Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island

Saturday, June 08

Weather: Good weather for travel

Early start getting to Logan about 10:00a but, unfortunately, a long delay getting the rental car and getting out of Logan was slow so we decided to just head to our hotel (Hilton) in Woburn (SW suburbs of Boston). The Hilton is nice, staying 4 nights.

Dinner with Dani, Greg and Jonah

After a nice afternoon nap we met Dani, Greg and Jonah for dinner in Waltham at Not Your Average Joe's . Had a great evening visiting and a nice meal. Dani (HS Biology teacher) and Jonah (2nd grader...smart as a whip) are just finishing up their school year and are ready for summer and Greg works for a BioTech firm (a big industry in Boston). All are doing well.

Sunday, June 09

Weather: Rainy - good museum day

MIT Museum

Drove to Cambridge to the MIT campus and visited the MIT Museum with exhibits on Genetics, Climate Change, A.I., Gravitational Waves, Voyager I and II, Nimbus the sun powered car, Inside a spiders web and many other interesting exhibits. It was excellent (K's fav amongst all the others this week) You can learn more about the museum here MIT Museum

Lunch: Sky Bird in Cambridge. Tasty.

Harvard Natural History Museum

Drove to Harvard's campus and visited the Harvard Natural History Museum with exhibitions of Africa, Asia, Americas, Great Mammal Hall, Arthopods, Beetles, Climate Change, Evolution and much much more. Excellent! You can learn more about the museum here Harvard Natural History Museum

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

Also visited the Peabody museum with exhibits including Hall of the North American Indian, Penobscot Canoes, Encounters with the Americas and much more. You can learn more about the museum here Peobody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

Other museums on the Harvard campus we did'nt have time to visit are: Museum of the Ancient Far East, Art Museums and Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.

After the museums we relaxed on the Harvard campus feeling rather scholarly. The museums and campuses were great, driving out of Cambridge through all the narrow streets, not so much. Dinner in Woburn at Tavern on the Square.

Monday, June 10

Weather mid seventies, mostly sunny, light breeze, nice!

Freedom Trail

Took the train to the North End and made our way to the Freedom Trail. So much history to see on the trail. Our first stop was the USS Constitution "Old Iron Sides" Museum (launched in 1797 and was decisive in the war of 1812. 222 years later it is still a commissioned US Navy ship. Unfortunately, on Monday's ship is not in harbor and not available for tour, but the museum was very good. It's OK, tons more to see!. The USS Cassin Young (WWII destroyer built in 1943) was docked by the museum but no tours.

From there it was on to Boston National Historical Park and then to Bunker Hill Monument marking the site of the famous battle fought June 17th, 1775 where the ill equipped militia held their own against a much more powerful British Army. Then continuing to Christopher Columbus Park, Cops Hill Burying Ground and the Old North Church.

Stopped for lunch at The White Bull Tavern and ate outside (our only poor meal of the week..not recommended).

After lunch more walking the Freedom Trail to Faneull Hall and Market Place then to the Bostom Massacre Site where on March 5, 1770 a crowd of protesters became a mob and British soldiers opened fire killing Bostonians in front of the Old State House (now a museum). The State House was the center of lots of political discourse and was the site of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony. We toured the museum which had a theme of protests, some intent to destroy property (e.g., the Boston Tea Party) to make their point. The museum was really well done. Then onto Old City Hall, Kings Chapel Burial Ground (graves back to the 1600s), the Massachusetts State House and finally to Boston Commons where we had a well deserved break from the walking. You can learn more about the the trail here The Freedom Trail.

After leaving Boston Commons we stopped at the New England Holocaust Memorial. It is composed of numerous 50' glass 4 sided towers with numbers engraved representing the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. Seeing numbers after numbers after numbers realizing each one represents a person killed in the holocaust was very emotional. You can learn more about the Memorial here New England Holocaust Memorial.

After the freedom trail we walked back to the North end for a good dinner at Antico Forno. From there it was back to the train station and back to Woburn. An excellent, historical day in Boston.

Tuesday, June 11

Weather: Same..Nice!

Minuteman National Historic Park - Battle Road Trail

Hiked the famous Battle Road (Concord Rd in the 1700s) where Minutemen battled the much stronger Britsh army along the road. Lots of historical markers along the way identifying skirmishes along the trail including the site where Paul Revere was captured on his famous ride telling his countrymen "the British are coming!". Kathryn mentioned another hero often not recognized in the history books named Cybil Luddington who at age 16 road her horse 40 miles to warn local town militia of the British after the burning of Concord, CN. You can read more about her here Cybil Luddington.

We enjoyed the hike through the woods stopping at all the historical markers and buildings along the way transporting us back to the time of the Revolutionary War.

Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park

Late afternoon we took the train back to the North End then the green line subway to Fenway Park. The atmosphere outside the park was a lot of fun and we, of course, had to have tasty Italian Sausages from a street vendor (uhm...pricey!).

Fenway is the oldest baseball park in the country and has a great vibe. Totally enjoyed the game even though the Sox lost 4-1. After the game back to the green line, then the train back to Woburn. Another great day in Boston.

Wednesday, June 12

Weather: Same..Nice!

Packed up, checked out and said goodbye to Boston. Drove the 2+ hour scenic drive to Connecticut.

Hammonasset State Park

We grabbed sandwiches along the way and had a picnic lunch in the park. After, we hiked a short, scenic trail along the coastline (easy and relaxing). After the hike we still had time to spare so found a spot on the beach and read our books (very relaxing!).

Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn (just OK) in Groton, CN and had dinner at the Dog Watch Cafe. Tasty.

Thursday, June 13

Weather Same..Nice!

Submarine Force Museum - Groton, CN

Toured the Submarine Force Museum. An excellent museum including a self guided tour on the USS Nautilus (a nuclear powered submarine), excellent (but watch your head!). The museum gave us an appreciation of the brave, heroic submariners in our armed forces. Thank you for your service. Highly recommended. You can learn more about the museum here Submarine Force Museum.

Mystic and Mystic Oyster

Short drive from Groton to Mystic stopping at Mystic Oyster for hot Lobster Rolls.

Shipyard Museum - Mystic, CN

After our quick lunch we did the Shipyard Museum. This is a huge museum with tons of ships and buildings to explore. The docents on every ship and every building were outstanding. We saw the restoration under way on the USS Dalton, active machine shops, blacksmiths, cooperage (cask making), printing presses, navigation shops (sextants, clocks), a full model replica of the town back in the 1800s, massive sail boats and much more (my favorite museum). You can learn more about the museum here Mystic Seaport Museum.

After the museum it was time to say goodbye to our short visit to Connecticut and drove about 45 minutes to Warwick, RI (outside Providence next to the airport). For dinner we stopped at Tavern 12, stepped in, stepped out.. nope. Kathryn mentioned she saw no other women in the place. Headed to Not Your Average Joe's (much better...same chain we ate at in Boston on Sat). Tasty.

Friday, June 14

Weather: Same..Nice!

One day to explore Rhode Island.

Providence - Water Place Park and River Walk

Drove to downtown Providence and did the River Walk along the Woonasqutucket river (also known as the Providence River). Very nice walk with a few war memorial displays along the way and nice views of downtown. Quite, peaceful, a nice breeze.

Newport - Ocean View Drive

Drove to the island of Aquidneck to the town of Newport. Passing through the very touristy town we stopped at Wally's Weiners for a quick lunch of Coney Dogs we ate outside. Then, drove the famous 10 mile Ocean View Drive with photo stops at Fort Adams State Park, Brenton Point State Park and a few other ocean view turnouts. Continued on Ocean Ave which is lined with very impressive, old money mansions. From the road most were hidden but several are open to the public but we didn't stop.

After the scenic drive we had a long, very congested drive most of the way back to our hotel.

Dinner - Grid Iron Ale House

Dinner at Gridiron Ale House OK.

Saturday, June 15

Weather: Good travel weather

Early start, left hotel at 5:30am, caught direct flight at 7:00am, driver to home by 10:00am central time.

Home Sweet Home.

Summary

Seeing Dani, Greg and Jonah was great. We really enjoyed their company over a relaxing dinner.

Boston Lots to see and do in Boston. Cambridge area hosting MIT and Harvard with museums and old architecture (although narrow streets make for congestion even when school is out), the North End including tons to see on the Freedom Walk (lots of Revolutionary War history) and infamous Red Sox Fenway Park (oldest stadium in the US).

Connecticut Just a short amount of time but, enjoyed the beach front and two amazing museums in Groton and Mystic.

Rhode Island Very short time there although we had not found a lot to do. Providence is nice along the river and Newport is a quaint, touristy island town (although, traffic was bad).

Museums MIT, Harvard Natural History Museum, Harvard Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, USS Constitution, Old State House, Submarine Force, Shipyard Museum

National Parks (not the big ones!) Boston National Historical Park, Old State House National Historic Landmark, Minuteman National Historic Park, Submarine National Historic Park,

The Trip Was great. We both visited two States we had not been to and we packed a lot into this trip.