Traveling with a Retired Math Teacher

 You can tell when the cold weather is here because I don’t go on many day trips. I definitely prefer the warmer weather to go places. If anyone has any suggestions for me please leave a comment. I live in Massachusetts and am not willing to hop on a plane and head to warmer temperatures. I need places that I can drive to. I guess I will just do some reading for the next month and then Start out on more adventures in March. 

October is the return of the Pumpkin people in Jackson, NH and North Conway so I made a trip up there. I traveled North early Sunday morning to arrive at my hotel at 10:30 am. I stayed at the North Conway Grand. The price was $120 per night for a room with 2 queen beds and a sleep sofa. Then of course you have to add in taxes and amenity fees so my total for 2 nights was $308 The hotel is very clean with a friendly staff. Each night I was there I spent in the outside heated pool and hot tub. Yes outside, when the air temperature was in the 20s. I only moved to the indoor pool and hot tub when several youngsters without adult supervision entered the hot tub. I loved sitting out there under the stairs, this was so relaxing. The pool area is open until 11pm with the hour of 10-11 being adults only. During the first day I met up with some cousins and we went in search of the many pumpkin people. Unfortunately some of them were gone because we had a week of high temperatures and some pumpki...

 I find myself traveling to Maine quite frequently. I love spending time on the coast. There is something so soothing about the water. One town that I had not visited until recently was Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. If you have never been, you need to find the time to travel there. Such a beautiful area with so many quaint shops and restaurants. The happening place is Dock square. As you cross the bridge one way you enter Kennebunk and the other side of the bridge is Kennebunkport. There are public parking lots with public restrooms. I went October 21st and the restrooms were open. I paid $15 to park for the day as I walked around to all the little stores and enjoyed the gorgeous water views.  I had lunch at a seafood restaurant called Allison's. The fried clam plate was delicious and there was so much food I couldn't finish it all.  After walking all around Dock square I got in the car and decided to check out some other areas. Went to Kennebunk beach and walked along the...

  There is always so much to see and EAT at the Topsfield Fair. I used to go every year but for some reason I have not been for the past 3 years. So glad I went this year. There are some beautiful flower and garden displays set up in one barn and then the next barn has an incubator so you can watch the chickens hatching. I could stand and watch that for hours. There are many other animals as well. Sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, pigs, and cows. You can watch a cow milking demonstration in the cow barn.  I enjoyed watching the pig races. and the tiny pig swimming to get an oreo cookie at the end. There was plenty of free music on several different stages throughout the fair grounds. It was nice to stop and listen to some of that.  And the food... so much to pick from. I had a bloomin onion, sausage with onion and peppers, dole whip (not as good as Disney) and some fudge. I was with my cousin who had a steak and cheese sub and said it was delicious. There was deep fried ever...

I have visited several casinos in the Northeast. Those include little casinos like Plainridge in Plainville, Ma and those on a larger scale like Turning Stone In Verona, NY.  Other casinos I have been to: MGM Springfield, MA Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Ct Vernon Downs Casino, Vernon, NY Well I added a new casino to my list last weekend, I went to explore Mohegan Sun in Uncansville, CT I have so many wonderful things to say about this place. First off, The facility is beautiful with waterfalls all around!  I spent the better part of my day just walking around to look at everything. The facility is so clean and all the workers I spoke with were so personable. I can't wait to go back again. Besides waterfalls and the usual gambling table and slot machines there were lots of stores as well. My favorite was the general store. So many unique items there. My friend and I couldn't help but take a picture in front of this glass "tree" another beautiful piece of art in the casino...

  returned home yesterday after a 6 day trip to Disney World. While there, I stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. I would not hesitate to stay there again. The regular price for a standard room is $304 per night. I took advantage of a promotion and only paid $255 per night. My room was in a perfect location. Only a few steps away from the river where you can take a boat ride over to Disney Springs and in the other direction I only had a few steps to Jackson Square. Jackson square is where the hotel lobby is, the quick service restaurant, the jazz night club, the resort store and multiple activities happen there.  If you want to pay a little more ($333) you can get a room with a river view.  This resort is the smallest of the Disney properties and that is one reason I liked it so much. I spend the whole day walking all over the parks so it was nice to have a short walk to my room when I got off the bus. There is one bus stop in front of the resort and I found ...