Getaways

Have a Devil of a Time in Ipswich

Published September 23, 2020 | By Clark Norton

According to legend, Ipswich’s “Devil’s Footprint” was formed when Satan leaped off a local church steeple. Photo from Historic Ipswich.

Following up on his Ipswich fried clams post — part I of a two-part series on the historic, scenic, and all-around inviting area of Ipswich and Essex, Massachusetts — contributing writer Bob Waite now asks us to back away from the table long enough to enjoy the other sometimes devilish delights the region has to offer.

By Robert Waite

Ipswich, MA – You can have a devil of a time in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Or at least the residents apparently did back in the 1740’s.

According to local legend, a visit by a famous English fire-and-brimstone preacher, the Rev. George Whitfield, to the town’s First Congregational Church, located atop Town Hill, attracted a crowd of thousands – and a curious Satan.

Whitfield, who had no sympathy for the devil, called Satan… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, cultural travel, Film Locations, Getaways, History | Tagged Cape Ann Massachusetts, Cape Ann travel, Castle-Hill-Great House Ipswich, Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Ipswich Massachusetts, Ipswich Massachusetts travel, John Whipple House | 3 Comments

Get Your Thrills from the Sea on Route 133

Published September 21, 2020 | By Clark Norton

The inimitable box of fried clams has helped put Ipswich, Massachusetts, on the culinary map

In his latest guest post, Bob Waite had me hooked with his first mention of fried clams, one of my favorite culinary indulgences.

And by the time I had finished reading his piece, I was salivating for a return trip to Cape Ann, a seafood haven and resort area that includes Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Bob grew up in Ipswich on Cape Ann, and writes here about his hometown and nearby Essex — one of which invented the fried clam (though both claim it). But wherever it was born, the Cape Ann area indisputably remains king of the clam. And that’s good enough for me.

By Robert Waite

Ipswich, MA – While many Americans back in the day were getting their kicks on Route 66, I was getting my thrills from the sea on Route 133.… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, food, Getaways, Restaurants | Tagged Cape Ann Massachusetts, Clam Box restaurant, Clam Highway, Essex Massachusetts, fried clams, Ipswich Massachusetts, Ipswich Massachusetts clams, Ipswich Massachusetts restaurants, Woodman's fried clams | 10 Comments

At Last, a Short Getaway

Published September 10, 2020 | By Clark Norton

At nearly 9,200 feet, Mt. Lemmon provides a cool respite from Tucson’s summer heat. Photo courtesy of Visit Tucson.

As baby boomers whose ages put us at risk for COVID-19, my wife and I have spent the past few months mostly hunkered down at home — a sad but prudent fate for this travel writer itching to confront his bucket list without literally kicking it.

While the fact that Tucson’s temperatures have topped 100 degrees most of the summer has made hibernation somewhat easier, the pandemic has made it difficult to escape that very heat — so that’s been kind of a wash.

But recently — as our contributing writer Robert Waite suggested in a post on this site back in the spring — I decided to take some “baby steps” and get out of town for a few days. Hence the Tucson branch of our family headed to a… Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Baby boomer travel, Getaways, Tucson, vacation rentals | Tagged Arizona travel, Mt. Lemmon, Summerhaven Arizona, Tucson travel, Visit Tucson | 3 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.