milk to make their increasingly popular cheddar cheeses.
• We sampled all the cheeses on display at the Visitor's Center just outside of Stowe and our favorites were the horseradish cheese and the chipotle cheese. I love the horseradish cheese so much that I've begun purchasing it regularly at my grocery store in Cambridge. 

Chris sampling various Cabot cheeses at the shop. There had to be at least 20 different types!

Three cheers for pasteurized cheese! We purchased the horseradish (my favorite) and chipotle cheeses. 

Shelburne Farms: A Vanderbilt Legacy

• Situated along Lake Champlain, just south of Burlington, this 1,400 acre working farm is a National Historic Landmark.
• In the late 1800's, Lila Vanderbilt Webb (Cornelius'' granddaughter) and her husband acquired this land and hired the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to develop it (the same Olmsted that designed New York's Central Park).
• The farm is MASSIVE and consists of several stunning buildings designed by R.H. Robertson. 
• During the summer, visitors can stay at The Inn at Shelburne Farms. It's seasonal because heat was never installed at this summer "house". 
• The farm is currently a non-profit organization that helps educators and children learn about sustainable living and farming.
• While the highlight of this visit was definitely touring the grounds (even in the brutal snow and wind), the cheese was also very good. Here we purchased a 6 month aged cheddar and a horseradish mustard that pairs nicely with Chris' sautéed brussel sprouts. 

The Shelburne Farms tasting room and shop. The woman working here was very helpful and knowledgeable, but too shy to pose behind the counter for the picture. 

This is the Farm Barn - home to the bakery, cheese making facilities administrative offices, an elementary school, the children's farm and more. It's the most spectacular barn I've ever seen! 

The backyard of the Inn, facing a frozen Lake Champlain.  I'm looking forward to coming back here when the lake has thawed and everything is green.

This concludes our very first experience on the Vermont Cheese Trail.  There are still 42 more cheesemakers to visit so I know we'll be back on the trail again soon. 

If you are curious about where we stayed, we played it by ear knowing it was shoulder season in Vermont and demand would be low. We ended up getting a deal via Priceline at  The Essex Resort just outside of Burlington. We booked the room on our phone a few hours before checking in. Our room was very cozy and comfortable and we were only about 20 minutes from Burlington where we spent the evening and dined at Church & Maine.  Check out more photos from Burlington here. 

Paul Revere's gravestones (looks like he got an upgrade at some point). While he wasn't considered a Brahmin, the man who sent him on his famous midnight ride - Dr. Joseph Warren - was.

Ben Franklin, standing in front of Boston Latin School, appearing far more intimidating than any present-day disciplinarian and significantly more judgmental than most teenagers. Way to uphold those Brahmin standards!

This sign can be found along the aptly named "Spring Street" in Downtown Crossing. 

Park Street T stop - the first subway stop in the USA. The subway entrances are often referred to as mausoleums.

Notice many famous Brahmin names on this plaque that is located in the church.

The King's Chapel was the first church in the US with an organ.

The seats in the pews are lined with horsehair which still make a crunchy sound when you sit down. 

These prayer books are truly unique to this church.

[Above] View of the Old Granary Burying Ground, where John Hancock, Paul Revere and Sam Adams are buried.
[Below] You can see down several levels of the Athenaeum in the stairwell and the stacks.

[Above] Washington's private library including copies of New York Magazine from the late 1700's

Last week, I featured a list of Boston recommendations from local ladies Lisa & Jen as a part of our Live LIke a Local, Boston series. Today I have the pleasure of introducing Marissa - my favorite coffee & tea connoisseur, fellow traveler, and Rachel Bilson doppelganger.  

Favorite Local Shop:  Gifted in the South End for you guessed it, gifts;  also David's Tea in the South End for fun, seasonal teas.

Favorite Restaurant: It's so hard to pick just one! A favorite that is always fantastic is Island Creek Oyster.  My favorite NEW restaurant to the Boston scene is Bastille Kitchen in Fort Point - especially the short rib wellington! 

Favorite Place To Work Out: Equinox--one stop shop for cardio, barre, spin, etc. 

Best Photo Opp:  Walking home at sunset over the Mass Ave bridge.

Favorite Day Trip: Ogunquit, Maine

What I Love Most About Boston: The seasons, walkability, and proximity to Cape Cod.

Where To go For Seafood: Island Creek, Row 34 or B&G Oyster; If you're ever on the Cape you must get the giant lobster roll at The Raw Bar in Mashpee.

Best Juice Bar: Jugos at Back Bay Station: it's a hidden gem and they make the best juices.

Grab a Drink At: Drink in Fort Point for custom mixed cocktails. Tell them the ingredients you typically enjoy and their bartenders will surprise you with a new concoction!

Where I Go For Cheap Eats: Sweet Green for a fresh salad.

I've added Marissa's recommendations to the Live Like a Local Boston interactive map. Enjoy!

Late summer brings fast, but mighty storms to New England.  Sometimes, these storms result in spectacular light, especially during the magic hours around sunset.  A recent summer storm cast vibrant colors across our family farm and the Vermont countryside. Here are some of my favorite shots of this stormy Saturday afternoon:

The next day turned out to be a perfect day, weather wise:

A small reminder that winter is coming:

Jamestown is located on Conanicut Island along the southern coast of Rhode Island, accessible from either Newport or Narragansett by bridge.  You may not have heard of Jamestown because it's often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor - Newport - home of the elaborate summer mansions of the United States' wealthiest families like the Vanderbilts, Astors and Weideners.  While Newport is definitely worth a visit for its history, opulence and charm, Jamestown is worth visiting for its outdoor activities, laid back vibe, and tasty shrimp tacos.  More on those tacos later. 

 One of my old friends from Google, Beth, had moved to Jamestown several years ago and now owns a surf shop called Jamestown Outdoors  where one can rent  bikes, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and surf boards.  We arrived late Saturday morning and stopped by the shop where we caught up with Beth, her husband Jason and two adorable daughters, Kailah and Maren.  Jamestown Outdoors recently opened retail space on Narragansett Ave - the main commercial street - making it a perfect place to pick up and drop off bikes because you can visit the nearby shops and restaurants before or after your ride.  If you end up renting a house on the island, Jamestown Outdoors will deliver and pick up equipment, so you can explore the island by land or water throughout the entire duration of your trip.  

[Pictured Above] Jamestown Outdoors owner, Beth. One of the nicest people you will ever meet!  [Pictured Below] Jamestown Outdoors surf shop interior.  How cute is that sign?!  

The t-shirts were delightfully soft so Chis bought one and now he wears it all the time (It's already been to Costa Rica)!

Outside the shop along Narragansett Ave are charming stores, restaurants and this quaint firehouse:

Beth gave us a map and recommended a few routes.  We chose a 13-mile hilly route that brought us to The Shack at Dutch Harbor, Mackerel Cove, Beavertail State Park & Lighthouse, Hull Beach and Fort Wetherill State Park.  Here is the approximate route we took:

By the time we arrived in Jamestown, we were starving and needed to fuel up before our long bike ride. Beth highly recommended the tacos at The Shack.  Mexican food and tacos are probably my favorite food genre.  Since really good tacos are hard to find in New England, I was expecting The Shack to be okay. I totally underestimated it! This place serves the most phenomenal shrimp taco I've ever had. Now those of you partial to really spicy tacos may be a bit disappointed, but if you are seeking flavor and fresh ingredients then you will find it here. It's a MUST if you ever visit Jamestown and well worth going out of your way for if you are anywhere in Rhode Island, southern Massachusetts or eastern Connecticut.  Who knew my favorite taco would be in Rhode Island?!?!

The small, but mighty Shack:

Get excited, because here is a picture of my half eaten shrimp taco.  I don't often photograph my food, however, I had to capture the moment after the first bite.  Notice I also ordered a veg taco which was tasty, but paled in comparison to the shrimp.

After The Shack, we rode across Mackerel Cove and onto the southern part of the island.  After a few challenging hills (for me anyway), we rode down to the southern most point to see Beavertail Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in New England.  

[Pictured Above] Compass rose over the foundation of the original lighthouse.  The original lighthouse was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938. [Pictured Below] One of many couples picnicking by the the lighthouse.  This area is also popular for weddings. We witnessed two outdoor weddings on our way back.

On our way back up the south island, we stopped off at Hull Cove, which is a popular spot for surfing. It was low tide when we arrived which meant no surfing.  However, low tide exposed the spectacular colors of the ocean floor. Check it out:

Needless to say, I was one happy photographer :)

Toward the end of our ride we wandered through residential areas with beautiful homes. Some, like the one below, were as big as the mansions in Newport:

Other homes were architecturally interesting, like this circular house built into a rock. 

As we rode back to town, we saw signs for scuba diving lessons at Fort Wetherill State Park.  We followed the signs to this lovely little cove where divers, swimmers and sunbathers gathered:

Upon looking in the other direction, we noticed a "No Swimming" sign. Clearly it was a rule that was not being enforced because scofflaws of all ages were enjoying the water.  We also saw a group of scuba divers emerge from the water and thought this might be a good place to try our first New England dive (if I can ever get the courage to swim in the cold water). 

By the end of our ride, we were exhausted and pretty sweaty. We dropped off our bikes at the shop and headed back to Boston for a shower and a big dinner (that, sadly, was not shrimp tacos from The Shack).  Big thanks to Beth & Jason from Jamestown Outdoors for holding a pair of bikes for us and for all your insights on the island!  

Vermont is one of those states that can be enjoyed any time of year and while many people consider peak season fall/winter for leaf peeping and skiing, I think it's most beautiful in the spring/early summer.  I spent the last weekend in June with Chris and my parents hiking in western Vermont. We met at Merck Forest in Rupert where we started our day with a picnic lunch and then spent a few hours hiking through the property, which is home to many animals, stunning vistas of the Green Mountains, and webs of maple syrup tubes. 

Even if you aren't familiar with Merck Forest, you have likely heard of its benefactor - George Merck of Merck Pharmaceuticals. In the 1950s, George Merck donated 2,600 acres of land to be used for public use. Now Merck Forest & Farmland Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching innovative, sustainable management of forest and farmland. They offer a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, hunting, workshops and school programs. 

Southwest Vermont makes for a relaxing summer weekend destination. Merck Forest has a variety of trails for all levels and there are several other activities nearby: Manchester for shopping & dining, Dorset for golf & quarry jumping, and Lake Saint Catherine for swimming, boating, and fishing. 

Here are some pictures from our hike at Merck:

After our hike, we stopped at the Battenkill Valley Creamery for some well-deserved ice cream (we were hiking for almost 3 hours!). It was a little out of the way but they have the most delicious black raspberry ice cream, so it was worth it. We brought a few pints back to our family's farm where we met my aunt who was also at the house for the weekend. It was nice to be back at the farm and to see the garden in full bloom. That night we saw a spectacular show from Mother Nature. The fireflies (or lightning bugs as I like to call them) were out in all their glory. At the farm, the nights sometimes get really dark - almost pitch black. We found a dark area where hundreds of blinking fireflies surrounded us, looking like glitter, falling in the air. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful summer day. 

Nantucket may be known for its sailboats and luxury yachts, but its ground transportation is definitely worth noting. We saw a variety of colorful and - in some cases - rare cars during our long weekend. Check 'em out:

Let's start in the past because vintage cars were abundant for such a small island. Check out this canary yellow VW Karmann Ghia in perfect condition.  Gotta love the Early American Connecticut vanity plate with the Nantucket shout out (ACK is the Nantucket airport code). 

A couple cruised into town in their red MG TD for a little Father's Day shopping. No big deal. 

In Nantucket, they put out fires with style:

This was probably my favorite vintage vehicle. It's one of the original Mayberry sqaud cars from the Andy Griffith Show. The owner was kind enough to turn on the siren for us! 

The most prevalent car on the island was the Jeep Wrangler. Behold this ultra preppy Jeep, clad in Lilly Pulitzer print. 

The perfect set of wheels for this week - USA vs. Belgium in the World Cup tournament today and the 4th of July on Friday. Go USA!