Are you looking for 3 ways to have a perfect New England day? Read on.
We took some time this past weekend to enjoy two amazing winery tastings and a beautiful beach. Last Saturday was such a beautiful day! We took a ride to the Mill River Winery, located in Rowley, MA. What a great little winery!!
Mill River Winery
Mill River Winery is in the old Dodge Cider Mill and Ice Cream stand. The renovations look amazing with lots of reclaimed wood. The winery has such a warm, cozy, and homey feel.
When we entered the building, there were a lot of items for sale. Items that coordinate with wine, like snacks and shirts. They also sell olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
We were immediately greeted by the bar staff and since the bar was full we sat at a small table. Sarah came to serve us promptly and explain the tasting flights. We both decided on tasting the winter sweets, which included 5 tastings for $7. I have to tell you their wine is extremely well balanced.
We started out with the Reisling, Nancy Cannon, Plum Island White, Plum Island Red, Plum Island Red Dory, and an extra taste of the Red Zinfandel. They were all so very good.
Owners and wine makers Donna Martin and Rick Rousseau met when Rick was painting her house. He was a contractor and enjoyed making wine in his basement. He had even won awards for his wines.
Donna Martin a Ph.D. Chemist tried Rick’s wines and really enjoyed them. She started to think with her chayrdsemistry hat on. Donna started to use her chemistry degree with his wine and they made something great. They have been open since late 2011 and for more information, visit their internet Facebook page.
Parker River National Refuge
Our next stop was the beach! We went to our favorite spot, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. When visiting, we always drive down to sandy point, which is the beach area access at the end of the road.
There are limited spots to park on the refuge, Massachusetts residents park at this location at no charge, so you need to arrive early! No worries, you will love your perfect New England Day.
The scenery is absolutely beautiful!! It is a great spot for families to get away from the commercialism of the beach. You will find no stores at the shore selling things, even no food so pack a lunch. There are bathroom facilities at 2 different locations.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941. It is located on the North East corner of Massachusetts and provide a resting, feeding and nesting habitat for migratory birds.
The Parker River Salt Marsh
The refuge is over 4700 acres and 3000 of it are salt marsh. This makes Parker River a perfect ecosystem for more than 300 species of animals.
The most popular bird is the Piping Plover. These birds were on the federal endangered species list. When it is nesting time, these birds like to nest on the beach and dunes.
As a result, they close down portions of the beach so the birds can utilize this prime ecosystem and minimize human disturbance of their breeding cycle.
We walked the beach looking for treasures. By treasures, I mean critters and shells. We did find a few sand dollars, lobster traps, and a pretty sunset. Jim decided to climb the observation tower and snap a few sunset pictures as well.
We have enjoyed the beach over the years and even dropped our kayaks in the marsh estuary and kayaked down the river. Just make sure to check the tide chart so you don’t get beached or stranded.
Kalon Farm
Our last stop over the weekend was at Kalon Farm in Ashburnham MA. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays, for more information visit their website @ http://www.kalonfarm.com. They have a small building that they do business out of and a farm with sheep, a goat named “billy”, and chickens.
As we drove up to the building we passed some grape vines and around back were the animals eager to greet us. As we made our way into the building we were warmly greeted by Chrissy. We were interested in the wine tasting.
We had never heard of Kalon Farms or there wine. They go by the name Hillside Cellars and they have 5 varieties of wine.
We were the first to go in and ask for a wine tasting, which was free of charge. The wine tasting was delicious! Kalon Farms is known for their grass fed beef and lamb, pasture raised pork and poultry, as well as free range eggs and vegetables.
They also have canned goods, sauces, maple syrup, honey, cheese and other delicious local artisan products. Their main store is located in Lancaster, MA, store hours are 10-6 daily.
A Lovely Winery and Beach Break
We were pleasantly surprised with the Mill River Winery and the Kalon Farm. We would recommend both places for a delicious wine tasting and a great shopping experience.
Lastly, we would highly recommend a trip to the beautiful Parker River National Wildlife Refuge!! We know once you experience the beautiful refuge, you will return again and again.
In closing, now that you have learned more about these 3 ways to have a perfect New England day, we are sure you will have a wonderful time on your next winery and/or beach getaway. Have fun – great times and a perfect New England days awaits!
Happy Travels!!
For more beautiful New England travel destinations, click this link: https://lifeoftheemptynesters.com/0020/12/04/tower-hill-botanic-garden/
