Old Sturbridge Village (OSV), Massachusetts, USA

Old Sturbridge Village, often called OSV, is located on Route 20 in west/central Massachusetts, about an hour west of Boston. It's very easy to get to by taking I-90 (Mass Pike) to exit 9.

OSV is what I call a "living history" museum. As soon as you walk through the visitor's center - which houses Kidstory, a clock gallery, a movie theater and ever changing demonstrations- and have your photo taken in the family portrait, you are transported back to rural New England circa 1790-1840.

OSV is a large village filled with costumed actors portraying life during our country's early days. The map you receive upon entering lays the village before you: Friends Meetinghouse, Center Meetinghouse, small cottages, large houses, law offices, bank, general store, school house, farm houses and barns, mills for carding, sawing, grinding; the pottery and kiln, shops for the cooper and blacksmith and many more buildings and people necessary for a village to function.

To explore the entire village and take in the always changing daily events, well, that could take a couple of days. Which may be why the price of admission includes a free return visit within 10 days (remember to have your receipt validated before you leave). We spent the majority of a day there are didn't come close to seeing everything.

OSV is a wonderful family outing because everyone will learn something. While Doug & I loved exploring the homes, reading the history and talking with the villagers the girls had great fun sweeping with straw brooms, playing with simple toys, carding wool and chasing chickens. There is even a hand-on crafts center. Brenna dipped candles (for a fee) while Caelan decorated a tray.

Because the events change with the season you are sure to see something different every time you visit. When we went spring was teasing and the sap was running through the trees so we got to see how maple syrup is made- from tapping the trees to boiling the sap. We saw a woman spinning wool, the cooper making buckets, the potter making pots and the blacksmiths working with iron. Depending on the season you can also catch a ride on a sleigh, a wagon or a stagecoach.

We explored homes, barns, churches, a bank, the general store (where we made a few purchases which may or may not have been influenced by the aroma of fresh baked cookies) and mills. We strolled along the miles of paths; through pastures and along the river. (If all this doesn't wear the kids out there is also a playground.)

Things to Know for Your Visit

OSV is open daily, except Christmas and Mondays during the winter. Hours are 9:30 am to 5 pm (4 in the winter). Admission rates can be found here and include a second visit free within 10 days. OVS offers a 50% discount for active military members and a 20% discount for all members of their party.

There are a few options for dining while at OSV. Bullard Tavern in the village serves hot entrees as well as sandwiches and beverages, the general store has cookies, candies, coffee and cold drinks and the Village Cafe in the Oliver Wright Tavern- just before you enter the visitor's center- has hot & cold beverages and snacks. Note: when we visited the Bullard Tavern was not serving food but hot entrees and soups were available in the Oliver Wright Tavern. If you choose to bring a picnic there is a picnic area near the parking lot.

Restrooms are spread throughout the grounds and all are handicapped accessible. Many, but not all, buildings are also handicapped accessible.

Planning to make a weekend out of it? Here's a list of area hotels, campgrounds and B&Bs.

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Why You Should Take a Carry On When You Fly

My mom came out to visit us this past weekend. She had no problems on her way out and, no, her bags weren't lost.

On her way home to Iowa, however, she was bumped. Her flight from Chicago to Des Moines was overbooked. And so was the later one. She wasn't able to get on a flight until the following morning. The airline gave her a check for her inconvenience and paid for her hotel and food for an evening. Which was all well and good. But they didn't pull her bag from the flight. In fact, they didn't even offer to.

So there she was, in Chicago, with nothing but her purse. Even a small carry on would have been better than nothing. Here's my list of carry on necessities (and don't forget the 3-1-1 rule):

For me:

• Cleansing cloths
• Moisturizer, foundation (I use old contact lense cases for this stuff. Each side holds one useage, easily staying under the 3oz rule and saving precious room in my baggie)
• Travel size toothpaste & toothbrush
• My contact solutions, case and glasses
• Chapstick
• Makeup
• Comb and headband
• Change of clothing
  
• Deodorant

For Doug:

• Deodorant
• Toothbrush (I have the toothpaste)
• Change of clothing

For the kids:

• Two changes of clothing - one very comfortable for sleeping in if need be (besides, accidents happen)
• Small toys, games & our activity bags
• Snacks
• Travel size toothpaste & toothbrushes
• Travel size moisturizer (they have sensitive skin)
• Baby wipes (101 uses)
  

Getting bumped rarely happens to families but with airlines cutting flights and selling out all the space on the planes that do take off it's best to be prepared.

The Aviation Consumer Protection Division publishes the Consumer Guide to Air Travel. It's a nice resource if you have any questions. (Just and FYI: you really don't have that many rights.)

If you are traveling sans kids and don't mind getting bumped National Geographic blog has a nice article titled Make the Most of Getting Bumped.

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Cohasset, Massachusetts, USA

Cohasset, Massachusetts is a small sea side town which, honestly, won’t take you long to tour if you’re in a car. You may, in fact, end up in Scituate or Hull and not realize it until a sign alerts you.

That said, Cohasset is a lovely town and the magnificent sea side homes make a leisurely drive through town worthwhile.

It was suggested to us (by our postmaster in Humarock) that we visit the harbor to view the duplicate top of the Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse. As the closest you can get to the actual lighthouse is by boat this is the next best thing. The little park also has a historical plaque, a monument to two lighthouse keepers lost during a storm and a couple of large bells. Very interesting are the circular forms used for fitting the pieces of the lighthouse together before it was permanently assembled at sea.


One note on the park: when we were there we encountered a lot of dog poo. In fact we encountered a lot of dog poo at every park we visited in the Boston area. I am not sure if this is common (we never observed anyone pick up poo after their dog made a “deposit”) or if it was due to the time of year (February-April, after winter). I will just say to watch your step in the parks.

Cohasset has many beautiful beaches, the most beautiful we saw being Sandy Beach. This beach is open to all but parking is by permit only. (This is common all along the South Shore. I found two great beach resource guides: South Shore Moms & Dads and Plymouth County’s website to help you find a beach with public parking.) I have no idea where you should park if you are not a resident…

We stopped in to French Memories Bakery for a pastry before wandering the village center. We did some window shopping at the three real estate brokers along South Main Street before wandering into Carmela Drew Fine Foods where we were heartily welcomed by co-owner Michelle Rizzo and her mother (Rizzo’s sister is also co-owner and her father bakes cookies specially for the shop. He makes a mean oatmeal chocolate chip.) This gem of a shop has fine cheeses, an amazing array of specialty foods & products, entrees & side dishes to take with you and even provides catering.

Carmela Drew is housed in the Samuel Bates House (as is Bia Bistro) and has two vacation rental units above it that we walked through. (The smaller of the two is listed here. I would inquire about the larger, 2 level unit if you need more space.) On the other side of Carmela Drew is Atlantic Bagels, which I have heard is the best bagel place outside of New York City. Having not had a bagel in New York City I’ll have to believe this until I learn otherwise.

Cohasset town center isn’t terribly large and it’s not a day-long destination unless you have plans to visit the beach. But it’s a great little stop if you’re touring the South Shore.

If you have a desire for Asian Food I suggest a stop at Feng Shui, on highway 3A. Located in a strip mall the restaurant was a surprise to us when we walked in as it was much nicer than the exterior led us to believe. The restaurant is quite kid friendly- the girls’ chocolate milks came with umbrellas which amused them to no end. The Feng Shui Sampler with shrimp, crab Rangoon, boneless spare ribs, beef skewers, chicken fingers, chicken wings & eggs rolls –which Doug ordered a double- was more food than we needed. The addition of my Orange Chicken and Doug’s Crispy Duck left us with enough food for the next day’s lunch. I also planned ahead, knowing my girls would be “done” after the appetizer, and ordered this kid friendly dessert. Feng Shui also has sushi & sashimi (the Feng Shui Love Boat is huge) and we fully intend to return for their buffet (available for lunch throughout the week and on Sunday evenings).

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Get Ready for the TSA's Secure Flight Program

In an effort to remove innocent people from being placed on "no fly" lists the TSA has instituted it's Secure Flight Program. Look for this to begin domestically early this summer with international flights to follow.

What this means to you:

Be prepared to give the birth date & gender for every person you purchase an airline ticket for. The information is then passed from the airlines (who used to do the vetting) to the TSA who use "a uniform, efficient matching process".

Of course this kind of security is costing the airlines "an estimated $630 million in costs to reprogram reservation systems and collect the passenger data, according to the TSA". And we all know how those costs will be recouped...

Personally I'm not sure how I feel about this. Of course I want flights to be as safe as possible and I know that programs like these have helped to keep us safe since 9/11. From the bit of information that is being requested I don't think it's any more of a privacy violation than many websites request to sign up for newsletters... It just seems, to me, like a waste of money for a program that probably won't make much difference to the majority of people.

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Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade, South Boston, Massachusetts, USA

As far as St. Patrick’s Day parades go, Boston has one of the largest. Probably because so many Irish settled here. As I drive along the South Shore I can see why- the country is very similar to Ireland. Areas in Cohasset are very much like the Burren! Since we are in the Boston area for an extended period we are trying to take in as much as we can- the St. Patrick’s Day parade was near the top of my list of “Things That MUST Be Done While in Boston”.

History

Practically everyone knows of St. Patrick, Ireland’s Patron Saint. March 17 is his feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. But March 17 has another historical significance in Boston. That is the day the British evacuated Boston in 1776. The parade actually winds around Dorchester Heights, a National Historic Park, where a majestic monument stands in honor of the victory. It’s a dual event.

Dorchester Heights affords an amazing view of Boston and has a large, open green for running and playing. One thing to watch for -and I’ve noticed this throughout the Boston area- dog feces are not picked up. We saw many, many people step and sit in piles. {{gack}}

Getting There & Other Tips

Utilize Boston’s fine subway system, the T, to get to South Boston. The parade follows a long route, beginning at the Broadway T station and winding around to the Andrew T station. If you have children along I suggest taking the red line to the Andrew T station and walking to Dorchester Heights- Thomas Park. Follow Dorchester to Telegraph and then head up the hill. You can’t miss it- the monument will guide you. But wear comfortable shoes- the hill is steep!

We arrived quite early as I wasn’t sure what kind of crowds to expect. What I found is that you needn’t arrive early. In fact, if you sit at Dorchester Heights don’t worry about arriving until 1:30pm or so- about half an hour after the official parade start time. It will take at least that long for it to reach the park and the crowds were not bad at all.

The parade is rather long so you may want to bring food if you’re coming in from outside the city. Or stop at Bell’s Market on Dorchester and get a sandwich from their deli/ butcher counter. The meats are fresh and the sandwiches are huge.

You’ll also want to bring beverages. Just be careful how much you drink- there are no public bathrooms at Thomas Park. Luckily we struck up a conversation with some locals who kindly let Brenna use the bathroom in their beautiful townhouse.

Speaking of beverages, you’ll see plenty of people carrying beer and you’ll see many, many drunken people. It’s an unfortunate side-effect of the day. You’ll see more intoxicated people near where the parade begins and after it than you will at the park, which has more families. Police presence was high and we saw no problems.

The Parade

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. The parade includes the Pipes and Drums from many organizations, school bands, historical and current soldiers, politicians, local businesses and other colorful entries. Beads were tossed out, and a few green lollipops.

Pipes & Drums abound

Apparently there are even a few Celtic Jedi...

Of course no parade is complete without an Elvis sighting. His cape prompted Brenna to say, "Look! It's a superhero!"

And you can't have St. Patrick's festivities without a walking Guinness...

As you leave the crowd is enormous; it fills the streets. I would recommend waiting a bit before trying to catch the train out of both the Andrew and Broadway stations; Andrew station was still very busy an hour after the parade ended.

Helpful Links

2009 parade details & map
Boston T
Boston.com : Things to do on St Patrick's Day
Weather.com: Make sure you're dressed properly

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St. Patrick's Day Savings at Family Travel Gear

On March 16 & 17, 2009 Family Travel Gear is offering a 15% savings on every product (except the CARES Child Aviation Restraint) just by using code 3STPAT09. This is a great time to get that travel gear you need for summer vacation!

A few of our favorite items:
Trunki Ride On Suitcase & Freida, the limited edition Trunki

Snack & Play Travel Tray

Trayblecloth (Family Travel Gear is an authorized retailer for Love to Travel Products)

Talus XL Backseat Organizer

Every order receives personal attention and is shipped quickly. All items are tested by Family Travel Gear before they are added to inventory. This is my first stop when I need to order travel supplies.

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Spring Break Savings at Water Park of America

We stayed at the Water Park of America last November and had a great time. You can read my review and see pictures here.

A couple of questions that came up in the comments that I would like to address:

Are there lifeguards?
Yes,there are lots of lifeguards on duty, and they are very attentive.

Do they have life jackets available?
While I saw a few life jackets that were marked as belonging to the water park I do not know how many they have available. To be sure & safe bring your own for small children.

If you are interested in heading to the Water Park of America for spring break check out these special offers (good thru April 30). And here's a direct booking link for the Radisson Mall of America.

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A Short Stop in Corning, New York

Continuing our drive east we removed ourselves from interstate 90 in New York and drove not far north of the Pennsylvania border along I-86. With no plans set for where to stop, we pulled off the highway at an exit that looked promising, i.e.: hotel signs posted along the highway.

As we had been passing through western New York for a few hours I was well used to the villages situated in scenic valleys; most so tiny that I wondered how they supported the many churches I could recognize due to the steeples. I figured that this town wouldn’t be much different. We drove from the interstate through a beautiful wooded valley and around a curve in the road. I was surprised by the lights that spread before us- Corning, New York, was a much larger town than I had anticipated.

Corning, home of Corning Glass Works, was incorporated as a city in 1890. As it’s glass industry developed it became known as the “Crystal City.” Ahhh… CorningWare (which was purchased by World Kitchen brand in the late 1990’s).

We found the Radisson, as promised by the sign on the highway, without any problem. I was greeted by Tom, the incredibly friendly clerk at the front desk; he secured our room, chatted with me about the town and pointed us in the direction of a restaurant with “pizza that even non-pizza lovers love”.

A quick stop in our room revealed a very spacious “junior suite” with two queen size Select Comfort beds, a desk, a comfortable chair, wireless internet access and a large bathroom with a tiled floor and marble countertops.

Exiting the hotel through the courtyard we turned toward Market Street, the main street of the Gaffer District and dinner. Market Street is lined with shops and restaurants, galleries and history…most closed as it was Sunday evening, so we did a bit of window shopping on the way.

Aniello’s Pizzeria is a bright and welcoming spot. It’s a no-frills pizza joint, filled with booths and offers its pies from 11 am to midnight, 7 days a week. The menu board is filled with options: salads, soups (Tuesday & Thursday, October thru May), specialty pizzas and a list of toppings. Doug and I easily agreed on the White Garlic pizza with tomatoes while Brenna asked for her current favorite, Hawaiian. We ordered a medium with half of each and a large salad for us all to share.

Our salad covered a large dinner plate and was filled with tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, olives and a wonderful Italian dressing. Our pizza was delivered hot from the oven and was closer in size to a large pizza than a medium. The slices were large, cut for folding in half and eating on the go. The crust was perfect; not too thick and overpowering but not so thin that it was crispy. The White Garlic pizza was a wonderful blend of cheese and garlic; the tomatoes added just a bit of color and flavor. The Hawaiian half of the pizza had enough pineapple to make my crazed fruit eater happy and delicious chopped ham.

Back at the hotel we tucked the girls into bed and turned on the TV to find Cars showing on one of the kid friendly channels. Doug & I logged on to the free internet and we were all set for the evening. (The hotel has a pool; luckily it is “hidden” so my girls didn’t see it.)

After a wonderful night’s sleep we left the hotel in search of a local diner. Donna’s, on the corner of Cedar & Market in the Gaffer District, fit the bill. This is truly a local joint. Everyone seemed to know everyone else and, at first, I felt like we were intruding. We were waited on by Donna herself, who set us at ease and made us feel right at home as she brought out pancakes for the girls, French toast for me and corned beef hash for Doug.

We filled ourselves and packed the pancakes the girls didn’t finish to go. Then we went just up Cedar half a block to the Rockwell Museum of Western Art located in the grand Old City Hall building. Inside the historic building you will see many forms of Western Art. From beautiful landscapes to beaded moccasins; pottery to photographs; statues to stuffed buffalo (that you can buy in the Trading Post). The girls most enjoyed the Indian bead worked clothing and the amazing headdress. Doug loved the huge landscape oil paintings. I enjoyed the large rooms and the layout of the exhibits. It’s a very inviting museum. For the young kids a “seek and find” sheet is available- find all the images and get a prize! Also for the young ones is “Kids West”, an area where they can play “Wild West” complete with costumes, trading area and teepee.

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art is open daily 9 am- 5 pm, until 8pm Memorial Day thru Labor Day and is closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Kids 19 and under are free, adults are $6.50, seniors and students are $5.50.

Because we were on a tight schedule we didn’t take as long here as we would have liked. We commented that we would like to come back one day and stay longer. That was only reinforced by an email I received a couple of days later from Dave DeGolyer, Communications Manager for the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau. I made a brief mention of stopping in Corning on my other blog and he was kind enough to drop me the following note:

“I am glad you stumbled across Corning. I’ve lived in the area most of my life and, until recently, I look for granted all there is to do and see in Corning & the Finger Lakes….
If you’re ever out this way again and have a day or two, there’s a lot here you and your family might enjoy, like a visit to the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass, one of New York State’s most popular attractions, and home of the most extensive collection of glass art in the world. Watch gaffers create original works of art, then stop by The Studio and create your own one-of-a-kind piece to take home. Although most kids might lack the patience to tour the entire museum (over 3,500 years worth of glass, over 45,000 pieces), there are certain spots they’re sure to enjoy, like the Innovation Center, where you can bend glass, bend light, bend your imagination! In the summer kids can design an item and then, if it’s chosen, can watch as a master glassblower makes it. See how glass is used in everything from massive telescope lenses to panels for the space shuttle, from funky 3-D flight simulators to fiber-optics (think cell phones and the internet) and the LCD technology taking over the world of home entertainment. The Corning Museum of Glass is a place where extraordinary art is appreciated, but it’s also a place of adventure; a place where everyone is encouraged to create; a place where you can experience the wonders of glass with your own hands. Even children under ten can create art by sandblasting glass cups and plates, layering flat glass to make original wind chimes, picture frames, or even sun catchers. Or stop by Hands-on Glass Studio where children can even blow glass ornaments or pumpkins. The Rockwell Museum of Western Art, with one of the largest and finest collections of Western Art in the US (“Best of the West in the East”), has special backpack tours that encourage children to interact with art so the experience is both educational and fun. You and your girls can paint pottery, make glass bead jewelry, or try one of the many other immersion activities available.
We have camping, hiking, kayaking, sailing, geocaching, golfing, soaring (in a glider or a vintage aircraft), blueberry picking, and state parks with beautiful waterfalls, deep gorges, and views to take your breath away, not to mention the chance to flip, dive, swim, and make waves on beautiful Keuka Lake."

For the most recent visitor's guide to the Finger Lakes Region call 1-866-WINE FUN or visit the website: Corning Finger Lakes. We definitely plan to return one day.

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Behind the Camera? Get in the Picture!

As "the one behind the camera" I rarely appear in our travel photos. Which really kind of, well, sucks. I wonder if my kids will look at the the pictures of themselves with their dad in all the wonderful places we go and wonder, "where is mom?"

Thanks to my camera's delay feature I can sometimes prop it somewhere and place myself in the photo. But, more often than not, there is no place to set the camera.

Or maybe you're a solo traveler... I know this would have been wonderful when I was exploring Ireland on my own.

Enter xshot, a light weight, telescoping "pole" that attaches to your camera. It extends to over 3 feet but collapses to only 9 inches and weighs just 5 oz.

It also works with video cameras!

Prices: US $29.95, Canada $36.94 (incl. shipping), international $54.95 (incl. shipping)

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New From Janine King

It's no secret that Janine King is my favorite bag designer. Since I found her during my search for a beautiful laptop tote I have become a rabid fan. Everything she makes (and since I have practically everything she makes I can say this with certainty) is the highest quality and craftsmanship available. I get rave reviews on my bags (my laptop sleeve was kidnapped at BlissDom and not returned until the kidnapper realized it didn't fit her computer!) and love telling everyone about Janine's great designs.

So, while browsing the site today to visit my Fronce tote (that I've been coveting since I told you about it in January and finally ordered), I noticed a new addition to the Janine King lineup of beautiful bags for techy people: the new Kindle Klutch Deluxe!

I'm coveting the Op Art pumpkin design... And I don't even have a Kindle! But, like all of Janine's bags, this can be used for so much more...

Because this is a bag specifically to protect your Kindle it has core layer of 1/4” foam padding that’s shock absorbent, anti-static and water resistant. The exterior dimensions are 10"x7" and the exterior zip pocket is 10"x5".

Now... About those other uses if you don't have a Kindle...

• this would make a great carry case for a thin pack of wipes and a couple of diapers. Great for your toddler who doesn't require an entire diaper bag.
• a cute clutch for evenings out when you need more than "just a lipstick" but not your entire purse. You can toss in your camera easily and know it's protected!
  
• heck, you could put a "real" book in here.
  
• or a notepad and pens...
  
• sketchbook and pencils...

Go over and have a look at the new Kindle Klutch (it's on sale right now!) and all of Janine's other great bags!

And stay tuned: rumor has it Janine will be involved in the spring Bloggy Giveaway Carnival May 4-8!

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