Massachusetts - Snapshot Chronicles Roadtrip

It’s all happening at the zoo

April 26, 2010 by Susan Getgood

I’ve always loved the zoo, and this month, I visited two.

Columbus Zoo

During a business trip to Columbus, Ohio, I had a a full day to spare before my flight home due to last minute changes in my travel plans. The good news, however, was that friend Christina McMenemy (A Mommy Story) was free that day and suggested we go to the Columbus Zoo. We only had time for a few exhibits, but I was impressed with the facility — especially how clean it was, and look forward to a future trip to Columbus to see more.

Baby Elephant, Columbus Zoo

Red Panda, Columbus Zoo

Gray Wolf, Columbus Zoo

Stone Zoo

Douglas decided he wanted to go to the zoo too, so I took the afternoon off yesterday from book editing, and we went to a small local zoo, the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts.

You can see the whole zoo in about 90 minutes, but it is a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and the staff is very friendly. One zookeeper pointed out a little turtle — wild — that had moved into their pond, and when we said we hadn’t been able to spot the Snow Leopard, offered to walk back and point her out to us.

The animals in the Stone Zoo are mostly American (North and South) native animals, with a couple of Himalayan species for good measure. Sister zoo, the Franklin Park Zoo, has the African mammals and will be our next zoo destination.

Mexican Gray Wolf, Stone Zoo

River Otter, Stone Zoo

Douglas, Stone Zoo

Soundtrack for this post: At the Zoo, by Simon and Garfunkel.

In the neighborhood: Barnard to Boston

August 15, 2009 by Susan Getgood

We spent the first week of August at our home in Barnard Vermont so Douglas could attend day camp at the Vermont Institute for Natural Sciences in nearby Quechee. For me, it was mostly just a different window, but we did go on a couple excursions.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park in Woodstock — Laurance and Mary Rockefeller spent summers at their home in Woodstock, and the Park Service offers daily tours (in season) of the home, as well as a couple of special tours. The most recent addition to the schedule is the Fallout Shelter tour, which seems to be offered about once per month.

There are two fallout shelters on the property, one under the house itself and another underneath the Belvidere, an outbuilding that houses pool changing rooms, activity room, soda fountain and two-lane bowling alley. The one underneath the Belvidere is the shelter open to visitors.

The tour is about 70 minutes, and a good half of it is a ranger presentation about the Cold War that preceeds the tour of the shelter. After all, how long does it take to tour a one room fallout shelter?

Our verdict: If you only have time for one tour of the mansion, take the regular house tour. It’s offered a few times a day and reservations aren’t required, as they are for the special tours. It was fine for us, because we’d already done both the regular house tour and the special Hidden Spaces tour.

If you do decide to take the Fallout Shelter tour, a true highlight was the private bowling alley, but younger kids may get restless during the ranger presentation. Consider starting your day across the street at Billings Farm, tire them out a bit looking at cows and chickens, and then take the mansion tour of your choice. A combo-ticket is offered.

As part of Doug’s summer camp week at VINS, the kids put on skits for the parents on the last day. We were so proud of Douglas, who played the part of narrator for his team’s skit. Photos are in this Flickr set.

We stayed to watch the afternoon raptor show at 3:30pm. If you are in the area, it is well worth the time.

A camp highlight for the kids was getting to hold the American Kestrel.

—

This weekend, we went into the Museum of Science in Boston to see the National Geographic Crittercam exhibit, which ends August 30th. We also stopped by the Black Holes exhibit and saw the Omni film Mystic India.

Our verdict: Crittercam was terrific. Hard to believe that they are able to securely attach the cams to such a variety of animals, terrestrial and aquatic, and it is truly amazing what researchers have been able to learn about animal behavior by looking at life through their eyes. Best part of the exhibit: I loved the whales’ bubble net cooperative feeding and the lion cubs investigating the camera on their mother.

Black Holes has a web-component, but otherwise seemed very similar to previous astronomy exhibits we have seen, although to be fair, I didn’t spend much time in the exhibit.

Mystic India wasn’t quite what I expected. The narration retraces the steps of an 11 year old yogi who walked across India in the late 1700s. In adulthood, he became an important religious and political figure, and it was clear from an audience full of Indian families that his story has profound religious and cultural resonance.

For Westerners like me, unfamiliar with his life, it was at times hard to embrace the storyline. Barefoot and wearing nothing but a loin cloth for four years in the Himalayas? Of course, it’s a parable and I have no wish to be disrespectful of another’s religion or icons. I have just as much of a problem with certain elements of the Jesus Christ story when played out on the screen. Somehow, the translation to film highlights some of the improbabilities that we just have to get over in order to believe.

The scenery however was magnificent, and in the end, the film-makers made their point about cultural diversity, community and tolerance. Funnily enough though, for me, it was as much from the fact that the legion of volunteers who participated in the making of the film didn’t take individual credits. It was the collective that made the film and told the story. You just can’t argue with that depth of belief.

If you are in Boston, get thee to Crittercam before it leaves at the end of the month.

Snapshot: Fourth of July

July 1, 2009 by Susan Getgood

My birthday is the 5th, so I’ve always felt that the Fourth of July is my holiday. As a child, in fact, I decided that the fireworks were for me.

I’ve spent the holiday in so many different places. One year, my husband and I climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and watched the holiday fireworks from above. Another, we were in Scotland, and the day was just like any other. In my childhood, we were often at my father’s family camp in western Michigan.

Here are some of my favorite things to do on the Fourth.

Fireworks

I know many communities don’t do them any more, but I do love them so. If I were spending the holiday in a city, I’d be torn between Boston and the Pops and New York’s display sponsored by Macy’s. We however will be in central Vermont, enjoying the display in Woodstock.

A Boat Cruise

Near a body of water? Get on a boat. Any sort of boat will do, but here are some of the trips we’ve done in the Northeast over the years. Some on the holiday weekend, some at other times of the year.

Boston: Normally, the USS Constitution does its turnaround cruise on the 4th, but it won’t be doing a public cruise this year due to refurbishment. You can however take a cruise of the harbor that ends at the ship and museum. You can disembark for the tour, and then get back on a later return voyage.

Doug on the USS Constitution

New York: Manhattan never looks better than from a deck of a boat. A few years ago, we did a tour that went around the whole island. My memory is a bit foggy, but I think it was the Circle Line. Check out their various sightseeing options.

Burlington, VT: Last summer, we celebrated my birthday on a Lake Champlain dinner cruise. I just about lost it when my son worked a deal with the DJ to sing me happy birthday.

Sunset on Lake Champlain

What we’ll be doing

We’ll probably check out the activities at Billings Farm in Woodstock, have a family cook-out and then go to the fireworks. A typical small town Fourth.

I’m hoping that the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park will have the scheduled tour of the Fallout Shelter on Sunday morning before we drive home.

Father’s Day Excursions

June 6, 2009 by Susan Getgood

I have two Father’s Day excursions for you, one worth the drive if you are in the Boston area, and the other well worth a weekend getaway. Both are annual events; you go this year or you wait until next.

The Boston area – Stow MA

Every year on Father’s Day weekend — June 20 & 21 – the Collings Foundation in Stow opens its doors to visitors for Wings and Wheels Weekend. It’s a great opportunity to see the Foundation’s collection of vintage aircraft and automobiles. You can also book a ride in one of the vintage aircraft, but this must be done in advance. $10 adults, $5 kids.

Family eats in the Stow area: La Provence in Concord (review) and Nancy’s Airfield Cafe in Stow.

Central Vermont – Quechee

The Quechee Balloon Festival in Quechee Vermont is well worth the trip North. Dave and I went years ago, and last year we finally made it back with Douglas. There are activities all day long, but the highlight is the balloon ascensions in the morning and early evening. This year, we are planning our weekend to attend the Balloon Glow on Friday at approximately 8:30 pm. Balloon rides are available, but should be booked in advance.

Local accommodations: There are motor inns nearby in Quechee and White River Junction, but I recommend going a bit further and staying at the Kedron Valley Inn in South Woodstock. If they are full up, try the Woodstock Inn, and if you like bed & breakfasts, the Inn at Chelsea Farm, our Vermont neighbor.

By the way, if you are looking to visit the Woodstock area, we also rent our house. Check it out on Cyberrentals. This year, we will be there on Balloon Fest weekend, but we have lots of other availability this summer as we have just started renting it.

Back to the balloon festival. Admission is $10 adults, $5 kids; tickets are good for the entire weekend and dads accompanied by a kid are 1/2 price on Sunday.

Family eats in the Woodstock/Quechee area: There are a lot of great restaurants in the area, but if the family has spent the day at the festival, you want something fast and friendly. For lunch, I recommend the Farmer’s Diner in Quechee and for dinner, Bentleys in Woodstock.

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