CT: New Haven County- Milford- Charles Island Music Festival

For the fifth year, the Charles Island Music Festival was held off of Silver Sands State Park on a barge!

This annual event benefits the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. It’s otherwise a free event but given it’s great cause and how well it’s orchestrated, I would recommend a donation.

I generally kayak lakes and lazy rivers so would not normally go out on the Tidal waters of the Sound. But this was a party on the water with loads of folks around.

This offered me the opportunity to finally see the other side of the tombolo ( a term I learned by frequenting Silver Sands) which connects to Charles Island via a tombolo which is navigable only during low tide.

If you are attending via Kayak like I did, drop it off at the beach and go park your car in the Silver Sands parking lot. There was ample room for parking so don’t let that stop you. Recommend bringing a bungie cord to hook up somewhere to stay in place to listen to the music.

I’m so glad I got myself up and went! It was awesome! Great Job Charles Island Music Festival!

FL: Broward County- Deerfield Beach

I found Deerfield Beach to be a wonderful location for sunrise and a coffee on the beach.

I was fortunate enough to land a table the night before on the patio overlooking the beach at Oceans 234.

Based on the anticipated location of the sun we knew this location would offer both a clear view of the sunrise as well as a pier to compliment it.

For the first time I decided to ask take a sunrise swim. The water was very warm so it was easy to snap pictures low to the water and then jump in.

A friend then started to back out of the water pointing to a shark he saw swimming nearby! Well I swam back to shore at the speed of light!

Back safely at shore we could laugh and learn they apparently come out dusk and dawn.

Recommend the spot for sunrise and for dinner on the beach! Metered parking is nearby!

FL: Lee County- Bonita Springs- Dog Beach Park

Per bringfido.com:
“Lee County Dog Beach, also known as Bonita Beach Dog Park, is located along the edge of Lover’s Key State Park. It’s an off-leash beach to let your dog run free and frolic in the shallow, calm water of the Gulf of Mexico. There are no fences, leashes, or worries. Just plenty of dogs of all sizes to play with.

It was so much fun watching all the dogs be free and frolicking in the shallow waters. They played frisbee together and ran along the shore.

It was one of the first places my son wanted to take me and I could certainly understand why.

NY: Hudson Valley- Olana State Historic Site

The morning following Tropical Storm Elsa, I took a chance to walk the grounds and see the view at Olana State Historic Site. Should the rain have continued, my contingency would have been an inside tour of the house (for those who know me they’re smiling now as I am known for my contingency planning 🙂

A bit about Olana per their website:

Frederic Church is well-known as a painter, but he was also a world traveller, a family man, and a self-taught architect, farmer and landscape designer. He and his wife Isabel were pious, wellread, and funloving. They raised four children at their estate overlooking the Hudson. Tours are available of the home and or the grounds. I chose to walk the one mile River Road walk which was perfect and had beautiful views.

The landscape and carriage roads at Olana State Historic Site are free to visit and open to all every day of the year from 8AM to sunset.

I stopped at this look out and had a picnic bite while overlooking the view. Please note that Olana is a Carry-In, Carry-Out, tobacco-free environment. Dog are welcome and must be leashed at all times.

They had lovely murals around the property at the head of different path entrances.

The short visit was a worthy and rewarding stop. I highly recommended this short loop if you have only a small amount of time. Looking forward to my return!

Below is the link for a visit, your options and more background on the venue.

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FL: Collier County- Naples Pier

One of my favorite past times is chasing sunsets. When visiting my son in Naples I immediately researched the best spots.

Naples Pier made not only the top of the lists for the county but also for the state.

While I have photographed and seen many sunsets in Connecticut, I admit the glows were much more vibrant when facing the West.

Truth is we were actually 7 minutes behind the sunset and yet the sky continued to appear on fire.

Couple that with the many perspectives you could take with the long pier and it’s structures, it’s certainly not surprising to have found photographers with their tripods around seeking that great shot!

Come early so you can see the sunset in its entirety and allow time to find parking as it’s certainly a popular spot!

This one will always remain a special memory having done it with my son.

NY: Hudson Valley- Milton- Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa

This born and bred NYC gal chased waterfalls and farms this past weekend with a great experience at this Hudson Valley venue.

I was here during the remnants of Tropical Storm Elsa which at first put a damper on things. First thing I did was schedule a deep tissue massage.

I also brought with me a big oversized umbrella and walked the grounds when the rain would lighten up.

At first I could not find the llamas at their house. But I was equally impressed by the bees and beautiful structures.

I continued walking the trails to find an opening to about a dozen llamas! Win!

A unique-looking (at least to me) rooster who was monitoring my every move near the chickens. He was very excitable. I was pretty happy I finally got a picture of him for my memory log.

I also cautiously followed mom and dad goose as they protected the baby otherwise unencumbered around the property. There were dozens of geese gaggling about. But the baby was always protected in the center.

Above and beyond it’s lovely grounds I found the restaurant Henry’s wonderful . . . From the service to the wine selection, the food, and of course dessert (come hungry and stay at the inn so you can roll into bed :).

Below is a link to their website. It certainly was not an inexpensive evening but it was one of my most fulfilling in one venue. As a final point, the massage I scheduled, it was great too!

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NY: Hudson Valley-Red Hook- Zabriskie’s Waterfall

After a rain storm I like to chase waterfalls. Having visited most of the largest in Connecticut, I expanded my circle to the Hudson Valley. This one sits within Bard College in Red Hook, NY.

Per Hudson Valley Magazine :

A short walk on a defined path along the Sawkill Creek at Bard College takes you to the top and bottom of this fall.

There is a second large waterfall approximately 0.2 miles farther down, just before the creek reaches the Hudson River. Follow the trail along the creek to get there.

Tropical Storm Elsa resulted in several inches of rain in the area in a short period right prior to these photos. The water was simply roaring!

Directions: From Red Hook, at the Junction of Route 9 and W Market St., head northwest on W Market St. for 1.8 miles. Turn right onto Route 9G N and continue 0.9 miles.

Turn left onto Kelly Rd. then right onto Annandale Rd. Stay right and continue another 0.4 miles on Annandale Rd. Turn left onto Blithewood Ave. and park in the large lot on the left in 0.2 miles.

Park and walk to the south end of the parking lot to find the trail that follows a service road. Bear right at the small building and follow the path to the creek and falls.

NY: Hudson Valley Farm to Fork Fondo

The experience is unparalleled for me. Supporting local farms, appreciating the surroundings, meeting such nice people and accomplishing your choice of length of ride!

I’ve supported this effort for a few years now and the experience is consistently fulfilling.

The ride is very well supported by the staff. The route well marked and app supported.

The farm stops offer local and fresh bites to entice you to complete the next segment.

For this ride I chose the hilly 46.5 miles! It was a great feeling to accomplish!

Below is the link to the piccolo, medio or gran fondo rides up and down the east coast.

https://www.farmtoforkfitness.com/

CT: Fairfield County- Darien (Sunset)

For those that chase sunsets, locations can be a challenge when you live on the east coast and are not on the water. I enjoy finding viewing opportunities in unexpected places and I’m always on the lookout.

As I walked out to my car from Equinox Darien the night before a storm, I was drawn by the color of the sky. I turned to see the sun setting on top of the clouds. I grabbed my camera from the car and as I did noticed I could align the setting sun through the lamp post lighting it up by the sun’s flames.

As I drove home the color deepened. I pulled off the road and put on the blinkers to grab another memory.

I was so pleased to have decided not to rush to capture the final sunset before the days of rain from a Tropical Storm.

CT: New London County- Old Lyme- Lieutenant River (Summer Kayaking)

Launched Off of Route 156 in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which is the Lieutenant River State Boat launch for car top boats.

Per Wikipedia, the Lieutenant River is a 3.7-mile-long (6.0 km)[1] tidal river located in Old Lyme, Connecticut. It joins the Connecticut River in the estuary, just above the point where that river flows into Long Island Sound.

The Lieutenant River is popular among artists and photographers. A number of American impressionist artists, including Childe Hassam, painted views of the river while staying at the Florence Griswold House in Old Lyme.[3][4]

The Florence Griswold Museum was designed with windows that have sweeping views of the Lieutenant River.

Paddling through reflecting high reeds of grass trying to photo capture the heron and watched as an osprey fed his young.

In addition to the Florence Griswold Museum, you can also stop by Studio 80 Sculpture Grounds to see or purchase uniquely designed sculptures and is a lovely post paddle walk.