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Stressless Holiday Shopping...
By Megan Gorzkowski |
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Fanueil Hall offers shopping indoors and out. |
Believe it or not, holiday shopping does not have to be stressful. Rather than let it become a last-minute headache, turn it into a weekend away — or even a day trip — and surprise your loved ones with some memorable gifts.
1. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston. Add a little history to your holiday shopping at Faneuil Hall, known as the “Cradle of Liberty” for its role in the Revolutionary War. Boston Pewter, Cheers and the Museum of Fine Arts shop are just some of the local vendors found throughout this indoor-outdoor city marketplace. If you’re still in shopping mode after making your way through the 100-plus shops and eateries, check out the gift shops at the Hard Rock Cafe or the New England Aquarium, both within walking distance.
2. Freeport, Maine. If you haven’t seen Freeport within the past year, then you haven’t seen Freeport. The town’s most famous native retailer, L.L. Bean, has added another store, L.L. Bean Home, onto its flagship campus. It joins the Hunting & Fishing, Bike, Boat & Ski and 24-hour Flagship stores. The popular L.L. Bean Outlet has moved across the street to the new Freeport Village Station, an outdoor shopping district featuring famous retailers like Brooks Brothers and Coach. And Main Street offers upscale boutiques and fun moose-themed souvenir shops.
3. King Street, Charleston, S.C. Gather your girlfriends and head to Charleston for more than three centuries worth of treasures. King Street features high-end antique shops, filled with candlesticks and decorative platters made before the United States was a country. Farther down the street, modern boutiques sell the latest fashions and well-crafted furniture meant to last 300 years from now. Savor a delicious dinner after your day of shopping at one of the city’s many popular seafood restaurants.
4. Manhattan, New York City, N.Y. Enjoy breakfast-time browsing at Tiffany’s? Craving a Carrie Bradshaw-worthy pair of Manolos? If so, then Manhattan is for you. NYC’s downtown offers some of the world’s best window-shopping, especially during the holiday season. Stop inside shops like Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue, or enjoy a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3. Looking for something special for the kids? Visit American Girl Place, the Disney Store or F.A.O. Schwartz for a fun-filled experience. No matter what your plans, be sure to stop by Macy’s at Herald Square.
5. Newport, R.I. It was once a holiday haven only for the rich and famous, but today you can bring home a piece of Newport without spending a fortune. At Newport Scrimshanders, at Bowen’s Wharf, you can watch as artisans etch beautiful scrimshaw jewelry and collectibles, many of which are for sale at the shop. Continue to Newport Modern, a 1,000-square-foot boutique featuring 20th-century art, jewelry and furnishings. Finally, stop by Only in Rhode Island, a store celebrating the many contributions and quirks of the Ocean State. From Del’s Lemonade-scented candles to Newport Creamery’s “Wicked Good” hot fudge, the name of the store explains it all.
6. North Conway Village, N.H. Hitting the slopes for some early-season skiing? Be sure you leave time for North Conway Village, the quintessential New England shopping district. Zeb’s General Store offers sundry items ranging from hot sauce to hammocks. The HandCrafter’s Barn is a year-round craft show, housing work from more than 150 artisans in an 18th-century barn. Stop for a quick lunch or a cup of hot chocolate at one of the many local eateries, then head to the Conway Scenic Railroad, where you can rest your shopping-weary feet during your round-trip train ride.
7. Patriot Place, Foxborough, Mass. Whether you’re going to Gillette Stadium or simply in the area, Patriot Place is the perfect place for food, fun and shopping — lots of shopping! Classic TV fans will love CBS Scene, a restaurant, bar and shop devoted to CBS hit shows past and present. Outdoor adventurers will have a blast at Bass Pro Shops and Eastern Mountain Sports. Teens will find the latest fashions at Hollister, and football fans will love the Patriots ProShop. Chill out after your big day of shopping with dinner at one of many gourmet restaurants, followed by a movie or show at Showcase Cinema de Lux or Showcase Live.
8. Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, Pa. In the heart of Bucks County, Peddler’s Village features more than 70 specialty shops and restaurants in a quaint 18th-century setting. Get a taste of Europe at stores like The Celtic Rose and A Touch of Britain. Treat yourself with candies from Truffles Ltd., or a facial at Skin & Tonic. Spend the afternoon playing with your kids at Giggleberry Fair, a family fun center featuring an antique carousel and the area’s largest indoor obstacle course. After your busy day, enjoy a relaxing stay at the village’s Golden Plough Inn ().
9. River District, Richmond, Va. Virginia’s capital city offers the perfect blend of history and shopping. The River District features more than 50 shops and 80-plus eateries, many housed in turn-of-the-century warehouses and businesses. Find an eclectic mix of home furnishings and children’s items at These Four Walls. Admire the beautiful creations from local artists at Artworks Studios & Galleries. Grab lunch or dinner at Bank, a trendy restaurant in a century-old former bank building. If you visit before Nov. 15, be sure to take a canal cruise along the James River to learn more about Richmond’s heritage.
10. Woodbury, Conn. Have a devoted “Antiques Roadshow” watcher in your household? Known as the “Antiques Capital of Connecticut,” Woodbury has captured the hearts of collectors and travelers for more than five decades. With 30 shops, most located along a six-mile stretch of Route 6, chances are you’ll find what you’re looking for here, whether it’s 18th-century jewelry or modern furniture. Outdoor adventurers will also love Woodbury: Its place in the Litchfield Hills makes it perfect for skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities.
Special Savings at Outlet
Off to the outlets for some holiday shopping? Don’t forget your AAA card – it’s your ticket to additional discounts like these.
Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets, Clinton, Conn. Present your AAA card at the Information Desk to receive a free VIP coupon book. Each book provides additional discounts and special offers on your purchases.
Prime Outlets, Lee, Mass. Show your AAA card at the Guest Services kiosk (in the Food Court) to receive your free Saving to Go booklet. Each book provides additional discounts and special offers on your purchases.
Tanger Outlets, Westbrook, Conn., and other locations. Stop at the Customer Service Center and show your AAA card to automatically be entered into a special AAA traveler’s bonus program. Each time you visit another Tanger Outlets and stop at the Customer Service Center, you’ll receive a $5 Tanger gift certificate. Members also receive a Tanger Savings Booklet worth hundreds in additional savings at participating stores.
Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, Wrentham, Mass. Present your valid AAA card at the Information Desk (located next to the Food Court) to receive your complimentary VIP coupon book. Each book provides additional discounts & special offers on your purchases.
Several popular outlet stores offer even more savings for AAA members. Show your AAA card to save: 20 percent at Reebok Outlet Store, Rockport Outlet Store and Samsonite Factory Outlets; and 10 percent at Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store.
These discounts cannot be combined with any other offers. Some restrictions apply, see store for details.
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Halloween Haunts: From The Tame To The Terrifying
By Megan Gorzkowski |
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Over 10,000 jack-o-lanterns will light Roger Williams Zoo. |
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky: Here are 10 of our favorite Halloween haunts.
Davis Mega Maze, Sterling, Mass. Set in an 8-acre field, Davis claims to be the world’s most complex corn maze. This year, it follows an Egyptian “Lost Tomb” theme, complete with Indiana Jones-inspired activities. The maze changes daily, offering a new experience each time. On weekends, Oct. 17-31, kids can wear costumes at daytime events. Saturday nights, grown-ups can travel the maze in the dark, braving ghosts and goblins.
Eastern State Penitentiary’s “Terror Behind the Walls,” Philadelphia. This 180-year-old abandoned prison is one of America’s scariest Halloween adventures, featuring five haunted attractions among its storied cellblocks. Not for the faint of heart or young children, “Terror” takes visitors on a goosebump-inducing trek. Keep your eye out for the supernatural; guests have reported dozens of ghost sightings through the years.
Ghosts & Gravestones Tour, Boston. The Hub – haunted? You’ll never think of Boston the same way again after taking the Ghosts & Gravestones Tour. This half-trolley, half-walking tour takes adventurous travelers to chilling locations, including two 17th-century burial grounds. You’ll learn about famous frightening Bostonians like the “Strangler.” Warning: This scary tour is not suitable for children.
Haunted Happenings, Salem, Mass. Salem celebrates Halloween with a month of fun and frights. Learn about the 1692 witch trials on a historic walking tour or at the Salem Witch Museum. Visit the spooky attractions at the Salem Wax Museum and the House of the Seven Gables. Children’s offerings include parades, games and sweet treats.
Mystic Seaport’s “Nautical Nightmares,” Mystic, Conn. “Nautical Nightmares” is a terrifying tour along the Seaport. Hear the tale of a deadly mutiny, then try to solve the mystery with the help of ghostly visitors. Be warned: This live, interactive production is not recommended for children under 10. Nautical Nightmares takes place Oct. 16-18, 23-25 and 29-31.
“Nevermore 2009” Poe Bicentennial, Baltimore. Edgar Allan Poe spent much of his life in Baltimore, and the city is hosting a yearlong celebration of his 200th birthday. Enjoy creative tributes to the master of macabre at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Towson University Center for the Arts. Participate in a candlelight vigil, public viewing and “funeral” for Poe and poetry readings.
Roger Williams Park Zoo’s “Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular,” Providence, R.I. The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is back – and it’s bigger and better than ever! More than 10,000 hand-carved pumpkin masterpieces will illuminate the zoo’s wetlands trail nightly from Oct. 8 to Nov. 1. These glowing gourds, which require six weeks of painstaking creation, depict everything from wildlife to pop culture.
Sesame Place’s “Count’s Halloween Spooktacular,” Langhorne, Pa. Prefer cute, fuzzy monsters? Take the family to Sesame Place for a Halloween celebration perfect for youngsters. On October weekends, enjoy hayrides, story time and trick-or-treating with favorite characters. Check out the new “Elmo’s World Live!” Halloween show, a musical extravaganza in which guests help Elmo and his friends pick the perfect costume.
Six Flags New England’s “Fright Fest,” Agawam, Mass. Trick-or-treat with Tweety, brave haunted houses and ride rollercoasters in the dark. Six Flags transforms into a Halloween playground like no other on weekends, Oct. 3-Nov. 1, including Fridays, Oct. 23 and 30. Enjoy kid-friendly shows and events by day, and stay after dark for frightening fun.
Stephen King’s “Tommyknockers & More” Tour, Bangor, Maine. King has drawn upon his home state for many of his horror novels. Held several times a year, this bus tour stops at landmarks from “It,” “Pet Sematary” and more. If you can’t make the official tour, you can explore on your own, and local stores Betts Bookstore and Book Marc’s are eager to share insider knowledge.
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Find Family Fun at These 10 Favorite New England Festivals
By Megan Gorzkowski |
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Over 10,000 jack-o-lanterns will light Roger Williams Zoo. |
Nothing says autumn in New England quite like a country fair. There’s something about the smell of freshly baked cider doughnuts and the sight of leaves turning crimson and orange that make it slightly easier to pack away the beach gear and get out the fleece jackets.
Here are 10 New England fall festivals perfect for a family outing.
1. Hebron Harvest Fair, Hebron, Conn., Sept. 10-13. Nashville comes to the Nutmeg State during the Hebron Harvest Fair. Kenny Chesney is just one of the big names that has graced the Main Stage in the past, and this year, country singer Chuck Wicks will entertain fairgoers. The fun continues at the Midway, where you can find rides ranging from kiddie to crazy.
2. The Big E, West Springfield, Mass. Sept. 18-Oct. 4. The largest fair in the northeast, The Big E is the only place you can visit all six New England states in one afternoon, thanks to the popular Avenue of States. Enjoy a taste of New Orleans with the daily Mardi Gras Parade. Don’t forget to check out some of the fair’s big-name performers. After all, only at The Big E would Bret Michaels and Boyz II Men perform in the same arena.
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Bourne Scallop Festival |
3. Bourne Scallop Festival, Bourne, Mass., Sept. 25- 27. Summer may be drawing to a close, but seafood season is still in full swing. At the 40th Annual Bourne Scallop Festival, you can enjoy a day of fun rides, live music, a craft fair and more.
Come prepared to eat; last year’s attendees ate more than three tons of the event’s namesake mollusks.
4. Durham Fair, Durham, Conn., Sept. 25-27. Christmas trees in September? At Connecticut’s largest agricultural fair, the trees are just one of many competitive exhibits on display. Hundreds of locals enter the fair’s various agricultural and art contests each year. From bunnies to blueberries, marigolds to mosaics, there is a category for almost everything.
5. Old Sturbridge Village’s Agricultural Exhibition, Sturbridge, Mass., Sept. 26-27. Add a history lesson or two to your fall fair experience with a visit to this 19th-century New England community. Learn about life on an old-fashioned farm as you tour this outdoor museum and talk with costumed “history interpreters.” Continue on to the present as you enter the Village Meetinghouse, where you can see this year’s award-winning heirloom vegetables.
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Topsfield Fair |
6. Topsfield Fair, Topsfield, Mass., Oct. 2-12. Don’t want to give up the beach just yet? Visit Topsfield Fair’s annual sand sculpture exhibit. Last year’s 55-ton masterpiece depicted the fair’s rich 190-year history. After you stop and see this year’s creation, check out one of the exciting shows, like the Flying Wallendas high-wire act, the Rawhide Rodeo or one of the many live musical performances.
7. Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg, Maine, Oct. 4-11. Country fairs are often great opportunities for seeing your favorite American Idol stars. Season 7 contestant Kristy Lee Cook will be performing Oct. 8, at the Fryeburg Fair. If you prefer dancing, keep an eye out for the various clogging and country line dance shows taking place throughout the week.
8. Sandwich Fair, Sandwich, N.H., Oct. 10-12. You’ve heard of giant pumpkin weigh-offs, but have you ever heard of a heaviest baby competition? This was one of several events at the 1888 Sandwich Fair. Luckily, things have changed, and today’s activities focus more on the agricultural aspect of the area. Spend the weekend watching tractor pulls, 4-H competitions, horse shows and more.
9. Scituate Art Festival, North Scituate, R.I., Oct. 10-12. Imagine a quaint New England village, complete with an old white church on the Town Green, during the peak of fall foliage. This is the setting for the Scituate Art Festival, held each Columbus Day weekend. Shop for crafts and antiques from more than 300 exhibitors. Enjoy live music, contests and more, with proceeds benefiting local charities.
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Wachusett Mountain Festivals |
10. Wachusett Mountain Apple Fest, Princeton, Mass., Oct. 17-18, 24-25. Add one part farmers’ market, one helping of craft fair and a dash of carnival, and you’ve got Wachusett’s annual AppleFest – the perfect recipe for fall family fun. Soar over the beautiful foliage on the mountain’s SkyRide, buy fresh apples and cider, or compete in the popular pie-eating contest.
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Best of the Beach
By Megan Gorzkowski |
“My beach.”
It seems like every New Englander has one, that one go-to coastal spot perfect for a day of lounging, swimming and more. With five of the six New England states offering oceanfront oases, chances are there is at least one beach within a day’s drive of where you live.
So slap on some sunscreen and check out these 10 beaches.
1. Coast Guard Beach, Eastham, Mass. Part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Coast Guard Beach offers an excellent Outer Cape experience. Constant waves make it a popular surfing destination. Nature-lovers will enjoy the marsh and the barrier paths, perfect for watching birds and seals. If you like a little history lesson with your day at the beach, you are also in luck. Coast Guard Beach is where the Mayflower first landed in 1620 before anchoring in Provincetown and later Plymouth.
2. Easton’s Beach, Newport, R.I. Located at the beginning of the famed Cliff Walk, Newport’s largest public oceanfront beach offers something for everyone. Brave the waves on a boogie board or surfboard. Go for a spin on the carousel. Join in a game of volleyball. Don’t forget to visit the Save the Bay Exploration Center & Aquarium, a hands-on learning center that teaches children about the variety of critters that call the Bay home.
3. Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, Conn. For almost 90 years, Hammonasset has drawn beachgoers from all parts of the state, the region and the country. Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, with more than two miles of beach, offers great camping, picnicking, relaxing and more along scenic Long Island Sound.
4. Hampton Beach, Hampton, N.H. The Granite State certainly makes the most of its 18 miles of coastline, and Hampton Beach is no exception. The National Resource Defense Council recently rated Hampton one of the top three cleanest beaches in the United States. In addition to its pristine sand and surf, it draws visitors with its impressive calendar of free events. The Children’s Festival and Hampton Beach Idol are just some of the fun annual events. Wednesday night fireworks displays and nightly outdoor concerts also add to the magic.
5. Horseneck Beach State Reservation, Westport, Mass. Horseneck has been a longtime Bay State favorite for its perfect location along the western end of Buzzards Bay. Bay breezes provide a welcome respite from steamy summer temperatures. The surrounding salt marshes offer some of the best bird-watching opportunities in the Northeast. A new boardwalk and eco-friendly facilities offer even more reasons to visit this Bristol County beach.
6. Misquamicut State Beach, Westerly, R.I. For an authentic Ocean State experience, spend the day at Misquamicut. Just a few miles away from the Connecticut border, this beach offers more than half a mile of coastline. If you work up an appetite splashing around, don’t worry — traditional Rhody treats like clam cakes and Del’s frozen lemonade are available for purchase.
7. Nantasket Beach Reservation, Hull, Mass. Since 19th-century visitors first flocked to Nantasket via steamboat, this beach has won the hearts of New Englanders for its coastal charm. Nantasket’s silvery sands and plentiful tide pools provide a great experience for guests of all ages. Once home to Paragon amusement park, Nantasket continues to offer its longtime fans a sense of nostalgia with the 81-year-old Paragon Carousel.
8. Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit, Maine. With its soft white sands, granite cliffs and deep blue waves, it is easy to see why Ogunquit has served as so many artists’ muse. Located along the scenic Marginal Way, it continues to draw a variety of visitors each year to its 3.5 miles of shoreline. For a complete Ogunquit experience, take the trolley to and from the beach; it’s the easiest way to get around.
9. Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Ride the waves in the morning and a rollercoaster in the afternoon at Old Orchard Beach, home of New England’s only remaining seaside amusement park. Seven miles of shoreline beckon beachgoers looking to relax or to dip their toes in the gentle surf. The beach’s famous Pier stands as a testament to Old Orchard’s 250-plus years as a popular tourist destination. Next to the pier, Palace Playland offers traditional carnival rides, games and fare. For a breathtaking view of the ocean, enjoy a ride on the Palace’s 70-foot-high Ferris wheel.
10. Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, Conn. On a clear day, Sherwood Island beachgoers can see the New York City skyline in the distance. While the Big Apple is just 50 miles off shore, this 234-acre nature reserve seems worlds away. Located along Long Island Sound, Sherwood Island offers a wide variety of activities. Fly a kite along the water’s edge, taking advantage of breezes sweeping across the Sound. Or enjoy a picnic lunch while looking for some of the almost 300 species of birds found at the beach and surrounding wetlands and woods.
To customize an Internet TripTik to any of these destinations, visit AAA.com/travel.
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