NEW ENGLAND
T
The penny candy counter at Vermont Country Store
Mind the geese when cycling along the
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail!
ake a look at a map of New England and this northeast corner of the
USA looks strangely familiar. Plymouth, Essex, Manchester, New Haven and Gloucester were all marked on my itinerary and the combination of good roads and a bossy sat nav made for an easy start to discovering New England. The scenic byway from Boston to Rockport plunged me back in time as we passed wood- clad houses and quaint ‘colonial’ villages, so synonymous with Massachusetts. A stay in the historic Emerson Inn completed the scene, with rocking chairs on the decking and brass lamps in the parlour. Traditional home comforts play a major part of any holiday in this part of the world, as does exceptional hospitality.
Traditional ship building – Essex-style America’s oldest seaport was host to my fi rst giant
seafood platter. First settled in 1623, Gloucester now claims to offer some of the world’s best whale watching and deep sea fi shing. It is the also the fi lm location for The Perfect Storm. The calm of an Essex River Cruise gave the perfect opportunity to ‘take in’ the shoreline and a visit to the Shipbuilding Museum revealed stories of bygone days when wooden ships were built in traditional Essex, Massachusetts style.
The culinary element of my trip was revived with a ‘clam shack experience’ at legendary Woodman’s. Dating back to 1914 when Chubby Woodman fi rst invented ‘fried clam’, I was soon up to my ears in a white bib and fi shy fi ngers as I broke into my fi rst fresh lobster. Next stop, Vermont, as I turned inland. The road passes through green hills and lush
woodlands, but fallen trees and ruined barns are stark reminders of the destructive effects of Hurricane Irene in 2011.
A night at Hawk Inn in Plymouth gives a glimpse of life in the winter time. This cosy mountain lodge comes complete with heated in- and outside-pool and marked trails for cross country skiing. Summertime is for fi shing, hiking and kayaking in a spectacular string of lakes.
The Vermont Country store promises ‘a real flavour ot the living past and a vanishing way of life’
My next treat was a visit to the Vermont Country Store
which certainly lives up to its reputation as a ‘purveyor of practical and hard-to-fi nd products’. Everything your grandmother ever wished for can be
found on the stuffed shelves in this nostaligic family store, ranging from old-time liquorice to kitchen wax and a colourful tin kaleidoscope for the grandchildren. Visitors are also invited to taste any of the locally-made sweets, biscuits, peppermints, cheeses and teas. But it was time for more adventure, and a ski resort in summer is full of surprises. Bromley Mountain Resort features a steep winding luge beneath the chairlift and a free ride takes you to a zipwire platform for the adrenaline ride of your life! A great way to burn off some calories. A comfy bed and fl uffy duvet are a sure way to a girl’s
heart and Arlington Inn near Manchester in Vermont did not disappoint. Hosted by Elizabeth and Eric Burger, I was treated to a dinner in the gazebo and breakfast amongst the roses in the Inn’s lovingly-tended garden. Based at the foot of 3,816-foot Mount Equinox, the Arlington Inn is the ideal base for walking, hiking and cycling holidays.
Rolling hills of The Berkshires Leaving Vermont behind, a drive into The Berkshires
in western Massachusetts brings with it rolling hills and high peaks. Mount Greylock dwarfs the college town of Williamstown where I caught up on a little culture at the Clark Art Institute. Students fi ll the tree-lined streets, galleries, museums and cafes all over town. The next day was all about ‘Taking Shape’ thanks to
18 February 2013 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
My New England journey...
My self-drive adventure was to be strictly ‘no leaf peeping’. Instead, I went biking, hiking, kayaking and zip-wiring through three states
My Magical Moments TASTING LOCAL DELIGHTS
A culinary walking tour of the university town of Yale culminating in a night in the park stomping to the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Breaking the shell of a fresh lobster in Woodman’s clam shack beside the estuary in Essex.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68