July 8, 2019 – Plum Island Lighthouse/Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Plum Island Lighthouse in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This Lighthouse is also referred to as the Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse. This Lighthouse was established in 1788, but later rebuilt in 1898. The tower is made out of wood, and is approximately 35 feet in height. The Lighthouse is now owned by the City of Newburyport, and managed by the Friends of Plum Island Light. It is open for scheduled tours.

We had a coastal Adventure to the Plum Island Lighthouse. We began our morning with a long walk at one of our favorite local parks before heading to the Lighthouse. As we got closer the drive became very scenic with bright blue water, framed by brilliant green grass. It was absolutely gorgeous, and beautifully completed by a perfectly blue sky. We drove to the end of Northern Boulevard and located the Lighthouse on the left. Parking was a bit unclear, but I had emailed to get additional information, and it appeared to match the parking description. After parking we meandered over to the Lighthouse. It was tall, and a crisp white color. The location was simple, the lawn somewhat overgrown, but the Lighthouse structure was flawless in form. We spent some time walking around the area and Shadow and Wilma enjoyed a nap under the shady bushes, and their expected happy, enthusiastic rolls. Although I knew ahead of time the beaches were not dog friendly, I was still a bit disappointed. However, so glad we were able to visit the Plum Island Lighthouse. We will have to return in the off-season when we can romp on the beach as well. A beautiful sunny day exploring the Plum Island Lighthouse (Rating: 3).

July 6, 2019 – Gary’s Ice Cream – Massachusetts

Tonight Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Gary’s Ice Cream in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Gary’s Ice Cream was founded by Gary Frascarelli who is a hands-on owner, creating, designing, and selling his products. Gary’s Ice Cream is known for making each and every flavor of their ice cream.

We had a stomach-filling Adventure to Gary’s Ice Cream. We could not resist another ice cream Adventure after a hot and stormy day. Upon arrival we were not surprised to see few visitors with the storm just barely having passed through. The dogs put in their order (haha) while I decided to go for a root beer float. I was a bit disappointed to see store bought dog ice cream, although I guess that is not fair of me to complain as they did offer dog ice cream! A treat was also added to their order!

After receiving our goodies we headed over to the picnic tables in the grass. It was raining, but I did not see any lightning so we relaxed for a bit, savoring our refreshing deserts! There was a tiny scenic bridge, and some lilies, but overall a simple setting. We walked around after Shadow and Wilma finished their ice cream. I then decided to bring home the remainder of my very large, and sticky float. I think my favorite part of Gary’s Ice cream was their dog loving ice cream cup! It was nice to find yet another local ice cream shop on this stormy evening (Rating: 3).

July 6, 2019 – Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts. Frederick Law Olmsted is known as the founder of American landscape architecture. He titled his estate “Fairsted”, where he established the first full-scale landscape architecture office. He famously designed thousands of landscapes around North America. The property includes outdoor quarters, ranger led tours, and an indoor museum of the estate. There is no cost to visit this Historic Site, but donations are appreciated.

We had a steamy Adventure to the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. Our journey began bright and early, as I was hoping to avoid a predicted hot and humid day. We quickly found parking, which was clearly marked by signs. We began walking down the street, and headed through a scenic awning, marking the entrance of the Site. We soon arrived at the main building where we found a descriptive brochure, and began ambling throughout the property. I for some reason expected a large manor, however it was very compact. We therefore wandered down every little path, and spot we could find. There were bright flowers, including lilies, and roses. The residence was simple, but picturesque, with green ivy-like leaves adorning the sides of the building. In several spots we were able to peer in seeing some of the museum displays. I was quite surprised how hot it was at this location, Shadow often tried to dive under a bush, while Wilma quickly was laying down and panting herself. I guess it worked out being a tiny estate, leading to a short visit.

As you would expect the buildings were not dog friendly, so we were not able to see the entire site, but enjoyed our outdoor tour. I debated blogging today, but figured it might be of interest to some visitors, especially those found of landscape architecture, and its’ history. Quite a simple Adventure today, but always pleased to visit a new location (Rating: Decided not to rate this location as we were only able to explore half of the Site.)

July 1, 2019 – Ware – Hardwick Covered Bridge – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, My Mom and I Adventured to the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge in Gilbertville, Massachusetts. The Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge was built in the 1800s. It spans the Ware River, and is one of the few original covered bridges in the state.

We had a fun Adventure to the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge. We had just finished a walk at Dunn State Park in Gardener Massachusetts. Dunn State Park is a small, and simple park yet quite pretty. I decided not to blog about Dunn State Park today as I have done so previously, however you can read this blog at: https://wp.me/p9RZ48-1s6, or by typing it directly into the search box. (This is my first attempt at linking a direct website to an individual blog so bear with me if it is not successful on this first try.)

We arrived at the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge to find parking a bit limited so my Mom and I took turns walking through and along the Bridge. We were also able to wander down to the waters edge to take some photographs and enjoy the sounds of the rushing River. The Bridge was especially lovely from the side with a colorful wood grained panel framing the top of the lattice windows. The red front did not appear to match the style of the side, however added some bright color to the structure. We sauntered back and forth, pleased to see minimal vehicle traffic and no other visitors. A short but nice visit to the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge today (Rating: 3)

June 30, 2019 – Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant in Lowell, Massachusetts. Heritage Farm has homemade ice cream, burgers, and sandwiches. It was established in 1976 by the current owners, however previous to that date it was an ice cream shop as well. Heritage Farms is known for sponsoring free entertainment, for their Classic Car show, and for being a contributing member of the community.

We had a refreshing Adventure to the Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant. I started the weekend feeling quite frustrated, again having car issues which forced me to cancel our weekend Adventures. However, I decided to risk a somewhat local stop providing some variety to our daily neighborhood walks and backyard fun.

We definitely appreciated our visit to Heritage Farms, which had a vintage, and patriotic vibe. I quickly ordered two dog ice creams, and decided on an orange sherbert cooler for me. Only one size available for my cooler creating an extra-large experience, but of course I did not have any problem sipping it down. The Farm was very quiet, so we were able to sit for a bit and enjoy our tasty treats. There was a cute little merry go around for the little ones, and some mechanical cars for riding. The “Farm” was nicely decorated, with white petunias, american flags, and colors preparing for this July 4th week. I would have preferred the “Farm” to be away from the main drag, however, a bit unrealistic in an urban setting like Lowell. A unique stop, and although the ice cream was quite pricey, the taste was well worth the cost. If we are ever in the area again, we might just visit have round to at Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant (Rating: Ice cream: 5, Outdoor Restaurant: 4, Location: 3).

June 18, 2019 – Bear’s Den – Massachusetts

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Bear’s Den in New Salem, Massachusetts. Bear’s Den includes a short trail to a scenic waterfall, a stream, a secluded gorge, and contains ruins of an old mill. The waterfall is a cascade falls, approximately twelve feet in height, and is sourced from the Swift River. The Reservation was given its’ name due to a black bear being shot on the property. Bear’s Den is owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

We had a rainy Adventure to the Bear’s Den Reservation. We were quite thrilled to have a weekday Adventure as our three days off in the summer has begun! I expected the weather to become rainy, but we were determined to visit Bear’s Den, so we carried on! I was pleased to arrive at a small and empty parking lot. I had read there was hunting at this location so decided to adorn the pups in their bright orange armor! We headed down a green surrounded trail into the great outdoors. There was an informational kiosk a bit down the path with a map. Soon we heard the singing of the stream, and headed straight to the water. Shadow of course attempted a dip in the shallow water while Wilma found a fallen tree to climb, and a stick to chew. We took our time in this area walking around the shore, jumping on the rocks, and wandering around the mill remains.

The trails were not clear, however we followed the sounds and quickly located the waterfall from high above the gorge. We were pleased to find a path down to bottom of the gorge, and directly in front of the waterfall. The gorge area was spectacular, with caves in the rocks, lovely green, and the tall boulders surrounding us as we peered at the waterfall. The Falls had two main sections, separated by rocks in the middle. It was small, but yet just right. We relaxed for awhile taking in the scene. Both Shadow and Wilma spent some time sitting, while Wilma also enjoyed some rock jumps, and Shadow often could be found searching for the quickest path to the water. Wilma seemed a bit uneasy at times looking around cautiously, my mind repeatedly expecting a bear sighting Thankfully we did not see a bear!

Bear’s Den was a peaceful and special location. It was hard to capture the Falls in photographs, so I would encourage you to view the videos below. So glad we could Adventure to this location (Rating: 4).

Throwback Adventure – Palmer Island Lighthouse – Massachusetts

I will have sections of my blog that I will title “Throwback Adventure”, and will plan on posting them every Thursday. These are journeys we have taken before I started the blog, but are well worth sharing. Many of these Throwback Adventures will include our Buster, who was known for his crazy tail, his happy howl, and his zest for life. We miss him dearly…he is forever in our hearts!

In January 2017 Shadow and I Adventured to the Palmer Lighthouse in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The Palmer Lighthouse is located in the Acushnet River at the entrance to New Bedford Harbor. It was built in 1849. The Lighthouse is twenty four feet high and is made out of stone rubble. It can be reached by foot at low tide through the hurricane wall in New Bedford Harbor. The Palmer Lighthouse is no longer a working lighthouse.

We had a wild Adventure to the Palmer Ligthouse on a cool winter day. We had many Adventures in New Bedford on this day, and the Palmer Lighthouse was one of our most scenic stops. I do not remember doing much research but found that we could make our way to the Lighthouse as the tide was low. Having no idea what the tidal patterns were we decided to journey to the Lighthouse, closely watching the water. We met a nice family along the way that adored Shadow, while also ran into some teenagers in the appearing to be up to some trouble. I was quite disappointed at all the trash in the area, I guess left behind from the tide. However we carried on, sometimes on rocky footing, but soon arrived at the Palmer Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was quite stunning, bright white and uniquely stone. There was a stone-like pathway directly to the Lighthouse so we were able to climb to the door to check out this beautiful Lighthouse. We really lucked out finding low tide on this visit, but did not stay long unsure what to expect upon our return. A fun, and memorable Adventure to the Palmer Lighthouse (Rating: 3).

June 8, 2019 – Brooks Woodland Preserve – Massachusetts

On June 8, 2019 Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Brooks Woodland Preserve in Petersham, Massachusetts. The preserve includes over thirteen miles of trails, rivers, brooks, forestland, and wetlands. The property was previously home to the Nipmuc Indians, while later being cleared for pastureland, and farms. The land was named for James Wilson Brooks. Brooks Woodland Preserve is owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

We had an invigorating hike at the Brooks Woodland Preserve on a lovely spring morning. I was wondering if we would make it to the property, as with no exact address we drove down a rocky country road. However, we were pleased to find the bright blue official Trustees sign and arrive at the trailhead. I confirmed that no hunting was permitted but yet became concerned to find a nearby sign stating “However…” warning you to be aware that hunters still could be around the area or on the property. I was thrilled to find one of Shadow and Wilma’s reflector vests in the car, slightly reducing my anxiety with this information. I often joke how I have one dog that looks like a bear, and one that looks like a deer, so therefore avoid properties known for hiking. Still a bit anxious with this warning, I covered by pups with bright orange, and decided to continue on our Adventure.

We began down a slightly overgrown trail hopping over two large trees that had fallen over the path. The trail opened up to a gorgeous field-like area, beautiful green colors spanning our view. We soon entered the woods and arrived at a gorgeous stream, and bridge. Shadow quickly found a path down to the water while Wilma and I watched from above (see the first video below). We relaxed at this singing brook for some time until Shadow was ready to leave the cool flowing water and journey on to the trail. Our hike mostly followed the yellow loop trail, although we veered off in some locations to check on various scenery, often a bridges over a singing brook. We met one couple on and off throughout our hike who appeared to be traversing the same trail. They were very nice, and seemed to appreciate some “hellos” with Shadow and Wilma. Besides this couple we found ourselves alone with nature.

This trail was quite special as the town it was located in was in the country, leading to a true natural hike. There was constant birds chirping, and oftentimes you could hear the singing of streams. Not a chance that you could hear the highway from this location, so tranquil and serene. Shadow seemed quite energized on this hike, often speeding ahead of us, I am sure quite enthused from the many, cool stream dips! My favorite parts of this hike were: trail that paralleled the stream, the picturesque bridges, watching Shadow’s joyful swims, lush green landscape, and being one with nature at this serene location. Besides my worries of the nearby hunting, we really enjoyed our visit at the Brooks Woodland Preserve. As you may guess I found this property through the Trustees of Reservations. Definitely a wonderful visit to this lovely property (Rating: 3)

June 1, 2019 – Crescent Ridge Dairy – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma and I Adventured to Crescent Ridge Dairy in Sharon, Massachusetts. Crescent Ridge Dairy is a Farm that includes a shop, farm animals to view, and an ice cream stand. They specialize in local produce, and homemade products.

We had a mouthwatering Adventure to Crescent Ridge Dairy after our nearby hike at The Bradley Estate. It was great to arrive at this ice cream stand to find no lines! I checked out the menu and quickly decided to choose cookie doe ice cream with whip cream, and of course a dog ice cream for my two best friends. Once our order was ready we headed over to a shady area to gobble up our ice cream. So tasty! I was actually unable to finish my ice cream, however packed it up for a future treat. We walked around the property and found some benches in the back, and farm animals on the side. Wilma was thrilled to see the goats, and it appeared as if she wanted to play with them. It definitely brought a smile to my face. Shadow was more interested in trying to find leftovers under the tables, my always hopeful boy! We were quite happy to visit Crescent Ridge Dairy today (Rating: 4, Dog Ice Cream: 5)

June 1, 2019 – The Bradley Estate – Massachusetts

Somehow this blog posted before I finished it so I have deleted that, and here is the final blog posting…

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to The Bradley Estate in Canton, Massachusetts. The Bradley Estate was inherited by Doctor Arthur Tracy Cabot before being acquired by his niece Eleanor Cabot Bradley in 1945. It is a 90 acre property that includes the estate, fields, woodlands, and gardens. The Estate is a popular location for weekend weddings. It is owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

We had a peaceful Adventure to The Bradley Estate. We arrived to find the property almost empty from visitors. There was as $5 parking fee, but yet our admission was free due to our Trustee membership! I had researched the property ahead of time so had known that dogs were not allowed in the formal gardens, but were permitted on the trails. We decided to head over to the front of the Estate to take some photographs. There were flowers of varied colors along the paved road, many with unique shades. I took numerous photos before soon arriving at the Estate. The Estate was lovely with gardens on either side. Although there were no “no dog” signs I decided not to venture too far adjacent to the property unclear of the forbidden boundaries. Instead we then veered over to the trails and began on our hike.

I was quite pleased to find some more flowers along the trail, many adorning the rocks. This provided quite the picturesque scene. There were Azalea’s, Rhododentron, wildflowers and more. We wandered past what appeared to be a farm, and some fields before heading into the woods. The trails were simple, but tranquil, birds chirping, and an occasional smells of fragrant flowers flooding the air. There were several moments when the sounds of busy roads overtook the nature walk, however overall it was quite serene. The trails were not labeled, and somewhat confusing but having studied the map before our journey I figured I was in the right general direction. At one point we arrived at the back of the Estate, a nice surprise along the way. This helped me to know we were on the right track to our trip home.

Throughout our hike Shadow and Wilma often trotted side by side seeming to be energized on this beautiful morning. Some of my favorite parts of the trails were: the colorful flowers along the path, the bright greens of spring, the tall ferns on the trail, and a rustic fence along the way. So as you may guess this is yet another property I discovered through the Trustees of Reservations. Although I was bummed that we could not explore the gardens, we definitely had a lovely Adventure to the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate (Rating: 3).