Science Nerds in Boston, MA

T Rex attach at Boston Museum of Science

A teacher friend, Matt Drown, was up from North Carolina for his spring break.  We decided to get our nerdy science side on and drive down to Boston for a day of learning!

It took 2.5 hours to drive from Southern Maine to the New England Aquarium.  I had suggested taking the C and J bus or the Amtrack, but Matt was familiar with Boston driving due to his time volunteering at the aquarium, so we drove instead.  For those of you not familiar with Boston traffic - it is an adventure in itself.  Bring a trustworthy co-pilot, or better yet, use public transportation. 

Touch tank with skates, rays, and sharks.

I had been the aquarium before and loved a chance to re-visit.  They are currently doing some renovations, but it was still awesome.  For those with families, they have an AMAZING touch tank with rays and sharks!  The excitement wasn't even lost on me - a former marine biologist. 

There are many wonderful displays and a knowledgeable staff and volunteer educators.  It is definitely a worth-while stop in Boston!

The aquarium is near Faneuil Hall, a Boston landmark for shopping and sightseeing.  Matt and I walked around a bit, but on this cold day, we decided to move on after a few minutes. 

Little Blue Penguin

From the New England Aquarium, we took "the T" to the Science Museum...I had never been here before and I cannot wait to go back!  We discovered after arriving that we could register for a teacher membership and get in for free! 

*If you are a teacher, try to do this before hand because we had to register on our smart phones.  


The Museum of Science, Boston is truly impressive and has a great selection of exhibits.  We spent a few hours there and just touched on the opportunities.  I loved the bottom floors "Energy" display of green technologies. 

Butterfly Garden

Another personal favorite was the selection of skulls, shells, and stuffed taxidermy in the natural selection exhibit.  This is a personal favorite at any museum and they had a beautiful display. 

Matt and I paid extra to tour the butterfly garden.  It was small but a great opportunity for photographers to get up close with some specimens. 

I 100% recommend you see the "Lightning Show" when you are at the Museum of Science.  It was fascinating and a wonderful spectacle.  Later, when discussing my trip with my 7th grade students, they all said the same thing: "Did you see the lightning show?"  Make sure you see one of these....and that's all I'll say about it. 

We left the museum and took the T back to our car near the aquarium.  It was a wonderful day and a great way to experience some of Boston. 

Maine Boatbuilders Show

Maine Boatbuilders Show

Matt and I decided to play the role of wealthy boat buyers for the day and attended the Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland, Maine on Saturday, March 16.  The show cost $15 for admission and displayed endless rooms of vendors and boats from local craftsmen.

I'm on a boat

I really enjoyed the chance to walk on the giant yachts and luxury boats.  I figure it's probably one of the only times I'll have that opportunity.

I was disappointed not to see handcrafted kayaks in the mix.  As an avid flat water paddler, I'd love a chance to talk to local kayak and canoe makers.  Still, it was great experience and I enjoyed learning about the local talent in boatbuilding.


After our sail aboard the boatbuilders show, Matt and I headed over to Duckfat Restaurant for lunch.  This is the third time we visited this popular local eatery.  Duckfat has a menu of panini, fries, and salads - most featuring gourmet ingredients.  Their belgium style frites are fried in duck fat and served in the traditional paper cone.

Poutine at Duckfat

Matt and I especially love their poutine - a French Canadian dish of fries, gravy, cheese curds - and at Duckfat, toped with a fried duck egg.  We also enjoyed a panini of pork belly and slaw.  It was all delicious. 

Duckfat also serves canned and bottled beers.

Aword of warning...Duckfat is a popular eatery and even groups of two should plan a 15-45 min wait on a weekend.

The boat show and Duckfat lunch was a great way to spend a cold day in Maine.  Perhaps we will make it a yearly date!

Southern Coast on Dwellable

Beer, Fly Fishing Film Tour, and more Beer

Enjoying a local brew at the Fly Fishing Film Tour

Before you ask ... No.  I do not fly fish.  In fact, I have very little interest in it.  However.... I love nature, I am passionate about conservation, and I have a great appreciation for the sport.  I have read enough books like "The River Why" and seen enough movies like "A River Runs Through It" to know that the sport, nay, the ART of fly fishing is a sacred and beautiful thing.  So, this weekend, I tagged along with Matt (and his friend Chris) to the Fly Fishing Film Tour, and knew, without a doubt, that I would enjoy it.

The film tour was being shown in many spots in the United States.  We went to a viewing in Brunswick, Maine at the Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery .  The cinema included rows of tables where you could order food and drinks from the attached cafe and enjoy them during the show. It was a great experience.

Lion's Pride Pub

Even though I do not fly fish, I really enjoyed all the films shown at the festival.  Movies ranged from a tale of three brothers bonding over a lifetime of Michigan fishing, to the story of D.C. city folk discovering the abundance of fishing opportunities in their backyard, to an adventure of exploring Thailand's hidden rivers on the back of an elephant.  My favorite was the film "Turning Tail", which chronicles the decline and conservation the Atlantic salmon.  The film, by Gray Ghost Productions, takes place mainly in Maine, which is why I was particularly drawn to it.

Prior to our film-tour-adventure, we went to a hidden gem of a pub called "The Lion's Pride Pub and Restaurant".  It is located on Rt. 1 in Brunswick, Maine.  The Lion's Pride is the sister pub to "Ebenezer's", in Lovell, Maine, which has been awarded "Best Beer Bar in the World" for 5 years in a row by Beer Advocate.

The Lion's Pride specializes in Belgium style beers (although it carries others as well).  Don't expect to see Budweiser, or even Sam Adams on the menu.  In fact, if you are an average Joe like me, don't expect to recognize ANY of the beers on the menu.  That said, their beer menu comes with descriptions, and it's an adventure in itself to sample unique and rare brew from around the globe.  It should be noted that beers are pricier then your average bar - with one drink averaging around $7-$10.  Even if you are not knowledgeable about beer, you'll still enjoy this unique experience.

Beautiful Glass Taps at the Lion's Pride Pub

Matt and I had a great day in Brunswick, Maine.  Although we weren't on our typical outdoor adventure, we still got to celebrate the outdoors through the Fly Fishing Tour and a good drink at the Lion's Pride.

New England Skiing...5 observations from a West Coast native

Over the past three years, I've begun to explore New England skiing - which as one friend put it - "is not West Coast skiing"- a statement that implies West Coast skiing is far superior.  I've currently skied nine of the seemingly unlimited ski resorts of New England and have found it enjoyable and challenging.  If you are planning on visiting New England to ski, here are five observations from a West Coast native...

Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine

1.  It's Icy - and that's normal.  I've realized that although you might enjoy the groomed corduroy for the first three runs, it won't be long before there is a consistent scraping sound beneath your skis or board.  In Oregon, an icy patch was unusual and was usually on the summit on a harsh day.  In New England, this is the norm.  As a result, New England skiers are skilled and used to the tough terrain. You rarely hear complaining.  It's what skiing is supposed to be.

2.  It's a ski mountain... snowboarding optional.  When I had a seasonal ski pass in California, I was one of the only skiiers on a hill dotted with boarders sitting in the trail, whizzing by me, and crowding the space off the chair.  The opposite is true in New England.  Skiing is the sport of the land, and although there are many talented snowboarders, they appear to be less than 10% of the population at these resorts.  I'm not sure the reason - maybe it's the poor boarding terrain or just the strong ski traditions of the Northeast, but either way, snowboarding is for the "alternative" nephew of the family.  Have fun buckling up at the top dude...we'll be half way down.

Wildcat Mountain Quad Chair

3.  There are A LOT of options and everyone has their favorite.  I grew up in Portland, Oregon.  If we wanted to drive up to Mt. Hood to ski for the day, we had three options: "Ski-bowl", "Meadows", or "Timberline".  The choice was usually easy since each had their advantages based on the weather, snow conditions, and budget.  Living in Southern Maine, I have at least 30 options within a three hour drive.  Over the past three years, I have never gone to one resort more than once.  This is because each friend has a favorite and are usually very attached to "their" mountain.  I haven't found "my mountain" yet, but here are a few I have tried...

- Sunday River (Maine)
- Sugarloaf (Maine)
- Saddleback (Maine)
- Wildcat (New Hampshire)
- Sunapee Valley (New Hampshire)
- Cranmore (New Hampshire)
- Waterville Valley (New Hampshire)
- Stowe (Vermont)
- Killington (Vermont)

Poor weather at Killington, VT

The larger resorts like Stowe and Sugarloaf cost around $80-$85 for the day and offer more trails, a terrain park, and in some cases, a gondola.   Smaller hills like Cranmore and Wildcat cost $60-$70 for a day and although offer fewer trail options, they often have fewer crowds at a lower cost.

4.  It's called "Wind Hold".  Maybe it's just my bad luck, but three of the 13 times I've gone up skiing, I've been put on "wind hold", which means I'm stuck riding the kiddy lift or even worse ... the T-bar... until the wind lets up.  Wasted money and time.  Check the weather before you head out and if it looks windy, don't make the drive. There's nothing worse then spending three hours in the car to spend 5 hours in the lodge waiting for the wind to die down.

Ski buddy Jenny enjoys her winter ski outing

5.  New England folks love New England skiing.  While spending the afternoon as a "single" on the chairlift during my recent afternoon at Wildcat Mountain, I had the pleasure of meeting many New England skiiers.  I found them all happy, friendly, and excited to talk about their New England skiing adventures.  The conditions at the time included blowing wind, icy trails, and negative temperatures - but to them, it was a normal skiing day. These folks were all happy to enjoy the "great day for skiing".  I realized that my soft West Coast conditions had spoiled me.  These New Englanders were what the sport should be ... taking nature for what it is and enjoying it.  Like a Girl Scout standing next to a Navy Seal - the West Coast ski scene now seems more about show and less about tactical skill. Ski The East!

My powder-friendly skis see more ice than pow

Blizzard Nemo - How I survived the storm

Car buried in snow from Nemo.

How I survived the Blizzard Nemo:

My yard and my landlord's notorious signs.

1.  Warm Home - I will pay for that later (literally)
2.  Lots of food - Plenty of food in my house due to the party I had to cancel.  We ate and drank well!
3.  Company - Cats, Dog, and Matt
4.  Something to do...
 - Tried a new recipe
 - Taught Matt a new card game
 - Played Cribbage
 - Facebook and internet distractions
5.  Patience - With yourself and your storm companions.  Careful of cabin fever.
           

Buried by a snow bank

Matt walks Nadia through the snow.

Kennebunkport.  Allison's Restuaran