Recommended Places to Visit: North Andover

Recreation

Fruit Picking
Boston Hill Farm
1370 Turnpike Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Ice Cream

Apple Cider Donuts
Coconut Ice Cream

Smolak Farms
315 South Bradford Street
Recommended Dishes:
Black Raspberry Fudge
Pink Peppermint Stick
Green Monster
Maple Walnut
Butter Pecan
Milky Way

Helicopters

North Andover Flight Academy
436 Sutton Street


Beaches
Stevens Pond
518 Pleasant Street


Water Bodies
Lake Cochichewick
1630 Great Pond Road

Mill Pond
186 Stevens Street


Hiking
Recommended:
Carter Fields
Carter Field Road

Mazurenko Farm
Carter Field Road and Bradford Street

Weir Hill
531 Pleasant Street

Osgood Hill
Osgood Street near Prescott Street

Boston Hill
1275 Turnpike Street

Tried:
Shawsheen River Trail
End of Hawthorne Place

Claypit Hill
693 Johnston Street

Foster Farm
158 Boxford Street

Bruin Hill
615 Winter Street

Farnsworth Reservation

700 South Bradford Street

Museums
Museum of Printing
800 Massachusetts Avenue

Architecture

Monuments

Old Town Common
Massachusetts Avenue and Osgood Street

Veterans Memorial Park
Bradstreet Road and Greene Street

Water Tower
Bradford Street and Barker Street

Places of Worship

Trinitarian Congregational Church
72 Elm Street

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
390 Main Street

First-Calvary Baptist Church
586 Massachusetts Avenue

First United Methodist Church
57 Peters Street

St. Michael's Church
196 Main Street

St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church
158 Main Street

North Parish of North Andover Unitarian Universalist Church
190 Academy Road


Schools
Merrimack College
315 Turnpike Street

North Andover High School
430 Osgood Street

Brooks School
1160 Great Pond Road

Town Facilities
Lawrence Municipal Airport
492 Sutton Street

Stevens Memorial Library
345 Main Street

Fire Station #2
9 Salem Street

Housing Authority
1 Morkeski Meadows

Commercial Buildings
North Andover Office Park
451 Andover Street

Historical Buildings
One High Street
High Street and Water Street

Jefferson Office Park
800 Turnpike Street

Stevens-Coolidge Place
137 Andover Street

The Loft Restaurant
1140 Osgood Street

Stevens Estate
723 Osgood Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western

Bird and Wolf
1268 Osgood Street
Recommended Dishes:
Almond and Orange Croissant

The Buck Starts Here

Superfood Salad

Cavatelli

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Glazed Donut

Italian
Buono Bistro
220 Sutton Street
Recommended Dishes:
Oysters Florentine
Scallops Florentine Risotto

Japanese
Thyme Japanese Cuisine
19 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ee Dako
Monk Fish Liver
Roast Pork Ramen Noodle Soup
Torta Nocciola
 

Deli

Good Day Cafe
19 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Club Sandwich
Cafe Sandwich
Raspberry Scone

Mexican

Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant
1070 Osgood Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sopa De Camaron
Pacifico Burrito

Baked and O So Good
1211 Osgood Street
Recommended Dishes:
Tuna Wasabi Sandwich
Boston Cream Mini Cupcake
Turkey Dinner Sandwich 

Tried:
Italian
Jimmy's Famous Pizza
1595 Osgood Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mac Daddy Pizza
BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch Calzone


Dessert

Seafood
Lobster Tail
1081 Osgood Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Roll
Lobster Bisque Bread Bowl

July 28th 2019: Peaches and Kites

This morning, we went to Smolak Farms in North Andover to pick peaches. Pretty good ones at that.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to head to NARA Park in Acton for the Kite Flying Festival occurring there.

We did not fly any because we had to buy one to do so, so we just walked around to see the goings on.

For dinner, we headed to Rapscallion Table and Tap, a bar restaurant in town with a small dining area.

For food, we got the Blackened Chicken (Seasoned thighs, mango rice- diced mango, cilantro, braised collard greens),

the Salmon Burger (Panko-breaded fresh ground salmon, shallots, capers, lemon zest, fresh herbs, lettuce, tomato, housemade avocado aioli) and House Salad (Apricot sherry vinaigrette, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions).

The chicken looked burnt, but instead it was just peppery, with sweet collard greens and interestingly flavored mango rice. The salmon burger was pretty good too, along with the salad. Can see why this place was full of people by the time we left. With that, an end to a day of peaches and kites.

Recommended Places to Visit: Nashua NH

Recreation

Arcades
Fun World
200 Daniel Webster Highway

Museums

Nashua National Fish Hatchery
151 Broad Street

Shopping
Christmas Tree Shops (chain)
41 Gusabel Avenue


Water Bodies
Round Pond
Amherst Street

Holts Pond
76 Thornton Road

Billiards
Boston Billiard Club and Casino
55 Northeastern Boulevard

Shopping Malls

Pheasant Lane Mall
310 Daniel Webster Highway

Parks
Sandy Pond Park
1 Sacred Heart Drive

Park Social
Ledge Street and Pine Street

Greeley Park

100 Concord Street

Hiking
Recommended:
Lovewell Pond
11 Ridge Road

Mine Falls Park
End of Whipple Street

Tried:
Yudicky Farm
Gilson Road, 42.717105, -71.514741

Architecture

Monuments

Ledge Street School
139 Ledge Street

The Launching Pad
53 Northeastern Boulevard

Rotary Common Park
315 Main Street

Holocaust Memorial
311 Main Street

Town Clock
153 Main Street

Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Concord Street and Amherst Street

Deschenes Park
Main Street and Canal Street

Nashua Firefighters Memorial
Concord Street and Manchester Street

Parc de Notre Renaissance Francais
25 Water Street

Frida Rota
Temple Street and Court Street

Places of Worship

Cross Way Christian Church
503 Main Dunstable Road

Seventh Day Adventist Church
20 Robinson Road

Church of the Good Shepherd
214 Main Street

Main Street United Methodist Church
154 Main Street

St. Patrick's Church
29 Spring Street

Christian Bible Church
205 Manchester Street

Nashua Presbyterian Church
1010 West Hollis Street

St Joseph's Church
777 West Hollis Street

Nashua Baptist Church
555 Broad Street

Christ the King Lutheran Church
3 Lutheran Drive

St. Christopher Catholic Church
62 Manchester Street

St. Louis de Gonzague Church
48 West Hollis Street

Parish of the Resurrection
449 Broad Street

St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church

500 West Hollis Street

First Church Congregational

1 Concord Street

Gate City Church

43 Main Street

New Fellowship Baptist Church

50 Ash Street

St. John XXIII Parish

121 Allds Street

Grace Lutheran Church
130 Spit Brook Road

St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church
39 Chandler Street

Temple Beth Abraham
4 Raymond Street

First Baptist Church
121 Manchester Street

Pilgrim Congregational Church
4 Watson Street

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
5 Green Street

Chinese Bible Church of Greater Nashua

45 Pine Hill Road

First Church of Christ, Scientist
115 Concord Street

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
110 Concord Street

Town Facilities
City Hall
229 Main Street

Fire Department
70 East Hollis Street

Nashua Airport

93 Perimeter Road

Schools
Rivier University
420 Main Street

Historical Buildings
Whitney Professional Building
1 Prospect Street


Hunt Memorial Building
6 Main Street

Old Sacred Heart Parochial School
Spring Street and Eldridge Street

Landmark Building
142 Main Street

Clocktower Place
2 Clocktower Place

Peacock Players

14 Court Street

Casimir Place

119 Temple Street

Old Daniel Webster College

20 University Drive

Commercial Buildings
Citizens Bank
238 Main Street

Radisson Hotel
11 Tara Boulevard

Tara Commons

104 Spit Brook Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:

Western

Boston Billiard Club and Casino

55 Northeastern Boulevard

Recommended Dishes:

Pulled Pork Burger

July 27th 2019: Butterflies and Arcades

Today, we started out with lunch in Westford at Seoul Kitchen, a Korean restaurant which has taken the place of Mangia Mangia, which I visited once a while back. Much nicer decor now in my opinion.

We got the Yaki Soba (Wok-fired noodles with beef),

which came with side dishes,

the Wings (spicy wings in spicy sweet and sour sauce),

the Eel Avocado

and the Green Tea Creme Brulee (house made with fresh cream, egg and green tea matcha) for dessert.

The noodles were a tad sweet at times, the wings and sushi were just so-so, but the worst disappointment was the dessert, which literally was half baked, the sugar not melted properly. Definitely not coming back again.

From here, it was on to the Butterfly Place in town, which definitely has more butterflies now than it did when I last visited it.

Next, it was on to Fun World in Nashua NH, which is just one giant arcade with not much for my little one to do.

Our final stop for the day was at Pheasant Lane Mall nearby, where our little one simply refused to sleep.

Glad he had lots of fun today though.

July 26th 2019: Checking Out Libraries in Worcester and Boylston

Today after work, I had to go get some museum passes from the Frances Perkins branch of the Worcester Public Library in Worcester

and the Boylston Public Library in Boylston.

For dinner, we decided to go to Thai and I, which we were at a few weeks ago.

This time, we got the See You in Kale (healthy combination of pad see u and super green vegetable Kale stir fried and seasoned with light sauce and tofu)

and the Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice.

Not bad actually, definitely better than what we had here last time.

July 24th 2019: Trying Out New Restaurants in Worcester

For lunch today, I decided to check out the new poke restaurant in Worcester, Island Fin Poke. Definitely much better decor than Holy Poke, the other poke place in town.

I got the Strawberry and Pineapple Dole Whip

and the Poke Bowl.

The ice cream was not bad, although somehow I think the poke at Holy Poke is better. This place offers raw shrimp though.

For dinner, we went to Russo Italian Restaurant, a new restaurant that has taken over from Canal Restaurant and Bar, which I visited a while back. Similar layout and decor though.

For food, we got the FRUTTI DI MARE (Mussels, Shrimp, Squid, Clams, Tomato, Herbs)

and the WHOLE ROASTED BRONZINI (Potato, Fennel, Arugula, Roasted Tomato, Tapenade, Lemon).

Extremely fresh ingredients and flavorful as well, though a little on the pricey side. Definitely an equivalent replacement for Canal.

July 20th 2019: Animal Adventures, Bolton

After picking cherries and blueberries at Tougas Farm in Northborough today, we decided to try their Blueberry Cider Donut

and Blueberry Donut Sundae (blueberry donut topped with scoop of blueberry ice cream, topped with blueberries, lemon frosting and whipped cream).

While in town, we decided to get groceries from Davidian's Farm Market.

Our next destination was Animal Adventures, a small zoo in the town of Bolton, where we decided to get a dessert stop at Colonial Candies, a candy store in an old mansion.

We got the Caramel Pecan (buttery flavorred ice cream with pecans and caramel sauce) ice cream,

which was really sweet despite being sugar-free, and a box of Dark Raspberry Fudge Truffles.

The zoo itself was pretty small and disorganized, and although I know their good intentions, definitely no one of the better zoos in the state. Not coming back again.

For lunch, we decided to check out Smack Noodle, a new ramen place in the town of Maynard. We got the Smack Bun (chashu pork in a fluffy bun with okonomi sauce),

the Tom Yum Ramen (chashu pork, marinated egg, scallions, beansprout and corn)

and the Crazy Noodle (flat rice noodle with egg, carrot, broccoli, red pepper, and onion in a hot basil sauce).

The sauce for the bun was a tad salty, while there was too little tom yum flavor and too much corn influence in the ramen. The last dish was not bad, but Americanized for sure. Not one of the better ramen places, in my opinion.