New England - off the beaten path

By gapcohen - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Travel

Monday, July 7, 2008

Bridgeport, CT, con't

I spent a few hours checking out the dining scene in a city most known for its smokestacks and heavy industry (not to mention drug dealing). But Bridgeport seems to be emerging from its bad rap and in addition to the PT Barnum Museum that I wrote about in a prior post, it has two live theaters, its... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Long Beach Island, NJ

Having just returned from LBI - I wanted to let readers know about the best place to stay on this little-touted piece of the Jersey Shore. though some areas are threatened with erosion, there is still a great vibe here. For those who want a romantic few days, consider the following: Sand Castle B&B... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Mark Twain and Edith Wharton Are Nearly Homeless

Mark Twain's house in Hartford, CT and Edith Wharton's estate in Lenox, MA are both suffering the fate of many a mortgage holder. I have visited both locations and felta deeper appreciation for two of our country's finest writers as a result. What a shame that these homesteads should fall to the... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, June 13, 2008

I'll Take That Mummy Wrap

Bridgeport, Connecticut was the home of PT Barnum - The Greatest Showman on Earth. Promoter of Tom Thumb, "Swedish Nightingale" Jenny Lind, and a slew of other oddities and entertainers, PT Barnum got around. The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport is a gorgeous multi-architectural-style stone and... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

What do Benedict Arnold and Sing-Sing have in common?

I wrote this for Offshore Magazine in 2002; Kayaking Through History When I was eight years old, my sailor-father taught me to row our small dingy from dock to mooring – a distance, I thought at the time, of hundreds of miles. My chopstick-thin arms belied their strength as I tight-fisted the oar... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, New Bedford, MA

The smell of fragrant, sizzling beef wafted through the thick summer air as I made my way towards a enormous open barbecue pit. On this warm night during the first weekend in August, the North End of New Bedford, MA overflowed with cheerful people, great music and sublime food at what is billed as... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Glory of an Empty Parking Lot

When we got to the Johnstown Flood Museum, the parking lot was empty. Jeff, my historic-site-phobic husband displayed his typical skepticism. “Tourists must know there’s nothing here,” he groused. I, just as typically, was euphoric. Where Jeff divined lack of interest due to a most certain dearth of... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Old Lyme, Connecticut

If you are a birdwatching artist, Old Lyme is Utopia. The town claims to be the Birthplace of American Impressionism and was in fact home to birding guru, Roger Tory Peterson. Spend a full day at the Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St. (860) 434-5542, perusing art and nature and learning to paint... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

New Bedford, MA - Whaling Capital of the World

Attractions With its cobblestone streets, great eateries and shops, not to mention the exemplary Whaling Museum, New Bedford tells the tale of a New England industry that made some men rich, but many miserable (or dead). To experience everything New Bedford has to offer can easily take a few days.... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Milford, CT

A great little town - wonderful restaurants and shops and a great destination for boaters because the harbor is right downtown. A great vibe - and party town. People come from Manhattan to go clubbing here; To explore in true-green fashion, head over to Rent A Ride; 8 Daniel St.; (203) 876-0026... Sign in to see full entry.

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