December 31st 2023: Looking for Falulah Reservoir, Fitchburg

 Today, we revisited the Scott Brook Falls/Northern Watershed area in Fitchburg to try to find Falulah Reservoir, where the path we took is shown below in pink.

We went to see the water tower first,

but could not find the Thurston-Scott Connector trail. We ended up going to the other parking area to get to Scott Brook, with several small waterfalls on side trails 

along the way to Falulah Reservoir, which apparently I already visited in the past.

At least my family enjoyed the hike.

August 24th 2023: Great Wolf Lodge, Fitchburg

 Today, we decided to check out the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, which used to be the Coco Key Water Resort, which I visited once a long time ago. Some parts of it actually looks the same as before.

For food, we pretty much tried every restaurant in the place, getting breakfast from the Dunkin' Donuts here, getting the French Cruller,

Hash Browns, Maple Bacon,

and the Wake Up Wrap.

Just alright in my opinion, the hash browns being a little burnt.

We got the Pizza Vegetable (Bell pepper, onions, black olives and mushrooms) from Hungry as a Wolf,

then dinner from Lodge Wood Fired Grill,

getting the Power Greens (arugula and baby kale, quinoa, roasted corn, carrots, tomatoes, blueberries, parmesan cheese,pesto vinaigrette),

Rachel's Spaghetti and Meatballs for the little one

and the Smokehouse Beef and Cheddar Brisket (smoked beef brisket, steam melted cheddar cheese, Sweet Heat BBQ sauce and a light dressing of aioli served up on a fresh toasted deli roll).

Surprisingly tasty for a hotel restaurant, I must say, especially the BBQ sandwich.

Finally, we had dessert from Bear Paw Sweets and Eats,

getting Strawberry ice cream.

Glad my son had fun here, but a little too much stimulation for the senses in my opinion.

Recommended Places to Visit: Fitchburg

Recreation

Water Bodies
Putnam Pond
John Fitch Highway and North Street

Green's Pond
99 Ashby State Road

Nichols Pond
57 Burbank Street

Saima Pond
41 Scott Road

Overlook Reservoir
End of Flat Rock Road

Scott Reservoir
Thurston Road and Ashby West Road

McTaggart's Pond
288 Sanborn Street

James Pond
366 5th Massachusetts Turnpike

Lovell Reservoir
1200 Rindge Road

Parks

Coggshall Park
159 Electric Avenue

Fitchburg Riverfront Park
Commercial Street near Boulder Drive

Crocker Playground

540 Westminster Street

Arts Performances

New Players Theater Guild
15 Rollstone Street

Hiking
Recommended:
Scott Brook Falls/Northern Watershed
Ashby West Road, 42.609946, -71.827423

West Fitchburg Steamline Trail Park

501 Westminster Street

Rollstone Hill

End of Shattuck Street

Tried:
Flat Rock Wildlife Sanctuary
500 Ashburnham Hill Road


Dams
Snows Millpond Dam
~667 Westminster Street


Water Parks
Coco Key Water Resort (closed)
150 Royal Plaza

Great Wolf Lodge

150 Great Wolf Drive


Museums
Ficthburg Historical Society
781 Main Street

Fitchburg Art Museum
25 Merriam Parkway

Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum
21 Pritchard Street

Architecture

Monuments

Monument Square
Elm Street and Wallace Avenue

War Memorial
Summer Street and Lunenberg Street

War Memorial
Water Street and Main Street

Upper Common
Main Street and Academy Street

Rollstone Boulder
Main Street and Mechanic Street

Town Common
Main Street and Cottage Avenue

Places of Worship

Trinity Congregational Church
125 Rollstone Street

St. Camillus Church
333 Mechanic Street

Highland Baptist Church
19 Cedar Street

Hue Lam Meditation Temple
2 Vernon Street

Rollstone Congregational Church
199 Main Street

Christ Church
569 Main Street

Pentacostal Church Habacuc
1 Caldwell Place

First Parish Church
923 Main Street

Faith United Church
820 Main Street

Immaculate Conception Church
59 Walnut Street

St. Joseph's Catholic Church
49 Woodland Street

St. Anthony of Padua
84 Salem Street

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
1319 Main Street

Beth Eden Baptist Church
22 Cottage Street

Fitchburg Church of the Nazarene
800 South Street

St. Francis of Assisi Church
63 Sheridan Street

Crossroads Community Church
839 Ashby State Road

Wat Lao Dhammaram Buddhist Temple
159 Richardson Road

Elm Street Congregational Church
264 Elm Street

Bridges
Arthur J. DiTomasso Memorial Bridge
5th Street


Schools
Sacred Heart Preschool and Childcare Center
22 Cottage Street

Academy Middle School
98 Academy Street

Fitchburg State University
160 Pearl Street

Town Facilities
Senior Center
14 Wallace Avenue

City Hall
718 Main Street

District Court
100 Elm Street

Law Library
84 Elm Street

Fitchburg Public Library

610 Main Street

Fitchburg Intermodal Transportation Center

150 Main Street

Historical Buildings
Old Madonna of the Holy Rosary Church
118 Theresa Street

The Fay Club
658 Main Street

Old St. Bernard's Church
228 Water Street

Old Summer Street Fire Station
15 Summer Street

Old Duck Mill
60 Duck Mill Road

Old Water Street Fire Station

395 Water Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Latin American

Zapata Mexican Cocina
23 Lunenburg Street
Recommended Dishes:
De La Casa

Ezquites

Carne Asada

Los Churros

Western

Lodge Wood Fired Grill

150 Great Wolf Drive

Recommended Dishes:

Rachel's Spaghetti and Meatballs

Power Greens

Smokehouse Beef and Cheddar Brisket

Dessert
Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop and Deli
159 Richardson Road
Recommended Dishes:
Peanut Butter Cannoli
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Knotted Roll
French Cruller

Bear Paw Sweets and Eats (chain)

150 Great Wolf Drive

Recommended Dishes:

Strawberry

Breakfast

Gene Collette's Airport Restaurant
567 Crawford Street
Recommended Dishes:
Irish Eggs Benedict

Tried:
Breakfast

Dunkin' Donuts (chain)

150 Great Wolf Drive

Recommended Dishes:

French Cruller

Hash Browns

Maple Bacon

Wake Up Wrap

Deli

Oliver's Cafe by the Falls (chain)

44 Old Princeton Road

Recommended Dishes:

Chicken Pesto

Seafood
SS Lobster
691 River Street

Western
Legends Sports Bar and Grill
68 Airport Road
Recommended Dishes:
Baby Back Ribs

Janet's Chili Dogs
652 Water Street
Recommended Dishes:
Regular Dog

Fuzzy's Cafe
100 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Bacon Cheeseburger

Dickie's Grillin'
127 John Fitch Highway
Recommended Dishes:
Rodeo Burger

Italian
Goombaz Pizzeria and Grill
150 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Cheese Pizza
Chicken Wings
Garlic Knots

Il Ricordi
226 Westminster Road
Recommended Dishes:
Baked Eggplant Rollatini
Fettucine Alfredo

Hungry as a Wolf

150 Great Wolf Drive

Recommended Dishes:

Pizza Vegetable

Thai
One Thong Chai Thai Bistro
127 John Fitch Highway
Recommended Dishes:
Moo Yang With Sticky Rice
Boat Trip Noodle Soup

Indian

Bombay Tandoor Grill
200 Lunenburg Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lunch Buffet

June 17th 2023: Oliver's Cafe by the Falls, Fitchburg

 After checking out the Fitchburg Public Library in Fitchburg, 

we decided to have a quick bite at Oliver's Cafe by the Falls, a new cafe location in Fitchburg from the one in Leominster, 

right by the waterfall for James Pond.

We got the Chicken Pesto (marinated chicken, pesto sauce, roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella),

which was a little on the bland side in my opinion. Not sure how you get pesto wrong. Not coming back again.

To make up for the unsatisfying meal, we went to the Burger King in Leominster next,

this time getting the Spicy BK Royal Crispy Chicken

and the Chicken Nuggets Kids Meal (6 Piece).

Not bad, definitely better than the earlier meal.

30th October 2022: Rollstone Hill, Fitchburg

 Today, we decided to go on a hike at Rollstone Hill in Fitchburg, where the rough path we took from the end of Shattuck Street is shown below in pink.

The initial ascent brought us to nice views of the town below,

but reaching the top of the graffiti filled rocks was where the best views to be had.

Unfortunately, we got lost trying to head back to the car, and went a round around the telecommunications tower here,

then went out the wrong way and had to make it all the way back on the road. Really nice hike though.

For lunch, we decided to eat at Mai Tai's, a new Chinese restaurant in Leominster,

where we got the Shrimp Tempura Maki (fried shrimp, masago and eel sauce),

the Salt and Pepper Fish Fillet (white fish fillet seasoned with spices, stir fried, then tossed with stir fried scallions and chili peppers, salt and black pepper),

and the Pad Thai (rice noodles stir fried with a combination of chicken, shrimp, pork and assorted vegetables and crushed peanuts, tossed with a Thai sauce).

Not too bad for Americanized Chinese food actually, especially after getting lost.