What an amazing tour and display of history here. We were looking at the shaker furniture store…read moreacross the road and decided to take a tour of this amazing picture framing warehouse. It's an incredibly fascinating experience to see all the tools and the process of a 1800s era, still in production, framing company..

beautiful historic mill, still making picture frames! we learned a bit about the machinery from a…read morefriendly volunteer.

We were touring through the area and had time to kill before dinner at a relatives so we decided to…read moresee what Babson's campus looked like. Overall a decent campus but nothing that interesting until we came across this super cool globe. Wow! I had no idea that this existed and was here - OK I am a bit of a fan of globes. Nerd! And it rotated too. Interesting history is explained on some nearby plaques. A great roadside America type stop. Worth a detour.

I was nearby buying new skates, it was a nice day I didn't want to go to the school when it's in…read moresession so I stopped by for a quick walk. Beautiful campus ground . Not much to say but I always check Yelp to see what is around to do and where to eat.

With so many great statues here in Boston I'd have to say the George Washington statue in Boston…read morePublic garden was my favorite one that I got to see. It's located at the entrance right near the side next to the Commonwealth Ave. Mall. The height of the statue and the background of the public garden makes this one of the must see attractions in the city.

Boston Public Garden has lots of statues but none bigger than the one of the first President on a…read morehorse. George Washington is probably the figure with the most statues and this is one of the most impressive ones. In the garden it's the most prominent feature and is a popular site to check out for tourists. Check out the rest of the surroundings while here because they're nice. The statue is only one of many you can see. It pretty much is closest to the western entrance of Boston Public Garden. It has a humongous pedestal and can be kind of intimidating. The statue is in very good shape. Clean and there's no trash around. The statue also is a popular gathering site. Lots of demonstrations take place around here. This is also just cool to hang out at and take a few pictures. Behind it is the famous footbridge. The statue also is in front of the Boston skyline. Quite a few people get a selfie in front of it. The statue can get quite a crowd especially when it's nice out. Cool statue to come and look at. It's also important to check out the rest of the garden. There's lots of other important people who have statues.

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE NEARBY PARKING! This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of America…read more Westford Knight is an interesting site located in Westford MA outside of Boston. It is a mix of Fact, Fiction, Folklore & what do you see on that rock - all wrapped into one. Historians have pondered the mysterious etchings on the rock. Did a Native American artist create this or does this go back even further in time? A medieval battle sword is believed to be visible on the rock's ledge. Some people also see the outlines of a medieval knight in full battle regalia, holding a shield in one hand & a sword pointed downward in the other hand. The image supposedly identifies him as a Knight Templar. Some individuals believe the carving is evidentiary proof of the Scottish explorer Prince Henry Sinclair's visit to America. Legend has it that Sinclair followed in the footsteps of the Vikings & in 1398 crossed the Atlantic & made his way south to Nova Scotia & then to New England. That is a hundred years before Columbus. The Westford Knight carving has been showcased on the Discovery, History, & Travel Channels with their documentary programs. In 2013 there was also a feature film. There's more info but those are the main highlights. Until the science evolves & more accurate testing can be done & properly dated we can't be sure of any anecdotal evidence, heresay or what people think they see. So Christopher Columbus you have been saved; nothing to worry about at least for the time being. LOL! Not to diminish what Columbus did, but were there explorers from other civilizations that came here first? Could this be the new Plymouth Rock? Or is it a Bust? Hopefully in the near future, science will evolve & we will have the technology to test & answer those questions & others for sure. The Exploration & the Mystery is very Exciting & part of the discovery journey. You always hear about fantastic finds being uncovered in Egypt with the pyramids; not as much in America. It's being done but it's just not being promoted nor front page news. I'm giving this place 4 Stars but if they find out this is indeed legit I will automatically upgrade to 5 Stars. There is now a full scale statue here that instead of standing upright, is lying down on his back. Many people pass by here & don't even know this place even exists on Depot Street, near the Abbott School. The site just doesn't jump out at you. To make it worth your trip, there is an EXCELLENT place you can eat nearby called Kimball Farms also in Westford. It is a family owned & operated Entertainment Complex, Dining, & Country Store since 1939. They are Famous for their Homemade DELICIOUS Ice Cream. They serve oversized portions of ice cream that people travel from miles around to enjoy. You can read my review of Kimball Farms for more details. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

I had the opportunity to check out the Curley House during a volunteer event with the Emerald…read moreNecklace Conservancy. This house is not open to the public but you may be able to check it out for yourself if the Conservancy hosts an event there. The house comprises beautiful crown moldings, light fixtures, and even some stained glass. The dining room was my favorite room. And the spiral staircase to walk up to the third story was stunning. Check out my pics!

The James Michael Curley house was built in 1915, is a historical landmark and museum open to the…read morepublic, on occasion, for private tours and events. I went to see an exciting, LIVE birds of prey exhibit featuring Hawks, Falcons, and owls! THE DEAL: sign up for the Boston Parks and Rec newsletter to find more events here.

We had an amazing time visiting this school house. The scenery was beautiful and the area was…read morewell-kept. The surrounding area was serene and beautiful. I can't wait to come back and enjoy the view.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! THIS IS THE MOST FAMOUS SCHOOL IN THE WORLD…read moreTHAT YOU NEVER KNEW REALLY EXISTED. Every kid from 1-101 has learned the Mary had a Little Lamb nursery rhyme. It goes Mary had a Little Lamb it's Fleece was white as Snow & Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day etc. Well, this is the School in that famous classic story that Mary attended. This is part of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard of or been to before. The tiny red schoolhouse is called The Redstone School & was built in 1798. Mary Elizabeth Sawyer was the Mary in the story born in 1806. Rebecca Kimball was the School Teacher. John Roulstone wrote the first 12 lines of the Classic. Sarah Josepha Hale completed the work. The building originally stood in Sterling Massachusetts. It was moved by Automobile Kingpin Henry Ford in 1927. When you talk about Old School this is the Original Old School! There are Plaques on the rocks outside that give you more information about the nursery rhyme. The Schoolhouse itself is open weekends only from May- October on Friday Saturday & Sunday from 12- 4:45 PM & is FREE! Unfortunately when we went it was closed but you can still look through the windows & check out the inside. Well I'll have to catch the inside the next time around. Go next door & visit the Martha Mary Chapel an all white picturesque church that appeared in the Matthew McConaughey film with Jennifer Garner & Emma Stone "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past". Also visit across the street there's the Grist Mill ( a great place to picnic), The Waterfall, The Pond, The Glacier Rocks from an Ice Cap 18,000 years ago. Also check out The Old Barn Farm Stand where they sell plants, local honey & other products & The Inn itself has lodging, a restaurant & a bar. What a Great Spot! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

This marker is located where Main Street leaves from Monument Square in the central area of…read moreConcord. The marker is in pretty good condition considering that it is nearly 100 years old. The marker reads, "Near this spot stood the ancient oak known as Jethro's Tree beneath which Major Simon Willard and his associates bought from the Indians the "6 myles of land square" ordered by the General Court for the Plantation of Concord September 12, 1635." There is more information online. "The deed was early lost and never recovered, but there is ample evidence that it was duly executed and delivered. Tradition states that the bargain was made under an oak tree called Jethro's tree, and that the tree stood at a spot just in front of the site of the old Middlesex hotel at the southwesterly end of Concord square." "In the fall of 1635, a handful of early settlers arrived in Concord and built temporary homes for themselves and their cattle, according to the books, The History of Concord and Johnson's Wonder-Working Providence. Each colonist was awarded a house lot and a portion of planting-ground and meadow land. Their cabins were located between what is now Concord square and Meriam's Corner, according to the book The History of Concord." [Review 15239 overall, 741 of 2021, number 1099 in Massachusetts.]

For my birthday last year, I gifted myself a day's retreat in the house/room where Thoreau was…read moreborn. My entire trip to the Concord area was a transcendental pilgrimage in its own right, and my day alone in the home of seclusion's champion was more than meaningful. I read all the exhibit panels, wrote at the little desk by the window, picnicked on the lovely grounds for lunch, and read Emerson's "Read, then Write." I might have even slept a little in the peaceful, bird-sung quiet. It was a gift to have the entire day in this place, to see the shift of sunlight across the eaves, to contemplate the coming year. The staff made it so easy - they worked with me to shift days - and they made me feel absolutely welcome. It was quite humbling to have a key of my very own for the day! I came away with good written words, good philosophy, and a belief in the actuality of personal connection with literary heroes. Thank you for allowing it to happen!

I am so grateful for the writing space at the Writer's Retreat provided by the Thoreau Farm:…read moreBirthplace of Henry David Thoreau. It is a privilege to spend time in the very room that this American author was born. As the author and illustrator of eight children's books on Thoreau, I can attest that the Writer's Retreat has provided me the impetus for creating them during the numerous times I attended the Writer's Retreat. One might say that they were conceived in that room where many of my words and illustrations began. The Writer's Retreat provides a quiet space where one might write, read, and be reflective. It is beneficial to the amateur or professional writer or to anyone who just needs a space to think and read. The Farm is in a rural setting where one may take a meditative walk and is a special treasure. Imagine writing or reading on a replica of Henry's own green desk where he wrote his works. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to have a place to rest and think without any distractions in the room where Henry was born. Rebecca Migdal, Executive Director of the Thoreau Farm: Birthplace of Henry David Thoreau, is warm and welcoming to anyone who visits the Thoreau Farm or uses the Writer's Retreat. During the time I spent at this special place, Rebecca made me feel very comfortable. Rebecca's cheerful demeaner makes any visitor feel special and at ease. I highly encourage anyone who needs a space for quiet reflection or pursue literary endeavors to spend a day or two at the Writer's Retreat.