Travel New England

Big Squaw Mountain Ski Resort, Greenville, ME

TravelNE — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:21:42 +0000

At a Glance

Trails: 9
- Beginner: 4
- Intermediate: 5
Lifts: 1
Vertical Drop: 1,750 feet
Snowmaking: No – Planned for winter 2013/2014
Night skiing: No – Planned for winter 2013/2014
Website: Big Squaw Mountain
Hours of operation: To Be Announced

Description

First opened in 1963, Big Squaw Mountain has also been known as Moose Mountain or Big Moose Mountain. The ski area operated until it went out of business in 2010. As of January of 2013, the Friends of Squaw Mountain, a non profit corporation, have reopened the lower portion of the ski area.

Rentals

Full-day, half-day, and kid rentals are available.

Lessons

Ski lessons will be available weekends, vacations and holidays.

Lift Tickets

Lift tickets are priced for adults (13+) for either a full or half day. Children tickets are one price for a full or half day.

Weather

Weather
Today	05/27/2013	05/28/2013
Rain 46°/37°	Partly Cloudy 55°/39°	Clear 66°/41°

Address Information

Big Squaw Mountain Resort
447 Ski Resort Road
Greenville, ME 04442

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Boston, MA

TravelNE — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:46:20 +0000

On the evening of December 16, 1773, well over a hundred people calling themselves the Sons of Liberty and disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three ships (the Beaver, Dartmouth, and Eleanor) tied up to Griffin’s Wharf. The ships were from London carrying cargoes of British East India Company tea. The Sons of Liberty were protesting the tea act and in general Britain’s habit of imposing taxes on the Colonists without their input (“taxation without representation”).

The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum recreates that night with authentically restored ships, live actors, and interactive exhibits. You will see the beautifully restored Beaver, Dartmouth, and Eleanor. On display is one of of the tea chests from the Boston Tea Party. There is an award winning film, “Let it Begin Here“. As part of your trip you even get to dump a tea chest into the harbor. At the end of your visit you can have a “spot of tea” in Abigail’s Tea Room.

The museum reopened to the public in June of 2012 after an 11 year hiatus while the ships were being restored and Museum rebuilt.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is a wonderful historical adventure for the entire family. Since it reopening the museum has been the recipient of rave reviews for its authenticity and realism.

A tour of the museum takes approximately an hour. Tours begin every 30 minutes throughout the day.

Museum Hours

The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the Congress Street booth.

Museum Address

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
306 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210

Discount parking is available at the Farnsworth Street Garage at 17 Farnsworth Street.

Picture credits: The picture in this post is from the Press Room section of the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum website. It is copyright the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum.

Baker Mountain – Moscow, ME

TravelNE — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:16:51 +0000

At a Glance

Trails: 5
- Beginner: 60%
- Intermediate: 40%
Lifts: 1
Snowmaking: No
Night skiing: Yes
Website: Baker Mountain
Hours of operation:
- Friday: 5 to 9 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM and 5 to 9 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Description

Baker Mountain was founded by the operator of a veneer mill in Bingham, ME in the 1930s. Baker Mountain is owned and operated by the Baker Mt. Ski Tow Club and is run entirely by volunteers.

Lessons

During school vacations there is a ski school.

Weather

Weather
Today	05/27/2013	05/28/2013
Rain 54°/39°	Partly Cloudy 61°/39°	Clear 72°/41°

Address Information

Baker Mountain
353 Canada Road
Moscow ME

Abenaki Ski Area – Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

TravelNE — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:52:36 +0000

At a Glance

Trails: 7, 1 terrain park
Lifts: 2
Snowmaking: Yes
Night skiing: Yes
Website: Abenaki Ski Area
Hours of operation:

Mondays and Tuesdays: Closed for ski team practices
Wednesday through Friday: 4 PM to 7 PM
Saturday & NH Winter Vacation Week: 11 AM to 7 PM
Sunday: 11 AM to 6 PM

Description

The Abenaki Ski Area is a community owned and operated ski area. It was founded in 1936 and is oldest small ski area and one of the 10 oldest ski areas in the United States. With the help of Friends of Abenaki, the ski area is a vibrant and affordable town-owned ski area open to all.

Abenaki Ski Area also offers access to the cross country ski trails of Wolfeboro XC.

Lessons

Ski and snowboard lessons are offered.

Racing

Abenaki has a Ski Team with 2 divisions: Alpine Racing and Freestyle (Ski and Snowboard).

Alpine participants will have two practices per week and racers have the option of participating in eastern division races.

Freestyle participants will have one practice per week at Abenaki and will get to participate in 1 or 2 eastern division freestyle meets.

Lift Tickets

Abenaki’s very inexpensive lift tickets are priced for residents for weekday and weekend, and non-residents also for weekday or weekend. Seasons passes are also available for residents and non-residents and are priced for seniors, adults, and youth.

Amenities

Abenaki has a lodge with a wood stove and space to relax between runs. Also located at the ski area is the Pop Whalen Ice Arena.

Weather

Weather
Today	05/27/2013	05/28/2013
Rain 48°/34°	Partly Cloudy 61°/46°	Clear 72°/43°

Address Information

Abenaki Ski Area
390 Pine Hill Road
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Phone: 603-569-2513

Vineyard Haven, MA

TravelNE — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:46:24 +0000

Officially known as the Town of Tisbury, Vineyard Haven is one of six towns on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard and one of the three “down island” towns (the other two being Oak Bluffs and Edgartown). Vineyard Haven is the main village and downtown center of the town but the two names are used interchangeably. First settled in 1660, the Town was incorporated in 1671.

The town has a beautiful protected harbor that is home to the only year-round Steamship Authority terminal, the other terminal in Oak Bluffs being seasonal. As such, many visitors to Martha’s Vineyard first view the Vineyard Haven Harbor and downtown Vineyard Haven upon their arrival.

Vineyard Haven is home to many excellent restaurants, several of which are open year-round. It is also home to the Island’s only mini-golf course – Island Cove Miniature Golf on State Road, and one of the Island’s two -year-round movie theaters – the Capawock Theater. Other major attractions in Vineyard Haven include:

The Black Dog Tall Ships Alabama and Shenandoah
Three public beaches, the Owen Park Beach which is easily accessible from downtown, Tisbury Town Beach which is also known as Owen Little Way Beach, and the town beach at Lake Tashmoo which has both an ocean and lake side.
Golf at the Mink Meadows Golf Club, one of four golf courses on the Island.
Many road races including Murdicks Run the Chop 5 mile road race held around the 4th of July, and the Race for the Library 5K held at the end of the summer.
The Tisbury Street Fair which is held every July 8 to celebrate the Town’s birthday.
The Vineyard Haven Band which plays concerts in Owen Park on every other Sunday during the Summer.
The Vineyard Playhouse which is the Island’s only year-round professional theater.
The West Chop Lighthouse, one of five lighthouses on the Island.

Of course, on an Island that is only 26 miles long, Vineyard Haven also provides easy access to all of the Island’s other wonderful attractions and events.

Vineyard Haven Weather

The weather in Vineyard Haven, and on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard as a whole, tends to be more temperate than the mainland. Summers are pleasant and warm to hot and can be humid. Hurricanes and tropical storms are an occasional threat during the summer and fall months.

Winters are cold but somewhat mitigated by the ocean. It can and does snow on the Island but the snow rarely lasts for long.

Major storms (hurricanes, tropical storms, nor’easters – any storm with high winds) typically halt ferry service to the Island.

Current Vineyard Haven Weather

Weather for Vineyard Haven, MA
Today	05/27/2013	05/28/2013	05/29/2013	05/30/2013
Rain Showers 61°/46°	Clear 68°/52°	Clear 68°/54°	Mostly Cloudy 72°/59°	Mostly Cloudy 77°/59°

Pictures of Vineyard Haven

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The Mount, Edith Wharton’s House – Lenox, MA

TravelNE — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:10:53 +0000

Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was the author of over 40 books, including authoritative works on architecture and gardens. One of these books that she co-authored with architect Ogden Codman, Jr., The Decoration of Houses (1897), was the basis for the design of The Mount, which was built in 1902 at a cost of $57,619. The entrance side of the house is three stories, while the garden side is 2 stories. The house is a 17th-century Palladian-style English country house.

The Mount currently sits on 49.5 acres, which is less than the original 113 acres when Wharton built the house. Many of the original gardens have been restored including the Italian walled garden, formal flower garden, rock garden, lime walk, and grass terraces. In total, three acres of gardens surround the house.

Also on the grounds are a stable (Georgian Revival), the Gatehouse (Georgian Revival), and the greenhouse with a potting shed.

The Mount regularly hosts events including lectures, literary events, music events, and theatre/drama events.

The Mount is a National Historic Landmark.

Hours of Operation

The Mount is open from May through October.

Address Information

The Mount
2 Plunkett Street
Lenox, MA 01240-0974
Phone: 413-551-5111

Picture credits: The picture of the Mont is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

The Museum of the Gilded Age at Ventfort Hall, Lenox, MA

TravelNE — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 22:58:30 +0000

Located in Lenox, MA in the Berkshires, Ventfort Hall is a Jacobean Revival-style 28-room mansion that was built for Sarah Morgan, the sister of banker J. P. Morgan. The house was designed by the architects Rotch & Tilden.

Ventfort Hall is a wonderful example of one of the many Gilded Age “cottages” that were built in Lenox at the end of the nineteenth century. It is located on 11.7 acres in the heart of the Village of Lenox.

Ventfort hosts:

Concerts and other performances
“Dancin’ at the Mansion” dances
Exhibits
Lectures
Tours

During the holiday season the beautifully decorated Ventfort Mansion hosts holiday events, Victorian teas, and more.

Ventfort Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ventfort may be rented for receptions, rehearsal dinners, parties, corporate meetings and other occasions.

Hours of Operation

The Museum of the Gilded Age at Ventfort Hall is open year-round:

Monday through Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Weekends: 10 AM to 3 PM

Address Information

The Museum of the Gilded Age at Ventfort Hall
104 Walker Street
Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: 413-637-3206

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

TravelNE — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:43:40 +0000

Stockbridge, Massachusetts is a quaint New England town located in western Massachusetts in the Berkshires. It arguably has one of the most famous Main Streets in the United States thanks in no small part to the famous painting by Norman Rockwell – Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas.

Stockbridge is home to the famous Red Lion Inn which first began welcoming guests in 1773 making it one of the oldest continuously operating Inns in the country.

Stockbridge is a wonderful place from which to explore all that the Berkshires region has to offer. Many of the areas major attractions also happen to be in Stockbridge including:

The Berkshire Botanical Garden
The Berkshire Theatre Festival
Chesterwood, the home and studio of the famous American sculptor Daniel Chester French
The Mission House, a colonial-era house and museum and National Historic Landmark run by the Trustees of Reservations
The National Shrine of Divine Mercy, a ministry of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Naumkeag House & Gardens, a country estate of the Gilded Age with magnificent gardens, and panoramic views
The Norman Rockwell Museum
The trails of the Laurel Hill Association

Pictures of Stockbridge, MA

[Show as slideshow]

Stockbridge Weather

Weather for Stockbridge, MA
Today	05/27/2013	05/28/2013	05/29/2013	05/30/2013
Rain Showers 52°/36°	Clear 66°/43°	Clear 73°/52°	Chance of Rain 75°/61°	Chance of a Thunderstorm 81°/59°

Lenox, Massachusetts

TravelNE — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:14:40 +0000

Lenox, Massachusetts is a small town located in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. Perhaps best known as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, Lenox boasts many wonderful attractions such as:

The Berskhire Scenic Railway Museum
Edith Wharton’s House The Mount
The Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio
Shakespeare & Company
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum

Lenox also boasts the beauty the the Berkshires are known for and is close to Western Massachusetts ski resorts.

Pictures of Lenox, MA

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Lenox Weather

Weather for Lenox, MA
Today	05/26/2013	05/27/2013	05/28/2013	05/29/2013
Rain 45°/36°	Chance Rain 50°/34°	Clear 63°/39°	Clear 72°/45°	Chance of Rain 75°/61°

Berkshire Museum – Pittsfield, MA

TravelNE — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:19:50 +0000

The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA was founded in 1903 by Zenas Crane, the owner of the famous paper manufacturer Crane & Company. Crane was inspired by museums such as the American Museum for Natural Science, the Smithsonian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He decided to create a museum that brought together the best aspects of these great institutions.

The permanent collection at the Berkshire museum consist of over 25,000 objects in the arts, history, and natural sciences. The museum has a rich set of exhibitions include frequent traveling exhibitions. There are also events, and educational programs. The museum welcomes school visits.

The Berkshire Museum’s cinema, the Littlecinema, screens first-run foreign and independent films. The museum also has a museum shop that they call the “Little Shop”. It offers toys, gifts and mementos. Be sure to check out Wally the stegosaurus who you will find outside of the museum where he has stood guard since he was donated to the Berkshire Museum in 1997.

Hours of Operation

Monday through Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday: Noon to 5 PM

Contact / Location Information

The Berkshire Museum
39 South Street (Route 7)
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-443.7171

Picture credits: The picture of the Berkshire Museum is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.