Fall Trip 2009

Oct 7^th -  8^th     Boston, Massachusetts

We arrived in Boston at 3:30 after what seemed to us, a very quick flight – 4:20.  We flew through clouds coast to coast and never saw the Great Lakes we went over.  We stayed at the Airport Hilton and the next morning toured Boston’s Old North Church, where Paul Revere began his famous midnight ride then drove by the State Capitol and the Boston Commons.  We saw the Freedom Trail and Fanueil Hall.

We continue on to Lexington, where the Minutemen had their first Revolutionary skirmish.  We saw the Battle Green where “the shot heard around the world” signaled the start of the American Revolution, followed the route of Paul Revere from Lexington to Concord. We stopped at the Old North Bridge, then headed south and stop at Plymouth Rock where in 1620 the pilgrims from the Mayflower landed. Next we went to Cape Cod’s southern shore for a two night stay at The Cap Codder in Hyannis (the site of President John F. Kennedy’s summer White House).  

Oct 9^th   Martha’s Vineyard

We took the morning ferry from Woods Hole across the bay to Martha’s Vineyard, named for a European sailor’s daughter, who found wild grapes growing on the island. The island is a haven for artists, poets, singers and celebrities who are attracted to its laid-back, charming lifestyle. Here we enjoyed an island tour of sweeping vistas, saw Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven, visited the historic whaling town of Edgartown with its narrow streets and elegant homes, and enjoyed time to wander, shop and visit the art galleries. We returned by ferry to Cape Cod.

Oct 10^th    Rhode Island, Connecticut

This morning we journeyed to the sailing capital of the world, Newport, Rhode Island. We visited the historic Vanderbilt “summer cottage,” The Breakers. This Italian Renaissance style palace has 70 rooms and is the grandest of all Newport estates. Then we left on a sightseeing drive of Newport, saw the mansions of the “400 Club” and St. Mary’s Church, where Jacqueline Bouvier married John F. Kennedy.

We continued on to the seaport of Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, the nation’s leading maritime museum, dedicated to the golden age of seafaring, and saw some impressive tall ships.  The island of Cuba contacted the museum for tools and know how to come repair a ship left their by Hemmingway.

Oct 11^th          Norman Rockwell, Vermont

This morning we headed into the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, where Norman Rockwell spent the last 25 years of his life. We visited the Norman Rockwell Museum and admired the collection of Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers extolling the virtues of everyday Americans. We saw Rockwell’s studio which was preserved exactly as it was when Rockwell painted here.

We over nighted in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont at Stratton’s Long Trail House in ski country, where it snowed the day after we left!  We had a surprise visit to The Vermont Country Store before touring through glorious hillsides.

Oct 12^th          Vermont, New Hampshire

This morning we had a scenic mountain drive along country roads to Plymouth Notch, birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge and saw the home where our 30th President took the oath of office from his father, by the light of a kerosene lamp. The village of Plymouth Notch is unchanged since the early 20th century. The next stop was the village of Woodstock, described as “the prettiest small town in America” along with a covered bridge. We drove over Quechee Gorge, the Grand Canyon of New England and through the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Franconia Notch following the Kancamagus Highway to North Conway’s Fox Ridge Resort.

Oct 13^th           Portland, Maine

We traveled past Maine’s lakes to the rocky Atlantic coast, visiting Portland’s waterfront before continuing to the resort of Kennebunkport a quaint small town. We had a farewell dinner of prime rib and lobster staying at the Nonantum Resort, a 125 yr old hotel.  Everyone said we hit the Fall colors at their peak and had mostly clear cool days with snow chasing us by 2 days.  The 40 other folks on the tour were fun –some were real ‘characters’ that kept things lively!

Oct 14^th    We arrived back in Boston where we nabbed a cab as soon as we pulled up and made it to Union Station with 45 minutes to spare before departing on our train to D.C.  The rail trip south was mainly a nostalgic trip for me (growing up riding my daddy’s or grandpa’s magic carpet on the Santa Fe).  The 6 hours of sipping wine and watching the world go by especially after 8 days of nonstop rushing, was very enjoyable.

Ricky’s cousins met us at Union Station where we got a beautiful view of D.C. night lights before getting to their condo.  The weather there was just like back home – raw and rainy but we had a great time seeing the sites and visiting with them.

Kentucky  Oct 17^th   

In Kentucky we stopped by to celebrate Daniel Boone’s 275^th Birthday Anniversary at Ft. Boonesborough before continuing on South.  My main purpose was to visit Irvine a small town named for William Irvine in 1812, whom I was hoping to get a more ‘solid’ family connection on Grandma Eunice Phelan’s side.   I poured through records and talked with the local genealogist at the county museum but it only confirmed what I already knew – so that was ok, I just loved being there. 

Cincinnati Oct 20^th  

We got back to the airport just in time to pick up Aunt Em and go to her “castle” … my term not hers, but that’s the way I always envisioned it – as a large stone fortress overlooking the Ohio River … and I wasn’t disappointed!  It was a glorious 2 days and was so good to be there with her and feel all it’s history along with hearing her stories.  We spent the last 2 days at Jane’s and had a terrific visit with her Jim and Frank celebrating our 38^th anniversary – what a great way to end our trip!!