Beyond Mystic

Rockport, MA in the Quiet Months

Visiting Rockport, Massachusetts in the off season is a hidden gem experience — offering a quieter, more intimate version of this charming coastal town. Without the tourists, you can wander the narrow streets of Bearskin Neck at your own pace and enjoy uninterrupted ocean views along the rocky shoreline. You get a more authentic sense of the community that makes Rockport so special.

I loved the solitude of wandering around seeing the snow covered shoreline. The quietness of shuttered shops. I felt like I had Rockport all to myself. Don’t ever let the off-season stop you from traveling to a destination. I hope the photos of Rockport shows you why!

Lucky for me, there were still boats in the water to photograph. I had wondered before I came to Rockport if I’d be limited in photographing the boats. As you know, winter does not stop the fishermen — I was able to watch a couple of them at work loading & unloading the gear.

Since this was my first weekend getaway in Rockport, I got up early every morning at sunrise. The beautiful pink sky over the Rockport Harbor was very serene. I watched a fishing boat go out. I went all over Rockport Harbor and Bearskin Neck to photograph the village with the blue twilight that came after sunrise. I drove around Rockport shoreline and came across the Cape Ann twin lighthouses (I had no idea!). This is why it’s worth sometimes to drive around aimlessly with no destination!

The shuttered shops during the off-season felt like they all were in hibernation. The streets are empty, with only the slow movement of gulls overhead and the steady pull of the tide against the rocks. The snow covered entrances. In this stillness, the town feels peaceful but know it won’t be long before spring stirs the town back to life.

In the off season, Rockport is much slower. The harbor feels wider and the streets more personal. It allows more space to notice the small details like textures of weathered wood. It’s every photographer’s dream. Visiting during the quiet season isn’t missing out — it is an experience that you won’t forget. I’ve never felt more connected to the coast.

Gloucester, MA Harbor Sunset

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, I stayed in Rockport, Massachusetts. I popped over to the neighboring town of Gloucester — known as the oldest seaport. There is no shortage of fishing vessels everywhere. There was a downtown with restaurants, shops and businesses. I had a stroll around to check out the bookstore, antiques shops and some clothing stores. Where I parked the car was near the City Hall that had this beautiful boat weathervane.

I came across this spot last time I visited Gloucester during the holidays to see the lobster trap Christmas tree AND the menorah. It overlooks the water with some fishing vessels. It’s a small spot but plentiful photogenic scenes to capture.

Gloucester has a beautiful fishermen memorial dedicated to those lost to the sea. Unfortunately at the timing of my visit, it was recent that Gloucester lost F/V Lily Jean with 8 souls on board. People left flowers and notes to remember those lost.

Right by the memorial, there is a beautiful walkway overlooking the harbor. You can see the lighthouse. I’ve always seen boats in the water no matter the timing of the year. There is parking right along the walkway so it’s always somewhat busy. I definitely see a lot of dog walkers.

It was a great spot to be there for the sunset. The sky was beautiful and the water glowed with the twilight of the last light. The statue made a great focus with the sunset behind it.

Gloucester is still somewhat new to me and I know I have a lot more to explore. From what I have seen, it’s worth the visit. I look forward to discovering more of this city.

Fishin' for Love in Rockport, MA

I spent Valentine’s Day weekend in Rockport, Massachusetts. There was no shortage of red around the town! The iconic Motif 1 fishing shack is always a perfect photographic scene in Rockport Harbor.

It was fun to focus on red objects around Rockport! The Motif 1 birdhouse is a popular object that I kept spotting around town (there’s even replica of Motif 1 mailboxes too!). The buoys were plentiful everywhere. I love the pop of colors on them.

Valentine’s Day weekend in Rockport was very quiet as it was the off season. Many stores were closed but it was peaceful to stroll around the town. A lot of pups were walking around with their owners, I spotted a man and his dog both wearing red coats so I had to capture them. The adorable coastal fishing village is full of so many scenes to capture.

I finally had my first sunset in Rockport — the sky gave me a beautiful pink and blue pastel color. The Motif 1 really stood out, especially the colorful buoys. It was no surprise that I spotted a few other photographers out. I’ve been to Rockport three times now and it’s amazing how different each scene I’ve captured with Motif 1. It never gets old!

A Charming Valentine’s Weekend at Addison Choate Inn in Rockport, MA

Last summer I discovered another New England town — Rockport, Massachusetts located north of Boston. It was only a 2 and half hour drive from Mystic, CT where I am based. I immediately fell in love with the town. The coastal fishing village was every photographer’s dream. The issue I have with day tripping is that I don’t get to see the area at its fullest potential — sunrise, mid-day, sunset and even night time. So with that in mind, I knew I’d want to do an overnight stay in Rockport to photograph all the moments.

My Instagram friend, Haley from @TheConnecticutLife told me about Addison Choate, a boutique inn located in Rockport — literally within a walking distance of the harbor. For full transparency, I reached out to them to collaborate after researching to see if the inn genuinely aligned with my personal tastes and standards. When I do collaborations, I do pick places the same way I would for my own stay. I was gifted a two night stay at Addison Choate over Valentine’s Day weekend in exchange for an authentic account of my experience.

Addison Choate Inn

The boutique inn is in an adorable historical house (circa 1851) with 9 rooms. Each room has en suite bathrooms. It is three floors with some stairs (if you need accessibility, definitely book a room on the first floor). The website explains each room’s location in the inn which is helpful. The inn also had gone through a transformation and was modernized, but preserved the historical charm.

My Stay Experience

I stayed in Crow’s Nest on the 3rd floor. It is located on the top floor overlooking Rockport Harbor with a private entrance. The views from the large windows were the first thing I noticed as I entered the room. I loved how I could see the water! The bedroom had a king bed. The bathroom was beautiful with the white marble tiles. The living room came with a couch, a chair, a TV and a mini fridge. The room was very clean and organized. It was decorated so beautifully.

My Honest Thoughts

THAT BED IS SO COMFORTABLE. There is magic in that mattress. One morning after photographing the sunrise, I came back to the room to photograph the in-room moments. I captured myself writing in my journal in bed and then I ended up staying in bed resting. It was that comfy.

The blankets! They came from Denim Blanket Company, a local shop in the town. I used them as I was watching a movie on the couch. The ultra warm sherpa lined blankets were amazing. I never would’ve considered dropping that much on a blanket but trust me, those would be worth it. I have my eyes on a specific sold-out blanket and will be purchasing it as soon it’s back online.

Location, location, location. You really couldn’t beat the proximity to the harbor. I could see the water from the windows. For photographing the sunrises, I could roll out of bed and be at the harbor within 5 minutes via car. Keep in mind, I visited during winter when the sunrises were 20ish degrees outside. It was close enough that I could walk from the inn to the harbor if it was warmer!

Why Should You Stay There?

Free parking. I visited during the off-season when I didn’t have to worry about parking in town. During busier times where parking will be challenging, the inn provides free parking for the guests and it is an easy walk from the inn to the harbor.

The staff. I met one half of the owners — Marshall. He was very nice and friendly. Also made himself available to the guests via text. I found him to be very responsive. He was willing to answer any questions if I had any. The reviews from other guests reflect this. During my stay, the housekeeper came by to see if anything was needed.

The rooms. It was very clean and had everything you would need for the stay. It came with complimentary gifts — water bottles, tea, coffee pods and candies. Free WiFi and streaming services on TV. I enjoyed the comfortable Terry cloth robes!

How to Book A Stay at Addison Choate Inn

Please book a room at their website here.

A heartfelt thank you to Marshall of Addison Choate for the collaboration. The hospitality and attention to detail made this experience unforgettable. I truly loved my stay in Rockport!

December day at Chatham Fish Pier

I drove to Cape Cod for the day to see the holidays decor in Downtown Chatham and across the Cape. I had to stop by Chatham Fish Pier — a favorite photography spot. I was surprised to see a couple of seals despite no fishing vessels unloading fresh catch (when seals are most active!). I watched two boats come in with no catch.

The pier wasn’t as crowded as it normally is over the summer time — so there was only two other women with me. It was fun to watch their excitement to see the seals pop up. It never gets old to see those adorable faces in the water!

I had a wonderful day of seeing Cape Cod at Christmas time. I’ve officially been on Cape Cod for 3 out of 4 seasons now. Spring in Cape Cod next!

A New England Holiday in Rockport & Gloucester, MA

During Summer 2025, I visited Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts for the first time. Don’t ask me why it took this long — I'm wondering that myself. It’s a short 2 hours drive from Mystic, Connecticut so it was a perfect day trip destination. I fell in love with the town so much that I knew I'd be back soon. I decided it would be worth the trip to see the holiday festivities during December.

I stopped at Woodman’s of Essex first for lunch. The entire menu was gluten free (with exception of like two items). It was worth the stop — the fried shrimp was delicious. The staff were friendly! I will be back here whenever I’m in the area.

Rockport is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve seen during Christmas time. There were trees in boats everywhere! I loved it. The town had a tree in downtown, the Motif 1 had a wreath and there were even trees out on the floating dock.

When I wasn’t photographing, I strolled around the town and popped in some of the shops. I was worried that with it being winter, that many shops would be closed. I was pleasantly surprised that it was more of 50-50. All of my specific favorites that I shopped in from last summer were still opened. There were plenty to do so I didn’t find myself disappointed with the visit to Rockport.

Rockport at Christmas time honestly was stunning and I would recommend a visit. I’m even thinking to come back next season — maybe a new tradition?!

Gloucester is nearby Rockport so I had to stop by to see the lobster trap tree that inspired the one in Stonington, CT. It was so similar with a few differences — Gloucester had three entrances/exits while Stonington only had one. The buoys on Gloucester’s tree all were created by children. Stonington’s buoys are mostly from local artists in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Regardless, the tree was beautiful and I enjoyed seeing it in person. I went just before sunset and went back after sunset to see it both ways.

Another reason for my visit to Gloucester was to see the lobster trap menorah. I’ve known about it for years and have been wanting to see it! So worth the visit — it was amazing sight! The menorah is located next block to the Main Street with shops in Gloucester. I popped in some of the shops, the antiques shops were particularly fun to check out.

It was a fun day in Rockport & Gloucester, MA. I can’t wait for many more visits back to the North Shore of Boston.

Quiet November in Wickford & Galilee, Rhode Island

November was a very challenging month in my personal life. I’m fortunate that I have many options for somewhere to get away to within a hour from Mystic, Connecticut. I ended up going to Wickford and Galilee a few times this month.

I caught a beautiful sunset in Wickford one evening. I was thrilled to have dramatic clouds to capture! I was surprised that there were still sailboats in the water so lucky me! Usually all sailboats and boats are pulled out of the water by this time of the year in my area.

There’s no shortage of beautiful historical homes to appreciate in Wickford. I love that the owners take the time to maintain their houses and also decorate it seasonally. While I was photographing one of the homes, a resident passed by and suggested that I return during the holidays. I already have been and I concur with her recommendations.

Galilee, Rhode Island is another favorite spot to sit and watch fishing vessels come back in. It is a busy port — I've been there a few times and captured at least 3-4 boats each time. Maybe I was lucky with the timing! I almost always spot a seal too. November gave me a lot of peacefulness to capture and I hope you can feel it in the photos.

When Providence, Rhode Island Turns Amber

One weekend during early November, I took a day trip up to Providence, Rhode Island. I had a busy October chasing foliage all over New England and beyond. The foliage seems to arrive to cities last — namely Providence.

I stopped in Plant City first for lunch. I’ve always enjoyed every meal there. Located right next to the River Walk which is where I started the photography walk.

From River Walk, I headed into College Hill neighborhood up to Brown University. I was very fortunate that it seemed to be the perfect peak for the foliage in Providence. It was a stunning day!

After walking around Brown University — a beautiful college campus with buildings to admire, I had to go in Providence Athenæum. It is easily one of my top 5 favorite libraries. It is opened to the public with a pay-what-you-can donation (usually $5 is suggested). I can’t believe this library even exists, it is so gorgeous.

Ended the day with a drink from Dave’s Coffee. I’m a regular at the Charlestown location so it was fun to see a new-to-me location. The drink was perfect fuel for the drive back home to Mystic, Connecticut after a fun day in Providence.

Exploring the Legacy of the U.S. Navy Seabees in Rhode Island

With upcoming Veterans Day, I had to do a day trip to Seabees Museum and Memorial Park located in North Kingston, Rhode Island. My Poppop proudly served in the United States Navy Seabees from 1951-1954. He passed away at the age of 89 in 2019. I was inspired by his Navy background to learn more about the Seabees.

Seabees Museum and Memorial Park is a museum dedicated to those who served in the United States Navy Seabees. The museum contains many artifacts and tells history about Seabees’ roles. Seabees have been around for a few wars including WW II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War and in the Middle East.

The museum was very well organized, each section focusing on a specific time era. Outside of the museum, there are 6 acres of land with a few Quonset huts, a church and bunkers. There are souvenirs available for purchase inside. I picked up a Seabees coin and carry it around with me. Whenever I look at it, I will think of my Poppop.

It took approximately 1-2 hours to look around the entire museum and the property. If you want to make a day out of it… you could visit Naval War College Museum (pre-visit planning needed) and Artillery Co of Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is a half hour drive from North Kingston.

More information about Seabees Museum:

Address: 21 lafrate Way, North Kingston, RI 02852

Hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30am-2pm.

NOTE: The museum is non-profit ran by Seabees, their families and volunteers. Be sure to call ahead first if you’re visiting from out of the area.

Living the Stars Hollow Life: A Gilmore Girls Day in Connecticut

Over two decades ago, the TV show Gilmore Girls was introduced to the world. Following the life of a single mom, Lorelai and her teenager daughter, Rory living in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.

I never watched Gilmore Girls until they made the revival for Netflix in 2016. I had just moved to Connecticut a few years prior and the excitement for the revival intrigued me to watch. I binge watched and was instantly hooked! I watch Gilmore Girls on repeat all the time, especially every fall!

Not only do I binge watch the show during fall, but I also roadtripped to the real towns that inspired Stars Hollow! The writer of the show spent two weeks in Litchfield County when she got the inspiration for Stars Hollow. There’s not a definite ONE town, but a few that makes up Stars Hollow. I went on this Gilmore Girls trip twice, both times were mid-October. I recommend this time of year because you also get the enjoy the beautiful foliage in Northwestern Connecticut.

Washington Depot, CT.

Here’s a guide of how to have a Gilmore Girls day/weekend:

WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT

  • Mayflower Inn & Spa [Independence Inn]— The town of Washington gets the most recognition behind the inspiration of Stars Hollow because the writer stayed here. The grounds are stunning! I walked around the outdoor gardens. The screened porch off their restaurant is very dreamy! Don’t forget to look for the library nook.

  • Hickory Stick bookshop [Stars Hollow Books]— A small cozy bookstore that gave the vibes of bookstore that Rory frequented. They even had a small section for Gilmore Girls fans!

  • Washington Supply Co. [Luke’s Diner]— If you recall, Luke’s Diner originally was a hardware store when his dad owned it prior to his passing.

  • Washington Food Market [Doose’s Market]— The small town grocery store looks very similar to Doose’s Market.

  • Titus Park and Garage [Gipsy’s garage] — I stumbled upon this garage when I popped in a store nearby. It reminded me of Gipsy’s garage!

Mayflower Inn & Spa.

Hickory Stick Bookshop.

Washington Food Market.

Titus Park and Garage.

Washington Supply Co.

I found Washington, CT to have the small town charm that Stars Hollow portrayed on the show. The people were very friendly. On the day I visited there happened to be a farmer’s market! Don’t forget to stop in the Five Janes store for some Gilmore Girls merch.

Washington Farmers Market. Held on Saturdays 10am-1pm from June to November.

NEW MILFORD, CT

  • Gazebo — The gazebo on the town green in New Milford is very picturesque. I loved how it was dressed up with fall decor!

  • Canterbury School [Chilton] — The prep school resemblances Chilton, the school that Rory attended. The street takes you directly into the middle of the campus, you can see the gorgeous buildings from the car.

  • Theo’s Downtown Diner [Luke’s Diner]— There’s a long counter with stools to sit on just like Luke’s Diner. It had the small town vibes, there were many locals enjoying their breakfast or lunch with COFFEE!

  • First Congregational Church — Stars Hollow had a white church with tall steeple. While all towns I visited had at least one church, I thought this one was the most similar!

New Milford gazebo.

One of the buildings at Canterbury School.

I loved New Milford, but it is bigger than what Stars Hollow would be. I got a taste of the locals life in New Milford when I saw another farmer’s market and kids collecting donations for their football team. The layout of this downtown reminded me the most of Stars Hollow. There were plenty of restaurants, shops and businesses to visit.

KENT, CT

Book sale at Kent Memorial Library. The sale runs every weekend from Memorial Day until October.

I loved visiting this small town. There was a small town green where a political rally was taking place the day I visited - maybe they’re working on Jackson’s run for Mayor of Kent?! It was also a surprise to find a huge book sale at the library. My inner Rory could’ve spent hours looking through the books! I got a few books, of course. I popped into the local bookstore down the street from the library called House of Books. It is a beautiful curated bookstore. Kent had a small main street, but there were a few shops and restaurants. There was a church on the corner too.

WOODBURY, CT

One of many antiques shops in Woodbury.

Mentioned several times on Gilmore Girls, I had to stop in this town. It’s not far from Washington. Woodbury has an antiques trail where there are 10+ antiques shops. Most of them are located on Route 6, but you won’t come across anyone like Mrs. Kim!

LITCHFIELD, CT

Loving fall in Litchfield, CT.

This town is often mentioned as part of Gilmore Girls trip around Connecticut. I didn’t really see anything that jumped out at me with Stars Hollow vibes. It is a beautiful town to visit, so I wouldn’t discourage you to skip it. Check out the Tapping Reeve House & Law School!

NEW HAVEN, CT

Yale University.

The home of the bulldogs - go Yale! It’s highly recommended that you stop in New Haven, although you could easily take an entire day to explore it. So if you have more than a day to roadtrip around Northwestern CT and if you’re up for another hour drive down to New Haven, go check it out. The campus is stunning and beautiful, I always love to photograph the details, especially during fall!

I throughly enjoyed doing this Gilmore Girls roadtrip around Connecticut. While in Washington and New Milford, I ran across many others who were doing the same thing! The back roads that takes you from town to town are gorgeous and a great place to see the foliage. I loved how almost every town had the small town aesthetic with a church, gazebo, town green, libraries and a main street with shops/restaurants. It’s very quintessential New England!

"It’s just my favorite time of year. The whole world changes color.” - Lorelai Gilmore

Found a Lane St. in Kent, CT!

My Favorite Fall Towns to Visit in Connecticut

Happy Fall!

One of my most favorite seasons, especially with the foliage! I find myself visiting many towns over and over again in Connecticut. Here are some of my favorites:

Mystic, CT

As a local of Mystic, I may be biased. You can’t beat the beautiful foliage views on Mystic River! The peak is usually mid to late October.

Old Wethersfield, CT

During the month of October, they host the annual Scarecrows on Main event. I love seeing all the creativity! It is such a beautiful walkable neighborhood. The residents are always friendly.

Essex, CT

A picturesque town where the residents takes pride in maintaining the beautiful historical homes that lines the Main Street. There are also several shops that you can pop in and peek around. I highly recommend to walk down to the waterside by Connecticut River Museum to see the ducks and enjoy the foliage views.

Washington, CT

Known as the town that inspired Gilmore Girls, it is a beautiful small town with that Star Hollows charm! I enjoy every time I’ve visited Washington and never been disappointed. Read more suggestions about Washington + surrounding towns in Litchfield County here.

Stonington, CT

It’s a beautiful town to visit year-round, but there’s something special about fall in the borough. The historical homes are decorated with pumpkins, the crispy leaves falling on the ground and foliage on the water.

New Haven, CT

It’s always a must to walk around Yale Old Campus during fall. I look forward to this tradition every first weekend of November. It is just stunning with the backdrop of the gothic architecture.

There are many more beautiful towns in Connecticut that didn’t get mentioned, I’m sure. Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments below!

Southern Maine in a Day

While I vacationed in Seacoast New Hampshire, I woke up one morning for sunrise at Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine. This lighthouse had been a popular one to be photographed and shared on social media. It perches on its own island and is very photogenic. The morning I went, unfortunately the sunrise wasn’t as colorful but it was still beautiful!

From Nubble lighthouse, I wasn’t ready to go back to the campground so I drove up to Kennebunkport. It is a favorite that I’ve been to before a few times. However, it was first time during summer and in the early hours when the town was quiet. I loved walking around photographing the quietness. Kennebunkport reminds me of where I live — Mystic, Connecticut. Both towns are very different in their own ways but they both are a small town with that charm.

After walking around Kennebunkport, I worked up an appetite so I went to a favorite — Maine Diner located in Wells, Maine. I didn’t want to eat lunch in the parking lot (I had my pup with me!) so I googled coastal access and found Wells Harbor Community Park. There was a pavilion with plenty of tables. After I finished my lunch, I took a stroll on the beach and visited the Wells Harbor pier. I throughly enjoyed the low key day in Maine.

The photos were captured in York, Kennebunkport and Wells, Maine in September 2025. All photos are available for purchase. Please make request here.

Rye Until I Die: A Weekend Along the New Hampshire Coast

I visited the Seacoast New Hampshire for a long weekend. The campground I stayed at was just under 10 minutes from Rye Beach. I was fortunate that I could drive down there every evening for a sunset walk. I was amazed at the beautiful long and rocky coastline.

Each evening I spent at the beach felt like a love letter to the coast. Surfers trying to catch that perfect wave, the skies painted in beautiful pastel colors and the peacefulness. It gave me a sense of calm that I didn’t know I had been craving.

I parked at Jenness State Beach the first night then I realized that you could easily find free parking on Route 1A near any beach access. There also is a long scenic walking trail right by the coastline on Ocean Blvd. If you want to walk the trail, I suggest the parking lot across The Beach Plum on Ocean Blvd.

Rye Beach will be a special spot in my memories as it provided me what I needed at the right time and the beauty constantly took my breath away!

The photos were taken at the beaches in Rye, New Hampshire in September 2025.

Photos are available for purchase. Please make request here.

A Day in Rockport, Massachusetts: September by the Sea

During my camping trip in Seacoast New Hampshire, I made the hour drive south to Rockport, Massachusetts. I can’t tell you how long this place had been on my bucket list of places to visit.

I don’t know why I ever slept on this quaint town! There were photography opportunities around every corner. I was overwhelmed and ran out of time. While I was walking around, I was already mentally planning my return trip.

I visited in mid-September during the week so Rockport was quiet. Some stores didn’t open until near lunch time. I was able to find street parking easily right in the heart of the town square. Lunch was at Roy Moore Lobster Company — it came highly recommended. It is an adorable town full of charm and I can’t wait to go back.

The photos were taken around Rockport, Massachusetts in September 2025.

Prints are available for purchase. Please make request here.

Inside the Connecticut Fire Museum in Manchester, CT

Every year on May 4th, International Firefighters’ Day [St. Florian’s Day] is observed. The date was chosen because St. Florian had passed away on this day. St. Florian, the patron saint for firefighters, he was the first known commender in firefighting. 

I did a day trip up to The Fire Museum in Manchester, CT. The Connecticut Firemen’s Historical Society was established in 1970. Many of memorabilia and history were becoming lost to other states. The society was formed of firefighters who worked to preserve the history and keep it in Connecticut. The museum is in a restored fire station. The United States Navy Seabees and many other volunteers helped to fix up the station. Now it is a museum that stores some apparatus, firefighting equipment and more.

Fire Museum — Manchester, CT.

I was stunned at how beautiful it was, the collections were preserved so carefully it was very impressive. The self-guided tour through the 1901 wooden firehouse took at least a hour.

The fireman’s pole is still intact here, but couldn’t do a slide on it!

In one of the rooms, there were photographs from the CT Fire Photographers Association. It was neat to recognize some photographers that I follow on social media.

The photos gallery of CT Fire Photographers Association.

It is an impressive collection and I throughly enjoyed touring the firehouse. I would highly recommend it to anyone for a visit. The admission is by donation and the volunteers who are there are happy to chat about Connecticut firefighting history.

Posing with one of the apparatus at the museum.

Thank you to all firefighters for what you do to keep the communities safe and always being there for us!

Cherry Blossoms in New Haven, Connecticut

The month of April always welcomes the beautiful cherry blossoms in New Haven, Connecticut. It is located at the Wooster Square Park. This is every photographer’s dream as the park is surrounded by beautiful historical homes. Usually the Historic Wooster Square Association hosts a cherry blossom festival the first Saturday of April.

As a photographer from Mystic, CT — I love to check out the cherry blossoms in New Haven. I usually can find parking right by the park. Do keep in mind, I have only gone during weekdays. I have no idea what the parking situation is like on the weekends. Since I drive an hour from Mystic, I also tend to make a day out of it in New Haven. Yale campus is a beautiful spot for photographing!

Two hours parking Mon-Fri from 8am-7pm all around Wooster Square Park.

It is a short walk around the Wooster Square Park but I take my time to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms. It is stunning! There are a few benches around the park, I’ve seen people do picnics and bring their dogs there to play around on the grass. As I mentioned, the park is surrounded by beautiful historical homes. I’ve walked along some side streets from the park to admire the details and photograph them.

While you’re at Wooster Square Park, you always can smell pizza from one of the famous New Haven pizzerias that are nearby. If you’re hungry for a bite, look no further than Frank Pepe Pizzeria or Sally’s Apizza — you really can’t go wrong with either. Both are just 5 minute walk from Wooster Square Park. Modern Apizza (the only one that offers gluten free options) is not within walking distance but only 5 minute drive.

Enjoy the snaps I captured of the cherry blossoms (and surrounding scenes at Wooster Square Park and Yale campus) during April 2024 & 2025 season.

April 15, 2024

April 17, 2025

Connecticut Maple Weekend in Hebron, Connecticut

It’s time of the year for maple! I consider myself a maple syrup connoisseur. My love for maple started as a kid living on the border of New York/Pennsylvania. I would hop over to Pennsylvania to this tree farm that would sell maple flavored cotton candy. When I moved to New England, I noticed that many states do a maple weekend so naturally I had to go see what a maple weekend was like!

Last year, I visited East Hampton and Hebron. It also colluded with the annual Hebron Maple Festival so there were even more activities to do. While I didn’t get to see what the festival offered because I wanted to focus on touring the open houses of several sugar houses.

If you plan to go to that area, I recommend this list (in order):

RICK’S SUGAR SHACK 69 COLLIE BROOK RD EAST HAMPTON, CT

I’m so glad that this was the first stop because Rick, the owner was VERY informative! I never seen the process of a sugar house so Rick really explained the process, showed a lot and was willing to answer questions. There was a small store offering maple syrup, maple flavored cookies and brownies, maple candy and more. Don’t miss the tasting room where you can sample the products before purchasing them!

WENZEL SUGAR HOUSE 522 EAST ST HEBRON, CT

The sugar house was similar to Rick’s Sugar Shack, but instead of collecting the sap in bags they used tubing system. I learned more about that process. This location was known for their maple pudding cake too, it looked delicious (but I couldn’t enjoy it because of my allergies unfortunately!). They also offer maple syrup for purchase.

WOODY ACRES 80 CONE ST HEBRON, CT

Here, I learned more about the amount of sap needed to collect to make one small tin of maple syrup. It is fascinating how much goes in a pint! Maple syrup and maple candy are also available to buy here.

WINDING BROOK 254 SKINNER LANE HEBRON, CT

The biggest sugar house, with a bigger machine to produce 300 gallon of maple syrup (other sugar houses produced 60 gallon). The machine used oil to operate, while the other machines I saw used wood stove. I learned more about the differences of the machines. Maple syrup was available for purchase, and you could taste them beforehand.

MORE SUGAR HOUSES IN THE AREA:

  • BRIGHT ACRES FARM 46 OLD KINGS HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT

  • BUELL’S DRAGONFLY FARM 105 OLD GRIFFIN HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT

  • GOSHEN HILL MAPLE 1040 GOSHEN HILL RD EXT LEBANON, CT

There were a few more sugar houses I planned to go, but time ran out for me. I plan to return and visit them as well see more of the Hebron Maple Festival! It’s a fun weekend to celebrate our local farmers and the hard work they put in to providing us delicious maple syrup!

Cod-tober is my favorite season: Fall trip to Cape Cod

I’ve gone to Cape Cod for a few summers now and I knew I’d want to come back to see it during fall. I made the trip during a long weekend in October 2024. This is what my weekend looked liked:

Day 1

Chatham is my favorite town to walk around on the Cape. The downtown was festive with pumpkins decorated everywhere - the church had an adorable pumpkin patch too! I came across the Witch Paddle at the nearby beach which was a fun surprise!

When I stay on the Cape, I’m in Brewster and minutes away from the beach. I’ve always gone to the beach for every sunset. This particular sunset was amazing with the golden hour light AND my pup was welcomed to be on the beach (usually no dogs allowed during summers).

Day 2

Chatham Fish Pier is probably my most favorite spot in Chatham. I had to go there at sunrise. There’s always something to photograph. The fishing vessels, the low tide, beautiful colors of sand/water in the distance, and even the seals! It never fails to see something amazing there.

General stores on the Cape are adorable! I particularly love Brewster General Store and Pleasant Lake General Store in Harwich. Both towns are lovely to drive around. There are plenty of antique shops in Brewster.

It’s a tradition with every visit to the Cape, to do a beach bonfire. You are allowed to do a beach bonfire on Cape Cod National Seashore beaches with a special permit you can get from the Visitor Center (over phone or in person). The seals always make an appearance during the bonfire — it’s so cute!

Day 3

It rained all day so it was a low key day indoors until sunset. The clouds started to break at sunset so I ran over to Brewster Beach in hopes of a colorful sky. I didn’t get one but it was pretty to capture the stormy mood at the beach and I was surprised with plenty of piping plover birds everywhere!

Day 4

Before departing Cape Cod, I had to see a sunrise so I drove over to Bank Street Beach in Harwichport. I was not disappointed! Gorgeous colors in the sky. I’ve never ever seen this amount of horseshoe crabs in my life. There were several piping plovers again.

It was such a memorable weekend! The Cape is truly beautiful during any season. I got a lot more of time on the beach during the fall trip because my pup was allowed. I enjoyed seeing more of the sunrises/sunsets on the Cape. Until next time!

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A novel day in New Haven, CT

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend. It’s always hard to plan a fun getaway in the middle of winter. I decided that my love for books would make New Haven a perfect destination. I got the inspiration from two women who were bookstore hopping in Kent, CT during fall. I thought that was a brilliant idea!

In New Haven, there are so many bookstores, libraries and museums within walking distance, and all indoors! And it was very low cost as I only had to pay for parking and snacks. I ate lunch beforehand and didn’t stay long enough to eat dinner in New Haven, so if you do - look into the pizzerias. New Haven is known for their pizza!

Here is the itinerary of my bookish day:

Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library

For the longest time, I’ve been seeing photos of this library on Instagram. I had to finally check this off my bucket list! The largest building in the world devoted to books. There were over a million books, manuscripts and more. It was a beautiful sight to see all the books. I took my time, sitting in one of the comfy chairs around the library to take in the sights!

Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library

I’ve passed this iconic library several times on my walks around Yale campus but have never gone inside. On reason why is cause I’ve always had my pup with me. It was too cold for her to join me this weekend so I finally got my chance. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. The library was GORGEOUS. It is built in the collegiate gothic style (resembling a European cathedral). There are many beautiful stained glass windows everywhere (later on, I read there is a total of 3,300!). All the study spaces were stunning, I’m jealous of the students who gets to enjoy the beauty of the library on a daily basis! It would be a dream to work there!

Grey Matter Books

A small bookstore with many used books! The books were mostly unique, rare and unusual. I enjoyed looking through the older editions of classics. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxing. Chairs were scattered throughout the bookstore for people to take a seat while browsing. There were multiple piles of book stack everywhere.

Atticus Bookstore Cafe

Located on the first floor next to Yale Center for British Art, it is a small bookstore and cafe. The bookstore had beautifully curated organized sections of books. I loved browsing through the ‘staff recommendations’ and ‘best books of the year’ sections. The cafe was bustling, with nearly every table occupied.

Yale Center for British Art

This isn’t a ‘bookish’ spot but worthwhile to check out! It had a large collection of British art. It was organized by time period, making it easy to maneuver through the gallery. They suggest starting at the 4th floor and working your way down. My favorite was The Long Gallery on the 4th floor. A gallery with the walls covered in paintings. I could see myself take a seat and study the art!

Yale University Art Gallery

The oldest university art museum has four levels of extensive art collections from African Art, Asian Art, paintings, sculptures, Early European art, photographs, drawings, coins and many more. It had plenty to see! I didn’t get to see the entire gallery because of timing, so be sure to plan at least half a day for this. I was excited to spot some of my favorite painters like Monet. The building itself is also gorgeous!

Book Trader Cafe

This bookstore was really crowded when I visited. I didn’t get to see much of it unfortunately, but I did see that it had a good selection of used books from $1-$10. The atrium side of the shop was really busy, it is a cool spot where the tables were surrounded by bookshelves. The cafe sold coffee, drinks, pastries and more.

The Yale Bookstore

Every time I come to the Yale campus, I always pop into Barnes and Noble (The Yale Bookstore) to browse through the Yale memorabilia and souvenirs. Of course, I also browse through the books, especially the Yale authors section. Did you know that the author of Ninth House and Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo is a Yale alumni?

It was a fun book themed day and I enjoyed my time in New Haven! I love Yale with all of its gorgeous gothic architecture. There’s so many details that I continue to find new-to-me every time I visit. New Haven has plenty more that I didn’t share here such as shops, restaurants, more museums, so forth. It’s easy to do a day trip here during the winter! I had the perfect evening at home reading Ninth House which the opening scene was at the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library while drinking delicious tea in my brand new Yale mug!

Fall Road Trip Through Southern New Hampshire and Vermont

For the long weekend in October, I wanted to go on a camping trip so I went to Hancock, New Hampshire. Located in southern NH, on the border of Massachusetts. Hancock was perfect because it is only 2 and half hours from Mystic, CT.

I also wanted to go somewhere that had amazing foliage! It’s often recommended to go more northern into the White Mountain region (Conway, Franconia, etc). So many New Englanders love going to Vermont or New Hampshire for leaf peeping. I have never gone further north than the CT border during fall, I had to see what I was missing out on!

My itinerary looked like this:

Day 1 — Hancock

I arrived in Hancock, NH around 3pm. After setting up the camper at the campground, I went exploring the small town of Hancock. There was a downtown historical village. A beautiful historical church with old horse stables. The pond behind the church had a small beach. This turned out to be a perfect spots for photographing the foliage! My favorite had to be the gazebo in the town green and Hancock Market. The market was one of those small town stores with a beautiful facade. Very quintessential New England!

Hancock Market in Hancock, NH.

Quintessential New England home in Hancock, NH.

Day 2 — Peterborough/Dublin/Jaffrey/Rindge

A day of road tripping on the rural roads. I stopped in Peterborough first, a good sized small town with a downtown. A lot of antiques shops! There was a large plaza with many stores and restaurants. Of course, I popped in the bookstore which had a section of discounted used books. I fell in love with a cafe that had excellent gluten free options. I had ‘The Southern Comfort’ which was chicken and waffles and it was AMAZING. I even came back to get two meals for the road/leftovers to store at home. Unfortunately they have since closed their doors permanently.

Peterborough, NH.

A beautiful church in Peterborough, NH.

A woman reading a book in a Peterborough park.

Dublin was an even smaller town. There was a historical village district with town hall, police station, fire department, church, library and home of Yankee Magazine. There isn’t much to see here, but it’s very picturesque! There happened to be a touch-a-truck event at the fire department so we took our Dalmatian to photograph her with the trucks. While at the event, someone recommended I drive up the road to the water. It was the best recommendation, some of my best photos were taken right there! It was so gorgeous with the foliage.

My pup with the Dublin Fire Department truck.

Dublin Pond in Dublin, NH.

Jaffrey was another small town with a downtown area. It was adorable to see their scarecrows event. I drove over the border to check out Cathedral of the Pines. An open-air cathedral with panoramic views of Grand Monadnock. It was so stunning! My jaw literally dropped at the views (remember… even more beautiful with the foliage!). While I was there, the space was being set up for a wedding. I only can imagine the beautiful wedding photos with that backdrop!

Cathedral of the Pines.

Day 3 — Brattleboro, VT and Keene

I never had been to Vermont. Brattleboro was less than a hour drive from Hancock. I walked around a downtown filled with many shops. I enjoyed Brattleboro Books, a used books store. Brattleboro had a very artistic vibe with many murals in town. I do have to mention that it was really difficult to have my pup because many shops did not allow pets. I stopped in Against the Grain, one of my favorite gluten free brands. Their warehouse had a small store with their products and bakery goods. I grabbed some whoopie pies, muffins and brownies. So good!

Brattleboro Books.

Keene was the biggest city I visited in New Hampshire. The downtown was only blocks away from a college so there were many shops, restaurants and businesses. I spotted the Parrish Shoes mural on one of the buildings and was excited to learn that the movie, Jumanji was filmed there! My favorite store was the Hannah Grimes Marketplace. It had many local artisans goods. Also, if you’re into fire stations - the Keene Fire Department was pretty impressive with an older building across the street from the current building.

The Jumanji mural in Keene, NH.

The Main Street of Keene.

Keene Fire Department.

STAY: Spacious Skies Seven Maples Campground / Hancock, NH

I stayed at Seven Maples campground. It was a very idyllic setting, surrounded by the trees. The campground was very spacious, had a fun game room and clean facilities, the people there are friendly. Very family oriented campground with many activities for families to participate. The weekend we were there, they had hayrides, Halloween costumes parade and trick-n-treating. A beautiful pond where you can go catch-and-release fishing.

Enjoying a good book by the campfire!

Southern New Hampshire isn’t really a tourist destination, being a very rural area, but it was simple and relaxing. It definitely is the ideal photographers destination! I saw so many photographers everywhere. There was plenty of spaces where you could easily pull off the road. I loved exploring on the rural roads, taking us through many historical districts. I appreciate how many historical buildings we have in New England. The area also had plethora of covered bridges too! The weekend in NH was very enjoyable. It motivated me to plan a trip more north of NH during fall another time!

One of few maple sugar shacks I saw in NH.

One of gorgeous sceneries I saw on the back roads in NH.