Exploring Massachusetts

Thursday, October 9, 2025

October 10th 2025: First Day at Great Wolf Lodge, Ledyard CT

Today, before checking into the new Great Wolf Lodge location in Ledyard CT, we were at the Foxwoods Resort Casino,

having lunch at Momosan Foxwoods by Morimoto,

where we got the Tokyo Chicken (steamed chicken, menma, chicken broth, ajitama and mushroom),

the Chef Morimoto Signature Roast Duck (House roasted 1/2 duck, flour tortilla, hoisin, apricot sweet chili, pico de gallo)

the Shrimp Tempura Roll (avocado and cucumber topped with tempura shrimp in gochujang sauce)

and the Karaage (japanese style fried chicken, sweet garlic soy).

The ramen and duck were just so-so, although the sushi and the fried chicken were pretty interesting concepts.

Our hotel for the day was pretty good,

but I'll save the fun pictures for tomorrow. Dinner was back at the casino at Hell's Kitchen,

where we got the baked macaroni & cheese (smoked gouda sauce, crispy prosciutto, chives)

and the price fixe menu, consisting of the pan-seared scallops (corn purée, braised bacon lardons, pickled shallots, chives)

the beef wellington (potato purée, glazed root vegetables, red wine demi-glace served medium rare) with shaved truffles

and the sticky toffee pudding (english toffee sauce, dulce de leche ice cream).

The rest of the food was pretty good, but I have to say the most famous dish, the steak, was underwhelming, the steak itself lacking in flavor, the sauce being too salty, and the pastry not being crispy. I think my other half did much better with her attempt a while back. Overall, not worth the price in my opinion. More of Great Wolf Lodge tomorrow!

Sunday, October 5, 2025

October 5th 2025: Bad Hike at Legacy Farms, Hopkinton

Today, we decided to go on a hike at the Legacy Farms area in Hopkinton, where the path we took is shown below in pink.

Other than the big water body on the left of the map,

the other water bodies here were nothing much to speak of,

and the trails were overgrown in general. Hopefully they will improve the trails some day.

Saturday, October 4, 2025

October 4th 2025: Green Island Oyster, Worcester

Today, we decided to check out the new restaurant in Worcester, Green Island Oyster, which has taken over from places like Compass Tavern and District Wood Fired Kitchen. Same layout inside, roughly, with new decor.

We were lucky enough that they were doing $1 oysters the entire month, of which we got 20 Oysters on the Half Shell (our rotating selection served with cocktail sauce, mignonette, and lemon, Malpeque oysters)

We also got the Wood Oven Roasted Salmon Filet (Served with mashed potato, sautéed vegetable medley, and GIO herb butter),

the Lobster 'Mini' Roll Trio (lettuce, classic lobster salad, warm buttered lobster, and chef's daily creation, Served with GIO spice fries or chips and a pickle),

the Linguini in Clam Sauce (littlenecks, chopped clams, parsley, lemon, white wine, garlic, butter, chili flakes),

the Clam & Bacon Wood Fired Pizza (white sauce, chopped clams, bacon, onion, garlic, mozzarella),

the Crab Cakes (lump crabmeat, remoulade sauce, lemon)

and the Clam Chowder (potato, bacon, onion, wood fired croutons).

Pretty good food, and they were definitely not stingy on the meat as well. A definite recommend.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

September 28th 2025: Quick Bites at the Worcester Public Market

Today, while at the Worcester Public Market in Worcester, we decided to get Chicken Momo Fried from Momo Palace,

and the Watermelon flavor from Froze Zone.

Too much meat in the dumpling, and the ice cream was overly sweet. Not a good day for quick bites.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

September 21st 2025: Finding New Places in Grafton and Uxbridge

Today, we passed through Grafton

Stephen H. Roney Memorial Park,
North Main Street and Bridge Street

to get to Uxbridge, where unfortunately Lee Reservoir and the Peabody Pond area are all on private property. Thankfully, we still found new places to see.