we completed our first year on the road (June 8). Since my last posting, when we left Long Island, we’ve covered a lot of territory. Still hugging the East Coast, we did New England all the way up to the Easternmost point in the U.S Lubec, Maine. Here are our stops along the way. We stayed anywhere from one to four nights:
New Haven, CT – We really liked this town. Yale University’s architecture makes this the most beautiful campus I’ve ever seen.
Mystic, CT – Yes, we had pizza at Mystic Pizza and it was wonderful! Young Julia Robert’s photos were everywhere.
Newport, RI – Love this town. We hiked around the entire island (14 miles). The Cliff Walk was breathtaking. I think I could live here.
Woods Hole, MA – This little town is home to Woods Hole Marine Science Institute where Robert Ballard (guy to found the Titanic) is stationed. I’ve visited Woods Hole many times in the past and each time I feel this certain sense of magic. Woods Hole is responsible for a major turning point in my life. After hearing a public service add on TV, which took place on the fishing pier in Woods Hole, I got my butt in gear during my junior year in high school and decided I’d better start making plans for college. The interviewer was interviewing an old salty dog fisherman who regretted his decision not to go to college. His dream was to become a marine scientist. The interviewer asked him what his chances were now of having that dream come true, and he said, “Zero.” A light bulb went off over my head, and the next day I was in the counselor’s office checking out colleges. I did not want to my dreams unattainable. Okay, enough of that and back to my trip.
The next day we were in Hyannis and drove around the Kennedy Compound. I’ve always heard of this place and imagined that this was a huge estate with a 10-foot stonewall surrounding it and secret service men perched on every corner. That was not the case at all; we could have driven up to the front door. The houses were elegant, but modest.
The next day we caught the ferry to Nantucket and spent four fun days there. Since tourists season was a week away, we were the only ones staying at this cute little hotel. We felt as if we had the entire island to ourselves.
Then we did Provincetown and Plymouth (the rock is nicknamed Pebbles because it is much smaller than tourists expect).
It has been almost 18 years since my last visit to Marblehead, MA and the little town hadn’t changed at all. We checked into the Harbor Light Inn and spent 3 nights in quaint luxury. Two of those nights found us in Maddie’s Sail Loft Bar, written up as the 3rd best sailor bar in the world (who thinks of these lists?). The desk clerk at the Inn told us that Maddie’s served stiff drinks and the best fish sandwiches in the world. She was right! My Bombay on the rocks came in a large brandy snifter. And (sorry Brown Lantern), but the fish sandwiches were a notch better.
Over the next week, we revisited Gloucester and Bar Harbor.
Then back into Maine and a repeat stay at two places we visited last fall, the Herbert Grand Hotel in Kingfield and the Town and Lake Motel in Rangeley.
We covered New York State by taking in the Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, Catskills, and finally Cooperstown. This is such a cute little town with Victorian B&B everywhere, and the Baseball Hall of Fame was every bit as incredible as I’d hoped. I went straight for Cal Ripken Jr.’s plaque and snapped his picture. We were there the entire day. Our last day in New York was spent in Bethel Woods the site of the Woodstock Music Festival. Today, it is home to the Bethel Woods Arts and Music venue. The Woodstock Museum is well worth the trip.
Right now I am setting in a room in the Pantall Hotel in Punxsutawney, PA overlooking the city park. This is home to Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog! I hope to seek him out tomorrow.