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Nantucket Photo Tour

6/26/2014

As promised in my last post, 3 days in Nantucket, here are my favorite pictures from the island. Cedar shingles, clever quarterboards, colorful gardens, and bright convertibles make this little island a unique American getaway. So put on your fancy pants, and come along on our Nantucket photo tour!

Thanks for coming along everyone!

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Three Days in Nantucket

6/24/2014

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We spent a long weekend in Nantucket in early June with our friends Tim & Amanda. Despite living in Boston for many years, I have never been to this quintessential New England island, a former whaling community about which Herman Melville wrote in his novel Moby-Dick, "Two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires."

Now you are likely to see more whales on belts than in the water. Nantucket's visitors take preppy to the extreme as evidenced by the Lily Pulitzer Jeep in the picture below. Everyone on this little island was happy, and for good reason - we had spectacular weather!

Getting There: The Ferry

Luckily for us, Tim and Amanda have visited the island a few times so they did most of the planning. We caught the early high-speed ferry from Hyannis and an hour later we arrived in Nantucket. The ferry ride was smooth and the views leaving Hyannis were picturesque. If you take the ferry, be sure to get there a little early because it leaves on time and will not wait if you are even a minute late.

(Above) We loved this house in Hyannis, mainly because the weathervane is a giant great white shark. JAWS atop your mansion? Pretty badass by Cape standards. (Below) Tim & Amanda on the ferry, excited about our weekend in sunny Nantucket!

Hotel: The White Elephant

We stayed at The White Elephant Hotel in town center. The location is prime as we were just a short walk to all the shops, restaurants and a few beaches. The hotel consisted of several beautifully decorated properties. We stayed in the "Residences" and split a two bedroom apartment. It was incredibly spacious, the service was fantastic, and the beds were cozy and comfortable. The White Elephant can be really expensive during the high season (as does everything in Nantucket) but we scored a deal on this place thanks to our friends who booked the room months earlier.

The lobby was decorated beautifully. They serve complimentary coffee, espresso and pastries here in the morning as well as port and cheese in the afternoon.

The front of our residence. Our room was on the second floor in the back, which meant it was really quiet.

We were thrilled with our apartment - vaulted ceilings, tons of light and a fireplace.

Beaches: Steps & Surfside

On the first day we checked out chairs & towels from the hotel and walked about 20 minutes to Steps beach. We walked past fancy homes with impeccable gardens, up Cobblestone Hill and arrived at the top of the sand dunes looking over Steps Beach.

On our second day, we checked out complimentary bikes from the hotel and rode to the bottom of the island to see the expansive Surfside beach. Biking on Nantucket can be tricky since there aren't any bike lanes near town. After exiting the main town, there are designated bike lanes which means smooth sailing all the way to the beach.

Food & Drink: Tree Bar, Cru, Something Natural, The Chicken Box

There are so many places to eat in Nantucket that it can be overwhelming. Luckily many of our friends provided us with recommendations so we were prepared with a short list. The first night we ate at Town Restaurant's Tree Bar. We sampled a variety of tasty small plates. My favorite was the Shrimp & Grits - a must if you go here!

We picked up lunch at Something Natural sandwich shop on our way back from Surfside beach. This shop is tucked away in a residential area right outside of the town center. It was probably an eight minute walk from our hotel. The shop is small but has a great selection of giant sandwiches. They have picnic tables outside if you want to eat there, or they will wrap up your food if you want to bring it to the beach or pool. I highly recommend it for its great selection, fresh ingredients and fantastic value!

(Above) Picnic tables and a random boat outside of Something Natural. (Below) My giant avocado veggie sandwich.

One night we went to The Chicken Box after dinner to check out the live music. This dive bar is located near the beach and a short taxi ride from the main town. The crowd consisted of four bachelorette parties, a handful of Bulgarian summer workers, and lots of twenty somethings clad in pastels and funny shoes (think Scott Disick at age 24). The main attraction is the live music, but there are also pool tables, shuffle board and darts for those not up for dancing. Below is a shot of me by The Chicken Box sign and a picture of the crowd dancing in front of the stage. And yes, those are neon fanny packs you see on the girls in sundresses.

On our last night, we dined at Cru - a swanky waterfront seafood restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. We were seated at a table with views of the marina and the sunset over the island. We LOVED the lobster bisque with hushpuppies (the biggest hushpuppies I've ever seen). Chris and I split a seafood tower with oysters, clams, shrimp and lobster. Everything was fresh and very tasty. This place is quite a scene and gets pretty crowded so reservations are highly recommended.

I loved the barstools at Cru:

Beautiful sunset for our last night!

On our last day we walked around town, relaxed by the pool and took the 6:30pm ferry home. It was a perfect weekend in Nantucket and we are so thankful to our friends Tim & Amanda for showing us around! In my next post, I'll share some pictures of the adorable houses, shops and gardens I saw while walking around town. Stay tuned!

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New England Weekend Getaway: Southern Maine

6/4/2014

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Southern Maine is absolutely stunning and makes an easy weekend getaway for Bostonians, being an hour and a half drive from the city . During the summer people in the New England area flock to the Cape, often sitting in hours of endless traffic. Maine is an excellent alternative if you are looking for less crowds, less time in the car and more spectacular scenery. We recently visited Kennebunkport and Portland and reveled in the dramatic coastal views, gorgeous beach houses and tasty seafood.

Kennebunkport, Maine

We spent the day in the Kennebunkport area before driving up to Portland for dinner. We walked through the small town center and stopped for a lobster roll and clam chowder at The Clam Shack. The chowder was superb but the lobster roll was overpriced. We then drove along Ocean Road, stopping often for the wonderful sea views.

Portland, Maine

Portland is a wonderful home base for Southern Maine. There are an abundance of restaurants and unique shops behind the brick walls of the buildings lining the cobblestone streets. We enjoyed fresh muddled drinks at The North Point and an excellent meal at Duckfat, where we tried poutine for the first time. We also stumbled upon a natural soda bar worth visiting called Vena's Fizz (pictured below). We were only here for a half day so there is still a lot more to see. We'll definitely be back this summer! For now, here are a few photos from our visit:

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Bloomin' Boston

5/8/2014

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Bye bye polar vortex, and good riddance. Spring has finally arrived in Boston! It's hit or miss, but May can be the best time to visit this city. The trees are in bloom, the temperature is just right for long walks, and brightly-dressed Bostonians emerge from hibernation, filled with excitement and anticipation for the summer ahead! Here are a few recent pictures of Boston in bloom:

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Bernie's Garden

4/8/2014

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Today I'm thinking about my late grandma, Bernice. She lived on a farm nestled between the White Mountains of Vermont and upstate New York's Adirondacks. This is beautiful country and if you appreciate nature and kind people, it is worthy of a visit, any time of year.

My grandma kept an enchanting garden on her farm, full of vibrant colors and dueling textures. While the garden appeared slightly chaotic, she organized it so that each plant had enough light and space to grow to its full potential, without stone borders or tall fences. Grandma knew a lot about growing and nurturing, and a the magic that comes with a little bit of chaos. As a mother of seven, grandmother of fourteen, and great-grandmother of six, this wasn't her only garden.

I hope you enjoy these photos of one of my favorite places in the world.

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love that dirty water

4/17/2013

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We are still shocked by the tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon on Monday. While our family & friends were physically unharmed, we are all devastated about those who were killed or injured. Boston may be a major US city, but it's a tight knit community where everyone takes pride in their town and its long-standing traditions. Patriots Day/Marathon Monday is a day of celebration and accomplishments, not just for Bostonians, but for people around the world who come here to fulfill a lifetime goal. Knowing the fierce spirit of Bostonians, we will not only heal, but we will become stronger.

It's so nice to hear Sweet Caroline playing across the country for Boston. Music often has the power to communicate more sentiment than words and watching Americans around the country sing along to this Fenway staple is comforting. There are so many great songs about this city and many talented musicians hail from Beantown. Here are few of my favorites:

Dirty Water - The Standells
Shipping Up to Boston- Dropkick Murphys
For Boston - Dropkick Murphys
This entire album - Boston
Dream On - Aerosmith
Boston (Ladies of Cambridge) - Vampire Weekend
Sleepyhead - Passion Pit
Sail into the Sun - Gentlemen Hall
Rachel - Buffalo Tom
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
Airport Song - Guster
The General - Dispatch
Tonight - New Kids on the Block

Check out our Boston page to learn more about this wicked fun city.

view of Boston from Cambridge, photo by Eva Barbier

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the lamb arrived just in time

4/9/2013

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They say March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb, however as March came to an end, those of us in New England doubted the lamb would make an appearance. After an arduous winter (5 foot snow drifts on our deck!), temperatures were stubbornly low and skies still grey. Despite our doubts, the lamb pulled through. We had beautiful weather at Grandma's farm over the Easter/Passover weekend.

The farm is located in beautiful country situated between Pawlet, VT and Granville, NY. From here you can explore the Adirondack Mountains, visit Lake George in the summer or ski Killington in the winter. This area is full of kind, hardworking people who have been wonderful neighbors for several decades. There are lots of cute B&Bs to try like the Station House B&B (say hi to Mickey if you go), the Sheldon Mansion, or the Haven Guest House.

Check out a few photos from last weekend below. The lamb delivered spring in March, just in time:)