New Britain is synonymous with the Stanley family. Not only were they original settlers to the area, they are also known for the Stanley Works. Stanley Works or the Stanley Tool Company (now Stanley Black & Decker) is one of the most successful tool manufacturers in the world. As with other wealthy industrialists, I figured […]
In Search of the Stanley mansion Read More »
Thompson, Connecticut, in the northeast-most corner of the state, is home to ten villages. Sure, more well-known mill villages such as North Grosvenordale are part of this town, but so is Fabyan. No not Fabian, but Fabyan. The Quiet Corner of the state, also known as Windham County, has dual personalities. One route (Route 12)
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Milton, Massachusetts is an affluent suburb directly south of the city of Boston. With the reopening of certain of The Trustees’ properties, we headed to Milton to visit Governor Hutchinson Field. While we were there, we actually spent the most time across the street on the grounds of the Forbes House Museum. Add to this
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With restaurants, breweries, and stores closed now and for the foreseeable future, taking walks is the only game in town. Luckily, living on the South Shore of Massachusetts, there are many great spots to take a variety of walks. From the oceanside to the deep woods, this region has it all. Backyard Road Trips brings
Ten Walks for Social Distancing on the South Shore Read More »
I lived in Newton, Massachusetts, for about five years after graduating from college. The bucolic, affluent suburb was a tremendous city to live in but did lack a certain urbanity that I craved. Boston was close certainly, but Waltham was a quicker and easier drive. Waltham, the next town over, was a great small city
Time for School! Given the family friendliness of many craft breweries, they often become either a destination or an add-on to the majority of the Backyard Road Trips that I take with my familial entourage in tow (see basically any other blog entry on this website). Living in the South Shore of Massachusetts, I have
Sure, almost every Connecticut resident has at least heard of, if not actually been to, Gillette Castle in East Haddam. It’s one of those curious places, unique in character, that has become a much-lauded tourist attraction in the state. Luckily, the circa 1913 legit castle has been impeccably preserved by the state and is now
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Yes, folks, it’s that time again. Whether the season brings you joy or brings you dread, it’s an unstoppable force for all senses. The incessant Christmas tunes on the radio (some of which have been broadcasting since November 1), the ever-present store displays, and the twinkling lights all signal that it’s time for the holidays.
A Very Merry Backyard Road Trips Christmas Read More »
Knowing the gist of this blog, a friend of mine from work visited me in my classroom after school one-day last spring. He said, “I’ve got the perfect place for you to visit for the blog!” “Where?” I thought. He proclaimed, “Easton!” “Easton, as in Easton, Massachusetts?. Yes, I had been to the children’s museum,
The Bishop House Museum is a place that I have driven by hundreds of times. Its location on South Burnham Highway (Route 169) in Lisbon, Connecticut, is the starting line for my favorite drive of all time, Route 169 from Lisbon to Woodstock. It was the ride I took as a kid traveling from Norwich
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