Last month, we spent two weeks on Cape Cod for our big summer vacation. As much as we love the beach, there is so much more to do and see on the Cape. My youngest son and I decided to take advantage of the time and explore some things off the beaten path. Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is one of them.
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. The Massachusetts Audubon Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving nature in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It protects 36,500 acres of land throughout the state, saves birds and other wildlife, and makes nature accessible through its wildlife sanctuaries and 20 nature centers. During school vacation and in the summer, the society has camps for kids. The Audubon Society has all sorts of programs, from bird watching, art, and photography, guided tours, and with the onset of the virus, it is providing quite a few virtual programs as well. It is not something we have taken advantage of before, but plan on doing more in the months ahead.
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is an easy drive, straight down Route 6 on the Cape. The trails are open Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 am-7:30 pm. There is a fee to park; however, due to the visitor’s center being closed, there was no one to collect the payment. Wellfleet Bay overlooks the beautiful Wellfleet Harbor. There are numerous trails to explore that lead to a salt marsh, a sandy barrier beach, and woodlands. There is also a nature center with exhibits and an aquarium. Unfortunately, the nature center was closed. Though that was okay, we were there to explore the outdoors. With 1,183 acres and 5 miles of trails, there is a lot to explore.
There are six trails to explore. A map of each one can be downloaded to your phone.
- Bay View Trail- this is a woodland trail that provides plenty of shade.
- The Boardwalk- it crosses the salt marsh over to the beach.
- Goose Pond Trail- this trail is excellent for birdwatching.
- Silver Spring Trail- this trail borders a fresh pond.
- Try Island Trail- another woodland trail with views Cape Cod Bay.
- All Persons Pathway and Sensory Trail- includes an audio tour that that can be downloaded.
Since it was our first time and quite hot out, Nicholas and I chose the Bay View Trail. Little did we know it is the longest trail. Perhaps I should have read up on it more before going!
The Bayview Trail winds through the pine woodlands. It took us by a salt marsh, a pond, and then some sandplain grasslands. My son has recently taken up birdwatching. He enjoyed seeing and hearing all the different birds and trying to guess which was which. My favorite views were of the salt marsh. It was beautiful.
We were at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge the day before and while Nicholas enjoyed it, he preferred Wellfleet. We are already planning to come down in the fall and explore more of the trails when it is not so hot and muggy.
What about you? Have you explored anything off the beaten path recently?
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.
Last week I shared a Summer Bucket List of Ideas for Teens. It consists of a list of things I would like to do with my boys this summer. In addition to that list, I have created my own bucket list. Though I adore being with the kids, I have my own list of things I would like to accomplish this summer. Some involve them and some do not. Believe it or not kids, this Mom has her own life! Now before I dive into my list, I want to explain why I have a bucket list.
A few years ago, I was asked this very question, why a bucket list? Why do you feel the need to plan every moment of your life? Well, besides the fact I am a Type A personality, there is research that shows how beneficial a bucket list can be. A bucket list can help create a fulfilling life. It is essential to take time for things that we enjoy doing. Fitting in things like vacations and hobbies bring happiness and satisfaction in our lives. It makes life FUN! By fitting these things into our every day, we reduce stress and enhance our lives. Less stress??? Sign me up!
Here are the top things I want to accomplish this summer.
- PR in a 10k race.
- Road trip with the family.
- Finish my 2018 scrapbooks.
- Date night with the hubby and friends in the North End.
- Visit the new wax museum in Boston.
- Hit the beach at least every other weekend.
- Read six novels before Labor Day Weekend.
- Girl’s night once a month.
- Try the Alice Tea Room at Patriot Place.
- Visit some local craft fairs.
- Attend the Scrapbooking Expo in New Hampshire.
- Try a new restaurant twice a month.
- Freedom Trail Tour in Boston.
- Food Tour in Boston.
- Water Fires in Providence.
- Stay club level at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
There you have it, my 2019 Summer Bucket List. Between this list and the one I did for the boys, it is jammed packed with activities. Will we do them all? Maybe not, but it will be fun trying. Now tell me, what is on your summer bucket list? Post a comment here or hop on over to one of my social media pages and let me know. Happy Summer!
Ahhh.. we had our first real taste of summer this weekend. I am so excited for the season. The days are longer, our schedules are relaxed and we live life at a different pace. The kids are out of school in a few short weeks and it is time for me to create my summer bucket list.
When my boys were small, I had an endless list of things I wanted to accomplish over the summer. It would include play dates at the playground, a day at a spray park, the children’s museum, etc. Now that R&N are 18 and 14, it gets a bit harder to come up with something that we would all enjoy. It is not impossible, but it takes a bit more planning and in some cases more money. Below are some ideas I have planned for my boys and I would love to hear your own ideas.
- Hit the beach! We get up early, spend most of the day at the beach, have a yummy dinner, and hit an ice cream shop on our way home.
- Try a different ice cream shop each week. We love ice cream, and though we have our favorites, we want to explore and see what else is out there.
- Attend a professional sporting event, like a baseball game or soccer match. I see a visit to Fenway Park in the future.
- Be a tourist in your own capital city. This summer we plan on walking the Freedom Trail with the boys. We also want to check out the new wax museum and a few new restaurants that have opened up in town.
- Go for a hike.
- Have a family movie night outside. Rent a projector, set up a white sheet as a screen, make some popcorn and you are good to go.
- Attend a firework show. Every July 3rd, my family gathers at Gillette Stadium for the local fireworks put on by the Kraft family. Harvard Pilgrim puts on a 5 and 10k race, Finish at the 50, on the same night. I run the race, my family cheers me on and then we stay to watch the fireworks. We set up a picnic, meet friends, and ring in the 4th a day early.
- Visit an amusement or water park.
- Buy a metal detector and go hunting. My son received one as a birthday gift and we plan to use it this summer.
- Volunteer. This summer I am looking for someplace to take my boys to volunteer for the day.
- Take a road trip.
- Get a job. This applies to my 17-year-old, but with college around the corner, it is a good one.
- S’mores over a firepit.
- Spend time with extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- Go to the drive-in movies.
These are just some of the ideas I have jotted down. Ultimately, each summer the list gets a bit longer and we never accomplish it all. However, as I look at it, we are never bored.
Tune in next week when I share what it is on my personal summer bucket list. Yes, I have one for me and one for the boys. Until next time, happy planning!
We are a little more than a week away from May 1st. The unofficial kick off to summer, Memorial Day weekend is six weeks away. My birthday is five weeks away, but I digress! Are you where you want to be in your health and fitness goals? I know I am NOT and starting today, that is going to change.
First, I want to make it clear, I am talking more than just weight loss. I am talking about going into the summer feeling our best, physically and mentally. This means fueling our bodies with the proper food, moving our bodies daily, taking time for self-care, sleep, and surrounding ourselves with positive, uplifting people.
At the beginning of the year, I committed to all of the above. Except for running, I have not kept up with the rest, and I can feel it. I have let my strength training slide, my eating habits have been less than stellar, and I lack sleep. I am not feeling comfortable in my own skin. I do not want to head into summer feeling this way. With my training season in full swing, I need to implement some changes. I am putting this out in the universe for two reasons, one to keep me accountable and two, to see if I can entice you to join me!
In looking over the last couple of months, I have concluded there are two reasons I have let my health and fitness goals slide, discipline and not being an active participant in my online accountability group. Accountability groups are key. Here are five reasons why accountability groups work.
- The group is always available. The group is right there, on Facebook, just a click away. If you have a question, facing a struggle, or just want to clelebrate a milestone, simply clikc on the group and tell them about it. Chances are, there is someone on the other end of their phone waiting to respond.
- Third Party accountability. It is a LOT harder NOT to follow through with your goals after you have declared them in a group.
- Learn from each other. Each of us bring something new to the group. As we share share our tips on nutrition and fitness, we learn and grow in our journey to come healthy.
- Positivity. There is no room for drama in these groups. We spend time building each other up, not tearing each other down. Need I say more?
- Like minded women working toward similar goals tend to shine. I have seen it over and over again.
As you can see, there are some great benefits to belonging to an accountability group. It is time I stop the talk and walk the walk. I have been just going through the motions, and that needs to stop. I learned a long time ago, I can’t, nor do I want to do this alone. On April 29th, I am starting up an accountability group on Facebook. It is a free, private, judgment-free group. We will share our goals, struggles, our daily food and fitness logs, exchange recipes and more. The goal is to be an active participant in the group; however, if you are not entirely ready to commit, you can be added and check it out. With summer coming, I want to be as healthy, mentally and physically as I can be. I would love for you to join me. Comment below or send me a message at lifeatmyownpace@yahoo.com. Let’s do this together!
