Caledonia County Fair – fun, crafts, games, demolition derby and more! Rabbit Hill Inn ranked #1 hotel in US by Travel & Leisure

Caledonia County Fair 2009

Lyndonville, VT

The town of Lyndonville, Vermont is celebrating 162 years of Caledonia County Fair at the Mountain View Park this year. There will be plenty of games, food, fun, and best of all… the demolition derby! The 1st place winner for being the last car standing will walk away with $600. There will be plenty more exhibits such as antique demos, floral hall and craft exhibits, cattle/sheep/poultry/aquarium exhibits, a maple display, Alpaca demonstrations, Children’s Freedom Train, and of course King of Silly . There’s surely no county fair without the rides and this year Dreamland Amusements is proud to present exciting attractions for all ages for the last 8 years in a row. For more information visit their website . About a half an hour down the road lies the Rabbit Hill Inn which was recently ranked in the top 100 hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure. With a handsome score of 91.9 and ranked #1 in the U.S. for all aspects such as environment, ambiance, hospitality, service and accommodations. Featured in previous blogs is their Pink Slip Getaway Package that will help those unemployed take some vacation time, too.

“We’re very proud to be placed in such good company with the most distinctive hotels, resorts and inns in the world,” said Leslie Mulcahy, co-owner of the Rabbit Hill Inn. “Knowing that chateaus, safari clubs and island resorts were included on the list, it’s quite a humbling notion to be ranked among the best in the world. We’re delighted that our guests and Travel & Leisure readers shared their insight into our highlights to secure us a place on this list,” finished Mulcahy.

Guinness Record Maker for World’s largest 3-D Earth museum exhibit – Eartha in Yarmouth, Maine

EARTHA EXHIBIT IN THE DELORME HEADQUARTERS

YARMOUTH, ME

Always wondered what the world looked like from the outside? Take a trip to Yarmouth, Maine and you’ll be able to do just that at the Eartha exhibit in the DeLorme headquarters. This 3-dimensional, 42-foot scale model of our earth with mountains and landforms all in 3-D set the Guinness record for the “World’s Largest Revolving/Rotating Globe” in 1999. How did they make such a masterpiece? It took David DeLorme, the CEO of DeLorme, one full year to compile satellite imagery, shaded relief, colored ocean depth data, and information from actual earth grounds to create 140 gigabytes of mapping data. The Eartha’s lightweight aluminum surface is perfectly shaped to replicate the earth and then actually revolves on a specially designed cantilever arm while rotating on an axis. Every continent is meticulously detailed with vivid colors illustrating all levels of vegetation, major roadways and cities, and ocean depths. And best of all, it’s all free! The DeLorme headquarters are open Monday-Saturday from 9:30am to 6:30pm and re-opening on Sundays starting April 19, 2009. For more details call toll free at 1-800-642-097 or locally at 207-846-7100.

“Eartha is the largest image of earth ever created,” says DeLorme. “Eartha will instill a sense of wonder in people when they first see it and we hope they walk away from it with a better appreciation and knowledge of the world around them.”

With the few extra bucks you save visiting this New England attraction, put it towards a State of Mainer one-night getaway package at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, ME. You’ll receive the best room available in the entire inn for the lowest prices around including dinner and breakfast. Enjoy your Maine stay and your visit to our earth right before your eyes.

America’s best jazz-pop vocal quartet – The Manhattan Transfer at the Colonial Theatre in Keene, NH

The Manhattan Transfer at the Colonial Theatre
October 9, 2009
Keene, NH
“A jazz-pop vocal phenomenon, for over 35 years…”

Back in 1972, a group of four American singers put their jazz vocals together to release their first album under the new line-up, The Manhattan Transfer. As they skyrocketed through the Box charts throughout the 80′s and 90′s, they reached the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Since that time, they have continued to stay together and produce more albums with their sizzling four part jazz harmonies. Now, you may have the chance to see them live at the Colonial Theater. The Colonial in Keene, NH continues to fulfill its promise as the flagship performing arts center for the Monadnock region, presenting some of the best performers from around the world. On Friday, October 9, 2009 at 8pm, the Manhattan Transfer will be performing at this truly cultural town hall and destination venue. Tickets are currently selling from 44-58 depending on the seat. Click here for more information on the theater, directions, ticket prices, and much more.

A few tunes you may know are:
Operator – the 1st hit single in 1975
Birdland – brought their 1st Grammy award (Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal, or Instrumental) in 1980
Tuxedo Junction – their theme song debuted on their 1st album in 1975
Boy from New York City – a cover from the 1965 hit by The Ad Libs and won Grammz award in 1981
Route 66- another Grammy-winning rendition in 1982
White Mystery – best-loved song R&B- chart single
Twilight Zone – their 2nd U.S. top hit

A great way to finish off the weekend is to relax with the Stress Reduction Package with the Chesterfield Inn. On this weekend getaway offer, you’ll receive a massage or facial at Devine Day Spa, a bottle of Chardonnay and chocolate covered strawberries on arrival, two nights stay, one gourmet dinner for 2, and full country breakfast each morning. This comfy, and relaxing farmhouse inn is located only 25 minutes down Rte. 9 and will make your work-week stress disappear with all their luxurious amenities.

Museum of Fife and Drum Corps and a Connecticut country inn in Essex

THE MUSEUM OF FIFE & DRUM

Essex, Connecticut

At the Museum of Fife & Drum learn about America’s visual and music background dated from the Revolutionary War to today. Listen to shrills of fife and the beats of long drums as you observe the numerous artifacts on display such as drums, fifes, military swords, uniforms, medals, awards, and photographs. If you enjoy colorful and upbeat parades, then this is the perfect place for you to visit on your next Connecticut River vacation. There will even be free concerts every Tuesday evening during July and August usually featuring two corps per night. If you’re a drum corp, club, historical society, or college/high school music group, call the museum at (860) 767-2237 to arrange for a group tour. The donations are only $3 for adults, $2 for youth (ages 13-17), and children under 12 are free. Click the link proceeding for travel directions. Not even one mile down Comstock Avenue is the Copper Beech Inn, a four-star country inn and four-diamond, wine-spectator-award winning restaurant. It’s located in the beautiful Connecticut River Vally aside the Long Island Sound shoreline nearby several charming historic towns, shops, attractions and many outdoor activities. Currently they are advertising a two-night Summer package highlighting an Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Cruise, champagne upon arrival, free dinner for two one night in Brasserie Pip, and VIP discount coupons for Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. Add a 3rd night for 50% off the regular room rate and enjoy your stay in Ivoryton, Connecticut.

Laconia, NH Motorcycle Bike Week 2009

Laconia Bike Week 2009

June 13-21

The Summer is coming closer and that means one thing for every New Hampshire motorcyclist. Laconia Bike Week is America’s oldest bike week hosting this June for the 86th time and the turnout will be better than ever. On Saturday June 13th, the extravaganza will begin with an all-you-can-eat pig roast, live music, and a Harley Fashion Show. For the following 8 days, there will be plenty more music, food, shows, and of course motorcycle rides to experience. The top ten features for this year will be:

Aquarium and animal petting zoo in Cape Cod, MA

For 40 years now, the ZooQuarium in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts has provided a fun-filled family adventure for you to explore and discover the marvelous creatures that live close by to the busy roads of Cape Cod. At the Petting Zoo you can get right up close and feed the farm animals while learning how they came to be such an important part of human life. At the Aquarium, you’ll see up close the creatures that lurk the Cape Cod waters from Stripers to Lobsters, Frogs to Turtles. You can even pick up and touch the little critters that inhibit the shoreline at the Tidal Touch Pool. You may see hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, mussels, sea stars, urchins, clams, fiddler crabs, and much more. At the Zoorific Theater, the naturalists present and will teach you about the animals that you may have never gotten close to like skunks, alligators, or even hedgehogs. In one upcoming event (July 18 & 19, September 5 &6), the Rainforest Reptile Show from Beverly, MA will demonstrate why reptiles are so important to the planet and will let you get up close and personal with many different type of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. About 25 minutes east down Route 28, is a four-diamond sea captain’s estate nestled on two acres of Cape Cod soil now called the Captain’s House Inn. Check out their many specials and packages and enjoy a luxurious weekend in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

History Museum and the Allen Sisters Photography Art

Hay Cart - Photography by Allen, Frances and Mary (c. 1899)

One of the greatest treasures in Memorial Hall Museum and Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association in Old Deerfield, Massachusetts is the vast collection of Allen sisters’ prints and glass plate negatives. Frances Allen and Mary Allen are renowned for idealized photographs of country scenes, figure and child studies, and landscapes dating from 1885-1920. This excerpt from their photography journal in 1894 is a bit of insight to their work:

We use the camera simply as a quick way of sketching, and regard all the technical part, which comes after the exposure is made, as a necessary evil…. In pictures, artistic excellence is usually entirely at variance with what is called a perfect photograph. The eye cannot focus itself on every object in its field of vision at the same time. If a photograph does this, the effect is hard and unnatural. But there must be method in this madness. A picture is not necessarily beautiful because it is blurred, and there’s need of all one’s technical skill, even after a good negative is made, in adapting the print to its peculiar individual qualities.

The Memorial Hall Museum is open seasonally (May 1 – November 1) from 11 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for youth and students aged 6 – 21. Only a few blocks away is the Deerfield Inn, a traditional country inn located in the center of this 350-year old landmark village. Right now they are running a special package to get a free third night at the Deerfield Inn! When you book a two-night weekend stay and extend your getaway into a Thursday or Sunday, that third night will be free! Also included is a twenty-five dollar credit towards food and beverage on your free room night. This offer is only for a limited time (June 18-July 25, August 14-September 6) so book soon and enjoy your stay in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Vermont craftspeople display their arts and crafts in Open Studio Weekend 2009

Vermont Crafts Council hosts the Open Studio Weekend 2009

May 23 & 24, 2009

Back in September, the Vermont Crafts Council organizes directions and maps to all the sites of the Vermont craftspeople whom work in studios located in or close to their residences. Throughout the Winter, they continue accepting applications of sites and develop directions. Around the first week of April, it all comes together to make The Open Studio Weekend, named one of the Top Ten Summer Events in a Vermont Chamber of Commerce competition in 1997. On this event, you will be able to see for yourself the production of many finished works of art, the atmosphere of their workplace, and even talk with the artist them self all in the place of the artists’ workplace. You’ll see the swatches that have not been chosen for the quilt or the work that is experimental or not serious enough for the gallery. As you can see on the map below, it will be almost impossible to run out of places to visit on this exciting weekend. Thinking about attending both days of the Open Studio Weekend? The Distinctive Inns of New England can help you find the right place to stay in Vermont to make your weekend just a bit better with luxurious accommodations.

Going from idea to reality: Placing studios on the map.

Visit the historical basketball coaches and players at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Latest News at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Dream Team and Piston Coach Hall of Famer, Chuck Daly, passes away at 78
May 11, 2009

Chuck Daly in 1994 with his Hall of Fame Medallion

Chuck Daly gained worldwide fame as coach of the legendary Olympic Dream Team in 1992, but long before Barcelona and the gold medal, the twelve-year NBA coach was established as one of the game’s premier mentors. (Read more)

For all you extreme basketball fans or simply the interested, visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame museum in Springfield, MA and learn about the most incredible athletes of our past. Learn and understand the fascinating stories of legendary players and coaches whom performed phenomenally and touched many lives. Tickets run for no more than $17 and its usually open from 10am-4pm (click here for details on tickets and hours). After all the basketball excitement, you have plenty of choices of where to go for dinner: Max’s Tavern, Pazzo Ristorante, Cold Stone Creamery, j.Quincy’s & Samuel’s Sports Bar, Subway, Onyx Fusion Bar & Restaurant, and UNO Chicago Grill. Stop by the Official Museum Store online or in Springfield, MA and grab something suitable before visiting the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Cape Cod, MA Spring Town Fair Festival – Brewster in Bloom

Welcome to the 23rd Annual Brewster in Bloom

May 1, 2, 3, 2009

An exciting Cape Cod town festival, Brewster in Bloom, organized by The Brewster Chamber of Commerce Board of Trade and The Brewster in Bloom Committee is coming just around the corner for you and your family to enjoy. There will be plenty of events to attend such as: golf contests, antique exhibits, art and craft shops, historical tours, clothes sales, raffles, anniversary celebrations, beer and wine tastings, band concerts, Kidsfest, and plenty more! The fun will run for three days from 10am until 5pm and end with the Brewster in Bloom Parade starting at 1pm on May 3rd. Each day features several different activities for all ages so make a whole weekend vacation out of Brewster in Bloom. To accommodate your stay, the Captain’s House Inn lies just 20 minutes away with spectacular views of the south coast of Cape Cod. Before you begin your days of festival fun, Chef Kevin and Claude will prepare an absolutely delectable breakfast to start your day right. With the Captain’s House Inn’s luxurious amenities and comfortable atmosphere, you won’t want to go back to reality after your weekend getaway vacation.