There are so many things to do in Boston that it can seem almost overwhelming. From the food to the sports to the historic attractions, you could easily fill your day going place to place and never really feel like you’ve seen enough. The trick is to focus your trip to the city on one major aspect and dive right into it. For example, Boston is home to an amazing art scene, and no matter what your tastes, you could spend your time exploring an endless parade of contemporary, classic, and just plain different forms of artistic expression.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is one of the most famous museums in the world, and it houses an extensive collection of art. And by “extensive” I mean nearly 450,000 different works. These come from all over world, from the Americas and Europe to Asia and Africa. You’ll see photos, prints, drawings, and even fashion and jewelry. This is the broadest range of art you’ll see in the city, which makes it the perfect place to start your tour.

Keep in mind that it’s a popular place, though, so if possible you may want to try and show up on a weekday afternoon when it’s less crowded. There are some good dining options here, too, so if you end up staying for most of the day, you won’t even have to leave the premises to get some good food before you get back to the exhibits.

Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts, will be beaming with more than 650,000 lights as it celebrates the 18th season of Bright Nights at Forest Park.  It has earned the reputation of being one of the countries premier holiday lighting experiences and certainly New England’s brightest night lights.....And All Things New England has teamed up with Spirit of Springfield to give away FREE CAR PASSES !!

For 35 nights, cars, vans, and buses will wind their way through the historic Frederic Olmstead-designed park for a holiday experience like no other.  There will be deer that leap, elves that sing, trees that dance and even Cat in the Hat giving everyone a welcoming wave as the enter Seuss Land.

In honor of Springfield native, Theodor Geisel, Bright Nights at Forest Park features many of his beloved characters brought to light—The Grinch, Cindy Loo Who, Horton and more.  Other displays include the magnificent Everett Barney Mansion, a replica made in lights.  Mr. Barney invention of the clap-on ice skates can be see on the skaters in Victorian Village.

There's something exciting about crossing state lines. With the symbolic change of locale often comes real changes in topography, culture and new adventures.

The varied states of New England are no exception, with each offering its own treasures ready to be discovered by modern-day explorers. It's also the one area of the country where travelers can easily hop between multiple states in a single day or long weekend.

For those who love the perspective a great view provides, New England boasts a few of the nation's most impressive 'high points' or summits. There's a subculture of people, mostly hikers, who try to reach the geographical high point of each state. Fortunately, for those of us content to drive (and hike a few miles, but perhaps not 30), New England's high points generally include access for automobiles.That means that even with the kids and grandparents in tow, the entire family can enjoy a driving tour that culminates in the very best views New England has to offer. If that sounds appealing, here's where to get started:

Canopy tours and ziplining in New England have become all the craze for tourist, families and adrenaline junkies alike. There’s something liberating about soaring 200 feet above the tree line–– the rush of air at your face––the decent amongst solid trunks of pine, hemlock, oak, beech and birch. Even more exhilarating, 60 foot drops and high speed wrap–and–weaves through trees and brush ––the feel of your feet meeting broken ground.

Depending on your fear-factor or comfort level, many canopy and ziplining locations in New England offer a combination of different experiences ranging from short,  high-speed descents on a single cable to 1-3 hour canopy tours on multiple cables and platforms.

Ziplining costs vary from as little as $30 to just under $100 depending on the extent of your tour. Ziplining is not difficult. It involves putting on a safety harness, latching yourself to a cable and knowing how to brake–– all of which you are instructed on how to do before taking the plunge. After that, tension and gravity does the rest.

Ziplining is a growing sport and adventure activity that both outdoor enthusiast and families can enjoy almost year round in New England. Ziplining and canopy tours offer a unique way to view  panoramic and seasonal landscapes of New England with unusual twists. ...And I can't wait to give it a try! 

Below is a listing of Ziplining and canopy tours in New England. It is highly recommend that you make  reservations in advance.  Also, be sure to refer to individual sites for child age and weight restrictions. See you on the ropes!

[Whale Groans] “Okay, he either said, “move to the back of the throat,” or he “wants a root beer  float”.”~Dory from Finding Nemo

This summer, I took my family on their first whale watch out of Provincetown, Massachusetts. We traveled to the Stellwagen Bank on a beautiful sunset cruise where we saw over twenty whales breaching, diving and tail-slapping. From start to finish, our trip was amazing. It was educational, entertaining, humbling and completely captivating...And, no one fell overboard.

You can’t visit or live on the East Coast without having experienced a whale watch at least once. Spring and fall are the best times to go whales watching in New England, however, even in summer, you can get in on the whale action. The Atlantic Ocean is home to Finback, Humpback and Minke whales as well as the North Atlantic Right whale, a rare breed. In fact, it is estimated that there are only 3oo Minke whales remaining today.

Whales are incredible, beautiful, docile creatures. The whale is the largest species in the ocean. In fact, the Blue whale is the largest and loudest creature ever to have existed on our planet––even bigger than dinosaurs.  It can whistle up to 188 decibels (that’s louder than a jet engine) which can be heard over 100 miles under water.  It’s tongue, alone, weighs more than an elephant and can hold up to 50 people. Whales, like us, are mammals. They are warm-blooded and can remain under water for nearly an hour before coming up for air. Whales do not mate for life. Most migrate to colder waters in the summer to reproduce and take advantage of plentiful feeding grounds before returning to warmer poles in the winter where the females will give birth to calves. A “dork” is the name for the male whale’s penis––who knew research could be so interesting.