A walk through coastal New England

Autumn may be the most popular season in New England, with “leaf peepers” flocking to see the leaves changing colors.  When I lived there, we liked to joke about the tourists who drove slowly through the countryside, gawking at the beauty we saw every day.  It’s a beautiful time in the New England on the grid as well, and they have their own version of “leaf peepers” courtesy of a Village Walking Tour.  “Walking balls” take you on a narrated walk through the two commercial sims of Nantucket and Mystic, a small part of the 35 sims of SLNE.

The tour begins by passing the outdoor Nantucket Theater.  At least once a day there is a concert on the stage there.  It’s right on the water, convenient for people to sail up or for merfolk to swim up.  There is always a lively crowd at the shows and it’s a great place to meet the estate’s managers and concierges.  There are regular and tiny-sized benches, but most people choose to dance, and there is plenty of open grassy space to do that.  If someone’s performing when you visit, stop and have a good time.  You can always restart the walking tour later.

New England has an active artist population with many art galleries to explore.  The artists work in many media including painting, photography, and sculpture.  Some artists find their inspiration in real life works while others explore what can only be created in this medium.  Look for the Art in New England signs to join their group and hear about the latest gallery openings.  Mystic is also home to Folk Art New England, a project of the real-life Fenimore Museum in Cooperstown, New York.  Lately they are hosting a retrospective of folk art inspired by presidential elections.

The village is decorated for autumn with pumpkins and corn stalks surrounding the lamp posts.  Along the cobblestone streets, within buildings based on actual locations in New England, there are many stores to explore offering everything from fashions to home furnishings.  The furniture is authentic New England in style – lots of wood and simple lines.  Sailing is a popular activity in SLNE, and it shows in all the books, nautical charts, and maps I saw in the stores.  Now is the perfect time to visit – they are in the middle of a week long treasure hunt.  Search through the two sims for white and blue life preservers containing gifts from the local merchants.  You need to act quickly though since the hunt ends on November 19.

There is more to explore, but I need to bring this brief New England visit to a close.  From here, where do you find yourself drawn?  Near Folk Art New England, there is a stretch of soft sand already supplied with chairs and towels to enjoy the warm sun and cool water.  Might you be found by the marina, admiring the ships in port, or perhaps setting sail yourself?  There is a canoe concession at the marina for those inclined to travel under their own power.  As for me, I’m going to find a seat at the Mermaid Den.  Perhaps I’ll be lucky and visit with one of the resident merfolk as I enjoy a drink and some music.  On the other hand, perhaps my editor will be lucky and I’ll find it quiet, forcing me to finally finish this article.  Whichever happens, I want to stay, just a little bit longer, to catch the sun rise over the dunes.