While some people might look at this and only see trash, the archaeologist in me looks at it and gets excited. Deposits of sea glass and ceramics along beaches are getting fewer and fewer thanks to dwindling littering and garbage laws. Sea glass is one of my favorite things to search for on the beach. While some of the glass is “modern” (1900-1990s), there is a lot that is from 120 years ago or more. One indicator of age for…
“The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” ~George Carlin Humans aren’t the only ones in North America who travel south for the winter. Right now, most of the East Coast is in the midst of a huge migration in preparation for the winter: monarch butterflies. Beginning in September and October, the eastern/northeastern populations travel from Canada all the way down to central Mexico! They will overwinter there, like many other snowbirds, and then start…
Sunflowers are one of the last types to bloom and definitely are a herald of summer’s last days. Cooler weather and early sunsets are on their way! Colby Farm in Newbury, MA has been using these beautiful flowers to make a carpet of yellow every fall for the last 12 years. People travel from all over New England and even the Northeast to catch a glimpse of them! Luckily, this year we had a good amount of rain and pleasant…
Last year, we didn’t get out to kayak at all. The heat was so bad and the timing never worked out. This year, we decided to change that! Since this was our first trip, we decided to do something fairly easy. Luckily, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided us a great place to launch our kayaks from in Newbury, MA: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Two paths diverged in a…marsh? There are two different “water trails” laid out in the…
This past weekend was National Trails Day here in the US and without knowing it, we happened to be hiking in New Hampshire! We have long attempted to climb all the 4,000 footers in the White Mountains of NH. There are 48 mountains that are above 4,000 feet throughout the area (some just above by 3 feet or so!) and by completing them, you can get a patch and the satisfaction of completing a significant milestone. Some people are crazy…
If you’ve ever been to Boston, then this image of Long Wharf during a King Tide might confuse and worry you! Ever seen a King Tide? Normally, the end of Long Wharf is covered with people watching boats, reading books, or hanging out with friends. It is one of the most popular places in the downtown area. Recently, though, there was a new-ish visitor: a King Tide. A King Tide is also often called a Spring Tide and means that…
We were recently lucky enough to hike in the Grand Canyon, specifically Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden. Now, while we did not go all the way down to Phantom Ranch, we did learn a few things about the trail that we will remember for our next trip. 1. START EARLY! Man is it hot in Arizona in May! When we landed in Phoenix, it was predicted to be a high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. For two New Englanders, this…
In an effort to get in shape for our upcoming hike to the Grand Canyon (want to help us raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society? Donate here!), we have been trying to hike more. Unfortunately, though there has been little snow or ice in the Boston area, it has been a slightly different story in New Hampshire. While in Albany, NH for a stay at the Darby Field Inn (review coming soon!) we decided that we wanted to go…
Did you know that this year marks the 100th birthday of what is considered America’s best idea? The National Park Service will turn 100 years young on August 26 and is celebrating this year with programs, special events, and lots of cake. While many people believe that there are only the 59 “National Parks,” in reality there are many many more UNITS of the system. There are 409 units of the National Park Service from Acadia National Park in Maine,…
Today’s tip is very simple…if you are anywhere near a National Park Service site and have a question, need a restroom, or want an awesome map, GO. Generally, the bathrooms are clean, the maps are plentiful, and the Rangers working there are local so they know a great deal about the area. Most people think only of the park NPS sites when they talk about this agency, but that only makes a small number (59/407) of the various units. The…
