corcoran
Orbiting Earth
Here's some ideas to take advantage of the things to do as part of your personal extended BACFest 2017.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Martha’s Vineyard by Air
Choose from two airports KMVY and 1B2.
1B2 puts you at Katama Airpark with its 4,000’ grass runway. Follow the taxiway signs and park your Beech next to the beach (South Beach). From the bus stop near the Katama restaurant you can catch a ride to all parts of the Island.
Martha’s Vineyard is also accessible via ferry from Woods Hole on the southwest corner of Cape Cod.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Nantucket Island by Air
It would take too long to spend one day on a round trip ferry ride to Nantucket. So landing at KACK is the best choice for a day trip. Expect a small landing fee and a taxi ride to town (also called Nantucket). Mostly you’ll be walking around quaint buildings rubbing elbows with other visitors. Fly high as you are traversing a lot of cold water.
The ferry to Nantucket leaves from Hyannis located on the middle of Cape Cod.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Cape Cod by Air
There are many airports on Cape Cod, all with no landing fees. Most are great place to stop and explore. You may choose to land on as many as possible during your stay. You can only do a low pass at Joint Base Cape Cod KFMH , near Chatham KCQX you might see up to 10,000 seals and some Orcas. Provincetown KPVC is an eclectic art community -a real hoot -3 miles from the airport (hire a taxi or take a nice walk through Province Lands forest and dunes). Land at 2B1 an old time grass airport in Marston Mills or Falmouth Airpark 5B6 a public use airport in a fly-in community. Hyannis KHYA is the largest airport with a short walk to the town center. Cape Cod is easy by car just cross the bridge over the canal. Route 28 is picturesque but trafficky.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Battleship Cove
If you like exploring, just drive 12 miles from our BACFest 2017 hotel to Fall River and go to Battleship Cove. This is a huge floating museum featuring the Battleship Massachusetts. Buy an $18 ticket and climb over up and in gun turrets, bridge, engine room and the rest of the ships. Admission includes exploring the destroyer, a submarine, PT boat and other craft.
Route 195 runs from the hotel to Fall River. https://youtu.be/r3xtHpGTXgQ
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Newport Rhode Island
This is planned to be the destination of our fly-out. It is only a few minutes by air to KUUU. BAC will have transportation from the airport when we arrive. If you were to drive there it is only a half hour from the BACFest 2017 hotel. Newport features hundreds of New Englandesque stores. Its waterfront hosted America’s Cup. Most famous street is Belleview Avenue which is the address for dozens of mansions open to the public. These so-called cottages were built in the late 1800’s by the fabulously rich Astors and Vanderbilts and Trumps of their day. Some of these “cottages†have 80 rooms and all have one-upsmanship magnificent splendor. There is a slot casino and a very scenic ocean drive to enjoy.
If we can’t fly in for some reason put Newport on your “must†list anyway.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
City of Boston
You’ll be just 45 miles, maybe 90 minutes in traffic, from one of the most wonderful cities in the world. America was born in Boston beginning with the Tea Party to the battles of Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord. Follow the bricks to walk the Freedom Trail and see the historic sites including the Old North Church of Paul Revere fame. The museums are world class. Take a harbor cruise to the islands now a national park. Boston is a compact walking city and just across the Charles River from Harvard and MIT. If you choose a “Duck Tour†the old military amphibian will take you into the water. Boston hotels are pricy so going back to New Bedford makes sense. Make a Google search for things to do in Boston. Plan a couple of days in Boston if you can.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
New Bedford and the South Coast
One of our official destinations will be the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Located in the city in the national park, this is a top notch world class exhibit of the whaling industry in New England. At one time New Bedford was the richest city in the world. Now it is the richest and most important fishing port in the USA. At our hotel you are just a short ride to the hurricane barrier. You can stroll on this massive structure with huge doors that open to the sea and close during a storm to protect the hundreds of fishing boats. All along the coast you can be treated to beautiful little towns each with its own brand of charm.
Route 6 runs within a block of our hotel and goes from the tip of Cape Cod to San Diego.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Cape Cod Canal
This is a bus trip destination for our group. You may choose to do it on your own. Opened in 1912, the Cape Cod Canal eliminates the danger to shipping of traversing around the tip of Cape Cod. It is said to be the widest man-made sea level canal in the world. There are walking/bicycling trails along each side of its 6 mile length. Of particular interest is a stop at Buzzards Bay to view the railroad bridge that goes up and down daily to allow trains to come and go to the Cape. At the east end of the canal in the town of Sandwich, there is a free museum describing the successes and failures of the canal along with a description of the troublesome building of the canal.
All this is about 20 minutes from our hotel. The plan is for us to visit the canal as a group side trip.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Shopping near New Bedford
Within a block of our hotel are dozens of stores whose names would be familiar. Within 10 minutes by car there is an outlet type mall that really has some exceptional buys on name brand stuff. Vanity Fair clothing, Bass shoes and VanHuesen are located there among Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox fanware way off price. Getting those small souvenirs to take home can be accomplished in the touristy shopping areas.
There is no shortage of friendly New England retailers who are only too glad to help you part with your money.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Three State Aviation Challenge
Here is the challenge… take off from one state, land in a second state, take off again then land in a third state and only fly 17 nautical miles. The one place you can do this in the United States is to fly from Groton, Connecticut to Fishers Island, New York to Westerly, Rhode Island. Groton is only 30 minutes from New Bedford Airport and Westerly is only 20 minutes. This can easily be combined with the flight to Newport or on your way to BACFest 2017 from home. KGON-0B8-KWST
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Sandwich (Cape Cod) Heritage Museum
The Sandwich Heritage Museum and Gardens is about 25 minutes from the BACFest 2017 hotel just across the bridge on Cape Cod. This is a wonderful place to spend a few hours enjoying the lush grounds, the antique auto museum, the carousel and other points of interest to adults. For the adventuresome a forest climbing course and zip lines operation is right next door. The downtown Sandwich village area has particular interest for charm and quaintness. Sandwich is on the east end of the Cape Cod Canal.
http://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Martha’s Vineyard by Air
Choose from two airports KMVY and 1B2.
1B2 puts you at Katama Airpark with its 4,000’ grass runway. Follow the taxiway signs and park your Beech next to the beach (South Beach). From the bus stop near the Katama restaurant you can catch a ride to all parts of the Island.
Martha’s Vineyard is also accessible via ferry from Woods Hole on the southwest corner of Cape Cod.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Nantucket Island by Air
It would take too long to spend one day on a round trip ferry ride to Nantucket. So landing at KACK is the best choice for a day trip. Expect a small landing fee and a taxi ride to town (also called Nantucket). Mostly you’ll be walking around quaint buildings rubbing elbows with other visitors. Fly high as you are traversing a lot of cold water.
The ferry to Nantucket leaves from Hyannis located on the middle of Cape Cod.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Cape Cod by Air
There are many airports on Cape Cod, all with no landing fees. Most are great place to stop and explore. You may choose to land on as many as possible during your stay. You can only do a low pass at Joint Base Cape Cod KFMH , near Chatham KCQX you might see up to 10,000 seals and some Orcas. Provincetown KPVC is an eclectic art community -a real hoot -3 miles from the airport (hire a taxi or take a nice walk through Province Lands forest and dunes). Land at 2B1 an old time grass airport in Marston Mills or Falmouth Airpark 5B6 a public use airport in a fly-in community. Hyannis KHYA is the largest airport with a short walk to the town center. Cape Cod is easy by car just cross the bridge over the canal. Route 28 is picturesque but trafficky.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Battleship Cove
If you like exploring, just drive 12 miles from our BACFest 2017 hotel to Fall River and go to Battleship Cove. This is a huge floating museum featuring the Battleship Massachusetts. Buy an $18 ticket and climb over up and in gun turrets, bridge, engine room and the rest of the ships. Admission includes exploring the destroyer, a submarine, PT boat and other craft.
Route 195 runs from the hotel to Fall River. https://youtu.be/r3xtHpGTXgQ
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Newport Rhode Island
This is planned to be the destination of our fly-out. It is only a few minutes by air to KUUU. BAC will have transportation from the airport when we arrive. If you were to drive there it is only a half hour from the BACFest 2017 hotel. Newport features hundreds of New Englandesque stores. Its waterfront hosted America’s Cup. Most famous street is Belleview Avenue which is the address for dozens of mansions open to the public. These so-called cottages were built in the late 1800’s by the fabulously rich Astors and Vanderbilts and Trumps of their day. Some of these “cottages†have 80 rooms and all have one-upsmanship magnificent splendor. There is a slot casino and a very scenic ocean drive to enjoy.
If we can’t fly in for some reason put Newport on your “must†list anyway.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
City of Boston
You’ll be just 45 miles, maybe 90 minutes in traffic, from one of the most wonderful cities in the world. America was born in Boston beginning with the Tea Party to the battles of Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord. Follow the bricks to walk the Freedom Trail and see the historic sites including the Old North Church of Paul Revere fame. The museums are world class. Take a harbor cruise to the islands now a national park. Boston is a compact walking city and just across the Charles River from Harvard and MIT. If you choose a “Duck Tour†the old military amphibian will take you into the water. Boston hotels are pricy so going back to New Bedford makes sense. Make a Google search for things to do in Boston. Plan a couple of days in Boston if you can.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
New Bedford and the South Coast
One of our official destinations will be the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Located in the city in the national park, this is a top notch world class exhibit of the whaling industry in New England. At one time New Bedford was the richest city in the world. Now it is the richest and most important fishing port in the USA. At our hotel you are just a short ride to the hurricane barrier. You can stroll on this massive structure with huge doors that open to the sea and close during a storm to protect the hundreds of fishing boats. All along the coast you can be treated to beautiful little towns each with its own brand of charm.
Route 6 runs within a block of our hotel and goes from the tip of Cape Cod to San Diego.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Cape Cod Canal
This is a bus trip destination for our group. You may choose to do it on your own. Opened in 1912, the Cape Cod Canal eliminates the danger to shipping of traversing around the tip of Cape Cod. It is said to be the widest man-made sea level canal in the world. There are walking/bicycling trails along each side of its 6 mile length. Of particular interest is a stop at Buzzards Bay to view the railroad bridge that goes up and down daily to allow trains to come and go to the Cape. At the east end of the canal in the town of Sandwich, there is a free museum describing the successes and failures of the canal along with a description of the troublesome building of the canal.
All this is about 20 minutes from our hotel. The plan is for us to visit the canal as a group side trip.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Shopping near New Bedford
Within a block of our hotel are dozens of stores whose names would be familiar. Within 10 minutes by car there is an outlet type mall that really has some exceptional buys on name brand stuff. Vanity Fair clothing, Bass shoes and VanHuesen are located there among Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox fanware way off price. Getting those small souvenirs to take home can be accomplished in the touristy shopping areas.
There is no shortage of friendly New England retailers who are only too glad to help you part with your money.
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Three State Aviation Challenge
Here is the challenge… take off from one state, land in a second state, take off again then land in a third state and only fly 17 nautical miles. The one place you can do this in the United States is to fly from Groton, Connecticut to Fishers Island, New York to Westerly, Rhode Island. Groton is only 30 minutes from New Bedford Airport and Westerly is only 20 minutes. This can easily be combined with the flight to Newport or on your way to BACFest 2017 from home. KGON-0B8-KWST
SIDE TRIPS before/after BACFest 2017
Sandwich (Cape Cod) Heritage Museum
The Sandwich Heritage Museum and Gardens is about 25 minutes from the BACFest 2017 hotel just across the bridge on Cape Cod. This is a wonderful place to spend a few hours enjoying the lush grounds, the antique auto museum, the carousel and other points of interest to adults. For the adventuresome a forest climbing course and zip lines operation is right next door. The downtown Sandwich village area has particular interest for charm and quaintness. Sandwich is on the east end of the Cape Cod Canal.
http://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/
