MAY 13-15: PETERBOROUGH, The Thing in the Spring. Celebrate music, art, and community downtown. Don’t miss the live concerts and “Affordable Arts Fair,” featuring local wares and crafts, including paintings, prints, textiles, sculptures, and more. thethinginthespring.com MAY 14-15: CONTOOCOOK, New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. At Hopkinton State Fairgrounds: vendors, workshops, fleece and fiber shows, […]
May 13-15: FRYEBURG, Northern New England Home, Garden & Flower Show. Everything you need to spruce up your home is available at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds: product demonstrations, merchandise from local craftsmen, and a “Smart Homeowner” seminar on eco-friendly tips. 207-935-2845; homegardenflowershow.com May 27-30: TRESCOTT, Down East Spring Birding Festival. Catch the spring migration in the […]
MAY 6-7: STOCKBRIDGE, Annual Plant Sale. Thousands of annuals, perennials, herbs, rare and unusual plants, and trees and shrubs go on sale at Berkshire Botanical Gardens. Vendors offer potted herbs and vegetable starts, tropical plants, garden ornaments, furniture, compost, and more. 413-298-3926; berkshirebotanical.org MAY 10-15, JULY 12-17, SEPT. 6-11: BRIMFIELD, Brimfield Antique Show. Running more […]
April 30-May 1: MERIDEN, Meriden Daffodil Festival. Celebrate the blooming of the 600,000 daffodils in Hubbard Park. Enjoy the parade, a juried crafts fair, food prepared by local nonprofit organizations, a business expo, and a spectacular fireworks display. 203-630-4259; daffodilfest.com May 6-7: FARMINGTON, Hill-Stead May Market. All the crafts and plants you need to start […]
Ever wondered what it takes to become a costumed Freedom Trail guide in Boston? To start, you’ve got to be good with dates.
BEST BALINESE IMPORTS Agabhumi: The Best of Bali, Westport Filled with beautiful, diverse jewelry, handbags, scarves, and sandals, all fashioned far away, but a good fit here. The prices will keep you coming back for seconds. 165 Post Road East. 203-557-0188; agabhumi.com BEST GARDEN & PICNIC PARK Wickham Park, Manchester Gardens inspired by England, Italy, […]
BEST TUBING Farmington River, New Hartford The gentle rapids here provide a rollicking good ride down a 2.5-mile stretch. Farmington River Tubing provides tubes, lifejackets, and a shuttle bus from the take-out back to the starting point (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day). 92 Main St. 960-693-6465; farmingtonrivertubing.com BEST RIVERSIDE BIKING Essex Loop, Essex A […]
BEST ROAD BIKING EAST BAY BICYCLE PATH, Providence Built on the former railbed of the Providence/Worcester line, this 14.5-mile bike bath transports you from an industrialized section of the city through Haines Park, along beaches bordering Narragansett Bay, and on past beautiful Colt State Park to Independence Park in Bristol. Parking for the bike trail […]
BEST ART FIX St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center, Woonsocket Tour “the Sistine Chapel of America.” The walls, vaults, and ceilings of this former church are covered in frescos beautiful enough to convert an atheist. 84 Cumberland St. 401-356-0713; stannartsctr.org BEST ANTIQUE SHOP Heir Antiques, Providence Heir’s natty owner, interior decorator Tyler Doran, displays an […]
BEST DAY PADDLE Batten Kill Canoe, Arlington Plan a two-hour or two-day paddle down the beautiful Batten Kill with the able assistance of the folks at Batten Kill Canoe, who are familiar with every nook and cranny of the river known as “the Valley of Vermont.” Photo Credit: Carl Tremblay Maps for every level of […]
BEST ALTERNATIVE TO THE FREEDOM TRAIL Harborwalk, Boston A nearly 40-mile network of waterside paths from East Boston to Dorchester: Start with the Charlestown branch and head down through the North End to Fort Point Channel, stopping at historical sights (U.S.S. Constitution), bay-view restaurants (Sensing and Sam’s), and museums (the ICA and the Children’s Museum). […]
BEST UPSCALE BAR Drink, Boston Drink’s commitment to excellence at every level–from the quality of the ice, to the historic authenticity of the bitters, punches, and fizzes, to the minimalist design that hides the booze and puts the barkeep front and center–makes this venue a natural winner. 348 Congress St. 617-695-1806 BEST HISTORY LESSON Nichols […]
