Patricia Harris

1 week ago | bostonglobe.com | Patricia Harris |David Lyon

Many bridges over the Charles get more attention, but the Charles River Dam and locks are the most critical pieces of infrastructure. They shut out the sea and modulate the height of the river’s waters, turning otherwise tidal mudflats into the placid lake-like basin we know and love. The dam and locks, which were completed in 1978, definitely deserve a look.

2 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | David Lyon |Patricia Harris

GLOUCESTER — The long days of summer are upon us, so you’ll have to get up early to catch the full arc of the day in Gloucester. That’s OK. It will be worth it. Thanks to the convoluted Cape Ann coastline, you won’t even have to leave town to experience both sunrise and sunset. At Long Beach, the day’s first glimmer of light rims the horizon beyond the twin lighthouse towers of Thacher Island. You might treat yourself to a room at the Cape Ann Motor Inn and watch the sunrise from your own balcony.

3 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | David Lyon |Patricia Harris

We admit that we drove more than two hours into the desert — each way — for a cheeseburger. But in our defense, it wasn’t just any cheeseburger. We love tracking down food origin stories, and that’s why we drove from Santa Fe to San Antonio. San Antonio, N.M., that is — not Texas. The little village of fewer than 100 people is the undisputed birthplace of the green chile cheeseburger. It’s impossible to overestimate the significance of the green chile cheeseburger.

2 months ago | bostonglobe.com | Patricia Harris |David Lyon

Nothing says carefree summer like a great amusement park: It’s hard to hang on to your worries when you’re about to plunge hundreds of feet down the first hill of a roller coaster. New England has plenty of options to get your fill of rides, games, fried food, and a whole lot of nostalgia. Here are our picks for the best parks in the region — and the most thrilling ride at each. Visit websites for scheduling and ticketing information.

Mar 15, 2025 | bostonglobe.com | Patricia Harris |David Lyon

The Boston Irish Heritage Trail covers about three miles from the Rose Kennedy Garden at Christopher Columbus Park to Fenway Park. Of course, you’ll find memorials to Boston’s most famous Irish American politicians, including John F. Kennedy and James Michael Curley, but you might be surprised by lesser-known figures and by artists who literally left their mark on the city. Michael Quinlin created the original trail more than 30 years ago.