For a new England lover (Boston, New Bedford: houses, theater, school)

[jinglebell]

Hi, I lived in RI during my first year in the states and fell deeply love in New England area till these days. Guys in Boston area are the best in my opinion...unfortunately I did not nail one ... it has got too late...etc....

I will cross the continent and visit the New England area during Christmas by car.

My initial plan includes Amherst, MA (yes, I love Emily Dickinson's poems)
As you might tell, I am very much literature/history/culture -oriented, I will be delighted to hear from your guys about what to do and where to go etc.

My past adventure include Yale and Harvard already.

Another big interest of mine is to find yummy local eateries too.

Thanks a lot!

[capecodcathy]

Have you ever been to the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum? Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
West of Boston, you may want to stop by Sturbridge. Beautiful around Christmas (and all year long)
Also Rockport, Newbury and that general area. Those are north of Boston.

[in_newengland]

I'm sorry you can't liver here. What country are you from?

When you're in the Amherst area eat at Judie's and make sure you get one of their huge popovers.

Go across the river to Northampton and eat just about anywhere -- they have great Indian food, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, anything you can think of. Fitzwilly's is fun to eat or drink at. Go to any of the craft fairs that they have around Christmas in the area.

The Smith College art museum is really good and it's right there within walking distance of the restaurants. Take a drive up rte 5/10 to Deerfield -- some of their house museums may be open around that time of the year, I would think, and their gift shop is interesting--has lots of hard to find books as well as interesting items to see. Good antique shops around there too.

Just pick up a copy of the Hampshire Gazette and look at all the things to do and try to get a copy of the Five College newsletter that lists all the lectures and other goings on. Maybe you can attend a performance at the Academy of Music -- right on the corner of Main St in Northampton.

[jinglebell]

Originally Posted by capecodcathy

Have you ever been to the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum? Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
West of Boston, you may want to stop by Sturbridge. Beautiful around Christmas (and all year long)
Also Rockport, Newbury and that general area. Those are north of Boston.

Hi, thank you so much!

I checked their website and looks very interesting

I am marking your suggestion on my map!

[jinglebell]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

I'm sorry you can't liver here. What country are you from?

When you're in the Amherst area eat at Judie's and make sure you get one of their huge popovers.

Go across the river to Northampton and eat just about anywhere -- they have great Indian food, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, anything you can think of. Fitzwilly's is fun to eat or drink at. Go to any of the craft fairs that they have around Christmas in the area.

The Smith College art museum is really good and it's right there within walking distance of the restaurants. Take a drive up rte 5/10 to Deerfield -- some of their house museums may be open around that time of the year, I would think, and their gift shop is interesting--has lots of hard to find books as well as interesting items to see. Good antique shops around there too.

Just pick up a copy of the Hampshire Gazette and look at all the things to do and try to get a copy of the Five College newsletter that lists all the lectures and other goings on. Maybe you can attend a performance at the Academy of Music -- right on the corner of Main St in Northampton.

I know it is too bad that I can't live there, truthfully...

I came to the states from the east side of globe 13 years ago on my own. Went to graduate school for chemistry major in RI then decided to switch to Molecular Biology in Florida. Upon finish graduate school, landed a job across on the west coast....

I will be delighted to visit places you suggest and thank you so much!

[lrfox]

Could be a little out of your way (actually closer to Rhode Island than Boston, but you might enjoy spending a day, or at least an afternoon) but New Bedford has a lot to do. It's a culture rich city on the South Coast of Massachusetts that's got a ton of history. It was at one time the largest whaling port in the world. Today, it has the highest value of catch out of any fishing port in the nation and the city boasts the seafood to boot. The Portuguese influence is huge in New Bedford (over 40% of the city's residents claim Portuguese ancestry) and as a result, the food and the wines at the city's many Portuguese restaurants and cafe's are fantastic.

Downtown New Bedford conatains 16 preserved cobblestone city blocks containing shops, galleries and restaurants. It's also home to many landmarks, including the Seaman's Bethel, that are referenced in historic literature such as Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This area is called the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park and more info can be found here: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

While you're there, visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum. It's the centerpiece of the National Historic Park and is worth a visit alone. It contains detailed artifacts (including a couple of complete whale skeletons and a full-size model whaling ship that you can walk on and explore) and history of the Whaling industry as well as examples of the art and culture that came with the industry. More info here:New Bedford Whaling Museum - Whale History Education Research Humpback Whale Blue Whale

If you're into art, the New Bedford Art Museum exhibits many local artists work as well as national and international works. More info: New Bedford Art Museum

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden is a preserved Greek-Revival mansion and grounds taking up a full city block that was built for a Whaling Captain in 1834. It's interior and grounds are open to the public for viewing. More info: The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum - New Bedford, MA

The Ocean Explorium is the newest addition to New Bedford's scene (opened September 08) and it showcases exhibits that focus mostly on coastal New England. More info: Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport

If you enjoy art, a walk around the Whaling District and Downtown will bring you by many galleries including Gallery X ( Welcome to Gallery X Arts Cooperative New Bedford ), The Arthur Moniz Gallery ( Arthur Moniz Gallery ), Duff Gallery ( Robert Duff New England Artist Coastal Paintings Massachusetts ), and many many others.

For dining options, I'd recommend the Waterfront Grille (www.waterfrontgrille.com) for fantastic and reasonably priced seafood. The restaurant provides a fantastic view of of the harbor and the commercial fishing fleet who deliver their fresh catch literally right to the Back Door of the restaurant. For fantastic Portuguese food, I'd recommend Adega ( ADEGA FINE DINING :: A RESTAURANT & WINE BAR LOCATED IN NEW BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS :: REVIEWS AND ACCOLADES ). The wine selection is better than you'll find almost anywhere in New England outside of Boston and the traditional Portuguese food is fantastic. Tapas at Cork ( Cork : wine & tapas bar )is a good option right next to the Whaling Museum too.

Catch a show at the Zeiterion Theater if you enjoy live entertainment: more info and schedules Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

Also in the area, the Lizzy Borden Bed and Breakfast and museum( Welcome To The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast) and Battleship Cove (Battleship Cove, the world's largest historic naval ship exhibit. ) in Fall River are worth checking out as are the Westport Rivers Winery ( Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery, Westport, Massachusetts )and Buzzards Bay Brewery ( Buzzards Bay Brewing, Westport, Massachusetts ) in Westport.

Anything else, just ask. Have Fun!

[mommytotwo]

Mark Twain's house and museum in Hartford Connecticut is pretty cool. I just went there last week for the first time in my life.

If you are a fan of Mark Twain and have the time, it will be worth the trip. (probably 50 minutes to an hour or so from amherst)

[TomDot]

Originally Posted by jinglebell

Hi, I lived in RI during my first year in the states and fell deeply love in New England area till these days. Guys in Boston area are the best in my opinion...unfortunately I did not nail one ... it has got too late...etc....

I will cross the continent and visit the New England area during Christmas by car.

My initial plan includes Amherst, MA (yes, I love Emily Dickinson's poems)
As you might tell, I am very much literature/history/culture -oriented, I will be delighted to hear from your guys about what to do and where to go etc.

My past adventure include Yale and Harvard already.

Another big interest of mine is to find yummy local eateries too.

Thanks a lot!

I think I'm in love!

[jinglebell]

Originally Posted by TomDot

I think I'm in love!

LOL... thanks for correcting my English!

I mean I fell deeply in love with New England area..

[Verseau]

Have you thought about Concord, MA? The number of famous American authors that came from that little town is amazing.

The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord has a section called "Author's Ridge" which is home to the graves of Henry David Thoreau, Walph Raldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott.

Those authors also happened to live in several of the same houses in town. There's the Old Manse, which housed Hawthorne, Thoreau, and Emerson; the Wayside, which housed Alcott and Hawthorne; the Orchard House, the home described in "Little Women"; and the Emerson House.

In Concord you can also visit the Old North Bridge, site of the Battle of Concord, and visit other parts of the Minuteman National Historic Park along the road towards Lexington. Walden Pond is also located in the southern part of town.

And I second the recommendation for the North Shore towns - Salem, Gloucester, Ipswich, Newburyport, etc. are beautiful towns and jam-packed with history. You might even want to follow the coast further north to Portsmouth, NH, to see the beautiful historic homes, like those at Strawberry Banke. Of course, the New England coast just gets better the further north you go, so why not at least stop at the Cape Neddick lighthouse in Maine?

I don't know how interested you are in natural attractions, but it might be worth your time to explore the Berkshires in western MA on your way to Amherst. Or, better yet, head up to the White Mountains in NH and drive through Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, and the Kancamagus Highway.