Jamestown, Rhode Island

All photos Courtesy Efrem Bromberg

Located in the small "Ocean State" of Rhode Island on Conanicut Island, Jamestown remains a quaint, rural village despite the highly developed tone some of it's surrounding beach communities have taken. With an agricultural past, the island has acres of unspoiled pastures and rolling hills protected by open space.

Jamestown is an ideal destination for summer recreation, but failing to appreciate it's beauty throughout the colder months is a mistake. A simple drive around the island is enough to suffice most, but exploring by bike or boat is more rewarding.

The small downtown area is credited with an array of restaurants as well as the infamous Narragansett Cafe, best known for their "rockin" weekend music and smoke filled dance floor (prior to smoke ban)!

A trip to the island would not be complete without an excursion to Beavertail State Park. With its rocky coastline and hiking trials, Beavertail offers some of the best coastal vistas that the state has to offer. Renowned for it's saltwater fishing and historic lighthouse it is a must see if you are visiting the island.

Enjoy

Medelise

The Tyler Place Family Resort

Located in Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain

Great Summer Vacations: Part One

I am not quite sure where to start when it comes to the Tyler Place Family Resort. But, I can tell you this, after 16 consecutive years of family vacations with my husbands clan, the Tyler Place is the only resort that we repeated....five times!!!

Why?

In a Boston Parents Magazine review on the Tyler Place Family Resort, they state "It is how to take a vacation with a really young child and really enjoy it"

If you are a parent, especially of very young children, sometimes your family vacation is not really a vacation for you. But all that is about to change...at the Tyler Place Family Resort, you can have your cake and eat it too. There is no need to feel guilty. Rest assured your children will be having the time of their life as you enjoy a little alone time or quality time with your spouse.

With every feasible activity available to adults such as sailing, tennis, mountain biking and Yoga(to mention a few), there are endless possibilities for creating the ultimate morning adventure. But don't neglect the opportunity to just sit and relax with a good book as well. You choose...will it be the pool side today or the Adirondack chair overlooking Lake Champlain? My favorite was a quick swim out to the trampoline raft to soak up the heat on the warm top. What about the kids you ask? Your kids, they will be off on their own adventure in the award winning children's program that has set the Tyler Place Family Resort apart from other inclusive family resorts. I am sorry to inform you, but by the end of the week your kids will gladly trade you in for one of their camp counselors, no regrets, no looking back!

And as much as the Tyler Place has perfected the art of entertaining and caring for small children, they have also managed not to neglect addressing the number one kill joy to a great family vacation....the teenager. On all five of our stays at the Tyler Place, one of the nine offspring in the Reifsteck clan was in that teenage sulk stage. And although the nieces whined a bit about the overnight camping on an island, secretly they pined for the handsome counselor that crooned folksongs while strumming the guitar, as they all sat around the campfire.

Probably the biggest factor in our repeat trips to The Tyler Place Family Resort, was their approach to dining. With nine children ranging in age from 3 months to 16 years of age the adults in our group never seemed to have an opportunity to actually sit down and enjoy a meal together. You know the drill... in between cleaning up spilled milk, trying to coax a ten year old to eat more than just the cookies and preventing the boys from throwing food at each other, adults don't have a chance. With two camp sessions a day( one in the morning until after lunch, the other for several hours in the evening) not only do the parents get to enjoy a meal talking with one another, they can even get in a romantic moonlight walk down to the shoreline. The food at the Tyler Place is outstanding. The only downside...withdrawal when you arrive home and realize that you do not have five different dessert choices.

If you are looking for a great, relaxing vacation this summer, The Tyler Place Family Resort should be at the top of your list. With many of the children in our group on the verge of adulthood, we are looking forward to a new generation of Tyler Kids!

Look for Part Two in the series on the Outer Banks by subscribing below.

Summer is almost here...start planning!
Medelise

Marty's 1st Stop

Danville, Vermont
Rt 2


So I am almost embarrassed to admit that one of my favorite places in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is a convenience store. So enamored by this establishment that when we decided to sell our Danville house that even our children would check a potential property off the list if it's proximity to Marty's was not close enough (no joke). Aah, but Marty's 1st Stop is so much more than a convenience store, in fact we like to call it a gold mine.

Located on Rt 2 Between the town of St. Johnsbury and the center of Danville, Marty's has positioned itself as a first stop and a last stop for many a hunter, camper, skier and leaf peeper alike. But don't be mistaken, this is not a tourist trap as the locals seem just as fond of this small grocery/gas establishment as the tourists. And as well they should.

Marty's, and yes there is a Marty, provides its shoppers with the perfect alternative to the grocery store. The deli and meat department is quite possibly the best stocked meat counter I have ever encountered. It is regular part of our weekend routine to stop by Marty's and pick up some marinated beef tips and marinated chicken breast for cooking out on the grill. but you can also get rosemary encrusted lamb roast, salmon steaks and yes even fresh lobster! If you are looking for a sandwich to go, their deli subs and grinders are delicious with a generous helping of cold cuts and vegetables.


After you move on from the meat counter you realize that you might have been hasty in your choice as you notice the huge crocks of homemade soup. On this particular day I actually found the chef himself stirring the pots, Marty! Although he was hesitant to have me take a picture of just him alone claiming that it takes a whole lot of folks to make this business run. Soup of the day....shrimp and scallop bisque and pot roast and potato stew...not too shabby for a small town convenience store.

Along with the soup, you will find fresh made egg sandwiches in the morning, Pizza throughout the day and a variety of other comfort foods that change daily. Need a bottle of wine to go with dinner, Marty's has got you covered. Located next to the produce is a nice selection of wines to please every palette.




But there is even more! For all you coffee lovers, there is an entire counter filled with fresh brewed Green Mountain coffee (baked goods to the left) Hot summer evening, stop in for some ice cream at the ice cream shop out front, need some food for the livestock, yes there is even a feed store. According to Marty, you will even be able to do your banking soon as a local bank will be setting up two tellers. Oh yeah and did I mention that it was a gas station and on the VAST trail!

As I said earlier, we often call Marty's a gold mine. Undoubtedly it is busy every moment of the day four seasons out of the year. But the store is well equipped and experienced to handle the love fest with several registers ready and manned. Many of the customers and employees seem to know one another and take a few minutes to say hello and catch up at the counter.

The down side of Marty's, well I haven't actually found one yet...even the bathrooms are nice and clean!

Medelise

An Unfortunate Change In Plans

Due to health issues, I will not be covering the 2008 TD Banknorth Craftsbury 27th Annual Race and Tour on February 2nd. If there is anyone who would like to take over the coverage as a guest writer, I would be so appreciative.
Look for my coming posts on two great places in the Northeast Kingdom, Marty' 1st Stop in Danville Vermont and the Village Sports Shop in Lyndonville. I am behind but hope to be back writing shortly.
Thanks for your patience
Medelise