Hammond Castle: Explore a Castle on the Coast of Gloucester

When in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the number one place you MUST visit is Hammond Castle, an actual European castle perched high on a bluff on a stunning New England shoreline. You will feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore the grounds of this magical place. Built by John Hays Hammond, Jr, a scientist, inventor, and art connoisseur, it was completed in 1929 as a wedding gift to his wife. He was one of the most eccentric man I’ve ever heard about and you’ll learn all about him throughout your visit.  Let me show you around…

IT ALL STARTS OUTSIDE

Peek through the arches to see Gloucester Harbor and Eastern Point light.

It is such a peaceful spot as you look out at the water.

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Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum: Stepping Back in Time in Boston

For my birthday this year, my girls and I decided to head to Boston to check some things off our list that we’ve wanted to do.  Since we were already planning to do the Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off bus, (don’t forget to read all about our ride!) we decided to get off at one of their last stops… the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Also, since it’s summer vacation, it’s nice that they got to learn about an important time in American history (Just don’t tell them it was educational…sssshhh).  I really had no clue what to expect, since I’m not too thrilled about doing tours through museums.  I was pleasantly surprised that the tour is actually a fully immersive tour.  The characters were so authentic, we felt like we had stepped back in time.  Here’s a peek at our experience:

Our first stop was to go to the meeting house to meet us with some of the local townspeople on this historic night in 1773 Boston. 

Since it is a dangerous time, we were given a feather to represent a disguise, as well as cards that told us all about the character we were. 

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Victoria Mansion: A Historic Gem in Portland, Maine

There’s nothing more fun than discovering a hidden gem in one of your favorite cities.  While attending the Women in Travel Summit last spring, I went on The Real Portland Tour and our guide told us we HAD to get inside of the Victoria Mansion because there was nothing like it in Portland.  I hadn’t been able to take that building off my mind so while my girls were in camp this summer, I decided it was finally time to go in and take a peek.  I was lucky to have a private tour with Torie, who was able to bring life to the history of the house. Let me show you around…

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, Victoria Mansion was built between 1858-1860 for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife Olivia.  Can you believe it was their summer home! The outside of the home is stunning and will make you stop in your tracks to look at it.

When you walk in, you’ll be amazed at this stunning staircase

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Portland Museum of Art: A Morning at the Museum on My Kid-Free Day in Maine

While my girls are in camp, I like to spend some quiet time exploring different cities.  After a hectic day in Boston, I decided to slow it down and head to Portland, Maine for the day to enjoy some relaxing ‘Me Time’.  My first stop was the gorgeous Portland Museum of Art.  I’d been here years ago on a quick trip so I was anxious to be able to spend as much time as I wanted. 

It’s hard to walk by the museum without giving it a second glance.  The courtyard outside has some beautiful sculptures so I had to stop and take a look.  The first thing I noticed was the sculpture that looked very familiar since I just saw one very similar at the CMCA in Rockland, Maine. 

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Boston Museum of Fine Art: Mummies, Monet, and More

When you think of a fine arts museum you may imagine boring halls filled with old portraits, security shushing people, and bored children trailing behind their parents.  This is not the case at the Boston Fine Arts Museum. Not only do they have hundreds of famous paintings, they also have mummies, statues, jewelry, and weapons that will capture anyone’s attention.  The Boston Museum of Fine Art, with more than 450,000 works of art, is difficult to see in one day, but with a little planning, you can see it all.  The museum is separated into different wings such as Art of Ancient World, Art of Asia, Oceania and Africa, And Contemporary Art. Let me take you around to see our favorite areas of the museum:

Your experience of the MFA begins before you even walk inside.  The museum has some really unique pieces of art right outside.  These doll heads are my daughters’ favorites! 

I personally love Indian Hunter (Paul Manship, 2002) as the hunter and Pronghorn Antelope (and Paul Manship, 2002) as his prey.

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Boston Museum of Science: A Top Pick for Family Activities in Boston

If you’re looking for something the whole family can do while you’re in Boston, look no further than the Museum of Science.  Like many big museums, it’s always best to plan your day out before going, so don’t miss anything.  There are so many fun things to do there that I suggest you check out the website and, as a family, decide what you want to do together.  While my girls were at camp, I got to go alone and I had just as much fun as I do when they come with me, so it is also a great activity when you’re traveling to Boston solo.

Here are 10 things my family likes to do when visiting the Boston Museum of Science:

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Castle in the Clouds

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New Hampshire has many special places to view the colorful change of foliage.  At Castle in the Clouds, in Moultonborough, you will be transported back to the early 1900’s to the home of Thomas Plant.  However, do not rush straight up to the castle, take your time and make a few stops along the way. 

What is the first stop? Well…

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Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

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If you are in Portland, Maine and looking for something aimed especially for your kids…this is the place to go.  The Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine has four levels of fun that the entire family will enjoy.  Their mission statement says it all: “The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine exists to inspire discovery and imagination through exploration and play.”

We spent our morning at the museum and the girls had such a great time using their imagination.  Let me take you on a tour of our day.

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Heritage Museums and Gardens, Cape Cod

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When I go to Cape Cod, it is all about relaxing and recharging.  I love all the beautiful beaches and taking long walks while shopping in downtown areas.  When I travel I like to take in the culture of my destination and Heritage Museum and Gardens, located in Sandwich, is the perfect place to experience classic Cape Cod.  There is something for everyone here and a lovely way to spend half a day.  Let me tell you about my day at this unique spot.

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McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

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In Concord, NH there is a great place that is a tribute to 2 New Hampshire space pioneers: Alan Shepard, America’s first astronaut to travel into space, and NASA’s teacher-in-space, Christa McAuliffe.  This small discovery center is filled with many hands-on activities that teach families about space.  It is a fun place to spend a few hours.  A few of our favorite experiences included:

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