A couple of months ago Bob and I got a $50 companion fare coupon in the mail from Alaska airlines. We thought about where we could go to use it and decided that now was as good of time as any to go visit New England. It's always been on our list of "things to do before we die!" We called up Roger and Kathy, said "want to go with us?", they said, "sure!", so, away we went! We have to say it was more than we ever dreamed it would be. We had such a wonderful time, that part of our country is more beautiful than I can say. Everywhere I looked there was a picture to be taken. I took hundreds! To try and decide which to include on the blog was almost impossible. I've managed, after several tries, so here we go! 
On the beach on Martha's Vineyard
We arrived into western Mass late at night so we couldn't really see our surroundings. When we woke up the next morning, this is what we saw! I knew we were in for a treat!
The first day of our trip we headed up into Vermont. Our goal was to make it to Sharon, the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We traveled back roads all the way up. These pictures are just some of the things we saw.
When we stopped to take a picture of this farm, the owner came out and talked to us for a few minutes. She said that her house and yard had been in many magazines...Sunset is one I can remember her telling us about.
Lots of covered bridges!
All of the towns had white churches that looked like this. We saw so many that had their lawns covered in pumpkins! Must have been a great fundraiser. To see them so crisp and white looking with the colorful leaves behind them and the orange pumpkins in front was just so pretty!
We finally made it to Sharon! The guys were sure we'd never be there before dark! We made it though! It was worth the trip. We had a lovely Sister Missionary from California show us around. Our tour even included a golf cart trip into the deep woods!
Day two of our trip included a trip to an authentic Shaker Village and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Both were well worth our time. We learned alot about Shakers...sounds like they were great people, but they didn't belive in marriage and lived celebate lives...no wonder they are almost all gone now!
I love Norman Rockwells paintings. He's always been a favorite of mine.
We traveled east after a couple of days and headed up the coast of Maine. A whole different landscape awaited us there. The coast was rocky, but beautiful. Again we stayed off main highways and simply traveled through each little town. We went through Kennebunkport and found the Bush compound. I couldn't believe it was just there for everyone to take pictures! They certainly have a beautiful view to look at every morning when they wake up!
Maines coastline
We visited Concord and Lexington. There are historical sites everywhere! We could have spent lot's more time here....everywhere we could have spent more time....but since we didn't have extra time, we had to pick and choose where we went and what we saw. This was the bridge where the Revolutionary War started. Many of the historical sites are run by the National Parks department, just like in Washington DC. So, there were Park Rangers everywhere telling us all about the history. Concord was also home to people like. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Therou and Louisa May Alcott.
Onto Boston! We taveled the Freedom Trail with a guide dressed in costume. Learned lots there about our History as well! He was quite the character! We walked ALOT! The north end of Boston is full of Italian restaurants and bakeries. Of course when we heard bakery, we had to go and check it out! It was wonderful! The smells were heavenly and the food was great!
While in Boston we visited the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill. Bob has always wanted to see the ship. Tours were run by the Navy and it was great. We learned the story of "ole ironsides" and got to tour all over the boat.
Onto Bunker Hill. The monument there was a tall tower that had a look out are at the top. 280 or so steps up! We made it though and had a wonderful panaramic view of the city. Found out that the Battle of Bunker Hill wasn't really fought on Bunker Hill, but another hill close by! Go figure?!
On our way to Cape Cod we stopped at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Libray and Plymouth, to see the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.
Of course, this isn't the "real" Mayflower! A replica, but nevertheless, I can't believe how small it is!
So, Plymouth Rock was really just a rock! I thought I'd see some big cliffs or something! Instead, just a rock! Now sure how anyone really knows that was the rock they landed on, but they've made a pretty big deal out of it! It's all inclosed in a big column structure to protect it!
The last two days of our trip were to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Cape Cod was much bigger than we'd imagined. Even though it was an island, it was hard to find beach and water! Our trip out to Martha's Vineyard was well worth it! We traveled over by ferry. They had a great public bus system (after we figured it out!) and visited three of the little towns on the island. They were all fun in different ways. Edgartown was our favorite. One had a whole little village of Gingerbread houses. The streets seemed to go on forever! There were hundreds of them, it seemed. Each trying to outdo the other with their scroll work! Never seen anything like it before! We saw so many boats, beautiful homes, lighthouses...everything so clean and wonderful!
We were so lucky and had so many beautiful days. On our last night, as we were riding the Ferry back to Cape Cod we caught this picture of the sun setting not only on our day, but on our trip. All good things have to come to an end, but we were sad to see this one go! We'll always remember this trip and the great time that we had, the beautiful things that we saw. Hopefully, someday, we'll be able to go back.
On the beach on Martha's Vineyard
We arrived into western Mass late at night so we couldn't really see our surroundings. When we woke up the next morning, this is what we saw! I knew we were in for a treat!
The first day of our trip we headed up into Vermont. Our goal was to make it to Sharon, the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We traveled back roads all the way up. These pictures are just some of the things we saw. 
When we stopped to take a picture of this farm, the owner came out and talked to us for a few minutes. She said that her house and yard had been in many magazines...Sunset is one I can remember her telling us about.
Lots of covered bridges! 
All of the towns had white churches that looked like this. We saw so many that had their lawns covered in pumpkins! Must have been a great fundraiser. To see them so crisp and white looking with the colorful leaves behind them and the orange pumpkins in front was just so pretty!
We finally made it to Sharon! The guys were sure we'd never be there before dark! We made it though! It was worth the trip. We had a lovely Sister Missionary from California show us around. Our tour even included a golf cart trip into the deep woods! 
Day two of our trip included a trip to an authentic Shaker Village and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Both were well worth our time. We learned alot about Shakers...sounds like they were great people, but they didn't belive in marriage and lived celebate lives...no wonder they are almost all gone now!
I love Norman Rockwells paintings. He's always been a favorite of mine. 
We traveled east after a couple of days and headed up the coast of Maine. A whole different landscape awaited us there. The coast was rocky, but beautiful. Again we stayed off main highways and simply traveled through each little town. We went through Kennebunkport and found the Bush compound. I couldn't believe it was just there for everyone to take pictures! They certainly have a beautiful view to look at every morning when they wake up!
Maines coastline
We visited Concord and Lexington. There are historical sites everywhere! We could have spent lot's more time here....everywhere we could have spent more time....but since we didn't have extra time, we had to pick and choose where we went and what we saw. This was the bridge where the Revolutionary War started. Many of the historical sites are run by the National Parks department, just like in Washington DC. So, there were Park Rangers everywhere telling us all about the history. Concord was also home to people like. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Therou and Louisa May Alcott.
Onto Boston! We taveled the Freedom Trail with a guide dressed in costume. Learned lots there about our History as well! He was quite the character! We walked ALOT! The north end of Boston is full of Italian restaurants and bakeries. Of course when we heard bakery, we had to go and check it out! It was wonderful! The smells were heavenly and the food was great!
While in Boston we visited the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill. Bob has always wanted to see the ship. Tours were run by the Navy and it was great. We learned the story of "ole ironsides" and got to tour all over the boat.
Onto Bunker Hill. The monument there was a tall tower that had a look out are at the top. 280 or so steps up! We made it though and had a wonderful panaramic view of the city. Found out that the Battle of Bunker Hill wasn't really fought on Bunker Hill, but another hill close by! Go figure?!
On our way to Cape Cod we stopped at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Libray and Plymouth, to see the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.
Of course, this isn't the "real" Mayflower! A replica, but nevertheless, I can't believe how small it is!
So, Plymouth Rock was really just a rock! I thought I'd see some big cliffs or something! Instead, just a rock! Now sure how anyone really knows that was the rock they landed on, but they've made a pretty big deal out of it! It's all inclosed in a big column structure to protect it!
The last two days of our trip were to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Cape Cod was much bigger than we'd imagined. Even though it was an island, it was hard to find beach and water! Our trip out to Martha's Vineyard was well worth it! We traveled over by ferry. They had a great public bus system (after we figured it out!) and visited three of the little towns on the island. They were all fun in different ways. Edgartown was our favorite. One had a whole little village of Gingerbread houses. The streets seemed to go on forever! There were hundreds of them, it seemed. Each trying to outdo the other with their scroll work! Never seen anything like it before! We saw so many boats, beautiful homes, lighthouses...everything so clean and wonderful!
We were so lucky and had so many beautiful days. On our last night, as we were riding the Ferry back to Cape Cod we caught this picture of the sun setting not only on our day, but on our trip. All good things have to come to an end, but we were sad to see this one go! We'll always remember this trip and the great time that we had, the beautiful things that we saw. Hopefully, someday, we'll be able to go back. 
7 comments:
The pictures look even better right side up! Jelous Jelous! Love you!
your pictures were awesome, they looked like they could go in a magazine.
Looks like it was such a fun trip. I would love to go there in the fall!! It looks beautiful.
I've been waiting for the pictures, brought back lots of memories of our trips. Living in the west is so different than the east side of the country. It's an awesome place, green rolling hills everywhere. I remember I didn't think I'd ever get off the Freedom Trail in Boston. Thanks for sharing!
I want to go on a fun trip like that! I guess we'll just have to wait till I'm as OLD as you!
The pictures turned out great!
Love Ya!
How fun! I'm glad y'all get to travel!
Awesome! I want to do that someday.
Post a Comment