For years I've been wanting to come to Revere beach to see the sand castles in the International…read moreSand Sculpting Festival and I finally got the opportunity this year. The parking that is closer to the beach was blocked off to allow for people to walk without worrying about getting hit by a car, but this did mean that it took longer to find legal parking in the residential area. We did see a car getting towed, so please take all signs seriously. It was about a mile walk from the car to the sand castles so at one point we got worried the event was cancelled since we kept walking and walking with no castles in sight. But keep going, and they will be there. On our walk there, we passed by about 30 + food trucks, and some tents which were giving away free drinks, and snacks. The price of the food trucks were anywhere around $10-$20 so about average. I was very impressed with the artists and how much detail they were able to add to the castles. They did allow us to take a picture with one of the castles. At some points we were poking our heads and gently pushing through people to get a good view of the castles. Although I didn't get a chance to stay for them, they did have a firework show in the schedule the day I went. Although not related to the event, something I loved most about this beach is that it is so close to Logan airport that while we were there, we watched planes coming and going very close to land.

Boston is lucky to have such a festival. There were about 12 sand sculptures lined up. They are…read morelit up so it is possible to view the sculptures without fighting the crowds. I always visit each year the festival, usually during the off hours. It is really remarkable what they can do with just sand. Never fail to be amazed. I usually look at the sand castles which won awards to see if I agree. Usually, they have made the right call. As an aside........... I always get lost cutting through Revere but it is worth the trip. I can't wait until the next one.

Super fun store! Had a great time and bought lots of awesome stuff!! Pictured, mugs, keychains,…read morewhich hats! So fun!

This was one of the coolest stores around. I recommend checking this place out. I was mesmerized…read more Inside is like being inside a twisted dream. It was dark and beautiful. This store has the most interesting decorations. It was an awesome find. This shop is larger than it looks. Inside, I saw stones, toys, home decorations, and cool stuff to buy. The people who work here were fun to talk to. They explained things to me. I didn't want to leave the store.

Short little inside walking tour with movie props and exhibits. Was fairly cheap at $30.00 for 2…read morekids and 2 adults. This is not a guided tour or a haunted type museum. It is a small space with 3D paint on the walls and floor. It was a nice visual throughout the museum for the kids. Some interesting and unique movie props in the tour. Not a lengthy tour at all.

The Halloween museum in Salem is one of those attractions that feels more exciting in theory than…read morein reality. The 3D fluorescent rooms are pretty cool at first, and there are a few fun props tied to Hocus Pocus and classic The Walt Disney Company films that horror and Halloween fans may appreciate. That said, the museum itself is very small and doesn't offer much beyond the initial visual appeal. Even though tickets are relatively cheap, the experience feels rushed and underwhelming overall. Unless you're already walking by and looking for a quick stop during a Salem trip, this is probably one attraction that can be skipped.

My mom and I toured Beauport when we visited Gloucester for a day a week or so ago and it was one…read moreof the many highlights of our Cape Ann trip. The house was built in 1908 as the summer home of interior decorate and antique collector Henry Davis Sleeper. Sleeper designed this unique house, where he lived until his death, when it was bough by Charles and Helena Woolworth McCann. They preserved most of Sleeper's designs and decor (making only a few modifications) until their heirs donated the house to Historic New England in 1947. The house is full of incredible decor: a kitchen that utilized 17th century paneling from his mother's ancestral home, a central hall with an incredible amber glass cabinet, a dining room with incredible views of the Harbor, an Octagon Room, and so much more. We reserved our tour ahead of time, and three others joined our tour. Our guide was wonderful, and we learned so much about this unique house, Henry Davis Sleeper, and the McCanns. Our time in Gloucester was wonderful, but Beauport was one of the highlights of our time there. It's a really incredible house, and I'm so glad we had time in our itinerary for a tour!

My girlfriend and I toured Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, on Friday, August 8th…read more The house was beautiful and we enjoyed the wonderful interior designs, but unfortunately our tour was tainted by our rude, disrespectful, and unprofessional tour guide. Shortly upon beginning the tour, our guide, Alberta Hill, made an extremely rude and uncalled-for comment, slut-shaming and embarrassing my girlfriend in front of the entire tour group for her clothing. Her outfit was not that revealing- it was a hot day and she had on shorts and a tank top- but even if it were, it would not grant a tour guide the right to treat a guest in this manner. It's sad that what was otherwise such a fun experience was impacted by an insensitive guide who made my girlfriend feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. It's disappointing that Historic New England would employ someone with such an old-fashioned mentality, someone who would go out of her way to police another woman's body and enforce traditional gender norms. This is especially troubling to see at the Beauport Sleeper-McCann House, a space that was once a sanctuary for the queer Henry Davis Sleeper and a pinnacle of early individual expression. I would expect those employed by the Beauport house to reject moral conservatism and embrace personal freedoms and expression, but sadly Alberta did not.

My mom and I visited the Cape Ann Museum a week or so ago when we spent a day exploring Gloucester…read more The museum is really wonderful. It's an art and historical museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of Cape Ann. Their collection includes a collection of Fitz Henry Lane maritime and landscape paintings, the original Thacher Island Fresnel lens, a wooden sculpture that used to top the Parish of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, and lots of paintings of Cape Ann. When we visited last week (and through September 27, 2026), they have an incredible exhibit: "Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea." The exhibit is presented through a collaboration between the Cape Ann Museum and the Phillips Collection in DC, and it explores the bond between three 20th century artists who shared summers in Gloucester in the 1920s-1940s. The exhibit is really special, so if you're visiting Gloucester before September 27, run don't walk to the Cape Ann Museum. It's a great little regional museum, definitely worth a visit if you're visiting Cape Ann for the firsts time!

Over the top value in local history of New England thoroughly enjoyed my day trip there.read more

I love this festival in Union Square Somerville celebrating local invention marshmallow Fluff…read more It's a mix of food vendors, business/nonprofits & lots of family friendly entertainment. The crowds can get a bit overwhelming but are still pretty polite if you ask to get through. I highly recommend checking out the Fluff Festival next year.

Even though Fluff is not vegan (why gelatin?!?), the idea of a huge crowd coming together to…read morecelebrate this strange white substance is pretty amusing. The festival has many tents and booths offering strange combinations of fluff with foods that don't quite seem to work (pierogis?), but people seemed to enjoy it nonetheless. Of course, there was also no deficit of fluffernutter sandwiches and rice krispies treats going around. I count myself privileged to have witnessed the 100th year anniversary version of the fluff festival, because clearly that's a momentous occasion for the fluff fanatics out there. But if you're in Union Square the next time the festival comes around, go check it out.

I came to Gallows Hill Theatre to watch Guilty! A Salem Witch Trial. When I visited in October…read more2024, the show cost around $24. The show was hilarious and amusing! Huge props to the two actors (the judge and...the judge's helper?) for staying in character. I will warn you no one is safe from audience participation, but it is really funny. While it was a lighthearted take on the Salem Witch Trials, it was informative in terms of how ridiculous the trials were during the real Salem Witch Trials. I'd highly recommend watching if you have the time!

Gallows Hill, what can I say? I've been coming to Salem for over 20 years and have been visiting…read morethis place since it opened! The show has evolved over time and gets better and better. We wouldn't miss it.

Castles have always reminded me of fairy tales. But Hammond Castle is a fairy tale with a…read moredistinctly Gothic twist. There was something about the story of its lonely owner and the maze of dark little passageways, hidden entrances, and unexpected exits between rooms that gave me chills. It felt less like I was walking through a castle and more like I had stepped into a fortress where it is eternally Halloween.... Why - because this castle has the unique story of being built from ruins of so many European structures, real structures. Roman pillars from Italian ruins, medieval doorways from French monasteries sometimes even entire rooms dismantled stone by stone and shipped. This inventor (known for the remote control and 400 odd patents), was no doubt super rich, who dreamed and created one of a kind castle to live in. He delighted in calling him the preserver of heritage, some called it plunder and also claimed it was cursed having been built on ruins. No wonder, there are innumerable 'stories' of haunting associated with this castle. There are plenty amazing locations for pictures. The architecture is captivating, it is a popular location for weddings given the dramatic backdrop. Costing anywhere between $6000 to $10K just for the space. I was cautious to walk with my tour group when inside the castle, it was not just to listen to the many interesting scraps of information but also to ensure am surrounded by people......lol Hammond Castle is perched directly on a rocky cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, so its pretty scenic in soo many ways. Its beautiful, its strange, it has loads of mini stories from past and present, something very different. Was I able to pique your interest yet .... ?!

I visited Hammond Castle Museum with my mom a week or so ago when we spent a long weekend on Cape…read moreAnn, and we loved our time there! Hammond Castle is a 20th century castle! It was built by John Hays Hammond, Jr., who was a very wealthy inventor and all around quirky guy. To make a long story short, Jr. offended his upper crust parents by picking a woman they considered inappropriate to be his wife (a divorcee from a family they didn't consider worthy to marry into the family). They kicked him out of the family castle down the road, so he built his castle - a bigger one. Hammond Jr. was a collector, and he traveled around Europe after both world wars and was able to collect beautiful pieces of European art and architecture that became part of the house. So the castle was built between 1926 and 1929, but it contains elements from 15th, 16th, and 18th century European architecture. You can tour the Castle by self-guided or guided tours, but I highly recommend a guided tour. Our tour guide was Leila, and she was incredible - funny, informative, charming! She walked us around, into several areas of the castle, and then we explored more areas on our own after the guided tour. The castle is incredible. The architecture and art are incredible, and there are great stories behind a lot of both (some pieces and elements have questionable provenance)! The castle also has great views. We had tickets for the first tour of the day on a Saturday. I highly recommend going early and getting a tour in the morning. When we arrived around 9 for our 9:30 tour, the parking lot was pretty empty. When we left around 11, the parking lot was entirely full and there were several cars with their flashers on waiting to be able to pull into a spot as people left. It's a popular spot, so if you're visiting on a weekend, go early if you can. Or be prepared to wait for a parking spot or take a rideshare! Hammond Castle is quirky, beautiful, interesting, fun. It should definitely be on your itinerary if you're visiting Cape Ann if you like art, architecture, history, quirky places... There's so much to enjoy about Hammond Castle!