Our Nor’east trip was quite a journey!

The flight to Boston was a longer one at around 4 hours but E did really good on the plane again, with plenty of iPad videos, snacks and a new {Thomas} toy. (Plane rides are pretty much the only time we buy toys for him!). He also slept a bit but of course he waited until the end for that. :) He was plenty excited when we arrived!

After riding the shuttle to get our rental car and fighting horrible Boston traffic, we finally checked into our hotel. With all the marathoners in town, thankfully we booked far ahead of time enough that we got a really central hotel in downtown. The first night we just took it easy — walked around awhile to get our bearings and made a Whole Foods run for a few groceries and dinner.

The next day was beautiful weather — we stopped at the popular Thinking Cup for lattes (coffee for Daddy, tea for Mommy and water for son). (FYI, they serve Stumptown coffee which we had in Portland last year). The cafe was abuzz with lots of runner folks and excitement for the race was definitely a-brewing. :) Bostonians seem generally nice and friendly and we chatted with a couple with a kiddo just a tad younger than E. Both of them ran Boston last year! Our convo began when we saw them come in with their BOB and we asked if they ran with it. :)

Then we strolled to the Boston Commons and Gardens. (Mommy would be getting picked up here on race day to head to Hopkinton). The swan boats had just started their rides on the lake but Daddy deemed them too slow. ;-P We hung out in the park for awhile, people and duck watching.

Then it was off to the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo so Mommy could pick up her bib and race packet. On the way, we ran into one of Mommy’s old co-workers… We also saw him at the Irving Marathon where he, too, BQ’d. The expo is opened to the public and it was absolutely PACKED with people. Vendors were there to showcase all things running and it was an insane escapade! We picked up a few samples here and there but there was no way we (well, E, haha) were going to wait in line for any purchases. E’s proudest trinket from the event was a free pair of sunglasses from the CEP booth. Daddy was pretty happy with a pair, too, since he left his at home.

The expo was majorly tiring so after E’s nap we just wandered a little on the Freedom Trail and ended at the well-known (albeit very touristy) Faneuil Hall Marketplace for dinner. We decided to take it back to the hotel and just chill for the evening. Daddy wanted to try Boston lobster and compare it with Maine’s later when we headed up north. E had some, too!

On Sunday (day before marathon), Mommy was supposed to stay off her feet as much as possible but that didn’t quite happen. Oh well. In the morning, we went to the New England Aquarium. Looks like lots of other runners didn’t stay off their feet either as it was a full house as well. Highlights were the Giant Ocean Tank (with HUGE sea turtle), penguin exhibit, live seal show, Shark and Ray Touch Tank and Edge of the Sea Touch Tank. E was a little tentative in sticking his hands in the water to touch some of the creatures and he was flat out scared of the sea turtle but overall, he had a great time!

Daddy’s “creative shot”. :)

After naptime, we went on a Boston Duck Tour — an amphibious vehicle takes you both on land and water with a conductor pointing out sites, giving commentary, sharing historical facts and throwing out cheesy (but funny nonetheless) jokes here and there. It was more educational, engaging and memorable than we expected!

So E decided to throw a mini-tantrum after we hopped on, insisting on wanting to sit in the driver’s seat. We managed to sidetrack him somehow which can’t be recalled at the moment. ;-) Surprise of surprises, when we were cruising on the Charles River, the conductor asked if anybody wanted to “drive” while he took a break. Of course, Mommy’s hand shot up in no time! E was just ecstatic about taking the wheel.

After the tour, we hung around the pier for awhile. Mommy started to seriously worry about the weather the next day. It had been another near perfect one — highs in the 60’s with some sun and little wind. It was hard to wrestle with the forecasts that were calling for rain, gusty, strong winds and cold temps for race day. :( (Hmmm, E = precip sounds familiar!).

Like it or not, then came April 20, 2015 — the 119th Boston Marathon! :) Mommy pretty much tossed and turned all night, checked The Weather Channel on the hour and googled tactics for running in the rain. ;-P The marathon actually starts later in the day but this was one of those times people wished for an earlier start time before the storm came in. Mommy took a short walk to where the buses picked up runners at the Boston Common to drive to the start in faraway Hopkinton. It was chilly and windy already but still dry at this point. Mommy was wearing three upper layers with a poncho and heat cape packed in a plastic bag, two bottom layers and a hat (which almost didn’t make it into the luggage). Better safe than sorry!!! We piled into the yellow school buses and then we were off…. We drove… and then it started to sprinkle. And drove… and then it started to RAIN. And drove… and drove! It was hard to imagine that we would be running that long of a distance back. ;-) Mommy chatted with another runner on the bus who started running at 50 and has since run 4 Boston’s!

We FINALLY made it to Athlete’s Village which is this huge field at a school and waited until our corrals/waves were called. Rain + empty field = mud. :( Thankfully, Mommy timed it so that she arrived at the village not too long before her wave was called. She donned the poncho, waited in line to go one last time in the port-o-potty (and were there many!!!), and it was time for her to head to the REAL start line which was maybe a mile away? As we inched closer, runners started shedding layers of clothing… It was quite a sight seeing them tossed all around. The cool thing was all these articles of clothing would be donated to a local shelter! Then suddenly it was countdown time and it was POURING!!!! Mommy was down to her race shirt and the poncho (tossed around mile 2-3?) and shorts, ready to get this show on the road (and over with, haha).

Weather aside, the race is a good one — the crowd support and spectators are AMAZING… The course is definitely tough but Mommy’s coach (shoutout to Joe!) had her pretty ready for not just the hills but a lot of the DOWNhills. Each of the neighborhoods that we pass through are unique with its own character. Only after running it do you truly understand #BostonStrong… in so many more ways than one. The rain chose to keep pouring but Mommy chose to keep on keeping on. Daddy and E came out to cheer and Mommy actually spotted them at the top of Newton (yes, THAT hill) around mile 21. The last few miles were INCREDIBLY difficult with the winds getting stronger and stronger as we headed into downtown and we were all getting wetter and wetter and more weighed down… but alas, yay, it was done. Crossing that finish line was an unforgettable experience. No running photos (maybe a good thing, heh) but just this little piece of hardware to prove it. :) And surprisingly, a marathon PR and another BQ. But she’s done with marathons. At least for a long while. ;-) Maybe.

MUCH props to Daddy for ergo’ing E around through the masses AND hills. Apparently, the trains back to the city were sardined to the wazoo and they were not able to catch one for a long while. E actually fell asleep in Daddy’s arms and by the time they were able to make it back, Mommy had already finished the marathon, gone through a ton of stations at the finish, walked (limped?) the mile or so back to the hotel FREEEEEEZING, completely showered (with LOTS of hot water) and gorging on any snacks she could get her hands on. So Daddy pretty much did a marathon that day, too. THANK YOU!!! Also, many thanks to the texts, messages, calls, support and love from family, friends and “frunners” (take a wild guess at the definition). *big, fat, puffy <3 ya'll* They took lots of selfies... and now E uses that slang on his own. :)

We had our one meal in Chinatown that night — AYCE hot pot — as we heard a lot of the more popular places would just be way too full (and likely not so toddler-friendly). Then we packed up and checked out the next morning for the rest of our trip. As we headed out of Boston, we decided to make a stop at Bunker Hill Monument and Museum. Not sure why we happened to pick this site the day after the marathon but it was a 294 step climb to reach the top. Sorry, dear quads! :) Reminded us of climbing the Washington Monument (which was modeled after this one) and the winding stairs of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. At the summit, we were greeted with panoramic views of Boston and environs so guess the ascent was worth it!

The next leg of our journey was Maine. On our way there we stopped at one of the ever loved JP Licks! It was not easy picking a few from all their homemade, scratch recipe flavors. Since E hardly eats any sugary sweets at home, he waited ever so expectantly.

And then this happened when it was “all gone”. Poor guy. Yes, life is hard when you run out of ice cream! :((

There was a Legoland next door and we were kind of (pleasantly) shocked when E pointed at it and said “chang jing lu” (giraffe in Mandarin). We’ve been making an effort to speak some Chinese to him but that might have been the first time he voluntarily communicated in a language besides English (and gibberish). :)

En route to Portland, Maine, we ventured to Kennebunkport, a quintessential coastal town, known for being the summer vacation home of the Bush (as in George et al) family. We meandered through the neighborhoods looking at the grand seaside houses and then took a break to stretch our legs at the pullout point for viewing Walker’s Point, the Bush compound.

Indeed, rock-throwing has become a recent hobby so this was like an ideal playground for him. :) With his astronaut shirt, it kind of looks like he is on the moon or something. Oh and from the minute we picked up the rental car, he’s been wanting to “test drive” it so Daddy gave him some time to get it out of his system.

The mesmerizing, crashing waves kept Mommy and Daddy calm. ;P

We got to Portland just in time for the hotel social. :) Then we had real dinner at the recommended DiMillo’s on the Water which is a floating restaurant with pretty views of the harbor. Undoubtedly, since we were in Maine, we had to have lobster. E had a hot dog on the side. He is also into seeing himself in photos. Oh my.

The next morning, we leisurely explored the Old Port area with its many boutiques, shoppes, architecture, bars and little eateries. E was happy about another cool treat from local Go Berry that makes fresh yogurt on-site with dairy from independent farms within miles from the store.

We walked by the garden Evergreen Cemetery, through some neighborhoods and up Munjoy Hill to the distinctive Portland Observatory that used to signal the arrival of ships into Port. We were disappointed that it was closed as visitors would get to go up to the top and see the city and harbor. Further down the hill, we found the Eastern Promenade, which is actually a park with slopes that extend all the way to the water. It was a lovely clear day so E enjoyed some fun in the playground there with a whole bunch of other munchkins. We then followed the Eastern Prom Pathway that winds along the waterfront, all the way back to our hotel.

After a crazy long nap for E (Daddy worked/napped and Mommy went to see some art and shops), we made our way to the Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth. The weather had made a turn for the worse and it was suddenly super cold and wildly windy. We only spent a few minutes on the ground before we made a beeline back to the car for shelter. Whoa, see Mommy’s hair for a gauge on the wind speed!

Daddy had found a highly rated lobster shack nearby called, ever so originally, The Lobster Shack. :) It is actually located on the shores of the cape and a local landmark. Unfortunately, due to the frigid winds, we had to literally run from car to shack. The weather didn’t look like it deterred patrons from coming out for the food, though. What do you think we ordered? ;-) We actually tried getting E a lobster roll this time. For him, roll > lobster inside. And he could not stop chomping away on the fries! (Another thing he hardly eats at home, we guess?).

After a two night stay, it was check-out time. However, Daddy felt that we didn’t get to spend enough time at the Portland Headlight and since the weather was much milder and we weren’t on a certain timetable, we made a second visit. Good call as it really is such a nice area. The lighthouse itself is both magnificent and charming. There were walkways all around and by the cliffs so we took a few, just soaking in the calm and serenity.

Then it started to drizzle right as we got into the car. On the way to our next destination, we stopped at the flagship L.L. Bean Store in Freeport, ME. It is immense and open 24/7, 365 days a year! Daddy and son headed straight for the bike and ski shop. E tried bike after bike after bike after bike. We literally had to drag him kicking and screaming out the store. Joy.

Next on our itinerary was New Hampshire and the White Mountains. And white it was — we were greeted with flurries as we entered North Conway, NH. We planned it so that most of our driving would fall during his nap time and what do you know, he was still sleeping when we got to our hotel. We decided to let him catch a few more zzzz’s so we drove into town and stopped at the Mount Washington Weather Discovery Center. It’s a neat interactive science museum with hands-on exhibits and other educational lessons about climate and the atmosphere. You can also spot Mount Washington from here. We really wanted to go up the mount to the observatory itself but it was closed due to snow. There have been reports of over 200MPH winds at the top!

E woke up not long ago after the car stopped and got to play in the museum before it closed. Then we checked in and went for dinner at this place called Chef’s Bistro which serves fresh and local fare. The Ahi Tuna was especially stellar but everything else we ordered was so delicious.

Apparently there is quite a lot to do in North Conway but most attractions weren’t open until May (which is when New Englanders really consider it “spring”). It was very nippy in NH! After breakfast, we spent part of the morning in downtown which was pretty happening. Mommy headed straight for Bavarian Chocolate Haus first — they make all of their delectable confections by hand! Mmmm, morsels from heaven. Uh-oh, E is becoming a chocolate lover, too. :)

Then we hit up some of the curious shops. Standouts were the zany Zeb’s General Store which was both whimsical and nostalgic, carrying hard-to-find made in New England items; the “uncommonly cool” Penguin Gallery; and the classic North Conway 5 & 10 Store, the oldest continually operating retail store in town.

We also passed by the old train station, now home to the Conway Scenic Railway. The Thomas the Train tour comes here! There probably would have been much more to see on that ride than the one we did near home in Grapevine. We had hoped to take E on the train but it was a limited route/schedule when we were there.

We read about a couple of hikes in the vicinity that seemed doable with the little one in tow. The first one was Cathedral Ledge in Echo Lake State Park. There was supposed to be a 1 mile auto road leading to the 1.2 Bryce Hiking Path to the top of the ledge. Well, due to rain/snow, the auto road was shut down so we had to go by foot. JUST 1 mile, right? It turned out to be 1 mile sharp uphill! Daddy got an extra workout with E in the carrier. :)

After much huffing and puffing, we reached the trailhead and let E down to walk on his own. Daddy was utterly relieved. E did great hiking to to the top where we could see expansive vistas of the valley and beyond. Climbers are also known to brave the sheer granite face. Our daredevil kept wanting to jump on and off the rocks.

The descent was a lot easier, except E kept wanting to RUN down the auto road which could easily have caused a fall. Mommy and Daddy tag-teamed holding him and interspersed with letting him romp on the gravel, we made it back to our car safely. The other hike we had been looking into was Diana’s Baths which leads to cascading falls and a brook. But we had spent more time than anticipated at Cathedral and Daddy feared the other area might be waterlogged, so we opted to set out for our final stop: Vermont!

We lunched at this delightful cafe inside this place called The Natural Grocer. It was probably the yummiest health food we’ve ever had! And oh, the raw chocolate!!! :) Then it was back on the road to Stowe, VT. E knocked out almost immediately so Daddy pulled over for a quick look at some of the cascading falls.

We took the suggested Kancamagus Highway which was lauded as the picturesque route from the White Mountains to the Green Mountains… except everything still seemed WHITE! It started snowing harder along the way but at least the roads didn’t seem too icy or perilous.

Our waitress at Chef’s Bistro had mentioned visiting a sugar farm on the way to Stowe. The Bragg Farm Sugar House received excellent reviews on Yelp so we made it sort of a rest stop. There were samplings of their very own 100% pure maple syrup and lots of specialty Vermont products. A little souvenir shopping for ourselves and friends/family was in order. The lady at the counter was so nice — spent most of her life in Vermont except for a few months in Texas (Grapevine, of all places!) which she hated. We don’t blame you!!! Haha. The spectacular goodie of this place is their maple cremee. No words to describe but just simply divine! Just ask Mr. Elias.

It wasn’t too long after that we arrived at the historic and quaint Green Mountain Inn in the heart of the old-fashioned little town. With it being fairly late, we just walked across the street for dinner at the hip Plate restaurant where the eats and plate art were all around appreciated. :) E had the most gourmet kid’s burger we have ever encountered. Daddy wanted to eat it all. :)) We spent the rest of the evening just relaxing in our very cozy room.

We slept in a little later and then briefly toured the main street area right around the inn. There was still snow on the ground! Stowe is also sought after for its skiing so it was tempting to go for a few hours on the slopes. :) But instead, there was ICE CREAM waiting for us at Ben & Jerry’s. We couldn’t miss out on the factory tour.

The story behind Ben and Jerry is a refreshing one — two childhood entrepreneurial friends who took their passion and created a sweet empire from it! We admire their fair trade values, protecting the environment, non-GMO ingredients and giving back to the community. It was fascinating to go through their production process and see how these pints are packed and make their way to consumers. We also walked through the hall of fame and flavor graveyard. Photos weren’t allowed on certain parts of the tour but we took pictures when we could.

The grand finale of the tour was, of course, SAMPLES! They joshed us at first with the “In Disparagus” flavor they wanted us to “test”.

There never is enough ice cream — E shared a sundae after the tour… outside… never mind the cold. :) He pretty much had more frozen desserts this trip than in his entire lifetime. Haha.

Down the street was The Vermont Annex that included the Cabot Annex where there were tastings galore (including just about every flavor of Cabot cheese!) and Lake Champlain Chocolates — more cacao goodness for the soul. E scored a few chocolate medallions from the store manager for helping to clean up some cards that had fallen to the floor. Yay!

It was nearing E’s naptime (which meant driving time for us… back to Boston!) so we made one last foodie excursion to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Very smooth cider and wonderful butters (apple, pumpkin, etc) of all kinds.

From Vermont to Boston was the longest ride of our trip. For a break, we had intended to see the Queechee Gorge (the “little Grand Canyon”) but when we got there E was still sleeping so Mommy waited in the car while Daddy scoped it out.

E snoozed pretty much all the way into town. Our overnight was at a hotel close to the airport as we prepared to return home the next day. That night we went to one of the grocery stores Mommy remembers fondly from when their family lived in Boston: Market Basket. Next door was a Boston Yogurt that we couldn’t resist. Strangely, E did not want to devour the whole cup. Maybe he had his fill of sugar?! :))

Our small traveler was a champ on the flight back to DFW — he slept a good 2 hours+ (though on Mommy’s lap) and kept mostly occupied the rest of the time. Perhaps more jet setting with this ‘lil dude in the near future? :)