Boston

Everyone says not to drive in Boston if at all possible. You can drive from the campground about 40 minutes and then take the subway, or do as we did, drive about 15 minutes to Lowell and take the drive. We got a little lost when we were almost to the train but finally found where to park. We just made the train by minutes. The last stop on this train is North End and in the train station is one of the entrances to the  TD Garden where both the Celtics and the Boston Bruins play. The team store is in the station. We had decided to travel around the city by Trolley. There are several Trolley companies that have a tour guide. However, you can get off at any of the stops and just jump back on another of the trolleys when you are ready to go to a new stop. Also included is a Ferry ride around the Harbor. This also takes you to the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides". We stayed on the Trolley until we got to the Harbor.

State Capital

On the Trolley listening to Tour Guide who was very funny as well as informitive



Ship we took our cruise on



The cruise was nice thought we ended up standing as it was a full load. The day was just beautiful, a crisp Fall day. WHen we got off, we decided to get a bite to eat and wait until the crowd going to the USS Constitution was down. However, when we got there, there was still an hour wait to be able to take the tour of the ship.    USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. George Washington first ordered four ships to be constructed to protect American's maritime interest. There was no navy at the time. It's greatest glory was during the war of 1812. IT defeated 4 Bristish frigates and earned the name "Old Ironsides" because their cannon balls just bounced off its thick hull. There were a number of guides aboard giving information on the ship and what life was like on the ship.

We got the trolley and as it was already late afternoon decided to head back and get some rest as we have been doing a lot of sight seeing these last days. Got back to the Train Station and took this picture of Bobby Orr, famous Hockey player induced in Hockey Fall of Fame in 1983.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Salem

Saturday we headed for Salem, home of the infamous witch trials of 1692. where some young girls fell ill and blamed some of the town people for their afflictions. Hundreds of people were blamed and called witches during the hysteria that followed and 19 were convicted and hanged. We went to the Salem Witch Museum.
There was also a street fair going on selling both witch and non witch related items. We ate at The Old Spot, an English pub.  I had the old spot meat pie with guiness beef and lamb, with corn and topped with mashed potatoes, which was very good. Ruben and Fish and Chips were some of the dishes Joe, Kristi and Brock had.



Kristi and Nikki(note new scarf from the street faire) with Samantha of Bewitched fame



We strolled on down to the Marina area where we planned to take a tour of the House of the 7 Gables. It is a historical house build in the 1600's and was the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name. It is the oldest surviving wooden house in New England. The guided tour was very interesting and included a mysterious secret staircase where you would least expect it. The original boyhood home of Hawthorne was also moved right next to the 7 Gables House and can be toured on your own. No taking of pictures of the 7 Gable House was allowed but below are pictures of the outside, including the gardens and some of Hawthorne's home.



7 Gable House on the left



Room in Hawthorne's home

                                                               

On to Boston Area

Friday we all left for Boston Minuteman Campground in Littleton, MA. It is about 40 miles from Boston. Brock and Kristi followed us in their rental car. I didn't mention before but we are doing our sight seeing in their rental car as our Jeep doesn't have a backseat and needless to say wouldn't be to comfortable for anyone to sit in the back. It only took us about 3 hours to get there. We got set up and decided to take a drive and check out the Concord and Lexington historic area. This is where a 10 year long feud between the Bristish and the Colonists climaxed into a bloody battle that was the start of the war of independence.

This area is also a home to many writers such as Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. Ralph Emerson also lived in the area and was the one who wrote of the "shot heard around the world" referring to the battle of Livingston and Concord.

Childhood home of Lousia May Alcott, author of Little Women

Another structure near the Orchard House(home of the Alcotts)

                

Some fall colors on walk to Vistor Center in Lexington

More fall colors

Example of houses in the area

Buildings in Lexington


We had a bite to eat in Lexington and then headed home for the night.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Plymouth

Wednesday was rainy and we just took a drive, did some shopping, had some linner(lunch/dinner) at a local restaurant and played uno during the evening hours.
Thursday was a sunny day. Hoorah!! We went to Plimouth Planation . Through its  living history exhibits, the 1627 English Village and the Wampanoag (Wampanoag) Homesite, Plimoth Plantation seeks to re-create the people, time and place of 17th-century Plymouth. The staff wears period costumes and will tell you what their life is like. You can also ask them questions.

There are also recreated houses from that period as well.

As part of the tour, we also toured the Mayflower II, a reproduction of the original Mayflower that brought the pilgrims to New England. There are exhibitions on navigation, what it was like for the passengers and crew during the crossing and demonstrations on maritime trades.

                                                                                                                               
   After the tours we walked around the area and stopped for a snack. The boys had hot dogs and Kristi and I had some clam strips.

                                                                                                                                                                          

Cape Cod

We had a day before Kristi and Brock arrive on Tuesday. We had to get something at Home Depot and so we took a drive up towards Providencetown. We are staying in the Sandwich area and Providencetown is at the very tip of the island. Sandwich is the oldest of the Cape towns. Scusset campground is on the Cape Cod Canal. We drove on the highway which was mostly trees on both sides. We went to Home Depot in Hyannis and decided to save the trip all the way to Providencetown for when Kristi and Brock arrive. On the way back we took the more scenic route which went through the small towns and villages and by lots of great looking old houses. We went out to dinner at a sea food restaurant in Sandwich called Capitan Scotts. It is a restaurant that has been around since the early 50's. It started out as a small fish market and later became a restaurant. Either Joe or I had ever had Maine Lobster and so decided to try that. It was good but we both like lobster tail better.
Kristi and Brock arrived early afternoon on Tuesday. We decided to take the trip all the way to Providencetown and took the scenic road. It was rainy and so didn't get out of the car much.

Tip of Providencetown



Nikki, Brock and Kristi braving the cold


We had dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Providencetown harbor. The name of the restaurant is the Lobster Pot. 

We all had clam chowder and different types of seafood. Everything was good and the service was as well.
We found our way back home in the dark and just watched a little tv and relaxed.
                                                                      

5 States in One Day

We had a long drive to Cape Cod and so stayed 2 nights at Silver Campsites in Saylorsville, PA. Didn't do too much but took a drive looking for a grocery store and did a little sight seeing.


Start of Fall colors in the campground

 Sunday we left Pennsylvania on the way to Scusset State Reservations in Sandwich, Massachussett which is on the northern part of the island on the Cape Cod Canel. Before we got there we went through New York, Connecicut and Rhode Island in addition to PA and Mass. More beautiful country.

                                                                 


Rhode Island




Crossing the Hudson River