Free Fun Fridays 2016

Soon, we'll hear that schools across the country have finished their school year!  The carefree days of summer will be here.  It's the time when parents like to find an activity that will keep everyone happy!  :)  If you live in, will visit or will travel through my home state of Massachusetts, the Highland Street Foundation has an answer.

FUN FREE FRIDAYS!!!

Every Friday this summer starting on June 24 through August 26, there will be 8 specific places to visit- with Free General Admission!  These interesting places are located throughout Massachusetts.  From the Berkshires to Boston & The Cape (Cape Cod) and from northern MA to the southern border there are cool interesting venues that teach while having FuN!

During the summer months "Learning" does not come to a halt!  Take this opportunity with your children & grandchildren to learn another tidbit about Science, History or about an Artist!  This program is not limited to a certain age group, either.  It's open to everyone.  Jim & I enjoy this program!  If you have a chance to take a Friday vacation day, look at the list of places to visit & visit with a friend(s).

The Complete Schedule List  

Edith Wharton's home, The Mount, is in Lenox, MA.  This estate in the Berkshires is listed as one of next Friday's choices.  It's the opening day for this program.  Take the opportunity to walk in this great American author's gorgeous tranquil gardens after touring inside her beautiful home.

The Mount: Edith Wharton's Home

 

More Beautiful Gardens at The Mount

Go back in time with your family this summer to the 17th century!  Visit Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA.  Walk through the re-created 17th Century English Village and learn from the costumed Interpreters.    Learn about the grist mill for grinding corn that the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony built.  They speak in the dialect of that day.

The Springfield Museums in Springfield, MA is 4 museums in 1 complex.  Art, Science, History Museums & the Dr. Seuss bronze sculptures.  Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield.  Chinese Cloisonne, Monet, Field, Indian Motocycles (Motorcycles), Early Automobiles & more await here. 

Springfield Museums
Dr. Seuss & his friend!

It's always great to stop in to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830's living history museum located in Sturbridge, MA.  A walk down the road to the village leads to the Center Meetinghouse.  

Old Sturbridge Village
Walking down the road!

A Printer's Office, the Mercantile, the Bank & housewives doing seasonal chores in their homes teaches us about life in another time period in our country.  The Freeman Farm is not far away.

Old Sturbridge Village
The Cooper

A fave of my grandsons is the Franklin Park Zoo located in Boston, MA.  They are always up for a visit there!  

These are only a few of the great places to visit!  There are so many interesting family friendly sites to visit on Fridays this summer with no regular admission charge!  Check out the list clicking here to discover what Friday you have available & what specific places you can visit for free.  

Thank you Highland Street Foundation for sponsoring this program again this year!

We will Enjoy!

    

Old Sturbridge Village- Free Fun Friday!

Do you live in Massachusetts or in a neighboring state? Are you traveling through MA tomorrow- August 28th? Are you thinking about a last minute adventure to do with your school age children & school has not started yet?  Visit Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA!  It's located off the Mass Pike, I-90.  

Tomorrow there is Free admission! It's a FREE FUN FRIDAY day (sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation) in this "New England Living History Museum".  Go back in time to the 1830's for a day.  Learn a bit more about history!

Free Fun Friday!
Tomorrow, August 28, 2015
Old Sturbridge Village
Sturbridge, Massachusetts  

Enjoy this Living History Museum!

  

Colonial Cooking!

Have you ever wondered how cooking was done in Colonial America?  I sure have.  My oven, baking sheets, pots & pans & slow cooker are used all of the time.  How were the families' meals prepared long ago?  Yes, a fireplace & large pot were used, but there is more to the story.  How was it done? 

Yesterday my DH & I visited Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, MA.  It was one of the Free Fun Friday places to visit on August 14, (sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation).  Walking through the 18th century village & visiting some of the museum houses took us back in time.  Then, walking into the kitchens of the old homes was so interesting! 

Today I visited Historic Deerfield's website & learned even more about cooking during this time period by watching their short video.  I hope you, my readers, also enjoy watching it.          

So that's how freshly caught fish could be cooked- so long ago!    

Thank you Historic Deerfield for this great video!

Another Thank You to the Highland Street Foundation & Historic Deerfield for a great Friday learning more History!

We did Enjoy!

  

The Mount, Lenox, MA- Free Fun Friday

The Mount, Lenox MA

Last Friday we traveled west, west on the Mass Pike- I90 that is.  It was a visit to The Mount in  Lenox, MA.  This beautiful estate located in the Berkshires was designed by the American author Edith Wharton following the principles in the book The Decoration of Houses that she and architect Ogden Codman, Jr. coauthored.  This book was published in 1897 and this home was built by Edith Wharton & her husband Teddy in 1902.   Ethan Frome by Ms. Wharton was required reading for me in college.  I've always been aware of this author, but never visited her scenic home in Lenox.  Visiting this serene estate was offered as a Free Fun Friday event sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation.

What a treat to leisurely walk through her home and view the gorgeous gardens below.  The white Astilibe had begun to blossom in the geometric gardens.

View of a garden from Edith Wharton's home

The well manicured gardens were admired by all of the visitors who strolled through them.  Beautiful views from all sides and angles.  It's a gorgeous estate in the Berkshires designed by a woman who had lived during the Gilded Age in Newport, RI, and NYC.  After leaving her home in Lenox in 1911, Edith Wharton later divorced and moved to France.   

The white Astilibe were blossoming!

Last Friday was a very comfortable day to travel west & we are so happy we did!  An added surprise for me was walking into one room & viewing a treadle Singer Sewing Machine in cabinet.  My mom had a similar sewing machine in a similar cabinet.  It was her "go to" sewing machine for making buttonholes.  Her electric machine was used for everyday sewing.

Treadle Singer Sewing Machine in cabinet

Free Fun Fridays are offered by the Highland Street Foundation to everyone- all residents of MA, visitors to my state and also families traveling through MA.  Each Friday this summer there are 7 venues to visit with no regular admission charged.  Every week there are 7 different places to visit.  This program is for all ages.  Some venues are for families with young children and other places might not be interesting to children.  Click here for the list!

Thank you Highland Street Foundation!

Enjoy!

Have a Happy & Safe Fourth of July!!!    

Springfield Museums - Free Fun Friday

There are FuN activities to squeeze in these remaining days of summer vacation - before the school year begins!  This Friday, August 16, a gem in the city of Springfield, MA the Springfield Museums has free general admission!  This great opportunity for everyone is offered by the Highland Street Foundation.  If you live in Western Massachusetts or will be visiting this area, stop in and visit this great complex of museums! 

Walk onto the grounds and be greeted by a bronze sculpture of The Lorax.  The Lorax (one of many  sculptures designed by Dr. Seuss' step-daughter) stands at the corner of the Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden - welcoming everyone.   

The Springfield Museums, also known as The Quadrangle, is filled with treasures.  View the Japanese Samurai Warrior Suits of Armor and the beautiful Chinese Cloisonne collection in the Smith Museum, The Indian Motocycles (Motorcycles) and a Rolls Royce (that was also manufactured in Springfield) in the Museum of Springfield History.  View Currier & Ives prints, Monet, Chardin, and Calder (to name a few) works of art in the Museum of Fine Arts.  The Science Museum has Dinosaur Hall and many other fascinating exhibits.  Stop in with your family and learn while having FuN!  Click here to learn more! 

Free General Admission 
Friday, August 16 

The Springfield Museums

~Free Fun Friday~ 

The Springfield Museums is one of my fave places!  I volunteer at this wonderful gem during the school year giving tours.

Thank you Highland Street Foundation!
Enjoy!