New england Scuttlebutt

My mom and I were long overdue for a mother-daughter trip, and we couldn't have picked a better destination than the Berkshires in Massachusetts during the fall. We were excited to spend a couple of days catching up, exploring beautiful little New England towns, and soaking in all that gorgeous fall foliage. We were arriving just before peak foliage, and the closer we got to Lenox, the prettier everything became. Winding roads, historic homes, and trees bursting with color. I

My husband is a pilot, which means he’s gone about half the time. Between his schedule, my schedule, and having two kids, it’s not often that we actually find ourselves with a free night for a date. But we finally did. As soon as we knew we had a sitter, I started thinking about where we could go right here in Dover that we hadn’t tried before. I’ve always heard amazing things about Stalk, and honestly, if you know Dover, you know restaurants can come and go. Stalk has been h

After Adam and I wrapped up filming at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we were ready for lunch and maybe a little friendly competition. I had heard great things about Minibar in Portland, so we decided to check it out. And honestly, this place just makes sense for Maine. With our snowy winters, rainy days, and unpredictable weather, having an indoor mini golf course where you can grab a beer, watch a game, eat some really good food, and hang out year-round is such

I have always wanted to go to summer camp. As a kid, I watched It Takes Two, Camp Nowhere, The Parent Trap, and yes, even Heavyweights, and completely romanticized the idea of spending summer at camp. Cabins. Lakes. Crafts. Horses. Campfires. A bunch of kids becoming best friends over the course of a summer. I never got to go. So when Kate and Nicole reached out to me about Camp Bramble, an adult camp for women in Harrison, Maine, I was ALL over it. Apparently, I just had to

There are some places in New England that you just need to see from the water, and Portland, Maine is absolutely one of them. We recently had the chance to head out on Casco Bay with Casco Bay Legacy Charters, a family-run charter company offering private boat tours out of Portland. Between the beautiful boat, incredible scenery, local history and the ability to customize your trip, this is such a fun way to experience a different side of Portland and Casco Bay. Our trip star

Finding a place to eat while traveling with kids can sometimes be a challenge. You want somewhere that feels special enough to be part of the trip, but you also want to look at the menu and know there is actually something your kids will eat. So when I realized there was an American Flatbread just three minutes from Outbound Stowe, where we were staying, I had an immediate sigh of relief. We’ve been to American Flatbread in other New England towns and have always had a great

For years, people have been telling me the same thing: “You NEED to go to Monhegan Island.” And for years, my answer has been, “I know! I need to go!” Well, this was finally the year I pulled the trigger and now I completely understand what everyone was talking about. I had heard that if you’re going to Monhegan, The Island Inn is the place to stay, so I booked a room for me and my friend and then reserved a spot on the 7:00 a.m. Monhegan Boat Line ferry out of Port Clyde. I’

Sometimes the best finds happen when you get off the main street and that is exactly how Fae and I found Gingham in Freeport, Maine. Fae and I were on our way up to the cottage, and I thought it would be fun to stop in Freeport and get a little treat for each of us. Naturally, Fae got to go first. We stopped at Island Treasure Toys, where owner Emily helped us pick out some great toys and activities for Fae to bring to the cottage. While we were there, Emily gave me a little

The kids and I recently packed up for a little Vermont adventure and headed to Stowe, where we stayed at Outbound Stowe. This was our first time staying there, and by the end of the trip, we were already talking about coming back. Outbound Stowe was incredibly easy to find and is conveniently located close to downtown Stowe. As soon as we pulled in, the first thing the kids noticed was the pool. Forget checking out the room, they wanted to know when we were going swimming! We

This June, I had the opportunity to spend several days sailing the Maine coast aboard the Schooner American Eagle out of Rockland, Maine, and I have not stopped thinking about that trip since. I have told everyone who will listen that it was one of the best, and without a doubt the most relaxing, trips I have ever taken. The funny thing is, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never slept on a ship before. I had never even been out on the water for more

Every year, my family heads to North Conway, New Hampshire for our annual camping trip. It’s one of those traditions I look forward to all year. I love spending time outside, campfires, exploring the White Mountains, and making memories with the family. But camping in New England also means accepting that Mother Nature is going to do whatever she wants. And this year, she really went for it. On our second night, we got absolutely downpoured on. Not just a little summer rain,

My daughter Fae and I were headed up to the cottage, and I decided we should make a little detour in Freeport, Maine to treat ourselves. We had stopped in Freeport before and stumbled across the cutest little toy store, so I thought she would love to go back. I plugged Island Treasure Toys into the GPS, and off we went. This time, though, it took us somewhere different. The store had moved to a much bigger location right on Main Street in Freeport! The second Fae looked thro

I spent a few days in Portland this past week, and it reminded me exactly why it's one of my favorite cities to visit in New England. Between incredible restaurants, unique local shops, waterfront views, and some unforgettable experiences on Casco Bay, it was the perfect getaway. Even better? I stayed right in the heart of it all at The Docents Collection in Old Port Square. From the moment I arrived, I knew I had picked the perfect place to stay. Check-in couldn't have been

If you've been following along for a while, you probably already know that Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is one of my absolute favorite places to visit in Maine. I've experienced it during the height of summer when the gardens are bursting with color, and I've also visited during Gardens Aglow, when the property transforms into a magical winter wonderland filled with millions of lights. No matter the season, it's always an incredible experience. This time, while spending a

I had been looking forward to this stay for months because a friend of mine had stayed here and absolutely loved it. After hearing all about it, my expectations were pretty high and somehow, they still exceeded them. One of the things I love most about the Inn at Bay Ledge is its location. It's only a few minutes from the hustle and bustle of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, but tucked away in a peaceful setting overlooking Frenchman Bay. When I first pulled into the dri

Some places make you smile the second you see them. That's exactly how I felt when I rounded the corner and caught my first glimpse of the Harpswell Inn. I actually gasped. There it was....a beautiful historic white house overlooking the water, looking like something straight out of a New England daydream. If you know me, you know I have a soft spot for old white homes full of history and character, so I already knew I was going to love it before I even stepped inside. The Ha

Some places are worth going out of your way for, and in Phippsburg, Maine is absolutely one of them. Tucked away beside owner Shelly Hunt's home, this woman-owned, family-run lobster shop is everything you hope to find when you're searching for an authentic Maine experience. Shelly is a proudly married to a lobsterman, and together with her husband she brings fresh lobsters straight from the traps to her customers. It doesn't get much fresher than that. As Shelly puts it on

If you find yourself visiting Ogunquit, one place you absolutely can't miss is Perkins Cove. It's everything you picture when you think of coastal Maine. Working boats, sailboats gently rocking in the harbor, salty ocean air, stunning waterfront views, and charming little shops tucked around every corner. It's the kind of place you can spend hours exploring. My kids and I stayed overnight at the Abalonia Inn, which was a 5 min drive from Perkins Cove. We spent the afternoon

One of my favorite things about Ogunquit is that you can park the car and simply enjoy the town on foot. That's exactly what we did during our recent stay at the Abalonia Inn, and it made for the perfect family getaway. We arrived in Ogunquit early to do some exploring before check-in. With hungry kids in tow, our first stop was Footbridge Lobster, where we enjoyed some delicious fresh Maine lobster. After lunch, we wandered through Perkins Cove, popping into some wonderful l

Great food, genuine hospitality, and a touch of local history made this one of our favorite family meals to date. Our family recently had the pleasure of dining at Jonathan’s in Ogunquit, and it was one of those meals that reminded us how much a restaurant experience is about more than just the food. From the second we walked through the door, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. Our autistic son loves asking questions and can be wonderfully enthusiastic when he meets n