Massachusetts
A Scoop of Nostalgia
Salvador's Ice Cream in South Dartmouth isn't just a spot for a cool treat. It's a roadside attraction like no other. The stand, housed in a lovable giant milk can and topped with Smith Neck Nellie, a fiberglass cow, has been a local institution since 1935 and was renovated in 2005. If you're hitting one of the South Coast's many beaches, stop for a cone or banana split or, if you're hungrier, a burger or lobster roll. And don't forget your camera. Opens Memorial Day. Salvador's Ice Cream, 490 Smith Neck Road, South Dartmouth, 508-996-6106, salvadorsicecream.com
You Can't Lose/p>
In the summer, the only place busier than the beaches on the Cape -- that is, besides the roads -- is the ballfield. Residents and visitors alike flock to Eldredge Park, home of the Cape Cod Baseball League's Orleans Firebirds (formerly Cardinals), and for good reason: It might be the next best thing to sitting beside Kevin Costner in an Iowa cornfield. Bleacher seats are scarce, so go early (admission is free, but donations are welcome), bring a blanket or chair, and watch from the grassy slope behind the dugout. Season opens June 13. Eldredge Park, 78 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, orleansfirebirds.com
The Art of Lunch
If you're going on a picnic, why not make it perfect? There's simply no better setting than amid the soul-soothing and conversation-starting installations that dot the manicured grounds of the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. Pick up sandwiches and salads at the museum's cafe, then spread a blanket within gazing distance of the Musical Fence, the Trojan Chicken, or other works on the 35 acres bordering Flint Pond. DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, 781-259-8355, decordova.org
Next Stop: Serenity
If you like bike rides with flat, scenic stretches, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is for you. This wide, 11-mile path that passes between Mount Greylock and the Hoosac Mountain range features water views and cooler air along the Cheshire Reservoir and Hoosic River. The path runs from Lanesborough to Adams, not far from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, a great post-ride stop for lemonade. Ashuwillticook Rail Trail; parking lots along Route 8 in Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Adams; 413-442-8928, mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/asrt.htm
Lessons in Beauty
Those serious about their art can sharpen their painting, photography, writing, and other creative skills at Provincetown's Fine Arts Work Center. Nationally prominent artists, novelists, and other experts teach classes for weekend or weeklong workshops. Readings and lectures fill the evenings; classes and strolls along the beaches or through the galleries mark the days. Fine Arts Work Center, 24 Pearl Street, Provincetown, 508-487-9960, fawc.org
Take It Inside
No child will cringe at the cracks of a summer thunderstorm when playing pirates or kings and queens inside the new 6,000-square-foot Klub House play space in Woburn. Several giant bouncies and a toy-car racetrack let them work off all that energy they can't run off outside. A "glam room" salon and craft area cap the indoor adventure. Comfy couches and free Wi-Fi help make the space parent-friendly. The Klub House, 90 Cummings Park, Woburn, 981-937-5582, theklubhouse.com
I Scream, You Scream
Nothing cures summer boredom like a stomach-dropping 20-story dip. Take a spin on the newly souped up Bizarro (formerly Superman: Ride of Steel) at
Greenest Acres
It's eco-friendly farming at its finest. Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton sells organic fruits and vegetables that are grown in the surrounding fields, chicken that has been raised in open-air pens and pastures, and fresh eggs from old-fashioned "heritage" breeds. Because items can go fast, be sure to arrive early, especially on weekends. Homemade sandwiches and baked goods, as well as cheeses and organic meats from other local farms, fill out the offerings. Green Meadows Farm, 656 Asbury Street, Hamilton, 978-468-2277, gmfarm.com
Sea, Sky, Sip
Arrive in late afternoon to stake out your spot on the Beach House Grill's deck, stationed within stumbling distance of the six-sided bar. Truly beside the ocean -- step off the deck and your toes grip sand -- this indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar at the Chatham Bars Inn is the place to see and be seen. Don't miss their clambakes and s'mores around the fire. Beach House Grill, 297 Shore Road, Chatham, 508-593-4978, chathambarsinn.com
A Beach of Your Own/p>
Want a sugar-sand beach that seems relatively uncrowded, even during the summer's peak weeks? South Beach (also called Katama Beach) on Martha's Vineyard is your best bet. Because the strip of beach is relatively narrow, the crowd gets spread out, so you can't see the hordes just beyond your nearest dune. The waves are the kind you dream about -- swells big enough for bodysurfing -- with a rhythmic crash and ebb that's sure to drown out nearly any other sound. Between Herring Creek Road and Katama Road, Edgartown; parking is available on the side of the road and is free; mvy.com/islandinfo/beaches.php
The Best Bouquet
You may have plucked strawberries right off the stems or apples straight off the branches, but have you ever entered a colorful field of nearly waist-high snapdragons and snipped off the best blooms for yourself? Beginning in mid-July, you can pick those, as well as cosmos, asters, coxcomb, and globe amaranth, at Indian Head Farm in Berlin. Scissors and buckets provided. Indian Head Farm, 232 Pleasant Street, Berlin, 978-838-2942, indianheadfarm.com 