One of my favorite childhood memories is my mother taking us to "Four Ponds." Four Ponds is a conservation area in Pocasset Massachusetts. If you aren't familiar with Pocasset, it is located just over the Bourne Bridge on Cape Cod. It has a parking lot accessible on Barlow's Landing Road.
Four ponds is a gorgeous hike, with different trails based on time and difficulty. We would go there often to have a little free getaway as a child. You can choose your trail, and the trails have color-coded markers nailed to trees. There are four ponds located within the conservation area...hence the name:) Not only are there four ponds, but you can also find multiple brooks and even a mini waterfall. I mean, who doesn't love a mini waterfall? I just loved to run my fingers through the water running over the rocks. There is some wildlife in the conservation area also. Often you will see swans drifting through the pond. Also, you might find a few frogs or toads or even some little shiners swimming in the ponds.
It's nice to hike there, but be sure to dress accordingly and wear your insect repellent. It does get cooler in the forest-and don't be afraid to roll up your pantlegs and wade in the brooks!
Showing posts with label activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label activities. Show all posts
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Two movies for the price of one...and the food is so much cheaper
Our adventure Friday night brought us about an hour away from our home in Middleboro, but it was well worth it. Our destination: The Mendon Twin Drive-In, one of the few drive-ins left standing in the area.
So, movies there start at sundown; or somewhere between 8:45-9 p.m. My husband and I figured that we should probably get there pretty early in order to get a good spot. We armed ourselves with bug spray, chairs, water, chips and a portable stereo. I told my kids to take a nap because we were going to see "Toy Story 3" AND "The Karate Kid."
It took us about 45 minutes to an hour to get there. When we arrived the lot was already getting packed, and it was only about 8:00 p.m. The aisles are filled with people in lawn chairs, kids playing catch and frisbees galore. We parked our car with the rear end facing the screen, and put our chairs out. Kids were doused with bug spray and then they took off to make new friends with kids around us. It was great, not once did they whine "Is it time for the movie to start yet?" because there was so much to do.
Our "neighbors" offered to buy bug spray off of us in return for a beer. I declined, but offered them the bug spray for free instead. Last year, we forgot the bug spray. Let me tell you, BUG SPRAY IS KEY!! So while we got to know the neighbors my son played football pass and instead of hitting his target...hit a shiny new Audi. Oopsies. Make sure the footballs are SOFT. Nerf balls are a good idea.
When the movie finally started, we all settled into our lawn chairs to watch the double feature. It was a beautiful clear evening. It did get chilly around 10, so I highly recommend bringing a sweatshirt and maybe even blankets.
I would say about half of the people left after the first movie, and it is still worth it even if you don't think you will make it through both films. At $20 per carload it is a mere $5 per person for my family of four if we stay for one movie. That is a savings of $2.50 per ticket (vs. Regal Cinemas prices). If we stay for both movies, that cuts us back to only $2.50 per person. That is unheard of these days!!
Not to mention the savings at the snack bar. You can make a night of it and come early for a picnic dinner, bring your own food. The prices at the snack bar are very reasonable also. They offer all different foods, including sandwiches, burgers and dogs. My husband came back with 2 large popcorns, loaded nachos and a fry for $15.
This was an amazing evening. The sheer ambiance of being there, at the drive-in is an experience all should enjoy. You even get a trash bag on the way in and you can leave it in your parking spot when you leave, our friends in Mendon pick it up for you.
So make sure you check it out if you want an inexpensive adventure but remember:
1. bugspray
2. blankets
3. soft footballs
4. chairs
5. no radio necessary...it doesn't really pick up the signal, just use your car stereo
6. ARRIVE EARLY!!
So, movies there start at sundown; or somewhere between 8:45-9 p.m. My husband and I figured that we should probably get there pretty early in order to get a good spot. We armed ourselves with bug spray, chairs, water, chips and a portable stereo. I told my kids to take a nap because we were going to see "Toy Story 3" AND "The Karate Kid."
It took us about 45 minutes to an hour to get there. When we arrived the lot was already getting packed, and it was only about 8:00 p.m. The aisles are filled with people in lawn chairs, kids playing catch and frisbees galore. We parked our car with the rear end facing the screen, and put our chairs out. Kids were doused with bug spray and then they took off to make new friends with kids around us. It was great, not once did they whine "Is it time for the movie to start yet?" because there was so much to do.
Our "neighbors" offered to buy bug spray off of us in return for a beer. I declined, but offered them the bug spray for free instead. Last year, we forgot the bug spray. Let me tell you, BUG SPRAY IS KEY!! So while we got to know the neighbors my son played football pass and instead of hitting his target...hit a shiny new Audi. Oopsies. Make sure the footballs are SOFT. Nerf balls are a good idea.
When the movie finally started, we all settled into our lawn chairs to watch the double feature. It was a beautiful clear evening. It did get chilly around 10, so I highly recommend bringing a sweatshirt and maybe even blankets.
I would say about half of the people left after the first movie, and it is still worth it even if you don't think you will make it through both films. At $20 per carload it is a mere $5 per person for my family of four if we stay for one movie. That is a savings of $2.50 per ticket (vs. Regal Cinemas prices). If we stay for both movies, that cuts us back to only $2.50 per person. That is unheard of these days!!
Not to mention the savings at the snack bar. You can make a night of it and come early for a picnic dinner, bring your own food. The prices at the snack bar are very reasonable also. They offer all different foods, including sandwiches, burgers and dogs. My husband came back with 2 large popcorns, loaded nachos and a fry for $15.
This was an amazing evening. The sheer ambiance of being there, at the drive-in is an experience all should enjoy. You even get a trash bag on the way in and you can leave it in your parking spot when you leave, our friends in Mendon pick it up for you.
So make sure you check it out if you want an inexpensive adventure but remember:
1. bugspray
2. blankets
3. soft footballs
4. chairs
5. no radio necessary...it doesn't really pick up the signal, just use your car stereo
6. ARRIVE EARLY!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Spa for a day...or at least a half day!
So living in Massachusetts as a schoolteacher, I don't exactly have a million extra dollars to spend. Spas are those places that celebrities and wealthy people go to get pampered, right? I mean, the closest I had been to a spa until today was a Mary Kay birthday party my best friend Katie had for her thirteenth birthday. It was one of those deals where the middle aged saleswoman comes and shows a bunch of preteens how to put on thirty dollar lipgloss...
So for my thirtieth birthday my friends bought me a treat. It was actually in a basket full of nailpolish in crazy colors. I was in awe by the $1 bottles of chartreuse and teal polish, and had no idea what the envelope behind them contained. When I finally got around to opening presents, I opened that envelope. It was a card signed by my closest fellow faculty members. Inside was a spatech gift certificate in the amount of $85, the equivalent of a half-day of beauty.
So, knowing that I am the ultimate procrastinator I called and booked an appointment for 6/26 at 9:30. Yesterday somebody called me at 10 am to confirm, and ended her conversation with "We require a 24 hour cancellation, do you need our number." I bit my tongue and held back the urge to say "Ummm...then shouldn't I have called you like a half-hour ago?" Instead I reassured the girl that I would be there.
I arrive at the spa and go into the wrong entrance. Just so you know if you happen to venture out that way, the aesthetics institute is to the right and massage is to the left. Once I was redirected to the correct location I was prompted to answer a short questionnaire.
A smiling blonde came out dressed in all white...actually all of the people were dressed in white. It was like I was in heaven. Perfectly made-up estheticians in white uniforms massaging people draped in white...heaven is right.
First she gave me a large collapsible basket that she said was "my basket." She had a faint accent that I couldn't quite place. She showed me the disposable spa panties that were in a saran wrap-esque wrapper and the "spa robe." I went into the bathroom to change. Putting on the panties, I glanced in the mirror and realized I definitely resembled a sumo wrestler getting ready for a match. They were a three inch strip of papery material with elastic strings on each side. I honestly couldn't figure out the front from the back.
SO I WAS READY!! Donning my white spa robe I laid on the table while my tech started brushing me with a soft brush. She brushed all of my skin and explained that it helped improve circulation and it would tickle a little. Then she started the "salt glow" treatment. I now know why they call it that...it so makes you glow. So now I am glowing and surrounded by pretty people in white...heaven? YES!! She gently massaged the salt all over and then removed it with a series of hot towels. It felt amazing. I am happy at this point and I am only $35 into the treatment.
She had decided on a seaweed wrap for my skin, they allow you to choose but since I have no idea I told her to pick. She said it will help moisturize. She paints me with seaweed and in the meantime is folding the sheet under me to reveal a shower curtain on the table. So now I am sliding all over the table in gooey seaweed bliss as she gently pulls the sheet out from under me. I am lying on plastic. So, silly me...I thought that the "wrap" part was figurative. NO. It's literal. They wrap you up like a mummy or a caterpillar. In my multi layered chrysalis I lay. First there was the shower curtain. Then the giant insulated foil blanket. Then the wooly blanket, and I think it was topped off with a sheet. And then I decide I might have to pee. Or not?
So as I lay there I am nervous at first and my nose starts to itch and twitch until my tech starts to do my facial. AMAZING!! I have no idea what she did, because my eyes were closed. However it involved lots of massaging with some substance and something that felt like tea bags was over my eyes. Then a hot towel would massage it off for the next layer. While my mask was setting I felt warm oil drizzle over my feet and then that part that always hurts from wearing flip flops is being gently and skilfully massaged. I was in heaven. Apparently I was really relaxed, because I woke myself up with a little snore. Okay, probably a big snore. All I know is that I never wanted to emerge from my cocoon. I was completely unaware of time or place as I listened to the most stereotypical spa music ever...waves crashing and different xylophoney type music. (I will never make fun of Dani's mom for the orca tape again).
I felt numb and full of endorphins when I was finally unwrapped and once again bathed with a hot towel. Do I really have to leave??
So I give SPATECH an A for cleanliness, comfort, price, and the heaven effect. The opportunity to have a stress free day was definitely priceless!!
So for my thirtieth birthday my friends bought me a treat. It was actually in a basket full of nailpolish in crazy colors. I was in awe by the $1 bottles of chartreuse and teal polish, and had no idea what the envelope behind them contained. When I finally got around to opening presents, I opened that envelope. It was a card signed by my closest fellow faculty members. Inside was a spatech gift certificate in the amount of $85, the equivalent of a half-day of beauty.
So, knowing that I am the ultimate procrastinator I called and booked an appointment for 6/26 at 9:30. Yesterday somebody called me at 10 am to confirm, and ended her conversation with "We require a 24 hour cancellation, do you need our number." I bit my tongue and held back the urge to say "Ummm...then shouldn't I have called you like a half-hour ago?" Instead I reassured the girl that I would be there.
I arrive at the spa and go into the wrong entrance. Just so you know if you happen to venture out that way, the aesthetics institute is to the right and massage is to the left. Once I was redirected to the correct location I was prompted to answer a short questionnaire.
A smiling blonde came out dressed in all white...actually all of the people were dressed in white. It was like I was in heaven. Perfectly made-up estheticians in white uniforms massaging people draped in white...heaven is right.
First she gave me a large collapsible basket that she said was "my basket." She had a faint accent that I couldn't quite place. She showed me the disposable spa panties that were in a saran wrap-esque wrapper and the "spa robe." I went into the bathroom to change. Putting on the panties, I glanced in the mirror and realized I definitely resembled a sumo wrestler getting ready for a match. They were a three inch strip of papery material with elastic strings on each side. I honestly couldn't figure out the front from the back.
SO I WAS READY!! Donning my white spa robe I laid on the table while my tech started brushing me with a soft brush. She brushed all of my skin and explained that it helped improve circulation and it would tickle a little. Then she started the "salt glow" treatment. I now know why they call it that...it so makes you glow. So now I am glowing and surrounded by pretty people in white...heaven? YES!! She gently massaged the salt all over and then removed it with a series of hot towels. It felt amazing. I am happy at this point and I am only $35 into the treatment.
She had decided on a seaweed wrap for my skin, they allow you to choose but since I have no idea I told her to pick. She said it will help moisturize. She paints me with seaweed and in the meantime is folding the sheet under me to reveal a shower curtain on the table. So now I am sliding all over the table in gooey seaweed bliss as she gently pulls the sheet out from under me. I am lying on plastic. So, silly me...I thought that the "wrap" part was figurative. NO. It's literal. They wrap you up like a mummy or a caterpillar. In my multi layered chrysalis I lay. First there was the shower curtain. Then the giant insulated foil blanket. Then the wooly blanket, and I think it was topped off with a sheet. And then I decide I might have to pee. Or not?
So as I lay there I am nervous at first and my nose starts to itch and twitch until my tech starts to do my facial. AMAZING!! I have no idea what she did, because my eyes were closed. However it involved lots of massaging with some substance and something that felt like tea bags was over my eyes. Then a hot towel would massage it off for the next layer. While my mask was setting I felt warm oil drizzle over my feet and then that part that always hurts from wearing flip flops is being gently and skilfully massaged. I was in heaven. Apparently I was really relaxed, because I woke myself up with a little snore. Okay, probably a big snore. All I know is that I never wanted to emerge from my cocoon. I was completely unaware of time or place as I listened to the most stereotypical spa music ever...waves crashing and different xylophoney type music. (I will never make fun of Dani's mom for the orca tape again).
I felt numb and full of endorphins when I was finally unwrapped and once again bathed with a hot towel. Do I really have to leave??
So I give SPATECH an A for cleanliness, comfort, price, and the heaven effect. The opportunity to have a stress free day was definitely priceless!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)