Four stars if you're under the age of seven and have a serious turtle fascination. Hissing…read morecockroaches aside, all of the living exhibits are those shelled wonders and rabbit race underdogs. Still, the environments created around said turtles are whimsical, educational and awe-inspiring for the little 'uns. An extra star for free admission to YMCA members, and for the enjoyable outdoor space, which includes a chicken hutch, active gardens, stone circles for pagan worship (I kid, or do I?) and about a billion chipmunks. Seriously, it's like Alvin attained Beiber status and all the teen chips are swarming for an autograph. Excellent programming and festivals throughout the year - even a Corn Fest! - and, as mentioned, completely free for YMCA members. Solid way to knock out an hour or two if your spawn is being a terror. Or obsesses over turtles. Or both.

A weekend go to in our household - is it raining? Great, come here in look at turtles! Hatchlings…read morein the fall, a mix of box turtles, snapping turtles and other shelled friends throughout the year. Is it sunny? Even better, come here and walk through their trails. They have a cute story book trail for little ones and other ways to enjoy some easy jaunts through the woods. Free admission to YMCA members, we also love their annual events like Corn Fest every summer.

Last week, I went to the Opening Reception for the South Shore Art Center's current Media Mix…read moreexhibition (one of my pieces is in the show!) What a lovely evening! And, crowded, too -the entire gallery space was packed! There was food, beer, wine, live jazz music, awards, and lots of beautiful artwork! :) If you have never been, there are basically 2 main gallery spaces, the Bancroft Gallery & the Dillon Gallery. The Bancroft gallery is the larger space where Media Mix is being shown. I like this space very much! It has large walls on one side of it, and shorter walls on the other side with ample lighting. The walls seem to be some kind of upholstered plywood which makes for easy positioning of paintings. (No worrying about hiding nail holes!) There is also a hardwood floor which makes the entire space look modern and clean. The Dillon Gallery is smaller and darker. There was an exhibit of Italian paintings in there, which I enjoyed very much! This was really my first involvement with the South Shore Art Center, but overall, it seems to be a great place to view and learn about art! Everyone I met there is very friendly, and happy to meet local artists. It is also located in a beautiful town! I highly recommend stopping by to take a peek: http://blog.thelonebeader.com/2010/03/media-mix-opening-reception.html

From the owner: Art education for adults and children of all levels and abilities. The Artist-in-residence program…read moreis offered to schools in the region, bringing over 1400 4th and 5th graders to the Art Center each year. Rotating exhibitions of contemporary art by regional and national artists. Over 170 Juried Gallery Artists participate in exhibitions in the galleries at South Shore Art Center, the Paul Pratt Library and South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA. Annual Arts Festival on Father's Day Weekend draws over 9000 visitors to the three-day event.

Great original and local art. Diverse styles and media. Bought tow pieces. Coming back when they…read moreswitch to summer works and the open studios.

Need something handmade, unusual or just looking to see what the local artists make then this is…read morethe place to visit. Check hours before you go. Located on the bottom of a condo building, but worth the trip. Many talented folks are sharing their creations here.

Friendly and helpful staff. The used bookstore is pretty…read moreamazing too! Ample parking. And great books for sale on your way in or out.

I love this beautiful library!…read more The building is modern & mostly wheelchair accessible. (I say mostly because not all doors have a button for wheelchair users to push to open them.) I have a 9 month old daughter and we travel all the way from Quincy for the Wednesday storytimes (10 am & 2 pm). The Children's Room staff are wonderful - especially the one that leads storytime. The Children's Room does not allow food for allergy reasons. (Baby bottles are OK!) This library also has a bookstore that's open a few days a week. We've gotten some great deals on children's board books at the bookstore.

We had a great experience working with Neon Lighthouse fir our wedding - they played a fantastic,…read morelively set that kept everyone dancing all night. Whem my sister and her friend asked to play the violin during one of the band's sets, the band members were not only supportive but totally encouraged their participation. The band members were a joy to work with. Ken was friendly, approachable, and genuinely interested in understanding our vision for the wedding.

We were very happy to have Neon Lighthouse perform at our June wedding. The band is very lively and…read moreupbeat and kept our dance floor packed the whole night. They played a great mix of songs throughout the night and we got many compliments from our guests on the band! Ken was great to work with prior to our wedding too helping us with ceremony music, introduction music, timeline, etc. Overall a very talented and fun band to have at your wedding, thank you!!

How have I never been in this beautiful and delightful shop before!?…read moreNow that I've rectified that major misstep I am can honestly say I am thrilled to have stumbled into the shop after a recent lunch in The Fork in the Road which is adjacent. I was warmly welcomed by Lisa when I walked in...always such a nice touch to be welcomed into a shop and sadly it happens far too infrequently these days. I don't think many shop owners realize how wonderful that personal touch is. Local Pottery is filled with a gorgeous and wide variety of pottery selections made by a number of different artisans. Everything was simply stunning. Plates, platters, bowls, dishes, creamers...you name it. As well, there is an assortment of handmade jewelry. There are a variety of price points so I think most anyone can find something lovely that they can afford. The pottery had so many gorgeous finishes and colors. It's stunning inside. I am sure I didn't even take all of it in yet. Lisa told me they change the merchandise frequently so there will regularly be something new to look at. I really hadn't gone in with the intention of buying anything but I found a very large tea mug that I thought would make a nice gift. By the time I got home, I decided I needed that gift myself! So much for my good intentions. However, I plan to return in the next couple of days because my cousin has a birthday coming up and in hindsight, I think she would love a pair of glass earrings I saw. Lisa told me they have a festive time in the store over the Christmas holiday and I can only imagine how fun shopping here for gifts will be. Local Pottery is on the main drag of Washington Street in Norwell but tucked behind Trattoria San Pietro. Don't just zip by in your car as clearly I've done for far too long. Thank you Lisa for your help and kindness! I'll be back!

So excited about the gifts I bought at Lisa's awesome store! Gorgeous and unique! Can't wait to…read moregive them to my friends!!

As a travel advisor and concierge on Martha's Vineyard, my clients often ask me to arrange for…read moreprivate tours of Boston and /or other nearby towns with historic points of interest. My clientele consists mainly of discerning individuals that are not only seeking knowledgeable tour guides but, ones that are kind, professional, flexible and also interesting. That is why I can always rely on Mass Bay Tours...it's my "go-to" local tour company in the Boston area ! Their tour guide Curtis is particularly exceptional! He knows so much information and takes the time to learn about the travelers, establish a connection with them so he can learn about their interests. He doesn't mind customizing the tour to make it work for the customer. Nothing brings me more happiness than my clients reporting back to me repeatedly how much they enjoyed their Mass Bay Tours experience. I highly recommend them! A+

From the owner: Walking Tours of Boston's Freedom Trail, and Private Car Tours of Boston, Lexington and Concord,…read morePlymouth and Salem, Massachusetts. Licensed Tour Guide in Concord, MA. Coastal Excursions and Day Trips to Maine and along the North Shore of Boston and Cape Anne. Private Car Excursions to Cape Cod and Newport, Rhode Island. Foliage Tours in the Autumn months to Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.