Newport Mansions Virtual Tour

I mentioned previously that I'd be keeping my eye out for free virtual tours being made available to the public.

One advantage to these tours is people who might not have traveled to these locations to vacation previously now have the chance to see at least some of what they were missing. Nothing beats in person visits but at least you can experience some of the sites you might never other wise visit.

You can find the link for the available tours here. Perhaps this will insprie more of us to visit these sites when we are more comfortable traveling.

Photo Credit Stock Images

Marlborough Boys & Girls Club Drive Through Festival of Trees 2020

The festival of trees in Marlborough has been a fundraiser for several charities in Marlborough, Massachusetts over the years. It started with the Historical Society and has since ended up with the Boys & Girls Club. In years past its been held at different indoor venues. This year due to COVID restrictions they are holding an outdoor drive through event Saturday December 5 from 2-6 pm.

You can find details about the event at their website here.

For people looking for a holiday event but aren't comfortable going inside to a venue this might be a possible choice.



Stock Photo Credit: Free Images

MA Horticultural Society's Festival of Trees 2020

While it is perfectly understandable that Christmas festivals have been cancelled and limited due to COVID it is also important to highlight places for those who might wish to venture out using COVID protocols that include social distancing to experience a little holiday cheer in what has been a rather challenging 2020.

Tree festivals have been common in this area as ways for groups to raise funds. This event is being held at the group's headquarters The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA.
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Event details:

Festival of Trees runs Wednesday through Sunday each week from the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) through Sunday December 20.

Cost:

Adults:

Friday 11/27, Saturdays & Sundays: $25 Nonmember, $20 Member

Wednesday - Fridays in December: $20 Nonmember, $15 Member

Kids (age 3-17):

$5 for both Member & Nonmember children - everyday

Kids 2 and under are free. We ask that you reserve a free ticket for them for counting purposes. (S'mores and Hot Chocolate not included)

The website lists the COVID protocols they are following and those visitors are required to follow as well. You can find all that information and make the required reservation and purchase of tickets here..

As with many live events you will have an assigned time to achieve the person limits required by the COVID protocols.

Stock Photo Credit: Free Images

Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village

Christmas by Candlelight is making an appearance this year at Old Sturbridge Village in a COVID era socially distanced manner for those of you who are interested in participating in this annual holiday festival.

December 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 23 & 27-30, 2020

Times: 3:00 - 8:00 pm; The Village will open for Christmas by Candlelight Guests must purchase tickets for specific arrival times

Cost: Tickets are now on sale to the public at the rate of $22 for Adults and $11 for Youth (Ages 4-17; Children under 4 are admitted for free); Members had early access and a discount prior to November 17, 2020

COVID restrictions are in place which means no indoor activities including dining. All activities will be outdoors. The number of participants is more limited this year to allow for social distancing so if you plan to attend you should buy your tickets booking your times early. Check the website for all details about the event here. I am thrilled to see this event going on this year and wish them nothing but success with it as they had with their Halloween event.

Smithsonian Natural History Vitural Tour

One place on my bucket list to visit is Washington, DC so I can see the historical sites and to spend a few days at least visiting the various musuems of the Smithsonian. While the Musuem of Natural History is closed to COVID they are providing visitors with an option to tour portions of the musuem virtually here.

There is a list of current, past, permanent, additional tours, and even a few guided audio tours.

While I did't spend much time viewing the Sturbridge tour since I've been there many times I suspect I will come back to this one since I have no way of knowing when I'll be able to go there in person.

Image provided by https://www.freeimages.com/

Old Sturbridge Village 3D Tour

I've seen several local musuems and historical areas trying to ramp up their virtual resources for families and educators in light of the COVID challenges and thought when time allows I'd try to document some of them.

Old Sturbridge village has been a staple for both school and homeschool field trips for years. They are still open as I write this for their limited fall hours but clearly recognize the challenge that COVID prevents for the travel required to get to the site and the concerns people still have about visiting places.

They've begun a virtual 3D tour program you can find here. As I write this the program is just beginning. The following sites are icldued in the tour as of now:

Asa Knight Store

District School

Pottery Shop and Kiln

Freeman Farm

Sawmill

Printing Office

Fenno House

Sturbridge presents life in the US around 1830 and it having visited there myself many times over the years it provides guests with a chance to see not just read about the time period. For those who can't go due to COVID or distance this is an opportunity to visit viturally which has not been available previously.