New England trips

Rock House Reservation: Visit Massachusetts’ Slot Canyon

By Kathleen Hesketh / January 26, 2024 / 1 Comment

Travel across New England is filled with surprises, particularly when you stumble across Rock House Reservation. I never expected to find the equivalent of a slot canyon (Think Zion National Park and southern Utah) in the woods of Central Massachusetts, but Rock House Reservation features a similar, if much smaller, geographical phenomenon. Nestled amidst the … Read more

The Murderous Tragedy of Spooner Well in Central Massachusetts

By Kathleen Hesketh / January 23, 2024 / 1 Comment

Few people realize that the small town of Brookfield in Central Massachusetts is responsible for raising the first woman to be executed in the new America republic. However, Spooner Well, a sad and lonely spot on the old Boston Post Road, commemorates the occasion with a single lone marker. It’s the place where Joshua Spooner … Read more

Rescued Animals Find a Ray of Light in Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh / January 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Rescued Animals Find a Ray of Light in Connecticut

It isn’t every day that you find an interesting travel destination that also offers hope for rescued animals, but Ray of Light Farm in Connecticut is just such a place. Nestled in the back roads of East Haddam, not far from the famous Gillette Castle mansion, the farm offers sanctuary to abandoned animals as well … Read more

Sad Tales, Historic Remains: Lovers Leap Connecticut

By Kathleen Hesketh / January 16, 2023 / 2 Comments

Many of New England’s hikes blend history with the modern day, but few do it as seamlessly as the trails at Lovers Leap State Park in Connecticut. Explore history against the modern backdrop of the state’s rural New Milford countryside and learn a thing or two about local legends. It’s up to you to decide … Read more

A Former Stage Actor Builds Gillette Castle in Connecticut, Hides Its Secrets for Years

By Kathleen Hesketh / September 10, 2021 / Comments Off on A Former Stage Actor Builds Gillette Castle in Connecticut, Hides Its Secrets for Years

Traveling across New England, it isn’t uncommon to find historical residences, but Gillette Castle in Connecticut sets the stage, so to speak, for a unique experience and day trip. Entering the twilight years of his life, actor, playwright, director and innovator, William Gillette, built a stone house atop the Seven Sisters mountain range overlooking the … Read more

Heublein Tower Hike: Views Atop the Talcott Ridge

By Kathleen Hesketh / May 6, 2020 / 1 Comment

What started out as a lavish gift from a loving husband to his wife, is now one of the best hikes in Connecticut. The Heublein Tower hike and trail, located atop Talcott Mountain and just west of Hartford, offers views as far as Massachusetts. I grew up hiking Talcott Mountain and visiting the tower with … Read more