Sunday, June 22, 2025

June 22nd 2025: Old Port, Portland ME

 Today, our cruise ship from Holland America, the Zuiderdam



passing by Cape Elizabeth ME

Maiden Cove,
End of Kenyon Lane

Cliff House Beach,
12 Sea View Avenue

and South Portland ME,

Willard Beach

Fort Preble


 arrived in Portland ME

Fort Scammel

Casco Bay Bridge



 today, which gave us an opportunity to walk around the Old Port area while the ship was docked at the Ocean Gateway International Marine Passenger Terminal.





Passing by a few monuments,

AC Hotel Portland Downtown/Waterfront, ME

Portland Discovery Land and Sea Tours

Berlin Wall Segment

we went to check out the Harbor Fish Market for a bit




before checking out the some of the Old Port area.

The Maine Souvenir Shop

Portland Regency Hotel and Spa

Post Office Park

First National Bank Block,
57 Exchange Street

Woodman Building




Lincoln Park

First Assembly of God

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

St. Paul's Anglican Church

North School Apartments

Old Engine House,
97 India Street

Child and Family Services East End Center

Portland Observatory

Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church

St. Peter's Catholic Church

Thomas Block,
100 Commercial Street

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum


While here, we decided to get a quick bite at Gross Confection Bar in town,
getting a Blueberry Scone, which was pretty tasty and moist, unlike most other scones I have had.

With that, we went back to the ship. On to Halifax!





Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Recommended Places to Visit: Stow

Recreation
Rock Climbing
Gravity Rock Gym
4 Marlboro Road


Golf


Parks
Tuttle Field and Community Garden
Tuttle Lane, 42.446365, -71.478937


Fruit Picking
Carver Hill Orchard
101 Brookside Avenue

Small Farm
184 Gleasondale Road

Honey Pot Hill Orchards
138 Sudbury Road
Recommended Dishes:
Apple Cider
Apple Cider Donuts


Water Bodies
Fletcher's/Flannagan Pond
9 Box Mill Road

Minister's Pond
290 Great Road

White Pond
581 Sudbury Road


Beaches
Pine Bluffs Recreation Area/Lake Boon
289 Sudbury Road


Museums
568 Main Street, Hudson


Hiking
Recommended:
Delaney Wildlife Management Area
Harvard Road near Delaney Road

Tried:
Gardner Hill
Heritage Lane

Spindle Hill
Wheeler Road

Heath Hen Meadow Woodland
Boxboro Road

680 Hudson Road, Sudbury

226 West Acton Road

108 Red Acre Road

Joanne Drive and Forest Road



Architecture
Monuments
War Memorials
Great Road and Hartley Road


Places of Worship

Town Facilities
Massachusetts Firefighting Academy
1 State Road

Randall Library
19 Crescent Street


Schools
Stow Center School
403 Great Road


Historical Buildings
The Collings Foundation
137 Barton Road

Stowaway Inn
271 Great Road

501 Gleasondale Road


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Deli
Emma's Cafe (moved to Sterling)
117 Great Road
Recommended Dishes:
"Adult" Grilled Cheese


Breakfast
Nancy's Air Field Cafe
302 Boxboro Road
Recommended Dishes:
Pecan Sticky Toffee Pudding

June 18th 2025: Company Outing at Nashoba Valley Winery, Bolton

 Today, after passing through Stow,

Butternut Farm Golf Club


I had a company outing at Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton.

I got the Bolton Orchards Sparkling Apple Cider,

the Shibby Italian Ciabatta
and Chocolate on Chocolate (rich, moist, all-natural dark chocolate cake, a bittersweet truffle center and delectable deep chocolate frosting are finished with a pure dark chocolate coin) and Vanilla Bean (moist, buttery vanilla cake filled with a Madagascar vanilla bean cream and finished with a buttery vanilla bean-flecked icing and a jaunty white chocolate coin) cupcakes.
There was way too much bread on the sandwich, although the drink and cupcakes were pretty good. Not too bad for a company outing.


Tuesday, June 17, 2025

June 17th 2025: bb.q Chicken, Shrewsbury

 Today, I decided to get takeout from the new bb.q Chicken location that just opened in Shrewsbury in place of Bean Counter, which I visited a long time ago. Not much seating here.


We got the Rose’ Ddeok-Bokki (A less spicy, more creamy take on our signature Ddeok-Bokki (Classic Korean street food made from rice cakes and fish cakes in a sweet and spicy chili reduction) dish.),


the Galbi Boneless (Sweet, savory, and smoky with green onions and a sesame seed garnish.)

and the Honey Garlic Wings (Brushed with a sweet, soy-based sauce, these are light on heat and heavy on flavor).
Really liked the creamy flavor of the sauce for the ricecakes, and the Honey Garlic flavor of the wings was more to my liking than the sweet Galbi. Definitely coming back again in future to try their other stuff, including the burger.


Sunday, June 15, 2025

Recommended Places to Visit: Milford

Recreation
Parks
Plains Park
~60 Cedar Street


Swimming
Goldfish Swim School (chain)
350 East Main Street


Sewing
Maria Sews A Lot
262 Main Street


Biking
Upper Charles Trail (Milford Section)
Cedar Street and Jacobs Lane


Hiking
Recommended:
Wildcat Pond
150 Cedar Street
20 Dilla Street




Museums
30 School Street


Water Bodies
Louisa Lake
Dilla Street between Sumner Street and Quinshipaug Road

End of Wales Street

43 Fiske Mill Road


Architecture
Commercial Buildings


Monuments
Draper Memorial Park
Congress Street and Main Street

Tall Mannequin
127 East Main Street

Calzone Park
Main Street and Beach Street

Fountain
196 East Main Street

Irish Round Tower
~70 Cedar Street


Places of Worship

Trinity Episcopal Church
17 Congress Street

First Unitarian Universalist Church
23 Pine Street

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
5 East Main Street

First Congregational Church
4 Congress Street

First United Methodist Church
39 Exchange Street

Pine Street Baptist Church
41 Pine Street


Schools
Milford Middle School East
45 Main Street

Stacy Middle School
66 School Street


Town Facilities
Police Headquarters
250 Main Street

Town Hall
52 Main Street

Youth Center
24 Pearl Street


Historical Buildings
Memorial Hall
30 School Street

Old South Main Street Fire Station
~7 South Main Street

Old P Gillon Building
189 Main Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Thai
Thai Pepper
178 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fiery Pad Thai
Rama Duck


Chinese
Beijing Dumpling House
163 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sichuan Wonton
Beijing Fried Spring Roll
Beijing Beef Noodle Soup
Moist Steamed Buns with Crab Meat
Soy Milk
Sesame Pancake
Fried Bread Stick

Western
Truffles Grill and Wine Bar
198 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Crepes
Wild Mushroom Bisque
Lobster Risotto
Rack of Lamb

Legends Sports Bar and Grille
11 Beaver Street
Recommended Dishes:
Shrimp Scampi
Hot Dog and Fries

11 Beaver Street
Recommended Dishes:
Legends Burger

Prezo Grille + Bar
229 1/2 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pretzel Chicken Bites
Brady Maki
Salmon and Shrimp Wasabi
Thai Lettuce Wraps

Depot Street Tavern (chain)
45 Depot Street
Recommended Dishes:
Homemade Porketta Ravioli
Porketta Burger


Dessert
Bertie's Creative Creamery (chain)
198 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chocolate


Tried:
Western
146 South Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Kid's Grilled Cheese and Fries
Strawberry Ice Cream

Burger King (chain)
22 Beaver Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fiery Chicken Fries

Brazilian
21 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Yucca Cake


Dessert
Starbuck's (chain)
250 Fortune Boulevard
Recommended Dishes:
Almond Protein Blended Cold Brew


Vegetarian
319 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Potato Salad
Broccoli and Cheese Bread Bowl

Italian
Scioli's Pizza Bar
146 South Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Meat Lovers


Breakfast
Marty's Kitchen
178 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Shaved Steak Eggs Benedict
Single French Toast


Japanese
Wanokura
194 West Street
Recommended Dishes:
Tempura Udon
Crazy Maki
Small Green Salad
Miso Soup


Thai
Chim Thai Cafe
196 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fisherman Soup
Khoa Tom Mud
Pad Thai Country Style

Mango Tree
206 East Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Thai Fisherman's Soup
Pumpkin Curry

Recommended Places to Visit: Upton

Recreation
Water Bodies
Pratt Pond
Westboro Street and Hopkinton Road

Fiske Millpond
Fiske Mill Road and Pond Street

Taft Pond (private)
139 South Street

63 Glen Avenue



Museums
Upton Historical Society
2 Main Street


Parks
Upton Heritage Park/Mill Pond
18 Elm Street


Paintball
Fox 4 Paintball
159 Milford Street


Beaches
Kiwanis Beach
End of Kiwanis Beach Road


Hiking
Recommended:
Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area
~53 Crockett Road

West River Reservoir
13 Dairy Avenue

Tried:
Upton State Forest
Southboro Road and Westboro Street

Stefan's Farm
Mechanic Street

119 Fowler Street


Architecture
Monuments
Town Common
North Main Street and Milford Street


Places of Worship
Immanuel Chapel
38 Hopkinton Road

United Parish of Upton
Church Street and Main Street

Holy Angels Catholic Church
1 Milford Street

St. Gabriel the Archangel Church
151 Mendon Street


Schools
Memorial Elementary School
69 Main Street

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School
65 Pleasant Street

Nipmuc Regional High School
90 Pleasant Street


Town Facilities
Town Hall
1 Main Street

Town Library
2 Main Street

9 Milford Street


Historical Buildings
Spaightwood Galleries
120 Main Street

Old Knowlton Hat Factory
134 Main Street

Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
118 Main Street Kitchen and Spirits
118 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Crab Cakes
Rack of Lamb


Tried:
Chinese
Jade Garden
113 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
General Gau's Chicken
Pork Fried Rice
Chicken Fingers
Hot and Sour Soup


Dessert
JJ's Ice Cream
66 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Red Bridge Beer and Smoked Jalapeno Braised Pot Roast


Western

Red Rock Grill and Bar
66 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Red Bridge Beer and Smoked Jalapeno Braised Pot Roast

Rose Garden Restaurant
16 Milford Street
Recommended Dishes:
Jalapeno Cheese Burger

June 15th 2025: Second Time at Mamacitas, West Boylston

Today, while we had time, after passing through Milford,

Craddock Crewes Pond,
end of Wale Street

Littlefield Pond/Silver Hill Pond,
43 Fiske Mill Road


 we went on a short hike at the Snow Family Conservation Area in Upton, where the path we took is shown below in pink.


Nothing special here, with many potential side trails to get lost on, although my little one got to learn about vernal pools.



 after my little one's Minion dance performance, we decided to go to Mamacitas, a Mexican restaurant in West Boylston for dinner, this time getting the Mar and Tierra Tacos (steak and shrimp on corn tortilla with guacamole, cilantro sauce and cotija cheese),


the Tamarindo,

the Seafood Tacos (3 tacos with your choice of seafood, topped with mango or regular pico de gallo, cilantro, Cotija cheese and cilantro salsa.),
the Chicken Tenders (Three chicken tenders with fries on the side)
and the Bacon Avocado Ranch Burrito. (Chicken or steak with bacon, avocado slices, chihuahua cheese, lettuce and ranch dressing).
Pretty good from this place, although a little salty this time around.