Whether the goal is shopping, dining, seeing a show, or taking in the sights, a visit to Boston during the holiday season is a great way to put yourself in the Christmas spirit. Many folks head in for a day-trip each December, but if you’re lucky enough to squeeze in an overnight or a weekend […]
apple cider
This past weekend, New England got a fabulous preview of the fine fall weather to come. Crystal clear blue skies dominated both days, providing a wonderful break after all the recent rains. The morning air felt crisp and dry, aside from the morning mists that rose like cauldrons out of local lakes and streams. Daytime […]
Massachusetts
The Big E | New England’s Largest Agricultural Fair
The Big E Fair is New England’s largest agricultural fair featuring food, animals, entertainment, and more! Check out this year’s dates here. I’m not sure how any New England kid (at least those of us within a few hours drive from western Mass) managed to get to adulthood without at least one visit to the Big E. […]
The owner of a 38-acre farm in Northumberland, New Hampshire, is looking for the next dreamer to buy his property—which comes complete with a hydroelectric plant, cider mill, pond, and orchard. Lost Nation? You’ve never heard of it? Well, it’s a real place, consisting of the northern New Hampshire towns of Lancaster and Northumberland. Some […]
I had always considered Stowe, Vermont to be a strictly winter ski destination, but it turns out I was wrong. “Stowe in the summer season,” as I was told by my innkeeper last month, “is perhaps the busiest season.” Tucked just east of Burlington in northern Vermont, Stowe’s combination of 200-year-old village along with its […]
Looking for fun in the Bay State? You won’t have to look far! Read our picks for the best attractions in Massachusetts. BEST FABRIC DESIGN MARTHA FLOOD DESIGN STUDIO & FABRIC GALLERY, North Adams Artist Martha Flood draws inspiration from the woods, fields, and rivers of the Berkshires for the rich colors and patterns of […]
Visit an apple orchard this fall and you’re just as likely to see folks munching on golden-brown apple-cider doughnuts as you are actual apples. Beyond the standard cake doughnut, cider doughnuts have apple cider added right into the batter, lending a touch of sweetness and a subtle cider tang that most people find dangerously addictive. […]
Hand-made gifts are fantastic, but who has time, right? Well, this week I took to the airways to demonstrate a way to make a delicious handmade gift while you sleep! It’s my homemade apple butter, made overnight in a slow cooker. Here’s a video of me demonstrating the recipe on New England Cable News. Cooking […]
Food
A Weekend Food Tour
It was so wonderful to be back at Cider Days in western Massachusetts this past weekend. This festival of apples and apple cider (hard and sweet) has become a touchstone. I only wish I could’ve stayed longer! Here’s a shot of me demonstrating how to make cornbread dressing with sausage and apples, courtesy of my […]
New England
New England Fall Foliage Columbus Day Weekend
The big weekend is upon us, and the upcoming weather forecast couldn’t look better. Finally, after weeks of dreary weather and near incessant rainfall, the skies are set to clear as a big, broad high pressure area moves in. The whole of New England, which has been cooped up waiting out this storm is ready […]
Fall is in the air, and with the gardening season just about over, now is the time to make the most of nature’s bounty to fill our homes with the ambiance of autumn. Here are ten simple and affordable ways to subtly acknowledge the beautiful shift of the seasons that New England is famous for. […]
Vermont
Three Days in Danby, VT
Mohawk Trail We started late on our Columbus Day journey and, by virtue of not traveling up route 93 into New Hampshire like most folks, we didn’t see a lot of traffic. We decided on Massachusetts’ Mohawk Trail and got on route 2A, then route 2, and proceeded west. We stopped at one of the […]