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Good Day & Weekend Trips & Ideas

Alphabet Day: a game for your day, your road trip, or time with your kids

8/13/2019

1 Comment

 

Jay Bell

Having more fun with the alphabet than I ever had playing crossword puzzles

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Our version of this game started with a summer sunrise, but it can be completed in a normal day.
​Sometimes you have those days that are pretty wide open: no long list of chores, no big plans, maybe you’re on vacation with a light itinerary for the day. We found ourselves with such a day recently when we were on vacation, and weren’t sure how to spend it. So, just like my friends and I would do as kids, we invented a game, complete with rules and everything.
 
The rules were simple: do whatever we wanted, but find letters that the activities correspond to. The goal was to do stuff that touched on every letter of the alphabet. Intimidating? Nope. This didn’t require doing 26 different things, just doing stuff that involved words starting with all those letters. That meant one activity could score more than one letter. Ready, set, go!
Picture"A... for Abandoned."
​This had the potential to be a stressful challenge that could leave us feeling over-programmed. But we started with a couple of things we definitely wanted to do, a possibility or two, and an assumption we’d find other stuff along the way. We opened up a new Note on my iPhone and marked down letters and words as we went along. If things were duplicates, we didn’t worry in the moment. We figured we’d sort stuff out later in the day and see what was left to tackle.

We wound up having a blast. It was a way to frame our day. It also led us to observe things we might have otherwise missed. And it also provided its own unique laughs. For example, when we went to visit a historical society and they didn’t show up to open their building, we declared we’d been “A… abandoned!” (Sigh.) 

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Hog Island was a good pitstop for lunch, an "I.P.A.", and to take stock of our results so far.
​Conversely, when we went to a local brewery to have lunch and assess what we’d accomplished and what we had left to do, we proudly realized we could declare a trifecta, as we were drinking an “I-P-A”. We spontaneously hit a flea market, and I wound up with a $2 book by one of my favorite authors, eventually needing his N for Novel. And when we thought we wouldn’t come up with an X word, we thought about using Q for Quit. However, we’d learned earlier from a tour guide about the sappy pine trees that were pervasive in our area, and discovered that Xylem is like a tree’s artery, moving the sap through the tree. That became the final letter that gave us the win.
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We stumbled across this farmers market. The natural popsicle was tasty and memorialized as our "P".
​While we played this on a vacation day, and could start the day off before dawn watching a sunrise at the beach, it can be done anywhere. If your summer trips are over and you’re out of ideas for the kids while awaiting the start of the new school year, you can go at it the same way. If you’re a couple staying home for the weekend, it might be a way to discover some new things in your neck of the woods. Our longest activities were about an hour, from our sunrise at the ocean to a tour at an historical society (not the one that didn’t open on time). By contrast, the shortest was about five minutes as we snagged some seltzer water at the Eastham Superette.
 
It doesn’t really matter if you finish, just as long as you have fun in the attempt. Here are our final results, to give you an idea of how random the letters were. Start to finish, we were gone for about nine hours, making it a full day but still fine.
RESULTS
Atlantic Ocean
Beach glass
Conservation Trust (a nature trail)
Driftwood
Eastham Superette
Farmers Market
Guided tour
Historical Society
I.P.A.
Jetty
Ketchup
Lighthouse
Marsh
Novel
Outermost Brewery
Popsicle
Queen Anne’s Lace (flower all around downtown Wellfleet)
One Room Schoolhouse
Sunrise
Conservation Trust
Uncle Tim’s Bridge
Visitors Center
Wellfleet
Xylem (who knew science was exciting?)
Yarrow flower
Zucchini
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This bouy pyramid on a town green didn't wind up being used for a letter. But it was still a fun find, and we'd never have checked out if we weren't playing this game.
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Walking among shops, we noticed plenty of Queen Anne's Lace.
​Again, there’s nothing magical about this. But if you decide to take the challenge, you’ll likely wind up getting absorbed into the adventure, and probably walk away with some random stories and some new discoveries. If so, we’d love you to drop us a comment or email and tell us about your own adventure!
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1 Comment

Father’s Day Ideas: tips for the perfect gift!

6/13/2019

0 Comments

 

Jay Bell

Wondering if this will be a source of inspiration for my own family...

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An executive course and best ball format can make golf easier and fun for everyone.
Sometimes, birthdays and bigger events like Father’s Day can seem more focused on the people organizing the event, or about objects, versus something more experience-based that also caters to the person being celebrated. In general, guys tend to be happy doing stuff outdoors, playing games, and maybe having a beer or some other drink. They also will never object to a group of people telling them how wonderful they are.  This can often work far better than a tie or a new grill or having to get dressed up for a fancy lunch.
 
So, for Father’s Day, if you were to play to the Dad of Honor, you might consider starting off with something outside. Perhaps it’s golf, which tons of guys like this. And it doesn’t have to be Pebble Beach. It can be anything from playing 18 holes as a foursome to mini golf with littler ones, or something in between (such as an “executive par 3” which is a pristine-looking golf course that isn’t as long so it can be quicker to play). Courses can also be played as nine holes instead of the full 18. Kids can enjoy driving the cart, too, and you can often rent clubs. Plus, you can always play a "best ball" format or just pick it up if need be. It's not about the score!
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Mini golf can allow younger kids to play dad's favorite sport. Maybe they'll even get a hole in 1!
Some examples of places that don’t get too packed or may not even require reservations include Pirate’s Cove mini golf with locations around the region and beyond; or the executive courses at the Berlin Country Club (no reservations) or King's Way on the Cape. Or the full-sized but not too hard Ellinwood Country Club in Athol (western Massachusetts) and Waterville Valley Golf Course in the heart of the White Mountains.
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New England has plenty of easy day hikes with fantastic views.
Or experience a more natural version of the outdoors, with a milder day hike or renting canoes. These can be casual, but can offer great views. Mount Monadnock in Southern New Hampshire and Skinner State Park both have killer views but reasonable hikes.
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Experiences can be unique but not strenuous.
You can easily rent canoes or kayaks in plenty of places, from just outside of Boston, to historic Concord; or  up near Bethel, Maine. Vermont Canoe & Kayak even has begun linking some of its routes with other places such as Boyden Valley Winery and Smugglers Notch Distillery. If these are too physical, you could opt for a trail ride on horseback, such as in central Massachusetts or behind Canon Mountain, New Hampshire.
Even if the special dad in your life isn’t outdoorsy, the premise still applies. He would probably get a kick out of a group hatchet throwing event, or driving souped up go karts.
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Hog Island is a craft brewer with food and games for the whole family.
​As noted with Vermont Canoe & Kayak, you can take the activity to a next-level experience by pairing it with something else, such as a family-friendly opportunity for a craft drink. In some cases, “family-friendly” may mean you can bring your kids, while in others it means you’re an adult bringing your older father. So, predictably, you’d just want to double check to ensure this fits with your family.
 
For example, Vermont’s Boyden Valley Winery and Smuggler’s Notch Distillery are more adult-oriented. But if you finished at King's Way, Hog Island is an awesome brewery, with food, lots of games, and a great atmosphere for all ages (including teens). Or the Nashoba Valley Winery, featuring a huge orchard, and wine, beer, and spirits, is extremely accommodating of all versions of a family, making it the perfect spot if you were at the Berlin Country Club; the nearby Battle Road brewery also has games, outdoor seating, and great BBQ at a renovated mill. Sunday River Brewing has a full service restaurant and often has live music, which pairs well with a couple of hours spent on the Androscoggin River.
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Any experience designed with activities dad would love will create lasting memories!
Lastly, don’t feel restricted to a Sunday event. Sure, it’s the official day so you’d need to at least do a little something. But it could be really minor. If Saturday allowed a day without work the next day hanging over his head, or a chance to venture farther afield on a road trip, the dad in your life would understand. If it makes for a better experience with family, then the day that it occurs isn’t nearly as important.
 
The point of all of this is that, as a father, I can attest that experiences mean more than material gifts, and experiences that show an understanding of what I enjoy doing are more meaningful as well. These don’t have to be elaborately constructed or expensive; they don’t require reservations made months in advance. They only require thinking about what I like, who I love, and how to combine all of those things. Those simple guidelines are all it takes to create a lasting memory.

Best of luck to you and the dad in your life!
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Top Ideas for Surviving New England's Mud Season

4/11/2019

0 Comments

 

Jay Bell

Adding water to "dirt therapy" and seeing what happens.

Mud Season: that time of year when you can’t ski, when you want to get outdoors, but when the world hasn’t quite sprung to life yet. It’s a final tease from the weather gods, but there are a few ways you can embrace this dirtiness and actually take advantage of it that might be tough to do during the rest of the year
​1. Early-season mountain biking and hiking
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Nothing like a little mud, sweat, and gears to get the outdoor season underway!
Listen, these are dirty sports anyway, so why not go all in? I mean, really embrace that reality? Bombing through a mud puddle and feeling the splatter on your legs, then on your back from your rear wheel can play to your inner eight-year-old. You can eye muddy spots and guess how deep they are before recklessly charging ahead to find out. “Too deep” is a totally acceptable answer! Or, some shorter hikes can help rebuild your hiking legs, and the slipperiness is sort of like a full-body workout, as you fight to stay upright.  Of course, any time you do fall, it’s important to get on your feet as quickly as possible and exclaim to whomever you’re with (or no one in particular), “I’m OK! Nothing to see here!”
(Note: in this case, please be mindful and skip muddy areas if they’ll create erosion as a result. Puddles that reform instead of washing away are the ones to look for.)
2. Brush burn
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Possibly the most relaxing, enjoyable home improvement project you can do!
It’s really the world’s best home improvement project. You have a big fire going all day long, but half the time you’re sitting in a camp chair with a beer in your hand while you improve your property’s value a smidge. Easy-peasy! Plus, there’s something entertaining about having a marginally out-of-control fire that you allegedly can control with a metal rake and a garden hose. You can make the most of it by cooking over that fire – hot dogs or s’mores, anyone? Or order pizza and tell them to look for the flames rising several feet in the air. Tip: if you can get several friends over to help, just grab a log, periodically move around, but don’t work too hard. Friends won’t realize you’re not actually doing anything and they’ll do all the hard work! 
3. Volunteering for trail clean-up
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Towns and various conservation groups often have organized clean-up efforts, and the start of warmer weather is good timing for many of them. This effort helps prepare the trails for use over the upcoming months, can offer an opportunity for socializing and for exercise, and obviously supports a good 
cause. Sometimes, there are also planned efforts to expand trails. While the organizations may provide the clean-up tools and may also give you some snacks and hydration, it’s good to check beforehand. Town conservation departments or your favorite nonprofits may have details on their websites. NEMBA, a regional mountain biking nonprofit, often enjoys going to a pub afterwards. Whichever the case, it’s a good way to pay back for the trails you may spend the upcoming months enjoying.
4. Puddle hunting
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Sure, you could go around it. But why not jump through it instead?
When you were a little kid, there’s a decent chance that at some point you would jump in some rain puddle. In this case, especially after or during a soaking spring rain, revert to your childhood self. This can be particularly fun with your kids, who might be thrilled at the chance to seek out these puddles and mud spots and jump into them with gusto. Seeing their parent doing it alongside them might happily surprise them. It has a near-100% chance of enjoyment. I mean, think about it. How can you go jump up and down, get muddy and soaked, and wear a frown on your
face? No kid can, and I bet any grown-up giving this a shot can’t, either. Impossible!
(Again, a reminder to avoid puddles that will wash away and cause erosion.)

5. Off-roading
You get muddy, except you don’t personally get muddy. It’s just on the outside. Sure, you could get stuck. But if you can go off-roading, you’re probably smart enough to not get too carried away. Or you’ve got a friend with a winch. Even exploring and scouting for dirt roads while listening to music could be a fun way to kill a couple hours. There’s some fun afterwards, too. Let’s 
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I promise to get this thing muddier next time!
be honest, if you’re on the highway and some vehicle is nearby caked in mud, you’ll notice and probably admire it a little bit and wonder what fun they were having. Here’s your chance to be the one caked in mud. ​

​Whatever the case, mud season is short and will pass. But rather than lamenting it, just embrace it and see what adventures and stories might spring from that. Enjoy!
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  • Home
  • Store
    • Nautical-Themed Serving Trays
    • Nautical-themed Coasters
    • Coastal Cribbage Boards
    • Hand-Painted Beach Signs
    • Unique Beach-Themed Wall Art
    • More Good Stuff
  • Custom Projects
  • Chats In The Barn