Last Saturday my BFF and I had the pleasure of visiting Alice in the Village over at Patriot Place. Alice in the Village is a unique store and tea room featuring the fictional characters of Alice in the Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I had wanted to go for months and was finally able to carve out some girl time and head on over.
Our tea time was at 11:00 a.m. sharp. The entrance to the tea room is a cute bakery and shop. You can drop in for a pastry, sandwiches, soup, and drinks. There is loose leaf tea for sale, along with dainty teacups, teapots and other accessories used in making and drinking tea.
Here are a couple of drink menus. As you can see, they sell much more than just tea.
The tea room is in the back of the Village. An adorable sign welcomes patrons to the Royal Tea Room.
We were the first to arrive and had our choice of tables. We picked one a couple of tables in and to the left. It gave me a good view of what was going on. The Village is not that big. Maybe it holds 50 people? It is cutely decorated and screams Queen of Hearts.
Our waitress greeted us in the most adorable uniform. It resembled the one Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum wore in the movie. She handed us our menus and explained how the tea service worked. There were three tea services to choose from. First, was the Willy Wonka High Tea. This tea service runs from September- December. It includes sandwiches, quiche, soup, scones, dessert, tea, and a visit from the Candyman Trolley. The Willy Wonka High Tea is $78.00 for two or $117.00 for three people. Also, there is a children’s menu, Charlie’s Nursery Tea for $30.00 for children under 12. Here a peek at the menu.
Our other choices were the Wonderland Tea and The Queen of Hearts High Tea. We chose the Queen of Hearts High Tea. It was $110 for two or $165 for three. Honestly, I felt it was a great value.
We ordered our tea service and next had to decide what teas we would like to try. The tea menu is enormous. There are about 100 different teas, and I admit it was a bit overwhelming. Ultimately, I went with Florence and Kim went with Boston. Take a look at this tea menu.
As part of our tea service, we also were able to choose a Potion. A potion? Was the Queen trying to poison us? The “potion” is Butterfly Pea Tea. Butterfly Pea Tea is color changing iced teas.
Soon after our potions were mixed, our tea arrived. It was served in its own teapot with a choice of milk, sugar or honey. I love honey in my tea. The tea comes with is own hourglass. Once the sand runs through the hourglass, the tea is ready to drink.
Now, let’s talk about the menu. OH my, it did not disappoint. It began with a plate of cheeses, seasonal fruit, and warm french bread. Have I mentioned how much I love warm bread?
Next arrived a hot cup of tomato soup with a small quinoa salad. It had a bit of balsamic vinaigrette on the side.
While we digested our food, the tea kept coming. It was delicious. The tea was smooth and served at just the right temperature.
Next came the main course, along with the desserts, all served on a royal tower. There were four types of sandwiches, some salad, quiche, fresh scones, and tarts and dessert. It was a lot of food, but all of it looked amazing.
Wow! 
Dessert 
A little of everything. 
Macaron 
Mad Hatter’s hat 
An eclair with a gold crown.
Of the four kinds of sandwiches, the chicken salad was my favorite. I will admit, I skipped the salmon. I find nothing appealing about it. The pasta salad was pretty good, nothing special, but I enjoyed it. The quiche had mushrooms, and I believe cheddar cheese. It was excellent. The lemon tart was delicious, as was the macaron. I loved how it was in the shape of a heart. We each received a cranberry orange scone. I took that home and someone, other than me, ate it that evening. I swear, I can’t hide anything from the boys, including the husband! If our bellies weren’t full enough, we still had all these delicious desserts. The Mad Hatter’s hat was my favorite. It was filling with cream and a strawberry sponge-like cake. Yum! Also, I had put on the reservation that we were celebrating our birthdays, which was true, just a few months late. Our server surprised us with these beauties.
We had to be rolled out there! Alice in the Village did not disappoint. In addition to the fun atmosphere, (did I mention Disney music is playing throughout), the food was terrific. The service was excellent, and the details throughout the shop are incredible.
Curtain tieback 
Decor on the walls 
Look at the lights! 
Adorable clock 
Wall decor 
Place setting on tables 
The Queens chair 
Wall decor 
Mad Hatter
Alice in the Village is perfect for a girl’s day out. Perhaps a new tradition with your mom, daughter, or granddaughter. I noted on their website, Alice in the Village has some upcoming special events.
- Mad Hatter appearance during the NE patriots away games (dates TBD).
- October 25 – The Sanderson Sisters are being Resurrected at Foxboro! (tickets are needed).
- January – March: Special Harry Potter High Tea and pop-up.
Alice in the Village also hosts parties for children and adults alike. Make sure to hop on over to their website for more information. This was not a one time visit. I will back, even if it is to pop in for a hot cup of tea and a macaron while shopping.
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the cooler weather, the different colors across the trees, the smell of apples, and pumpkin spice. I mean, what is there not to like? Growing up in New England, I have been blessed with some beautiful Falls. New England has a LOT to offer this time of year, and I would like to share some of these with you.
Apple Picking
One of our family traditions is apple picking. With over 80 pick your own orchards in Massachusetts, each a bit different, it is hard to decide where to go. We have a family favorite, Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stowe, MA.
We like Honey Pot for several reasons. First, the orchard has several varieties of apples. The orchard is quite large, and we never feel it is too crowded. Second, it is one of the few places that have ladders to climb the trees. I love that! For some reason, it makes a bit more fun and authentic. Third, APPLE CIDER DONUTS! Hello?!? These donuts melt in your mouth. Now I know many places sell them, but nothing compares to the ones we get at Honey Pot Hill Orchards. The orchard has farm animals, hayrides, three different mazes, pumpkins, a great farm store, and some food stands. New this year, a Cider Garden. They will be a Hard Cider Tent set up on the weekends. We are looking forward to trying that out.
cider donuts -photo courtesy of Honey Pot 
cute little pig – courtesy of Honey Pot
Go Leaf Peeping
The foliage in New England is GORGEOUS! Whether you want to make this a day trip or a weekend-long event, there is plenty of foliage to see among the New England states. Check out the best foliage drives here.
Pumpkin Festival
Did you know that Laconia, NH, has one of the best pumpkin festivals in the country? Neither did I until I started researching for this piece. Each year, New Hampshire residents attempt to amass the largest number of lit jack o lanterns in one place, trying to meet or beat the world record, which the festival held for many years. The festival held mid-October attracts approximately 40,000-50,000 people each year. This year it will be held October 18th and 19th. There will be amusement park rides, a beer garden, music on the streets, a zombie walk, pumpkin displays, yummy food, which of course includes pumpkin everything and a five and a 10k on the morning of the 19th. Also, there are children’s games like pedal tractor pulls, corn hole, and more. There is fun for the whole family. We will be in Maine that weekend visiting colleges, so I am sad we are unable to attend. However, I will be sure to add it to my list for the following year.
The North American Wife Carrying Championship
Yes, folks, you heard it right. Such a thing exists! Sunday River in Maine is the second largest ski resort in New England. It is also home to The North American Wife Carrying Championship. This annual event is held over Columbus Day Weekend. Ironically, it does not have to be your wife that gets carried across a 278-yard obstacle course. It can be any woman of your choosing. The woman is thrown over the man’s shoulder. She is hauled across the course with her legs wrapped around a man’s neck and her arms around his waist. The obstacle course is made up of mud, logs, dirt, deep grass, and water, where her head is bound to get wet. A Finnish couple has won the event since 2013. This event coincides with the ski resort’s annual festival with chairlifts rides, live bands, food & beer tents and craft fairs.
4th Annual Harvest Festival at the Newport Vineyards
Newport is a seaside town in Rhode Island known for its historic mansions and sailing history. It hosted America’s Cup for many years. Next to Newport is the town of Middleton, home to Newport Vineyards. In addition to being a winery, Newport Vineyard has a brewery that offers fresh craft beer and a farm to table focused menu. There are events such as
This two-day event is Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th from noon -5:00 pm. It is two days of grape stomping (yes you read that right), sipping delicious wine or beer and eating delectable food. Or perhaps you are a pie lover? There is a pie-eating contest too! The cost of the event is $25.00 per person and includes up to 7 samplings of wine or beer. Children under 15 are free.
Viewing Foliage from High Above the Trees
For the adventurous leaf peepers, Connecticut offers a unique way to see the beauty that a New England Fall has to offer. Tree climbing, ziplining, and adrenaline-pumping rock climbing is some of the ways to take in vibrant hues of the season. Empower Leadership
Hiking with the Family
Not to be missed is the beautiful state of Vermont. Vermont is known for its yummy maple syrup and over 100 19th century covered bridges. It is also a great place to take a hike and see the beauty of The Green Mountain State. We are not that family that can hike for hours. Yes, I can run a marathon, but hiking up mountains for hours is not in the cards. However, we do love the outdoors and seeing the beauty around us. Here are 5 Kid-Friendly Hikes for your family to enjoy.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a hot vacation spot in the summer, but did you know that the Fall is one of the best times to visit this New England gem. The crowds are low, but a fair amount of restaurants are still open. House rentals are often half the price, and the beaches are there for all to enjoy. My sister and her husband head down the last week of September each year. Last September we tagged along for a weekend. We enjoyed hanging at the house, walking to the beach and a tour to see the seals that gather each year in Chatham, MA. I highly recommend the Monomoy Island Excursion. It is quite the site to see.
Salem, Massachusetts
The best place to be around Halloween, is Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is North of Boston and is famous for its witch trials in the 1600s. There are over 500 different events during October to
- Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour Salem Witch Museum
- Peabody Essex Museum
- Halloween Cruises
- Bewitched After Dark Salem Walking Tours
- The People vs Bridget Bishop
- Gallows Hill
- Salem Witch Museum
- Salem Wax Museum
Oh, and before you leave, make sure to stop by Enchanted. It is a magical shop for “witches & muggles” It is home to Laurie Cabot, Salem’s official witch. You can read about Laurie here.
Last, but certainly not least, Sitting by the Fire
Probably one of my absolute favorite things to do in the Fall, sitting out on the patio, cuddled up by the fire enjoying the cool, but pleasant weather. As New Englanders, we need to enjoy this season much as we can because we all know what comes after Fall.
Whoa is it just me or did this summer go by in a blink of an eye? I can’t believe Labor Day weekend has come and gone. Crazy! Thankfully, Fall is my favorite time of year, and we have a lot to look forward to over the next 3-4 months. However, before we bid farewell to summer, I thought I would recap our adventures.
The summer started with a Memorial Day weekend trip out to Chicago with my sisters. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, staying long enough to attend a baby shower, spend some time with family and to experience the Chocolate Pinata from Uncle Julio’s.
Chocolate Pinata 
Kristen & Dick Tracy
Back at home, more celebrating as our nephew Josh graduated high school and Robbie and I went on some college visits. Oh, and Nicholas and I started our ice cream tour. 🙂
Josh’s graduation 
Robbie @Nichols College 
Ice cream time!
The summer continued with me heading down to Orlando for a work conference. I stayed at Universal Studios for the first time, and though the weather was terrible, I was able to try some local treats.
The Chocolate Emporium 
Hello?? Chocolate & Peanut Butter 
Chocolate martini anyone?
And I wonder why I gained a few pounds this summer?
At the end of the month, our travels took us to West Dennis Beach and Provincetown, MA. P-town is located at the tip of the Cape. My sister had a family wedding and needed someone to her little guy. My other sister and I, along with my kids, got and kept JJ overnight. We took in some of the local sites as well.
West Dennise Beach 
Cousins-minus one 
Always fun with Auntie Jen 
“Living” Statute
June came to a close and the 4th of July was upon us. Every July 3rd, we head over to Gilette Stadium,
My bib. 
It is all about the bling. 
Baby you’re a firework!
I feel blessed to live in such a great area of the country. Yes, it gets warm and can be stifling, but it rarely lasts more than a few days. The weather is great for hanging at the beach or exploring our cute seaside towns. We can watch movies outside while enjoying some yummy meals.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts 
Lobster Salad 
Halloween in July! 
Lobster Mac & Cheese 
Raspberry Lime Rickey 
Marblehead Harbor 
Rock sandwich anyone? 
Deveraux Beach 
Do it for Johnny 
Dinner and a show
Ahhh, Topsail Island, you own a piece of my heart. Five years ago we started spending part of our summer on this little piece of paradise. After taking a couple of years off to sail to Alaska and the Mediterranean, we went back. This time it was Nicholas and I, along with a friend and her family. Bill and Robbie chose not to come due to work obligations. The vacation started a bit rough as I had some sciatic nerve pain and numbness in my foot. The 16-hour drive was brutal. We stopped in VA overnight, but that was not enough time to recoup. The remaining 5 hours was horrible. Each morning I could not sit until I had taken 4 Motrin and 2 Aleve. Even then, I could not sit for long periods. However, I made the most of it and enjoyed our time on the island. We spent plenty of time on the beach, went to a craft show, ate out, explored the island, and found fresh farm goods, explored Bellamy Mansion, and did an Escape Room.
Our backyard 
Surf City Pier 
Nicholas met a friend. 
SHARK!! 
God Bless America 
Fresh jam and maple syrup 
Slave quarters at the Bellamy House 
Escape room 
Our home for the week.
The drive home was a tad better. I made sure to stop and stretch every two hours. Nicholas and I treated ourselves to a stay at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. I was a bit sore, but we did take some time to eat and snap a few photos.
Virginia is for lovers. 
Girl Power! 
A Marine like his Grandfather.
Back home, Robbie was busy at his new job and spending lots of time with his grandfather. I missed having my boy with me, but I understand that he has obligations, and I am proud of him.
We had a couple of weekends home before our next adventure, so we stayed closed at home. I worked on my 2018 vacation scrapbook. I am happy to report I finished that. I read a couple of books, and we went blueberry picking. Nicholas attended camp at a local college. For three weeks he took Fishing, Forensics, Chemistry, and Wildnerness Exploration. He has participated in this camp for three years in a row and looks forward to it each year.
Bill and Nicholas picking blueberries 
Yummy blueberries 
Forensics 
Gone Fishing
No sooner did he finish camp up at home, we were on a flight to Huntsville, AL where Nicholas was to attend a week at Space Camp at the U.S. Rocket and Space Center. I will be doing a separate post on this, with help from Nicholas, so be on the lookout for that. Nicholas stayed onsite at the camp, while I worked out of a hotel for a week. I spent some time walking the grounds of the Space and Rocket Center each morning and afternoon. I also checked out the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
Challenger Monument 
Where the campers stay. 
Having fun! 
Botanical Garden
Phew.. after a whirlwind trip back home, we had a half a day to recoup and then it was all about celebrating this cutie. Our nephew John Joseph, IV (JJ) turned one year old!
Finally, we ended our summer at the most magical place on Earth, Disney World. Be on the lookout for more on this trip, but it was an adventure. It involved a hurricane, a journey to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, club level at the Beach Club, walking onto rides with little to no waits, a Halloween party and more. What a way to end the summer!
Jessie & Woody 
Haunted Mansion 
The famous Blue Milk! 
Mickey blowing kisses 
My boy 
Kylo Ren’s ship 
Magic Shot
No wonder the summer went by in a blink, we were go, go go Were there things on our bucket list that we did not get to do? Yep! Fortunately, these are things that can be carried over to the Fall. Speaking of Fall, I am working on a post about the top 10 things to do in the Fall in New England. I will also be sharing my bucket list for the remainder of the year.
Until then,
Heather
Two weeks ago, my 13-year-old attended Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, located in Huntsville, Alabama. Nicholas is 13 years old, and neither one of us was comfortable sending him down to Alabama on his own. I am an attorney and can work from just about anywhere, so I escorted him down to Huntsville. While he was at camp, I stayed at and spent most of my time working. Unfortunately, most of the historical sites closed by 5:00 pm, so I did not get to see as much as I would have liked. However, I did manage to visit Huntsville Botanical Garden for an evening.
The Garden sits on 112 acres of land, once owned by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. It’s opened year-round and one of the top three places to visit in the state of Alabama. It boasts a picture-perfect aquatic garden, a spectacular wildflower and nature trail, and numerous specialty gardens and plant collections. It is home to the Purdy Butterly House, the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house. There are also eight specialized gardens aimed at children.
Upon entering the parking lot, you see the magnificent visitor’s center. Inside is the atrium where guests check into the Garden.
The 3,500 sq. ft. facility has a cafe with fresh meals and snacks, a gift shop, gallery space for exhibits, offices and conference rooms, along with a balcony overlooking the Garden. An interesting fact about the visitor’s center, the columns in the front are made of limestone and were part of the third Madison County Courthouse which had opened in 1914.
The Garden is opened to the public the following hours:
April – September
- Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Friday & Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
October – March
- Monday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Members and children under 2 are free. Adults are $14.00, with discounts given to military personnel ($12), Students ($12) and Seniors (55+ $12). From November through February, the admission rates are discounted $2.00.
Upon purchasing my ticket, I was given a map of the grounds. The gentleman at the counter explicitly told me not to miss numbers 5 and 15.
The first thing I noticed as I exited the visitor’s center was how quiet it was outside. There were very few people, and it was just so peaceful. I turned to look at the back of the visitor’s center and was struck at its beauty.
As I was making my way to the Garden Railway, I came across Teledyne Terrace. Teledyne is a company that focuses on aerospace and a contributor to the Garden. This structure was erected in their name.
Also on my way to the Garden Railway, I came across the thought table.
Each rock had either a word or a picture painted on it. The idea is to create a message with the rocks. Once created, you snap a photo, upload it to social media with the #hbgmoments. This was mine.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of the Garden Railway. Imagine my surprise when it resembled another garden railway that I love, in one of my favorite places, Epcot!
The Garden Railway is a miniature landscape that contains a village, farm, waterfall, pond and train trestle and tunnel. I love watching it go on by.
Next, on my walking tour, I came across a cute hammock area and some areas for children to play and relax.
As I kept walking, I knew I was getting closer to # 5 on the map. If you recall, the gentleman at the front desk told me not to miss #5 and #15. Number 5 did not disappoint.
The Damson Aquatic Garden is a 100-foot pool divided by the Aquatic Pavillion featuring lotus, water lilies and many creatures that make their home in this complete ecosystem.
Another highlight of the Garden is the Children’s Garden. It is eight gardens in one! There is the land of the dinosaurs, space travel, rainbows and prisms, traditional nursery rhymes, learn about bamboo, and create a maze. In the summertime, there are multiple water features, including a wading pool and Pollywog Bog.
Last but certainly not least, the Purdy Butterfly House. At 9,000 square feet, this is the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house featuring over 2,000 butterflies, quail, frogs, fish, and turtles. No wonder this was highlighted on the map. It was beautiful and I could have spent hours here relaxing.
Overall the garden was beautiful. Many of the flowers had already bloomed, but there was still enough to see. I can imagine the fall is absolutely gorgeous.
Speaking of the fall, through September and October the Garden hosts a scarecrow trail, weekend hayrides, hay bale art, a con maze, pumpkin display, and a Halloween event, Bootanica! So if you happen to be in the area in the next two months, make sure to check these out.
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Last month we spent a full glorious week on Topsail Island, North Carolina. Topsail is one of my favorite places on Earth. It is quiet, the beaches are gorgeous, the waves are enormous, and for some reason, though she had never been, it brings me close to my Mom. She loved the ocean and had always wanted to see the North Carolina coast. Perhaps, this why I feel her presence when we are there.
The seas were rougher than usual this trip, and there were warnings of rip currents. We knew the kids would want to be in the water all the time, so we decided to take a break and head down to Carolina Beach, about 45 mins south, and check it out. Unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired. While the beach was gorgeous, there wasn’t much to do until the evening hours. It appeared that nothing was open on the boardwalk, and we were left saying, “Now what?”
We talked about going to see a plantation, but time was not on our side. Most of the estates were closing in an hour, and the ones of interest were 30 minutes away. As we were poking around on our phones, Kim pulled up Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, NC. It sounded interesting, it was opened later than the others, and we all had enjoyed Wilmington when we were there on our last trip.
Bellamy Mansion is located in downtown Wilmington. The grounds include the mansion, the carriage house and the slave quarters and replicas of the original gardens. Though the mansion and other structures were built by 1861, it was not until 1870; the beautiful gardens were planted.
Dr. John Bellamy lived in the home with his wife, Eliza and their ten children. For eighty-five years, members of the Bellamy family occupied the house. The last remaining child of Dr. and Mrs. Bellamy was Ellen Bellamy, and she passed away in 1946.
The house has quite a history. It was built between 1859 and 1861. It has Greek Revival and Italianate styling. The home consists of twenty -two rooms and was built by both enslaved and local freed black artisans. Dr. Bellamy wanted his family’s home to include modern amenities. This included a specially designed ventilation system to keep the house cool in the Carolina heat.
The Bellamys moved into the house in 1861. Mrs. Bellamy was pregnant with their tenth child. The Bellamy’s moved into the main house, and their nine enslaved workers moved into the slave quarters. The home was taken over by federal troops during the Civil War and survived a disastrous fire in 1972. It served as home to two generations of Bellamy family members, restored in 1992 and now following extensive restoration and preservation is a functioning museum.
As I mentioned above, Mrs. Bellany had beautiful gardens planted on the property. However, by the time the restoration of the mansion happened in 1992, traces of the formal garden had disappeared. Today, what you see for gardens is based on historical research and archaeological investigation. In 1996, through significant funding from the Cape Fear Garden Club, the Bellamy gardens were recreated and maintained today through volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Bellamy Mansion 
When we first arrived, we checked into the carriage house, which now serves as offices and a gift shop. Our guide was a local college student that had a great interest in history. He gave us the history of the home, told us a bit about the Bellamy family and painted us a picture of what life was like for the family back in the times of the civil war and beyond. Two months after moving into their new home, North Carolina seceded from the Union. Dr. Bellamy was in favor of the succession and quite proud of his state for taking such a stance. A few years later, in 1865, Fort Fisher had fallen to the Federal Troops. Federal Troops came into Wilmington and took over the city. The Union occupied the nicer homes, as many of them had been abandoned during the war. The Bellamy’s had been staying on their plantation, so their home soon become headquarters to the military staff. When the war ended, the Federal Government seized many of these properties, including the Bellamy’s home. Due to Dr. Bellamy’s ties to the Confederacy, initially, he was not allowed back into Wilmington to reclaim his home. Finally, after a lengthy process, he received a pardon from President Johnson to retrieve his property.
As we toured the home, we saw the formal dining room, the ironing room where the children often ate with the slaves, formal parlors, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
After a tour of the home, we were able to explore the slave quarters. The rooms were tiny, and the bathroom was quite something to see.
As we toured the slave quarters, we were told the story of William B. Gould. Mr. Gould was an enslaved Bellamy plasterer. In 1862, he escaped and joined the Union navy. He kept detailed notes of his time in the war. His great-grandson William B. Gould, IV edited his great-grandfather’s diary into a book titled Diary of a Contraband: The Civil War Passage of a Black Sailor. When I got home, I researched him a bit more and found out he was discharged from the Navy, right here at the Charlestown Navy Yard, married a local woman and raised their family in Dedham, MA, two towns over from me. Pretty cool!
I found the tour fascinating, as did my friend and her family. We had five children with us, ranging from 12 to 17 and all enjoyed the tour. It was a nice change from the beach, and next time we will make sure to visit another one of these historic homes in the Wilmington area.
This summer has been jammed packed with back to back plans each weekend. No wonder I feel like summer is the shortest season out there. Two weekends ago, we were invited by some friends to watch a movie under the stars at the Star Drive-In located in Taunton, MA.
The Star Drive-In has been in business for over 50 years. It is a small establishment with a walk-up service. Outside are picnic tables for you to sit and enjoy your meal. I was surprised at the size of the menu. It had everything from juicy burgers, fresh-made pizza, salads, seafood, and more. Plus, it serves both hard and soft-serve ice cream available in 100 flavors. I had a Greek salad with grilled chicken, my husband and two boys had pizza, while my friends had fisherman’s platters. The fisherman’s platters were huge. The food was excellent. A little later on in the night, we treated ourselves to ice cream. There is nothing like ice cream on a summer night.
After we ate, we unloaded our beach chairs and headed over to the grassy area to claim our spot for the movie. There are weekly bike nights, Jeep shows, holiday events throughout the year, and starting in the Spring, movie nights every Saturday night. This week’s movie was an oldy but goody, The Outsiders.
Both kids had to read The Outsiders for summer reading one year, so I thought they would enjoy the movie as well. Except for the beetles buzzing around, it was a great night.
For part two of the weekend, we headed up to the north shore of Massachusetts. My sister and her family live up that way. We spent the day hanging with her on the beach in Marblehead, MA. Marblehead is a beautiful coastal town, home to Marblehead Light, Fort Sewall and referred to as the birthplace of the United States Navy.
Our first stop of the day was to Devereux Beach for some fun in the sand, surf, and sun. This beach is small compared to some of the other beaches we have been too, but it is clean, has a great snack shack, playground and an area where they have entertainment on certain nights. The beach has small waves, which makes it ideal for kids. The water… well let’s say it is a little too cold for me.
The weather was extremely hot, and even on the beach, there wasn’t much of a breeze. We only stayed a couple of hours, as the sun was a bit much. Plus, we were all getting hungry and wanted something more than snack shack food. Being that we were on the coast, we knew there would be some great restaurants to be had. We found ourselves in Marblehead center at a restaurant called The Landing.
The Landing Pub is located right on the water. On the weekends it serves brunch until 2:00 pm, plus their regular lunch and dinner menu. One of the best things about living in New England is our seafood. It never disappoints. As I looked at the menu, lobster mac and cheese caught my eye. It looked too good to pass up.
The pieces of lobster were huge. I could eat only half of it. The rest I took home. The mimosas were good too.
Over the last couple of years, Massachusetts has become a hotbed for filmmakers. Several movies have been filmed here, and this summer is no exception. Adam Sandler is in town filming a Halloween movie for NetFlix. The whole downtown area was decorated for Halloween. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, second only to Christmas. I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie.
Doesn’t this look fun? Too bad we didn’t see Adam.
A summer day would not be complete without ice cream. We drove back to my sister’s house in Wakefield and stopped at Cravings. Cravings is a local ice cream shop made to look like an old fashion soda shop from the 1920s. It has fresh homemade ice cream, coffee, and confections. There are 36 flavors that rotate depending on the season. They have custom-blended soft serve flavors as well. Each flavor is blended with cookies, candy, nuts, or fruit. I had Cappucino Chip. It was delicious.
Weekends like this remind me how lucky we are to live where we live. There is never a shortage of things to do, places to eat, and things to see. It is just too bad summer isn’t a little bit longer.
This September, my husband and I are headed to Basal, Switzerland for an adventure of a lifetime. Bill turns 50 in December and I wanted to celebrate the milestone in a big way. What better way to celebrate turning a half-century old than taking an adults only food & wine river cruise down the Rhine River.
Our cruise starts in Basal, Switzerland. Bill and I are flying in a couple of days early to acclimate to the time change and to see a little of Switzerland. Our plans are still up in the air, but we are thinking of spending our first-day touring Basal on our own. I was told we must try the fondue. On our second day, I am looking into day tours of Lucerne. I hear it is quite beautiful.
The actual cruise starts on a Monday. This a river cruise on the AmaMora River Cruise ship. The AmaMora is part of the AmaWaterways company. Adventures by Disney has leased their ships out for certain sailings. Did I mention this particular cruise is adults only?
For the first couple of days, we will dock in Strasbourg, France. On day 1 in France, we will venture to Riquewihr, where we will participate in a walking & tasting tour. Riquewihr is known for its beautiful architecture and Reisling wine. It is a full day tour, and I am so excited to explore this picturesque town.
On our second day in Strasbourg, Bill and I chose Alsace Canoeing. We have never been canoeing before, so this should be interesting! In the afternoon we head back to the ship for a French Macaron Making Demonstration. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to make these little beauties?
Our next stop will be Mannheim, Germany and a full day tour of Heidelberg Castle. I recently shared an article on this tour. You can check it our here.
Day five, we find ourselves in Rudesheim, Germany. We will have a private tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum, a gondola ride to Neiderwald Monument and a visit to Rüdesheimer Schloss. Rüdesheimer Schloss is a wine hotel and restaurant.
In the afternoon, Bill and I have chosen to ride bikes along the Rhine River. Now, my husband loves riding a bike. I have not ridden one since I was a kid. I plan on practicing this summer. LOL!!
Our next adventure takes us to Cologne, Germany. Here we will do a walking tour of Cologne and a chocolate museum. I really hope we get some samples. Later on we will go on a pub crawl through the city and in the afternoon have some beer, sausages and pretzels. Not a bad way to end our time in Germany.
Our last stop on this fantastic cruise is the city of Amsterdam. There is just so much I want to do and see here, that we will be staying an extra day. First up is a canal cruise through the city.
Upon finishing the canal cruise, we head over to the Van Gogh Museum where we will attend a painting workshop. Later that day we will head out to the countryside for Clog Decorating in Zaanse Schans. I can’t wait to make myself a pair of wooden clogs!
The next day we disembark the ship, but as I mentioned, Bill and I will be staying a extra day. We have decided on a city tour in the morning and Anne Frank’s House in the afternoon. We will finish the trip with a nice meal somewhere in the city. If you know of a good place, let me know!
I hope you have enjoyed this preview of our adventure to come. I plan on posting photos along the way and coming back with an in depth report of all that we see and do. I can’t wait to share more with you all. 86 days until we leave, but who is counting?
This past week I was in Orlando attending a conference for work. The conference was held at the Lowes Pacific Royal over at Universal Studios. I wish I could say I popped over to the parks, but the weather was awful. On Monday night I was out for a run and ran past the entrace to CityWalk CityWalk is part of Universal Studios and consists of many restaurants, bars and other entertainment. One restaurant in particular caught my eye, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. Did someone say chocolate? I have quite the sweet tooth and love anything chocolate. Once I was back in my room, I looked up the menu and thought maybe I would check it out.
My original plan was to spend my last night in Florida at Epcot. I am a Disney girl through and through and go every chance I get. I am also an annual pass holder, so not having to shell out $100 or so for a park ticket is appealing. However, as I mentioned, the weather was terrible. There was a tornado warning! I decided to wait out the weather and walk over to this intriguing restaurant with chocolate in the title.
As I entered, I realized this was much more than just a restaurant. Upon entering, to the right is a shop with candy, freshly-made desserts, popcorn, novelty items, and more. To the left is a counter where one can order fantastic sundaes and milkshakes. Before I took a look at any of this, I went up to the hostess and asked for a table. She informed me there was a 40-minute wait, but I could head upstairs and eat at the bar. There were high top tables, where the full menu is served. Off I went!
I grabbed myself a high top and had fun perusing the menu.
The restaurant has an extensive menu that includes an all-day brunch. The appetizer selection was quite big — a favorite on the menu, Warm Chocolate Almond Bread that comes with a salted caramel butter. I was about to order that when I saw a Baked Brie En Croute. It is made with raspberry marmalade, berries, almonds, chocolate almond bread, and oven-baked lavosh. I had to try this. As for my drink, I ordered a Vanilla Chocolate Cocktail. The drink consisted of Madagascar vanilla vodka, Trader Vick’s dark chocolate, Faretti chocolate, and chocolate bitters.
As I was eating my appetizer, my server came over and asked how everything was, and we got to talking. He told me that the restaurant has a backstory. Apparently, characters walk around, including Penelope Tibeaux- Tinker Toothsome, creator of the restaurant and her robot Jacques. Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of meeting her or her friend.
I had a hard time deciding what to have for dinner. There were sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, pasta, burgers, and entrees. I asked the server for his recommendation and he said I could not go wrong with the braised short ribs. I was sold.
As I waited for dinner, I snapped some photos of the seating area. The bar is pretty big, and the seating area around it is very nice. The view is great.
My ribs arrived, and he was right, it was delicious. Though I have to admit, I am not a fan of grits. The grits were mixed with cheddar cheese, and are not my thing. Other than that, the meal was excellent. When it came down to dessert, I said no, but not because I did not want to try something, but because I wanted to see what was downstairs.
I headed downstairs where I roamed the candy store.
Candy Bars 
Macarons 
OMG!
I ultimately decided to order a sundae. Though, let me tell you, the milkshakes looked amazing as well.
When I saw the May Contain Nuts Sundae, how could I resist?
This sundae is made with peanut butter ice cream, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate peanut butter pie, fresh whipped cream, peanut butter sauce, topped with Reese’s Pieces and a piece of peanut brittle. It was a shame I was there alone. I could only eat half and had to throw the rest away.
If you are ever in the Orlando area, I would highly recommend this restaurant, even if it is to just grab a fun dessert or two.
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Happy June! Summer is upon us, and you know that means summertime travel! I am sure many of you are looking forward to some weekend escapes this summer. Or perhaps you are a light traveler and don’t want or require a lot of luggage. The more I travel, the more I try to consolidate and try to keep the packing to a minimum. It has been a bit easier with my discovery of the TLS Mother Lode Weekend Convertible by ebags. This backpack has changed the way I travel.
With this bag, I can bring everything I need without having to check a bag. The bag is lightweight at almost 4lbs. It fits nicely in the overhead bin on the plane.. It comes equpped with a fold down shelf and a divider to separate items. It is roomy inside and my packing cubes fit perfectly
There is a padded sleeve for a laptop, several interior pockets for documents and keys, and an expandable and stowable water bottle pocket.
It also comes with stowable back straps and a removable padded shoulder strap.
There is so much to this bag. In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong with this bag. Hence why it is this week’s Love of the Week!
I don’t know about you, but I love the character meals in Disney. It is a perfect way to meet the characters and to have a relatively good meal all at once. Plus, if your teenagers are like mine, neither are big fans of waiting in line for these meet and greets. They much rather go on the rides. With the character meal, they are there to eat, so they might as well have their pictures taken. It is a win, win for this Mom!
Last December, Disney opened a new character meal over at the Wilderness Lodge. It took the restaurant, Artist Point, and transformed it into the Enchanted Forest from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The new character meal features none other than Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy and the Evil Queen. While down in Disney for the Star Wars races, we had dinner here to celebrate my race weekend.
Upon entering the Wilderness Lodge, head over to the desk to check-in. Once your name is called, you are escorted into the Enchanted Forest.
The attention to detail was incredible. We walked over to our table, and each plate was set with a red napkin with an adorable napkin ring and a leather-bound menu.
This is a Prix-fixed dinner. The price is $55.00 per adult (10 and over) and $33.00 for children (3-9). Guests are offered their choice of entree, along with shared appetizers and desserts for the table. Children are offered a slightly different menu that includes appetizers, entrees consisting of prime rib, pasta, a vegetarian meal, or grilled chicken. The desserts remain the same. First, let’s look at the drinks. We started with the Wickedly Refreshing Cocktails. These signature drinks are offered, along with a nice beer and wine list. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. I tried the Enchanted Apple, and my friend Tricia tried the Evil to the Core.
As you can see, on the menu are three different appetizers. The table receives a plate of all three to share. There is a mushroom bisque, a shrimp cocktail, and a chicken, black truffle, stone fruit preserve, house-made pickles. While I enjoyed the bisque and the shrimp, I was not fond of the chicken and black truffle.
Next, we each chose our entree. You may choose from six entrees. I ordered the Royal Prime Rib Roast, and Tricia ordered the Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken. The prime rib was served mashed potatoes, smoked carrots and a popover. Who doesn’t like a popover? The chicken came with potatoes, golden raisins and snap peas. Both meals were delicious.
Of course, no meal at Disney is complete until dessert! I have to admit, I was looking to this the most! I have such a sweet tooth, I had run a 10k the day before and a half marathon that morning. I was ready for my treats!
All three were good, but the Miner’s Treasure was my favorite. I had never tried gooseberry before and while it was tasty, it is not something I would order again. To be fair, I am a chocolate girl. The Poison Apple is a white chocolate apple mousse with a sour center. I did not find it sour. It was quite tasty. The Miner’s Treasures was sponge cake, with pieces of chocolate gems and berry pannacotta. It was amazing!
Now, what about those characters? Snow White is present at other character meals. However, the dwarfs rarely make an appearance. Typically, they come out at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or one may see Dopey during the RunDisney races. The Evil Queen is also one of those characters seen only during special events or along the course during one of the races. This is what made this character meal so special. Snow White and the dwarfs come to each table for photos. They also danced around the room and put on a little show.
Now, where is the Evil Queen? She does not roam about but stays put and you need to approach her. She is very tall and a bit intimidating to the little ones. Even I was a bit awkward around her! When we met, she said, “Oh you are a short one”. I said, “Yes, small but mighty.” Her response, “We shall see about that.” Too funny!
Just as we think we all are set and have paid the bill, we are presented with The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen. This is crackled maple popcorn, with two ganache hearts. Both were delicious!
Overall it was a pleasant experience. The food was excellent, and the interaction with the characters was great. It is a bit pricey, and if you have picky eaters, this may not be a great choice. I can’t see taking my boys here, as they are incredibly picky and I would not want to spend $55.00 a person on them. However, I would go back with my husband or a group of friends.
