Showing posts with label Monson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monson. Show all posts

Saturday, September 21, 2019

September 21st 2019: Zoo in Forest Park, Springfield

I had to get museum passes for the Zoo in Forest Park this morning, so I went to the town of Monson, getting them from the Monson Free Library.
We decided to stop in town for lunch nearby at Beth's Family Dining. Nice old building on the outside,

diner on the inside.
For food, we got the Swiss Patty Melt (Swiss cheese, sauteed onions on grilled rye bread).
Did the job of filling our stomachs, but nothing special really.

We also got charged for the milk we ordered for the little one.
With that, it was on to Forest Park in Springfield,

where I had to pay 3 bucks to gain entry into the park in order to get to the zoo.

which had a Art and Soles statue inside.
A pretty small and disappointing zoo though. Not coming back again.

For dinner, we went to Sturbridge Porterhouse in Sturbridge.

As it was still during lunch hour, the STEAK FRITES (GRILLED BISTRO SIRLOIN, HAND CUT FRIES, CHIMICHURRI SAUCE)
we got was relatively cheap compared to their dinner prices, and really good too with the accompanying sauces. A great end to an otherwise long drive to a mediocre zoo.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Recommended Places to Visit: Monson

Recreation
Waterfalls
Plumley Falls
Mouton Hill Road and Wales Road

Ellis Mill Falls
Bliss Street near Bridge Street


Water Bodies
Calkin's Pond
9 Stagecoach Lake Drive

Chicopee Brook Reservoir
58 Palmer Road

Baldwin Pond
272 Reimers Road


Beaches
Paradise Lake
75 Lakeside Drive


Beautiful Scenery
Ely Road
Ely Road


Hiking
Recommended:
Peaked Mountain
Butler Road near Bradway Road

Conant Brook Dam
Old Wales Road near Moores Cross Road

Tried:
Temple Brook Conservation Area
Butler Road near Lower Hampden Road


Architecture
Monuments
Soldier's Monument
High Street and Main Street

Dave Grieve Park
~206 Main Street


Places of Worship
First Church of Monson
5 High Street
Town Facilities
Free Library
2 High Street


Commercial Buildings
Beth's Family Dining
107 Main Street


Historical Buildings
Memorial Hall
~210 Main Street

Silver Street Chapel
224 Silver Street

Old Ellis Mill
288 Main Street

Restaurants
Tried:
Breakfast
Beth's Family Dining
107 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Swiss Patty Melt

June 15th 2019: North Brookfield, Monson and Stafford

I started out today in the town of North Brookfield,
Soldier's Monument,
North Main Street and School Street

which has since repaired its town hall,

checking out the North Brookfield Historical Society

And going on a short hike at Town Forest Park, which had only a small pond to speak of.

Next, I headed into Monson for a hike at the Conant Brook Dam Area, where the path I took is shown below in pink.

The trails here were a little confusing at times, not necessarily being the same as what was on the map,

but somehow I managed to find the water bodies I missed out on the last time I was here.

From here, it was on to the town of Stafford CT,
New City Pond, 121 New City Road
Staffordville Gospel Church
Staffordville Reservoir,
End of Lyons Road
Staffordville School
Hydeville Pond, 309 East Street
Stafford Baptist Church
Old Riverside Woolen Mill,
4 Old Monson Road
Riverside Pond, 5 Leonard Road
Glenville Pond, 100 Furnace Avenue
Stafford Library
Stafford Springs Cemetery,
11 Monson Road
American Legion Post 26
Dennis Pond

Where I went on a hike on the Woodlawn Trail. The rough path I took here is shown below in pink.


A word of caution, the map provided is not anything like the actual path, although the blue blazes did help. As a result, I got lost for a bit, but thankfully I realized my mistake and managed to find the viewpoints here, of which only one had partial views.
For dinner, we were back at the Bonchon in Waltham again, and other than the wings,
this time we got the Bulgogi Korean Tacos (marinated ribeye over three warm flour tortillas filled with crisp lettuce and coleslaw, topped with buttermilk ranch, spicy mayo and red onions) as well.
Not bad, although it was ground beef and not real meat.