Mystic's Mystique

If you are looking for a great spot for a weekend trip or a stopover point on a longer trip up the Eastern Seaboard, then do not search any farther than Mystic, Connecticut.  The small village is nestled along the Mystic River with its two major attractions being the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium.

The Seaport offers historic tall ships which you can climb aboard as well as one where you can watch the ongoing restoration process.  It is an ideal place for kids of all ages with a Discovery Barn, a hands-on Children's Museum, Planetarium and art museum.  You can explore a 19th Century seafaring village on foot or by horse and carriage.  Water activities include taking a cruise aboard a steamboat or chartering a sail on the Breck Marshall or Araminta.  My children loved a short sail along the river where the captain guided them as they took turns sailing the boat.  There are also sailboats and rowboats for rent for those seafaring souls.

The focal point of the Mystic Aquarium is the beluga whale exhibit which is quite an undertaking.  You can observe four of them from above and below their habitat.  The bird sanctuary where you can feed some feathered friends was a lot of fun, but it can be frustrating for little ones who can't quite keep a bird on their seeded stick.  This is definitely a must stop, but bring your patience if you go during the peak summer season.  It was packed!

We stayed at the Whaler's Inn which is centrally located in downtown Mystic.  Its convenient location is within walking distance of the village's main attractions as well as shops and restaurants.  The historic inn offers a pleasant atmosphere in addition to being comfortable and clean.  Their prices were affordable and the inn also offers on-sight parking.  The staff was affable and helpful.  They provided us with a refrigerator for the baby's milk and yogurt without charging us. a nice touch which we greatly appreciated.

Mystic Pizza was another must stop, especially if you've seen the movie.  The film of the same name premiered in the late eighties and marked the debut of Julia Roberts.  It was filmed on location in the town.  The restaurant definitely attracts tourists, so be prepared to wait, but it's worth it.  The food is good and so is the ambiance.  However, it is not stroller friendly, so if possible leave it in the car or hotel.

It's a perfect place to explore by foot, bike, boat or kayak.  There are different types of harbor cruises available for guided tours if you are so inclined as well as boats and kayaks to rent for your own exploration.

As my kids said a few moments after arriving, Mystic is definitely a re-do.  It's worth checking out!

Please check out these links to help prepare your visit!

http://WhalersInnMystic.com
www.oldemistickvillage.com
http://mysticaquarium.org
www.ArgiaMystic.com

Connecticut on Dwellable

Tantalizing Titles

Choosing a title for your work whether it's a short story or a novel can be as agonizing as choosing a name for your baby.  Well, maybe not your baby, but it's still a major decision.  It's the first thing the reader sees and it can be the make or break difference between someone deciding to read your work or pick something else.  Therefore, you want to make it a good one.

Recently, I picked up Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin.  My husband is a fan of the Food Network show Diners, Dives, and Drive-ins.  I couldn't resist and I have to admit the title is what got my attention.  This is Ms. Austin's debut novel and it's a fun read so I was glad I brought it.

Unfortunately, there aren't any hard and fast rules for picking a title for your work.  Sometimes it just comes to you and it's fantastic.  Other times, it's awful, but you keep it for the time being until something better pops up and it's also a handy name for your file.

The key is to keep the title brief and catchy.  Writing a title is akin to creating an advertising slogan.  You want it to be memorable yet short and sweet.  As with anything in life, practice makes perfect.  The more you do it, the easier it will be.  When you find one that feels right to you, then you know you have a winner!

Working at Home

There are many before me who have attempted to find the balance between taking care of a family while doing your job at home.  In theory, this is a wonderful idea.  On the one hand, you do not have to pay the enormous price tag attached to quality childcare.  You are able to be around to enjoy those priceless moments like first steps and see all of the adorable things children do without hearing about them second-hand from your spouse.  I have done both and I definitely prefer the later.  However, finding the equilibrium between the two is nothing less than a daily tightrope walk.

For the parent who works at home, the mantra is family first.  The needs of the children are first and foremost, pushing your work to the back burner.  Once those are taken care of it would seem to reason that it is time to attend to your work.  However, the responsibilities of parenting are twenty-four seven which means work gets squeezed in whenever you can.

I've read that Mary Higgins Clark used to wake up at an ungodly hour to write her short stories before her children needed to get up for school.  A wonderful idea.  That is how I manage to work running and yoga into my day.   So that is already taken.  Nap time is the perfect opportunity especially when the older ones are at school.  This plan runs pretty smoothly until school lets out for summer. Bedtime is the next uninterrupted block of time. 

When kids are settled down for the night, it's generally 'me' time for the parents.  Though if you are already getting up early, going to sleep late is not always a fantastic idea since you don't want to be a complete grump the next morning and let's not forget your other half.  Couples need quality moments too if you want to keep your relationship in tact.

This is where the tightrope walk comes into play.  Where is the balance?  What do you sacrifice because you want to write?  You don't want to scrimp on your time with your children or your spouse and there are household chores which need to be done.  If you don't attend to those, you'll end up living in one of those nightmare houses you see on reality shows and no one wants that.

I thought a helpful solution would be a laptop.  I could do my writing while waiting for my children at their various activities.  Again a good idea in theory or one which probably works better when your kids are older.  Mine are not.  If I work while the older ones are at practice, what is the little one doing?  She's confined to her carriage.  Not the best choice since she needs exercise too.  And then there's the guilt that inevitably comes when the middle one runs up and wants to know if I saw the awesome goal he scored.

Then, there's always trying to write when the children are awake and hopefully occupied inside or outside of the house.  Anyone who has ever tried to have a telephone conversation when children are around knows how well that goes.  Hopefully, you can get a sentence or two written before someone starts crying or an argument breaks out.

I've learned since I became serious about being a writer that there aren't any easy answers to this age-old dilemma.  It's one which many face and what works for one may not work for another.  I suppose the answer lies within yourself and with experimentation you will eventually find the balance you seek, at least in theory.  I'm still working on mine.

The Sweetest Place on Earth

If you are looking for a weekend getaway this summer, then don't look any farther than Hershey Park, Pennsylvania.  Yes, it is the home on the world famous chocolate factory and it is the perfect place for some family fun and some innovative story ideas.

For a little town, there is a great deal to do.  For starters, The Hershey Story is the official museum and it even has a hands-on chocolate lab along with chocolate tasting.  It is located on Chocolate Avenue where the street lights are actual Hershey Kisses!

Hershey's Chocolate World is a must see.  There is a free chocolate making tour ride, a 3-D show, and a new tasty addition-a make your own chocolate bar experience where you actually get to create your own candy bar, complete with toppings and fillings.  Be forewarned though, it can be a long wait for impatient little ones and everyone including babies must wear a hair net.  Strollers are left outside, so it's a good idea to leave them in the car to begin with.

Chocolate World also offers a nostalgic and historical trolley ride through the city which was a lot of fun.  Get your singing voice ready for this one and your appetite.  Free samples are included.  Combination tickets can be brought for all the different activities that are available.  The gift shop is to die for, offering any Hershey product your heart desires.  Definitely not the place to stop if you are on a diet!

The world-class Hershey Park amusement attraction is right next door and it offers over sixty-five rides including eleven roller coasters and a water section called The Boardwalk.  Be sure to search the net for coupons.  Park entrance prices are high.  Cost goes down at dusk.  There are rides for the younger set as well as shows and ZooAmerica.  This is a perfect sized zoo for younger kids and a don't miss.  We had a lot of fun here.

In addition to the main attractions, there are also the beautiful Hershey Gardens, an antique car museum, and summer concerts.  If you visit in the off-season, you can check out the American Hockey League champion Hershey Bears who play in town and are the farm team of the Washington Capitals.

There are many types of accommodations available from affordable to pricey.  I would have loved to stay at the historic Hotel Hershey, but it was way out of our price range though worth a walk through for the architecture, history, and setting potential.  There is even a campground nearby if you are so inclined.

There is also more than chocolate to eat here!  The Chocolate Grill, located on Chocolate Avenue, was delicious and kid friendly.  The Brick Oven Pizza also located on Chocolate Avenue didn't look like much from the outside or inside for that matter, but the food was fantastic and definitely worth checking out.

Please check out the links below to help you plan your trip and enjoy!

www.hersheypartnership.com
www.HersheysChocolateWorld.com
www.hersheygardens.com
www.hersheystory.org
www.Hersheypark.com
www.aacamuseum.org
www.adventurehershey.com

Pennsylvania on Dwellable