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Happy Thanksgiving (and my favorite fall pictures)!

11/24/2015

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Hooray - it's Thanksgiving week! For me, this week marks the beginning of a month of celebrations (holidays! birthdays! parties!). Sadly, it also means the end of autumn (well, not officially but all the leaves have fallen and I almost slipped on black ice today so...yeah...winter has arrived in New England).  As we bid adieu to our most colorful season, I'll leave you with my favorite pictures from this fall, starting with my sweet little boy:)

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to all! 
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Our Boston Baby Shower

5/21/2015

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A few weeks ago, we attended a beautiful baby shower in honor of our little boy due this June.  Our family & friends organized a brunch party at a delicious Italian restaurant called Cinquecento in Boston's South End neighborhood. Chris and I had been here for brunch before and had LOVED the food, atmosphere and service, so we were delighted that our baby shower was held in their private room downstairs.  
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Me & Baby B ready for the shower at Cinquecento in Boston's South End. 
Everything was beyond our expectations - the food, drinks, decor and best of all - time with our family & friends. Our little guy is incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful people in his life. 

The party planning team consisted of my parents - Abuela & Grandpa (the hosts), Chris' parents - Grammie & Papa and Aunt Jen (the decor team), and good friends Lisa & Kim (the fabulous organizers). The shower was safari-themed which was wildly appropriate since one of our favorite world destinations is South Africa. Here are some pictures of the details:
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Safari themed invitations from Tiny Prints  
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Diaper cake centerpieces, handmade by Grammie!
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Decorate a onesie station. There was some serious artistic talent in the room! 
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Baby B now has a drawer full of creative, colorful, funny and clever onesies - all made by friends and family.
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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. 
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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. 
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Party favors!!!  Everyone loves a Lindt truffle.
Like I mentioned earlier, the food was phenomenal and I highly recommend Cinqucento for brunch if you happen to be in the Boston area. This was our menu:
  • Fruit Platters & Pastry Baskets (the round ricotta fritters are to die for!)
  • Zucchini and Feta Frittata 
  • Hazelnut Chocolate and Cherry Crespelle (crepes with NUTELLA, black cherries & bacon - YUM)
  • Tuscan Kale Salad with Chicken-toasted farro & sharp pecorino romano
  • Italian Panini-toasted with salami prosciutto, mortadella, and hot peppers 
  • Of course there were Bloody Mary's and Mimosas at the bar :)

There are many wonderful places to host a private party in Boston, but I really liked Cincquecento for a few reasons:
  • Unique, hip atmosphere: The restaurant used to be an old factory and they preserved the exposed brick and beams, cast iron details, and large windows that let in in tons of light. 
  • Despite being in the South End, they have complimentary PARKING for guests. This is huge as it's usually difficult to find a spot for one car, let alone a whole party of people in this neighborhood. The attendant at the parking lot was extra sweet, saving a couple of rows in the lot for our guests.
  • The private room is on a separate floor from the main dining room which makes it really private. It's also close the bathroom - a bonus for us pregnant ladies. 
  • Have I mentioned the tasty food?  

Here are a few snaps from the party:
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[Pictured Above] The beautiful grandmas!  I know, they look WAY too young to be grandmas. 
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Wallman-Barbier family photo.  I think this one might be framed for small fry's room!
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We had some pretty adorable kiddos in attendance. These two little ones give the BEST hugs. 
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The lovely party planners - Lisa & Kim. I swear we didn't coordinate outfit colors. 
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Papa and Uncle DJ catching up
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Book signing! We very much enjoyed this particular entry from Tim :)
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Grammie announcing the answers and winners to the Chris & Eva trivia game. Who knew us best?
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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. 
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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). 
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We had  an amazing time at our shower! Thank you to my parents for hosting, our family & friends that helped plan the party and everyone who joined us to celebrate our little guy. The three of us are so lucky to have you in our lives!


xoxo,
Eva & Chris
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The Vermont Cheese Trail

4/30/2015

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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.  
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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!
Plymouth Vermont
Plymouth Vermont
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.
Plymouth Artisan Cheese
Above the store is an exhibit of old fashioned cheese making tools and the history of the factory. 
Old fashioned Cheese presses, Plymouth Artisan Cheese
Vermont Cheesemakers, Plymouth Artisan Cheese
Present day cheese factory. Unfortunately, they weren't making cheese while we were there. 
The Mapled Nut, Gourmet Nuts, Vermont Brands, Vermont food
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. 
Cabot Creamery Cooperative Tasting Room
Chris sampling various Cabot cheeses at the shop. There had to be at least 20 different types!
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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. 
Shelburn Farms Cheese
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. 
Shelburne Farms Farm Barn
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! 
Shelburn Farms, Inn at Shelburn, Lake Champlain
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. 
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Brahmins of Boston Tour with Context Travel & WITS

4/1/2015

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Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Women In Travel Summit (WITS) in Boston, a gathering of hundreds of female travel bloggers, entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts. Attendees who arrived early could participate in several tours organized by WITS and Context Travel - a company that specializes in walking tours in cities around the world. 

I attended Context Travel's "Brahmins of Boston", a three-hour walking tour. Despite the ghastly weather - torrential rain at times - I'm really glad I attended this event. I learned a lot about my city!

Before I describe the tour, I'll answer three questions you may be pondering:

1) What is a Boston Brahmin?
Associated with the upper crust of society, Brahmins were often descendants of early colonists from England. While many considered them elitist, the Brahmins contributed significantly to the development of our country and culture, and were especially influential on the east coast. 


2) What is the origin of the name "Brahmin"?  
While it sounds like someone with a heavy Boston accent saying barman - it has nothing to do with the famous Boston dropped "r". In the traditional Hindu caste system, Brahmin refers to the highest ranking class. Writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. first referred to these elite New England families as Brahmins in an Atlantic Monthly article from 1860, and the name stuck.


3) Who are the most famous Brahmins?
You'd recognize many of these names from US history, especially if you've spent time in New England. Many of the the street names, cities and notable landmarks in New England are named after a Brahmin family. Examples include Adams, Forbes, Cabot, Jackson, Lowell, Quincy, and Winthrop. 
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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.
Our tour guide was named Jessica Del Russo - a born & bred Bostonian - who had somewhat of a modern day Brahmin upbringing. Like many a Brahmin, she was raised in the North End and attended the prestigious Boston Latin School, followed by Harvard University. She was extremely knowledgable about the city's history and, as a shareholder in the Boston Athenaeum, she gave us an insider's tour of this library which houses beautiful artwork and rare books including George Washington's personal collection.  Most of our walk was concentrated in the area around Downtown Crossing, Boston Common and the State House.  However, I felt like Jessica may have altered her typical route a bit due to the unfortunate weather. 

Here are a few fun tidbits I learned on the tour: 

Ben Franklin was possibly expelled from grade school. He attended the prestigious Boston Latin School (USA's first public school) for just two years. Many experts claim he left because his father could no longer afford to send him to school. However, Jessica offered another theory - Ben was outspoken and questioned the school's viewpoint on God, and was thus expelled. Regardless of the reason, Ben never completed his education here. Despite this fact, there is a large statue of Ben Franklin in front of Boston Latin School today. 
Ben Franklin Boston Latin School
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!
Downtown Crossing was once a water source.  Downtown Crossing - one of the earliest neighborhoods in the city - owes its location to a natural underground spring that provided fresh water. It still flows beneath the streets of Boston, and you can supposedly hear it in parts of Beacon Hill.  
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This sign can be found along the aptly named "Spring Street" in Downtown Crossing. 
The colors of the T lines actually mean something. Boston was the first city in the USA to establish a subway, and Park Street was the first stop. The names of the four major lines are colors that represent each line's purpose: 
  • Blue Line: This train travels underwater and to the beach. 
  • Orange Line: Runs along Washington Street which was originally called "Orange Street".
  • Red Line: Named for the Harvard Crimson because it used to end at the Harvard station.
  • Green Line: This line goes out to the green fields of the country - aka Newton. 
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Park Street T stop - the first subway stop in the USA. The subway entrances are often referred to as mausoleums.
The Puritans were pretty darn intolerant.  Although the Puritans left England to escape religious persecution, it didn't stop them from persecuting others. They pushed out immigrants of other religious denominations upon arrival in Boston, most of them moving west or south. Until the King's Chapel was built, most of the religious establishments in Boston were Puritan Congregationalists.  

Many Brahmins belonged to the King's Chapel. When England established a governor in Boston, they built a church that reflected the religion of the King (hence the name). The church, built in 1754, is the first granite structure in Boston and its interior architecture is influenced by European churches of the time - double columns, baroque details, and a wine glass pulpit. The church philosophy and practice became a hybrid of sorts: Congregationalist in governance, Episcopalian in worship and Unitarian Christian in theology. 
king's chapel boston brahmin
Notice many famous Brahmin names on this plaque that is located in the church.
govenor's pew king's chapel boston
The church had a governor's pew and it was here that George Washington sat during service. 
wine glass pulpit at kings chapel boston
The wine glass pulpit
King's Chapel Boston
The King's Chapel was the first church in the US with an organ.
horsehair seats King's Chapel Boston
The seats in the pews are lined with horsehair which still make a crunchy sound when you sit down. 
The King's Chapel Common Prayer book is the only one of its kind. Members of this congregation were very liberal and edited the traditional Common Prayer book to only include the stuff they believed in.  
King's Chapel Pews Boston
These prayer books are truly unique to this church.
Boston Brahmins were known for their accents which were very different from those of the working-class Bostonians. Many associate this accent with snobbery. Current examples of Brahmin accents include John Kerry and - my favorite pop culture reference - George Feeny from Boy Meets World.

Toward the end of our tour, Jessica brought us to the Boston Athenaenum, an institution with the mission of preserving rare books and works of art. It was here that we saw George Washington's private library. Even after living in Boston for several years I never knew this beautiful library existed! 

 Boston Athenenum
 Boston Athenenum
 Boston Athenenum
 Boston Athenenum, graveyard, cemetery
[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.
 Boston Athenenum
 Boston Athenenum, Washington's library
 Boston Athenenum
 Boston Athenenum
[Above] Washington's private library including copies of New York Magazine from the late 1700's
Thank you Jessica, Context Travel and the WITS crew for this wonderful experience! I also want to give a shout out to my tour mates - Alison from Green with Renvy , Shobha from Just Go Places  and Melissa from Write Travel Grow. 
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Live Like A Local, Boston: Marissa

3/15/2015

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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.  
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Marissa
Boston native; food and fitness enthusiast; loves to maximize life at all times!


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!
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Thanksgiving Weekend Round-Up

12/8/2014

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Thanksgiving weekend brought us chilly, but colorful weather in New England.  In just a few days I was fortunate enough to see an otherworldly sunrise in Massachusetts and a sky exploding with color in coastal Connecticut. Here are a few of my favorite shots from our New England weekend:
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[Above]  Sunrise over a fresh coat of snow on Thanksgiving morning in central Massachusetts.   [Below]  Pictures from our sunset walk around Cove Island in Stamford, Connecticut. 
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[Below] Thirty-something family members packed into my parent's house on Thanksgiving day.  My cousin, Frances, said it best:  "It's the first year without our matriarch, Grandma Bernie, but we still managed to get most of the family together for another amazing Thanksgiving."   I like to think Grandma was there with us in spirit, smiling at the wonderful family she and Grandpa created:)
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Special thanks to both Chris' parents and my parents for hosting a very special holiday. We know it was a lot of work and we really appreciate it!  
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Incredible Vermont Sunset

9/8/2014

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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:
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The next day turned out to be a perfect day, weather wise:
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A small reminder that winter is coming:
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New England Day Trip: Jamestown, RI (Home of the BEST shrimp taco I've ever had!)

8/19/2014

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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. 

Jamestown Outdoors

 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.  
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[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?!  
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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)!
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Outside the shop along Narragansett Ave are charming stores, restaurants and this quaint firehouse:
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Jamestown Bike Route

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:
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The Shack: My All-Time Favorite Shrimp Taco

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?!?!
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The small, but mighty Shack:
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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.
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Beavertail Lighthouse

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.  
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[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.
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Watercolor Low Tide at Hull Cove

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:
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Needless to say, I was one happy photographer :)
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Fancy Houses & Rebellious Swimmers

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:
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Other homes were architecturally interesting, like this circular house built into a rock. 
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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:
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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). 
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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!  
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Vermont Hike: Merck Forest & Farmlands

7/10/2014

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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:
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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. 
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Nice Wheels, Nantucket!

7/1/2014

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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). 
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A couple cruised into town in their red MG TD for a little Father's Day shopping. No big deal. 
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In Nantucket, they put out fires with style:
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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! 
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The most prevalent car on the island was the Jeep Wrangler. Behold this ultra preppy Jeep, clad in Lilly Pulitzer print. 
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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!
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    Eva has been traveling for 15+ years, including an 8 month journey around the world.  

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