"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Thinking summer on a rainy Sunday...

~* Adorable summer reading... *~

I am thinking summer on this chilly but kinda muggy rainy Sunday. Summer is a beautiful time in New England. It can also be ridiculously hot and oppressively humid but we won't focus on that right now. This is still the time of year when I am in my "appreciating summer" mode. Sure enough, though, I will be in my "autumn can't get here fast enough mode!" Just one little day of wilting, drenched in sweat (blech!), in the nasty humidity and I won't be singing summer's praises any longer.

So before I reach that point I want to list a few things about summer in New England that makes it special...so I can look back over it when I am melting and miserable!

~* Summer in New England means festivals! Maritime festivals, seafood festivals, ethnic festivals, beach fests, art fairs, strawberry and blueberry festivals, peach festivals...if it can be done outdoors there is a festival for it!

~* Speaking of seafood, there is nothing like eating freshly caught New England seafood (mmmm...Maine lobster, anyone?!) in the rough at a seaside lobster pound or crab shack.

~* Whale watching anyone? Off the top of my head I can count at least 20 different places in New England where you can set off in search of these majestic sea creatures.

~* Where else can you go from the ocean to the mountains in less than 2 hours? I am sure there are some places, somewhere, but I don't know of them.

~* For the sports enthusiast we have it all here in New England: world-class golf courses (if my hubs would update his blog...hint! hint!...he could share some of the best with you!), white-water rafting, ocean and river kayaking, sailing, mountain biking, rock climbing, spelunking, hiking, and more baseball than you know what to do with, from Little League to Major League and everything in between!

~* Relaxing on one of our many beaches from the coasts of CT and RI, to Cape Cod to Boston's North Shore, to the NH seacoast and up through the rocky and wild shores of Maine.

~* If music under the stars is your thing you have lots of options. From free concerts in the park outside of LL Bean's flagship store in Freeport, ME to a dockside intimate venue on Boston Harbor to larger summer sheds and huge stadiums, from little known local acts to some of the most famous bands in the world to a symphony under the stars at Tanglewood, there is something to suit every musical taste.

~* If the outdoors isn't quite your thing or if you are in need of some shopping or cultural activities or if the city is just more to your liking, Boston has it all. It is a very walkable city so on a nice day it is best to get out on foot and experience all this fabulous place has to offer. Want a high-end shopping experience? Hoof it up and down Newbury Street. Want to see a Broadway show without going to Broadway? Head over to one of the many majestic theaters in the Theater District. Want to see and be seen? Any number of outdoor lounges along Boston Harbor is the place to be in the summer. Love architecture? Walk around Beacon Hill. Love history? Follow the Freedom Trail.  This is a just a tiny sampling of what Boston has to offer.

I know there are so many things I am forgetting right now. It will all come to me....as I keep reminding myself that, even when I complain, I am blessed to be a New Englander.

13 comments:

Terri Steffes said...

My all time favorite trip in the US was Boston/Portsmouth and not just because I got to meet you. There is soooo much to do, see, shop, eat.... I loved it there!

Anonymous said...

Wish I could be there... I would love to eat my way thru all of those festivals!

Bonita Rose said...

I wud love to visit New England one day... IT'S ON OUR LIST of places to visit!

marnie said...

Great post, Kristen!!
I so love New England in all her season's but summer into fall are my favorites.

Hmmm, might have to talk Don into a trip for some lobster!!! ;)

Furry Bottoms said...

My real life best friend JUST moved to Quincy, MA. Is that anywhere near you? She is so happy that the place she lives in has A/C. She has a dog named Riley-- a yorkshire terrier. Cute little fella. Check her out at www.chrwel02.blogspot.com. Maybe you can have play dates for Bailey with Riley! :)

Amy said...

I've never been to New England...but someday...I WILL be there in the fall! I WILL! Of course, summer whale watching and seafood sounds pretty darn awesome too. And, of course, I must meet you whenever I finally make it there!

Carol said...

You are a travel ad! I wanna come up there! =)

Tammy said...

You are making me appreciate my own area a bit more.....sounds an similar to LA, but I think our whales are on a different schedule. I'm thinking we whale watch in the winter, when the whales are headed to Mexico for warmer water.

And of course New England is about TEN THOUSAND times prettier, and more historical and all around more culturally signifigant.

But we we can make it from the beach to the mountains in under an hour, if traffic cooperates, and we have som e great festivals, too, which I need to start going to before I leave this place!

I'd move to Boston in a heartbeat, though. I agree with my Triplet...Boston was one of the highlights of my entire life! And I'll be back! (Consider yourself warned!)

Carma Sez said...

I visited Boston years and years ago and it seemed like such a perfect city with lots to do and lots of places to walk to...whale watching - would love to do this sometime!

Tina❀ said...

I would love to visit Boston. It sounds wonderful.

Unknown said...

It is so nice to find a blog (thank you Auntnikki) with someone who lives here in New England! I just moved here 3 months ago an love it! :) I love your blog and I am excited to go to some of the festivals! It is certainly is different than Seattle, WA which is where we moved from but we love it. We have been driving all over exploring. I will be back to check on your blog! :) Nikki said you have a dog named Bailey?

Lindsayb-mo said...

I love this cookbook! Susan Branch really knows how to do Summer! =0)
Hugs,
Lindsay

Anonymous said...

Love my Susan Branch summer book! I'm still in the 'summer is grand' mode too, but when this rain clears out I will be thinking its too dang hot! Fall anyone???