We just got back from three days in New England – it was so nice getting out of town and seeing some different surroundings and reliving Yankee magazine moments. We would go from New York, to Connecticut, to Massachusetts, to New Hampshire, to Maine and then back again. Awesome!
We left the city straight after work on Thursday and stopped in Connecticut for dinner at yes, you guessed it – the Cracker Barrel! Hey.. check out the awesome rental we go –
This Chevy drove like a dream!
The traffic was quite bad and we arrived in Boston late and checked in at the Marriott on the outskirts, which was gorgeous. Here is our room and the view –
On Friday morning we got up and eagerly awaited our room service breakfast – it is so much fun having a few knocks at your door and breakfast arriving. We then dropped into the local mall, South Shore Plaza. It was seriously one of the best shopping centers I have been to by way of the selection of shops – all of my favourites! Vera Bradley (first time I had seen a stand alone store), BRAND new Target, Nordstrom, Apple Store, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s Talbots, Aveda store, Yankee Candle, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Hallmark Gold Crown and restaurant wise – Legal Seafoods and a Cheesecake Factory! My head was SPINNING! Here I am outside the Vera store –
After the Mall we headed straight to one of my favourite places on earth – the JFK Library and Museum. I think this was my sixth visit there – it never disappoints and we spent the afternoon wandering through. Back in 2006 I arranged with one of the librarians there to get a behind the scenes look at the archives and library. It was something I would never forget. I’ll share some photos now of that visit as we didn’t take any in there on this visit. These areas are not accessible to visitors… so enjoy!
In the stacks –
These are FULL of photos of JFK –
Shelves and shelves of reels of footage –
View from the private research library –
The very specialised collection –
On Friday night we headed to a family function in Dochester for Bill’s cousin, Patrick.
Here is sister-in-law Pauline with Bill –
The cool table –
We didn’t get back to the hotel until after midnight and we had to be up early for a big trip on Saturday.
We first went out to Wrentham to the Premium Outlets Mall – it was the best premium outlets mall I had been to – clean, spacious and again, a great selection of shops!
After a couple of hours there we hit the road to Maine with a plan to stop in New Hampshire to go to Markey’s Lobster Pool. This is off the beaten track and was absolutely amazing. I have never sat down to eat whole ‘lobstah’ before and we were able to get a meal of two lobsters, straight from the sea for $16.95! Of course, when you pick it all apart, you don’t get much meat but it was definitely a satisfying lunch! Bill did mine for me as I had no idea what I had to do to get any of the meat out. Here we are… so excited about these lobsters and obviously annoying the guy at the next table –
Our lobster –
Ordering at Markey’s is an experience in itself. You order your Lobster here and they take it out of the pool –
And then straight into the massive lobster pot –
Here are the rest of the offerings –
You can eat outside on the water –
Here I am out the front –
Markey’s Lobster Pool… with dark storm clouds!
We then hit the road again to drive up to Freeport, Maine. Why? LL Bean Headquarters. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love LL Bean. It has been my dream to make it to Freeport and it actually happened!
Here we are outside the Big Bean Boot!
LL Bean is basically the WHOLE town. This is just one part –
There is then the general LL Bean Store, the Home store, the outlet store and then all the hunting and fishing bits and pieces. LL Bean is open 24 hours a DAY! It is that awesome. I could just live in the store, and got so inspired that picked this spinning thing at www.reelchase.com/best-line-counter-reels/ for some fishing next weekend!
Scenes from in the store include –
In my favourite section – the Boat and Totes!
There is a full pond with trout… and Bill wanted to take a swim!
It was such a great afternoon. We bought a few bits and pieces and before we knew it, it was time to head back to Boston. Maine is so quiet and pretty. Another thing I loved were the various numberplates…
And this one is for Sally (just noticed the bumper sticker… oops!)-
We had no idea what to do for dinner… Bill suggested more seafood. Before we knew it we were heading back to New Hampshire to go to Markey’s! This time, we ordered two lobsters each and the prawns… oh my gosh I had died and gone to heaven. I also mastered the art of getting every little bit of meat out of the shell… yummmmmmmmmmm!
By the way, those little containers are of melted butter. It is served here boiling hot and you dip your lobster meat into the butter. Yeah… I know it sounds weird but it is SO good.
After that, we got to watch the sunset…
And get some ice cream. Even though by this time it was quite cold we were just pretending it was a gorgeous summer night!
It then became Sunday and we started the day with Mass at St John the Evangelist where Bill’s parents got married in Cambridge and the church his mum grew up going to. We then walked around the neighbourhood where she grew up. It was so quiet and pretty!
A great Mass numberplate –
Now, ever since I have known Bill he talks about these turkey sandwiches that he would get when they were on family holidays in Cape Cod. The place that makes them is still open and they are called Gerard Farms. They sell turkey EVERYTHING! So on our way back to the city we stopped in to get some for lunch and we sat in the car by the water (it was too cold and windy out) in Marshfield where we had a yummy roast turkey lunch.
It was so beautiful being so close to the water – I could taste the salt on my lips!
We left the Cape at 1pm, had the car back to midtown by 5pm, was home by 5.50pm, had a light dinner, unpacked and were in our jammies by 6.30 and I’ve had this blog post done by 9.30. What. A. Weekend! I hope yours was just as wonderful!