Olde Philly - Liberty Hall

Our New England Tour 2009
Our last stop before heading home was outside Northeast,MD at Elk Neck State Park. This is a great park at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. While there we decided to go see Liberty Hall, The Liberty Bell and other historic sites in the building of our country. After exploring Boston we needed to see Liberty Hall. The following Smilebox shows many of the historic locations, as well as our travels through the Pennsylvania Wilds.

New York City

Our New England Tour 2009
We joined a Good Sam's tour for a wild week of exploring New York City. Fifteen hours a day of excitement and enjoyment. We experienced famous restaurants daily, toured iconic landmarks, took harbor boat rides, and walked through the different parts of Manhattan learning many interesting facts about the history of the city. Three of the nights we saw Broadway shows. It is a wonder we survived all that. The weather was warm and sunny. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect week or more friendly people with whom to share all the fun.

With so many pictures to share we made a part I and a part II Smileboxes. Part I has about one hundred pictures & videos. It is large so it will load slowly. Yet, the slideshow goes quite fast. Remember you can pause the pictures and view at your own pace.
New York City part II
Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Battery Park, and Chinatown.

Mystic, CT Seaport

Our New England Tour 2009
Take a trip back into the history of the sea by visiting the Mystic Seaport in Old Mystic, CT. Many activities were happening when we were there including a weekend of rowing competition, festivals, ship restoration and visiting village attractions. The weather was perfect for stepping back into the era of the sailing ships. If you are ever in New England make a point to visit Mystic. This is the first Smilebox where Mike plays the music on his dulcimer. The recording isn't great, but it is a start.

Massachusetts

Our New England Tour 2009
Gloucester & Rockport

While in Massachusetts we visited with our new T@B friends Earl and Janet. They were kind enough to show us some of the famous local towns. Gloucester and Rockport were such historic and picturesque towns. In fact, if you have seen the new movie, "The Proposal" you will recognize many of the following pictures as scenes in the movie. Earl and Janet took us to their cottage to enjoy the quiet beauty of their lake. After being in our little T@B trailer for a month this was just what we needed. If you see the movie, "Grown Ups", coming in late June 2010, you will recognize this view from Earl's cottage deck as a setting in the movie.
Visiting Salem
Exploring Cape Cod
One could spend a lifetime exploring Cape Cod. Different landscapes, ocean views, dunes, small quaint villages, large expansive homes, and yes light houses. We spent a day in, and around Provincetown and on the Cape Cod National Seashore. The landscapes were breathtaking. Sure Norene had to see one lighthouse and get in the ocean. We hope to return to Cape Cod next summer to spend more time exploring the other areas.

Plimoth Plymouth as we know it
A stop by Plymouth Rock is a must if you are in Massachusetts. It was a cool and windy day when we arrived at Plymouth Harbor. The Mayflower II was there to greet us. Watch the Smilebox and share the sights.

Boston Freedom Trail

Our New England Tour 2009

Boston is one of Norene's favorite places. For years she has wanted to walk the city again sharing the excitement of history with Mike. The weather was perfect, the tour guide entertaining, and our energy was high. This was our 'big walking' day with over seven straight hours walking or standing as we walked the Freedom Trail, and many parts of the city. On the way back to our campground in Salisbury, MA we viewed Boston at night before entering the 'big dig'. Mike loved it and is ready to return.

Vermont

Our New England Tour 2009
After leaving Maine we moved on to southern Vermont and the Green Mountains. Staying at the Winhall Brook park at Ball Mountain gave us the chance to roam through the mountains, walk through the forests, play in the streams, and visit the ski areas of this part of Vermont. The trees had not yet turned with color, the only regret Norene had about visiting this area when we did. View the Smilebox to see some of the sights.

Southern Maine Coast

Our New England Tour 2009
From New Hampshire we moved on for several days along the southern Maine coast. Staying in Freeport in time for the L.L. Bean music festival. In a matter of two months we attended the Lands End Blues festival and the L.L. Bean music Festival. Are there any other major outdoor catalog festivals we missed?

In Maine we stayed in the desert, yes, just like the dunes of Lake Michigan, visited harbor towns, went whale watching on the Atlantic, and admired lighthouses. The weather was outstanding the people were friendly, and the exploring exciting. Norene even got to have her Maine blueberries. You can't get better than that. Watch the pictures in the Smilebox. It will take some time for it to load. Lots of videos and pictures. Remember to click on the pictures to enlarge them.

New Hampshire

Our New England Tour 2009

After leaving the Lake George T@B rally we crossed Vermont to the eastern side of New Hampshire staying in Epsom, NH. During our stay we visited the White Mountains, several lakes, and beaches of Hampton, NH. We actually visited Hampton Beach a few weeks later in our trip while we were staying in northern Massachusetts. The drive north from Hampton along the coast was fantastic with large beautiful homes, ocean surfers, and the bluffs of southern New Hamphsire. We walked trails, climbed bolders, and looked for the fall color. Norene found her first tree color in New Hampshire.