HERE
New tour looks at slavery in colonial times
A new walking tour helps visitors better understand what slavery looked like in Colonial Massachusetts (it’s a lot different from southern plantation-style experiences) and how enslaved people in the Boston area resisted their situation and enslavers. Boston’s Old South Meeting House has launched the guided one-hour tour, called Slavery and Resistance in Colonial Massachusetts, which runs daily at 2 p.m. The tour, recommended for guests 12 and older, takes visitors through the Old South Meeting House and Old State House while examining how slavery was first established in Massachusetts, and how enslaved people used religious practices (such as marriage and baptism) and government institutions (such as the courts) to protect their sense of autonomy and community. Learn about Scipio Gunney, Phillis Wheatley, and Zipporah Potter Atkins and their stories of resistance. Tour free with museum admission: $8 ages 6-12, $13 students and seniors, $15 ages 18 and older. revolutionaryspaces.org/visit/museum-admission
THERE
Luxuriate and play in the Catskills
Escape to a cozy hamlet in upstate New York where luxury lodging meets the great outdoors. Antrim Streamside, a boutique property in the hamlet of Livingston Manor (population 1,053), has 250 acres of hiking trails and a trout stream for fly fishing right out the back door. The property — about 4.5 hours from Boston — sits on the banks of the Willowemoc Creek, a perfect spot for fishing, birdwatching, and wading on hot summer days. The resort has four upscale cabins, each with a fully equipped kitchenette, a screened-in sleeping porch, and an outdoor shower. It also has one pet-friendly ADA-compliant cottage, The Stone House, that has two bedrooms, a queen sleeper sofa, two decks, and an enclosed outdoor space for your dog to run. Enjoy onsite yoga classes, massage, private chef-led cooking classes, and wine tastings. The current Go Streamside deal, which starts at $700 per night (based on availability), includes a guided hike to Beaver Lake Farm, an in-room cocktail or mocktail bar (complete with recipes and ingredients), a summer-themed gift basket, and two nights in a cabin. antrimstreamside.com
EVERYWHERE
A portable jump starter for summer travels
Road trip season is upon us — at last — and you don’t want to get stuck somewhere due to a dead battery. Scosche’s PowerUp 600-Amp Emergency Jump Starter is small enough to fit in your glove compartment or even the map pocket on your car door (my Samsung Galaxy S23 dwarfs the jump starter), yet it packs enough power to jump-start a gas engine up to 4.0 liters and diesel engine up to 2.0 liters. Hit the Boost button to jump start a car when its battery is completely dead and the On button to turn on the built-in LED flashlight, which offers On, Strobe, and SOS modes. Three lights by the On button indicate the jump starter’s battery life and a 10-watt USB-A port on the side lets you plug in your phone or other small device for recharging (it has 5400mAh of capacity). Refuel the charger by USB-C cord (included) every six months if you haven’t used it. The starter comes with battery cables and clamps, and a handy carrying bag to keep all the critical items together. $109.99. www.scosche.com
KARI BODNARCHUK
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at travelwriter@karib.us.