Frog Pond ©DirectoryofBoston.com

You can’t argue with the fact that this may be one of the hottest and most humid summers we’ve had in Boston for quite a while.  Though this weekend is supposed to be less humid you should still take advantage of the Boston Common Frog Pond spray pool.  I remember going there when I was a kid and they have updated it a lot since then.

It is a great place for younger kids who are crawling the walls at home during the hot stretches that have been taking place the last few weeks.  It will also save you on air conditioning costs.  The best part of course is that this is free.

It is currently open and will be open until Labor Day between 11am and 6pm.  You can also plan to have lunch there at the Lily Pad Cafe which is relatively new.  It definitely wasn’t there when I was a kid.  They have also put up a carousel right next to the Boston Frog Pond.  The carousel isn’t free but it is pretty reasonable at $3 per ride.

Whether you are native of Boston or visiting as a tourist you will find the Frog Pond well located near downtown Boston so you can make plans before or after your trip to the Wading Pool.

Here is Billy Costa with other ideas for outdoor dining including the Boston Frog Pond’s Lily Pad Cafe:

Boston Duck Boat ©DirectoryofBoston.com

If you are thinking about taking a tour on one of Boston’s Duck Boats you may have reservations about some of the recent press.  Historically though the Duck Boats have been a pretty safe way to tour the both the streets of Boston and the Charles River.  Boston Duck Tours has been operating in the Boston area for 16 years and defended their safety record on NECN after the unfortunate accident in Philadelphia.

Strangely enough in the weeks that have followed 2 accidents involving duck boats occurred on the streets of Boston.  One involved a small rented car that allegedly jumped into the path of a moving Duck Boat which let’s face it is not really advised.  As a driver you try to avoid them and give them room as you would any larger vehicle like a bus or truck that may not always we able to see you.

The other accident did appear to be caused by either a mechanical failure of some kind or operator error.  The injuries thankfully were not serious and many credited the driver for minimizing the possible damage.

My family and I have ridden on the Boston Duck Boats.  They actually brought me on a duck tour on Mother’s Day a couple of years ago.  I will say that I did not feel any sense of danger while on the ride.  The Boston Duck Tours ride on the Charles River and the type of boat traffic there is not like the barge that hit the one in Philadelphia.  I am including the video from NECN that also notes that the other duck boat tour Super Duck Tours which does enter Boston Harbor uses larger boats designed for the rougher ocean waters.

Duck boat tours actually started out here in Massachusetts and they continue to be a big tourist attraction.  If you decide to ride either one be sure to pay attention to safety instructions.  Like planes I have noticed that not everyone pays attention when they should.  Though it is highly unlikely that you will need to remember them it will definitely ease your mind.

Mass General ©DirectoryofBoston.com

It’s not too late to catch up on the latest Boston based TV show.  Boston area hospitals have always been considered icons of the best in global medicine.  This Thursday continues the saga of a new 8 part series on ABC entitled “Boston Med”.  It takes an up close look at the workings of 3  of those hospitals from the perspective of  a “Reality TV” lens.  You don’t really need to catch up per se since each of the shows focuses on specific cases and doctors.  The series was filmed in Boston over 4 months at Mass General, Brigham and Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

I tried to catch the first few episodes but couldn’t see them all.  Thankfully you can watch the first 4 episodes on ABC online.  The first deals with a double lung transplant.  The second deals with a baby who has a serious heart defect that needs surgery.  The third deals with a very complicated brain surgery and the 4th episode deals with “hazing” some of the interns.  It appears the most cutting edge coverage of the face transplant will be coming in upcoming episodes.  It definitely brings out the range of emotions brought about by very stressful situations.

If you miss Grey’s Anatomy or ER this show is for you.  Though graphic at times it does show the human side of dealing with life and death situations.  Careers in medicine are in high demand so many folks are considering being nurses and doctors and technicians.  Watching a show like this definitely does a better job of showing the reality of the medical profession versus the non reality TV shows.  It does show some of the nurses and doctors in a personal settings so there definitely is some less stressful life drama as well.

Having my primary care physician at Massachusetts General and my children delivered at Brigham and Women’s and my children’s pediatrician overlooking Children’s Hospital I can’t help but feel very lucky to be living around such world class hospitals.

Freedom Trail ©DirectoryofBoston.com

Having passed through Boston only a few weeks ago, I can tell you that there are several fun and interesting experiences to be had in that beautiful city. Whether you are passing through on business or you find yourself making your way there for leisure, it’s a good idea to do your research on what to do in Boston. After all, it’s possible that there are some Boston tourist attractions that you have not even heard of. Getting a feel for what others have done and liked will make your trip to Boston far more likely to be an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Take a look at my list of three things you should do below:

1. The Freedom Trail – A 2.5 mile historic walking trail throughout the city of Boston. It is an absolute must-see for you history buffs out there. I have to admit that I, myself am not a history fanatic, yet I absolutely loved it. The beauty of the 16 sites that tell the tales of American history make for a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. With the many stops provided, it provides the ability to get a look at Boston without the familiar feeling of claustrophobia felt at most tourist attractions. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?

2. The Duck Tours – This is an 80 minute, fully narrated tour that has to be enjoyed by all who visit Boston. In fact, it’s one of the most popular Boston tourist attractions to date. You won’t miss anything on a World War II style craft that can literally transition from a motor vehicle to a water craft instantaneously. Take a look at the breathtaking views from the Charles River after a full blown tour through the city streets with the duck tours.

3. Crane Beach – Fully equipped with bathhouses and white sand, this beach takes the cake. Those who want to catch some rays with a gentle surf need to check out Crane Beach. Everything you might need in order to have a full experience on the beach including lifeguards and concession stands can be found onsite. For three full years this beach has been voted “The Best” that Boston has to offer which means that everyone needs to be sure to see it as they are deciding what to do in Boston.

Eric Rea is writer for OrangeSoda.com.

Tree Damage in Belmont ©DirectoryofBoston.com

This weekend reminded me of this post that I had not had a chance to finish about the “crazy” rain weather and it’s effects on the Boston area.  On Saturday we were in Newton visiting Modell’s so that we could buy some sports equipment for the sports camps my children are attending.  Ironically we got caught in torrential downpours similar to the ones experienced a few weeks ago that eventually were categorized as macrobursts.

The Boston area will be seeing the effects of that rain storm and macroburst for some time to come.  As I walk or drive around Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge, Newton and Boston I have been able to spot the tree damage even now.  The picture above is one example.  You walk by and have to ask where’s the rest of the tree?

Since that time the many damaged trees have been taken down by local town and city DPW type of departments.  Many of the trees damaged in the storm were older trees that have been around for decades.  Many towns were tight on their tree budgets as it was.  It is likely that many of the trees will not be replaced.  This will be bad for the environment as well as appearance of the many tree lined streets in the Boston suburbs.

Given this weekends flash flooding events I would have to say we need to start getting used to this freakish weather and plan appropriately.  This is truly a challenge as cities and towns struggle with their annual budgets but it is getting to the point that infrastructure needs to be updated to address the new challenges of mother nature.  At points during our trip this weekend we had to double back as storm drains were literally bursting with the overflow of water.

Here is a video of our experience trying to get back from Newton during the macroburst event.  Again we were in Newton shopping for something.  This time we were at the Barn shopping for deals on summer shoes.  Next time we head over to Newton I will definitely be paying more attention to the weather report…

There is no shortage of historic locations in and around Boston to remind us of Boston’s role in the revolution and in the quest for Independence.  We recently wrote about Boston’s Old Statehouse and the treasure trove of history that took place inside and outside it’s doors.  That is an easy visit as you participate in other Boston HarborFest activities.

The opening ceremonies take place at Faneuil Hall another one of our favorite Boston haunts.  The rest of the activities take place on the Boston City Hall Plaza.  Since I have children I look forward to the Children’s Day activities that take place on Thursday but another fan favorite is Chowderfest which allows you to sample Chowder from various restaurants in the New England area.  Seafood is a staple of Boston and there are plenty of people ready to argue with you about where to go for the best clam chowder.  There is an admission charge for the Chowderfest event which takes place on Monday July 5th.  It is pretty reasonable though ranging from $7 – $10.

This year’s Boston HarborFest includes more than 200 daily events taking place over the course of HarborFest including musical performance.  To get the most out of it check out the listings on the Boston HarborFest website.  Please note this year they have partnered with Boston Navy Week which adds to the list of things you can do.  Have fun and remember why we celebrate July 4th!

If you believe the mainstream press Massachusetts and the US are in the beginnings of an economic recovery from the recession that has taken it’s toll on almost everyone I know.  Whether you are feeling more confident economically or not, this weekend you will find a bunch of alternatives for staying closer to home with ideas for staycations that not only save you money but help the local economy too.

Massachusetts is full of attractions as it is.  Many in the Boston Metropolitan area have not taken advantage of the attractions in Central and Western Massachusetts.  Let’s face it some of us who were born and raised in Boston haven’t even taken advantage of the local museums, harbor cruises and historic tours that are right in our backyard.  The See New England Festival will also include attractions from all over the New England States.

Whoever came up with this idea deserves a lot of credit because I have long wanted to be able to go to one place to plan out my summer.  We spend some time in North Conway at the end of the summer but for the most part we do a lot of day trips.  This will be a great place to check out places we have not tried.  We have yet to go on any Boston Harbor Cruises some of which include whale watching so that will definitely be something I will be looking at.

There will also be music entertainment and free samples from some of the vendors.  The lineup includes 4 acts starting at 10:30am.  They are:

• Michael and Marissa
• Booty Vortex
• Beatlejuice
• Captured – The Journey Show

For more details on the See New England Festival visit their website, remember it’s free too.  Here is a video from last year where Loren and Wally give you a taste of what New England has to offer:

I am happy to say that I had faith even when Ray Allen only scored 2 points in Game 3 after his spectacular performance of 3 pointers in Game 2.  Though he isn’t back to his Game 2 level he is back to a steady level of contribution in the double digits even in the face of dealing with a sick child at home.  Ray Allen exudes professionalism as he accepts whatever role he can play in getting the Celtics a win.  It would be great to see him have another great performance but either way we know that he is the real deal.

Kevin Garnett is also back to form especially after his Game 3 finals high of 25 points.  Even though the Celtics lost that game it was key to reestablishing respect from not only Gasol but all the Lakers.  Pierce brought them to attention the last game too.  Being a veteran player comes with its ups and downs.  The body is not what it used to be but the Celtics have shown that the mental toughness that comes with experience is also a major advantage, especially in the post season.

As the team starts clicking again it is hard not to see that 18th championship around the corner but either way these Celtics have proven they are a championship level team.  They have proven that it isn’t about Big 3 or Big 4 (we can’t forget Rondo) performance it is about team performance.  The bench has played a major role with Tony Allen’s defense of Kobe and the passionate performance of Glen Davis and Nate Robinson in Game 4.  Doc Rivers coaching style has definitely brought out the best of this Celtics team.

Does this writeup seem biased?  It should I am a Bostonian born and bred!  Go Celtics!  Beat LA!

Update:  6-16-2010

OK OK Let’s admit it we wanted a Game 7.  In Boston we are used to Drama.  “For all the marbles” (like Pierce said) the guys knows “This is what we were born to do” (according to Ray Allen) with a Game 7.

It’s hard to believe that this annual event is in it’s 28th year.  It started out much smaller than it is now as “The Ice Cream Fundraiser” at the New England Dairy Festival.  FedEx is this year’s presenter.  The ice cream(sorbet, frozen yogurt and gelato too) available is supplied by:  Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyer’s, Ciao Bella Gelato, Brighams, Edy’s, Garelick Farms/Gifford’s, Haagen-Dazs and HP Hood.

To get more on the flavors that are available check the official Scooper Bowl page on the Jimmy Fund’s website.

Tickets range from $4 to $8 dollars and kids under 3 are free.  The event takes place from 12 noon until 8pm so there should be time to stop by during the 3 days of the event.  I don’t work in town so I think my family will have to go in either tomorrow or Thursday evening.  If you are able to stop in every day they have a $15 ticket option.

The Jimmy Fund is a great cause so whether you can make it into the event or not you can still support them by visiting their website.  The proceeds from the Scooper Bowl support cancer care and cancer research for not only children but adults as well at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Fort Independence South Boston ©DirectoryofBoston.com

South Boston’s Fort Independence is a great attraction for those visiting Boston but Castle Island is much more than the fort.  Since I was a child Castle Island has been a great place to go and reflect on life looking out onto the ocean. It is also great for catching a glimpse of airplanes as they approach Logan Airport for landing.

Having grown up in Boston you tend to refer to the whole area including the stretch of Carson Beach as Castle Island but the location of Fort Independence is the actual “island”.  The stretch of beach from Dorchester to the South Boston entrance into Castle island has become something similar to the Charles River stretches from Boston to Cambridge and Brighton.  You will find bicycle riders, joggers and rollerbladers as soon as the weather is good enough.  During a stretch of time I did a good deal of rollerblading there with my husband(my boyfriend at the time).

My family actually spent some time on the beach a couple of summers ago and it is much cleaner than you would think.  We played it safe though by mainly playing with sand.  We were closer to the Dorchester side near the State Police Station.  They had also recently opened a food “restaurant” which was convenient if you don’t want to trek up to Sullivan’s on Castle Island.  Sullivan’s is one of the must visit places in Southie which has been around if you can believe it since 1951.  Though ice cream is great on a hot summer day I tend to go for the clam strips.

Fort Independence which was built between 1834 and 1851 can be toured by the public.  It was opened this past Memorial Day weekend and is open through Columbus Day.  Both Castle Island and Fort Independence are official Historic Places.  More information can be found on the Castle Island Association website where you can find tour hours.  As a volunteer organization they are also always looking for volunteers to continue to offer the free tours.