Our first question to Mark and Betty Garrison, owners of Rocky Point Blueberry Farm in Warwick, Rhode Island, was: “What inspired you to turn this beautiful residential property into a farm?” We were having coffee in the living room of the three-bedroom (plus “in-law apartment”) house designed by Mark and built in 1984, while admiring […]
christmas
Centuries ago Christmas and winter-holiday celebrations were centered around the rhythms of nature. From the gifts that were exchanged to the wreaths on the doors and the decorations on the tree, everything was either home spun or thoughtfully gathered from the outdoors. The simple joy associated with such traditions and connecting with the beauty of […]
New England
Best Historic Inn Rating Criteria
Choices, Choices. How did we choose our “bests” from all of the notable 18th-century lodgings in New England? To start with, we used the following criteria: 1. Age. Had to be standing before 1799. 2. Comfort. We appreciate a bit of luxury with our history.Get Our FREE Yankee Best New England Vacations Guide! Email(Required) Subscribe […]
Holiday traditions are the things that make the holidays “the holidays.” For me it’s getting out the box of ornaments, putting on Handel’s “The Messiah” (from Thanksgiving through New Year’s only), and listening to Linus explain to Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about. A few years ago, however, I found myself wanting a new […]
In a region where seasonal work off the land is a staple of life, evergreens yield hundreds of thousands of holiday decorations.
Magazine
True Believer
“The way Santa was presented to me as a kid was that every Christmas morning, we’d sit at the top of the stairs, and my father would say goodbye to Santa. We wouldn’t see him; we’d just hear my dad: ‘Oh, Santa, why are you still here? Oh, my! So good to see you.’ We […]
Why should we believe in Santa? We ask Kris Kringle, a.k.a Jonathan Meath.
New England’s craft fairs make holiday shopping fun while supporting the region’s richly talented artisans.
One-Pie canned pumpkin purée — an iconic New England brand keeps Maine’s canning industry alive, if only in memory.
Adding handmade keepsake ornaments in festive shapes—such as a classic Christmas bulb, to your holiday packages elevates the wrapping into something more than just a gateway to the good stuff. For heirloom-worthy results, use high-quality wool felt, and add artful flourishes in the form of rickrack, ribbon, and embroidered details. All you need is a […]
At home in Providence with Chris Van Allsburg, the author of The Polar Express, one of the most beloved holiday tales of all time.
How did we choose our “bests” from all of the notable 18th-century lodgings in New England for our feature story, Best New England Historic Inns? To start with, we used the following criteria: 1. Age. Had to be standing before 1799. 2. Comfort. We appreciate a bit of luxury with our history. 3. Historic ambience. […]