Searching for Fresh: A Farmers Market Journey

Metuchen, NJ farmers market, held every Saturday in the town plaza. It's been around since 1997.

It's August 8th and I had plans to write this at the start of the season, but time just got away from me.

I grew up in New Jersey and spent the last few months there hanging out with my mom. Because where she lives is very dense with people, space for farms is just nonexistent, which is ironic because New Jersey is called the Garden State. I am sure there are lots of farms in the state, just none within a short drive from where she lives.

If you travel 20-30 minutes west or south, the space opens up and I am sure there are lots of local farms where they sell fresh fruit and vegetables. The problem is, traveling that far just for a weekly supply isn't really feasible.

Bread Guy Breads at the Grafton, MA Farmers Market. It's one of our favorites.

My Farmers Market Journey

That is where a search on Google led me to two local farmers markets, one in the town next to us in Metuchen and the start of my farmers market journey this year. This is such a cute town with lots of little shops and restaurants, including one of our favorites, Wood Stack Pizza Kitchen, which also is a vendor at the Metuchen market. When I was 5 years old, I used to play soccer with the Metuchen-Edison Soccer Club. The soccer field is no longer there as it made its way for a condo complex, right next to the cute downtown area.

On my first visit to the farmers market, I bought way too many fruits and veggies, which is typical for me. I buy what looks good, not what I plan to eat for the week. Mary Beth is used to this from me but it was the first time my mom got the experience my shopping experience. I think we were eating 3-4 veggies a day for the entire week.

Farmers markets are like Christmas to me. I love seeing everything that the vendors have to offer, whether it is a fresh piece of fruit, honey, maple syrup, or freshly baked bread. One of my favorite farmers markets we went to was in Kauai. They had farmers markets 4-5 days during the week at different places but the one we went to on Saturday last year had to have about 100 vendors. Granted, lots of them sold the same types of fruits and veggies that were native to the area, but there was one that stood out, which was the white pineapples from Kauai Sugarloaf Pineapple. If you have never had a white pineapple, you are missing out.

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Fresh sugar cane drinks at the Kauai farmer's market.

Emma and Matthew don't have the same Christmas like experiences that Mary Beth, Matthew and I have. As we were at the Kauai farmers market, we did a first pass to see what they had, and Emma started walking to the car thinking we were done. We were just getting started.

Mary Beth and I are also very lucky to have a farmers' market in Grafton, which has a wide variety of vendors including Bread Guy Breads, which we frequent often, a honey vendor, sweets like cookies, craft beer, a local winery, and of course a local farm.

This market also holds a special place for us as Michael shared and sold some of his photography there for two years. He no longer sells his photography, but one special fun fact is that one of his prints was featured at the Massachusetts State House Library for the entire summer. It's also stored forever in the library archives that can be accessed at any time upon request.

Michael at 14 years old at the Grafton Farmers Market

Farmers markets used to be only found when you were on vacation in a cute town in tourist area but today, they are all around. This post isn't about any single farmers market but all of them. Not only do you get to support local vendors, but you will get some great food and products made with the love and care only available from a small business.

Enjoy!

Aruba Jeep Safari Adventure: Off-Road Exploration Guide

I can remember my conversation on the airplane with a 10-year-old girl like it was yesterday.

She shared this was her 10th time to Aruba and she went on to tell me all about the island. She talked about the how friendly people were, Arikok National Park, the California Lighthouse, and the certificate she was getting this year for her 10th consecutive year being in Aruba from the Aruba Tourism Authority.

A view on our Aruba Jeep Safari from ABC Tours, Arikok National Park

This 10-year-old girl spoke with such conviction for the island, it made me feel like the choice Mary Beth and I made to visit the island was the right decision.

Taking a step back, I shared previously that we went to Hawaii on our honeymoon when we were both 24 years old. Here we are a few years later making a decision on our next vacation. We both loved Hawaii but one of the things I had expected at the time was to walk in the calm crystal-clear turquoise waters where you walk out what feels like miles and you are still only up to your ankles. At least, that was the vision I had in my head.

Serene waves of Palm Beach, Aruba

The reality for our trip to Hawaii is that as beautiful as it is, the islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the waters are mostly rough. We were still looking for that Caribbean experience and had narrowed our decision to the Cayman Islands and Aruba. I remember my college roommate visiting Aruba and speaking very highly of it and based on a few other individuals we spoke with, Aruba kept coming up as a great place to visit.

I always loose track on how many times we have actually been to Aruba now. I usually have to count on my fingers and believe it is 21 times with this upcoming summer being 22. The kids, with Matthew being 23 years old, Michael 21, and Emma, 19 have been to Aruba 20, 19, and 16 times (if my math is right on the piece of paper I just calculated it on).

Similar to the 10-year-old girl at the beginning, we were all privileged to go to Aruba 10 years in a row, and we all received the same Certificate of Appreciation when each of us hit our respective 10-year anniversaries.

Does soon to be 22 visits make us an expert on the island? Probably not, and especially because we do the same things over and over again. But it is that Groundhog Day feel that makes the experience so enjoyable year after year.

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Tour companies are a great way to see a new location or to experience the same location in a new way."

There are so many amazing things about the island, such as the weather, the activities, and the food, but we need to start with the best one, the people. Aruba is called "One Happy Island" for a reason. The entire population of almost 110,000 people are super friendly and do an amazing job with tourism being their number one industry.

I will probably share more posts about specific vendors and products about Aruba in future posts. There are so many I would like to talk about such as the Jolly Pirates sunset boat ride with their rope swing, the world class food from so many amazing vendors including Eduardo's Beach Shack and getting gelato from Gelato & Co. in the lobby of the Marriott hotel.

Emma jumping into the cave. It is not as scary as it looks. Mary Beth took the picture which she was very comfortable at the top not venturing down to the jumping area.

As well, I will share more in future posts about the experiences we shared while being in Aruba. We own two timeshares, one at the Marriott Ocean Club and one at the Marriott Surf Club. They are right next to each other, and we now go for 2 full weeks, transferring between hotels mid trip. Because the timeshares sleep 8 people, we have had the opportunity to bring our moms and Mary Beth's aunt for many of those years, my dad, multiple sets of our friends, and now, the kids friends, with each one getting to bring someone.

Eating dinner off our balcony at the Marriott Surf Club.

Because we have brought so many people to Aruba over the years, we love to share some of the great things about the island, so they get to experience it the same way we do. As we are planning for this trip, we usually pick a few activities to enjoy. One of those is to rent a car for a day or two and explore the island visiting the donkey farm and some other beaches. This year we will try the winery for the first time.

One staple of the trip for many years, and especially when we have someone new visit, is to visit Arikok National Park which encompasses 20% of the entire island. Early on in this post, I referenced the whole reason why we wanted to visit Aruba was because of the Caribbean turquoise waters walking out for miles only up to your ankles. Aruba absolutely offers that experience, especially where we stay in the Palm Beach area. However, the other side of the island, the area of Arikok National Park, is completely different. In Palm Beach, there are small 6-inch waves crashing where the ocean meets the sand. In Arikok National Park, there are 100-foot cliffs and waves sometimes that reach that high. The park is volcanic and rocky.

Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention one big thing. Aruba is a desert island getting about 15 inches of rain per year. That means two things. 1) the terrain is very dry with many tones of clay red and dirt brown, and 2) you will have an amazing vacation because it is always sunny.

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Arikok National Park. It is such a different part of the island than the calm waters of Palm Beach.

The first time we went to the park, we rented a car to tour the island. When renting a car, the terms and conditions are crystal clear, similar to the turquoise water. Rental cars, and even 4x4's are not covered for damage if you enter the park. That is how rough the terrain is. The first time we rented just a small sedan and quickly realized how serious the rental associate was. It was painful driving the car, just even to get to the visitor's gate with the drops in terrain on the paved part of the road to allow for the water to flow through every 50 feet or so.

This is one of my favorite photos. Michael took it in Aruba about 5 years ago. It is a 3-inch space within the volcanic rock of the Arikok National Park. The white in this photo is sun dried sea salt that was left after the water that splashed up on the surface evaporated. I initially posted this in my salt story.

Driving a SUV is a bit better but still challenging and you can only go to certain parts of the park, not truly experiencing the breath and beauty of what it has to offer.

Enter ABC Tours: Aruba Jeep Safari

ABC Tours offers two main tours, one is on an ATV Safari where you are the driver and a second on an Aruba Jeep Safari, driven by one of their staff members. For a variety of reasons, mostly due to the kids ages at the time or going with our parents, we have opted for the Jeep Safari tours. I think over the years, we have been on the tour about 10 times.

The tour itself is so much fun. You get picked up by ABC Tours at your hotel, but not with a big tour bus. They pick you up in the actual Jeep Safari vehicle you are going to be on the tour with. You get your first taste of how much fun it is going to be as you whip around the roundabout a few times (Aruba has many of them all over the island and they are actually proven to be safer and more traffic efficient than the red/yellow/green light system we use here in the US in most places).

We then arrive at ABC's facilities for some initial check-in and then off we go. The tours usually go in pairs as we enter into Arikok National Park. The great thing about this massive open-air Jeeps is that they are able to go into places within the park that are only accessible with their vehicles, ATV's or by horse. One of those special places is the Natural Pool, which is fun to swim, snorkel, and even jump off the rocks (although that is not something I have tried).

Additional spots are two cave visits and if you go on the full day tour, you will also visit Baby Beach and San Nicholas on the southern part of the island. For each of the tours, they offer an authentic Aruban lunch which is very good (as well as alcohol at an additional charge).

Me, Matthew, Emma, Michael, and Mary Beth on one of our ABC Jeep Safari tours

While you have no control over which Jeep is in the front, my hope each time is to be the one in the front. Remember earlier in the story, I mentioned Aruba was a dessert island with less than 15 inches of rain a year. That means that the first Jeep with their very large tires is kicking up lots of dust, dirt, and clay. My advice is to bring clothes you don't care about as they will get so dirty on your 1/2 day or full day excursion.

Recently, probably a few years ago, there were a few locals who were exploring the national park and found a hidden area to jump into, just off one of those 100-foot cliff areas I described earlier. The jumping part is just a few feet (maybe 5) into a pool of water tucked away into one of those cliffs. The tour usually stops in this spot as well for people to participate in the fun. I do recommend having some type of footwear to use, because otherwise, you will be walking barefoot on the volcanic rock which is not fun.

In addition to the amazing views of the cliffs, watching the waves crash into those cliffs, and the awe of the beauty of the dessert national park, the staff at ABC Tours is one of the best. They are really friendly and of course, the tour guides are a lot of fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your favorite area to visit in Aruba?

I love the Arikok National Park because of the breathtaking views from the cliffs and the contrast from the serene nature of hotel/tourist side of the island.

My kids are picky eaters. Will they eat the lunch that is provided?

My kids are picky eaters too (actually 2 of the 3). Yes, ABC Tours does a great job in offering a kid's menu when you book your tour.

How rough is the Jeep Safari Tour?

It is definitely bumpy. According to their website, "guests with back, neck, heart issues, recent surgery, or pregnancy should avoid rugged tours". If you have a medical condition, please reach out to ABC Tours to consult with them to make an informed decision.

Start Your Own Aruba Sensory Experience with ABC Tours

If you are looking for an exciting adventure for your Aruba vacation, ABC Tours will deliver. It will elevate your sensory experience and provide memories that will last a lifetime. Book today and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Maine White Water Rafting: An Immersive Nature Experience

Michael, in blue, guiding a group of young students in the Kennebec River, The Forks, Maine

This past summer, with my son Michael, I embarked on an incredible sensory experience while we were traveling down the Kennebec River in The Forks, Maine white water rafting when I noticed something I wasn't expecting. It was the smell of pine.

In the raft was a bunch of Massachusetts middle school students from an all-boys school who were on a school trip, chaperoned by one of their teachers. The teacher who also picked up the scent of the pine, shared with the boys to remember the sensory experience, especially as it was combined with the rushing water as we hit wave after wave.

Of course, as you can imagine, the middle school boys just looked at him, with blank stares, but I assume his comments landed with at least one of the six boys.

The other notable part to this story is Michael was also the white-water rafting guide. More on that in a bit.

If you recall from my first post, Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate Review: The Intersection of Art and Flavor, I talked about Michael's love for trucks and watching the same Dirty Jobs episodes over and over again. When Michael was about 12 or 13, he asked for a camping tent for his birthday. I remember giggling because Mary Beth and I never took the kids camping. I only went once with friends just after college and remember feeling like a fish out of water. There was nothing natural or relaxing about camping to me. You will also read in a future post that we own Marriott timeshares down in Aruba. That is more my speed.

A summer day at the Kennebec River, The Forks, Maine

Michael's connection with nature was different, and one Mary Beth and I have learned to appreciate more as we got older, and a lot of that has to do with Michael. We did purchase the tent for him and set it up on our 3-season porch. We asked where Michael was going to camp and he stated in our yard and woods, which are directly behind the house.

Over his high school years, Michael and his friends would camp in our yard and and as they got a little older, in the woods, having a great time. At some point during that time, we bought one of those outdoor firepits from one of the big hardware store chains only to have it fall apart after one season. With the help of a friend, we did buy one where we had to build it and Michael and his friends would build fires, camp, and just have fun.

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Stacking multiple senses in a single experience will etch the positive experience into your long-term memory."

Fast forward a few years, Michael is in his final semester at Keene State College in New Hampshire studying Sustainable Product Design and Innovation, where he gets to build things, primarily with wood. He wants to leverage that passion and become a high school wood shop teacher upon graduation.

Michael's Registered Maine Guide Patch

Towards the end of his second year, he signed up for an outdoor leadership class. It was a 5-day immersive class run by one of the Keene State professors, who was also a licensed Maine State White Water Rafting and Recreation Guide. She took Michael and 5 other students up to The Forks, Maine for a series of outdoor activities including white water rafting, hiking, rappelling, and rock climbing.

Because of Michael's love of teaching, the professor suggested that Michael would be a great white-water rafting guide and he should look to apply the following year.

The comment Michael made following his trip was that he "never felt more connected to a location than he did up at The Forks".

Do you know how many times Michael went white-water rafting before this course...zero.

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Michael guiding. It does look harder and more dangerous than it actually is.

Maine White Water Rafting

Michael was going to go from never going rafting to being a guide. By the time he started his license training, he went 3 times beforehand.

So, Michael, Mary Beth, and I started a quest of understanding what it took to be a guide, and through a few birthday and Christmas presents from us and family members, he amassed the gear he needed to guide. This is a similar concept of being a mechanic where you need to buy your own tools. Michael needed a helmet, paddle, life vest, rope, knife (to cut the rope), medical supplies, etc.

At the end of his spring semester last year, Michael applied and was accepted to be a guide. He had one week of training last summer and then would become certified. As an aside, Maine is one of the few states that requires guides to be certified.

Michael and some of his fellow guides on a fun run during an off day.

It was mid-May when Michael and his peers took the training. The challenge with the week they took the training, it was unseasonably cold. Michael, and his peers, pushed through and ultimately became certified later that week.

Following the training week, Michael started as a certified white-water rafting working for Adventure Bound. Adventure Bound specializes in bringing middle and high school age students on class trips or similar visits from local summer camps in the New England area. The students get to do all of the things Michael did when he was in his leadership class including the hiking, rappelling, and rock climbing. Michael is currently working to obtain his certified Maine recreation license as well this year.

The Adventure Bound team, summer 2025

The sister company to Adventure Bound is Northern Outdoors. Northern Outdoors caters to adults and families. They offer all of the same summertime activities including the white-water rafting, plus ATVs. and even host weddings. During the winter, they offer snowmobiling.

Northern Outdoors (which Michael has helped out and guided for from time to time), also has a great restaurant, bar, small gift shop, and accommodations. When we went to visit Michael a few times during the summer, we stayed at Northern Outdoors. The hospitality was fantastic.

They also offer a variety of lodging options including the hotel in the main building (where we stayed), cabins for large parties, and a camping area where you can pitch your own tent and use the community showers in the main building. It really depends on your preference and budget.

We went a few times to visit Michael. During each of those visits, we also stopped at the local food truck for breakfast, the Confluence Cafe, which I ate their Trailside Toast (avocado toast) on a bagel for each visit. There is always a line at the Confluence Cafe as it is in an area just off of the main highway where the logging trucks roll by. As a side note, the cafe is only open during the spring, summer, and early fall, most likely to align to the white-water rafting season. Their website references that they open in May this year.

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Michael, Mary Beth, and I went to Moxie Falls on one of our visits. This was a breathtaking waterfall.

During our visit with Michael, we did a small easy hike to Moxie Falls, which was breathtaking, and even hiked Number 5 Mountain (yes, that is what it is called) which is about 45 minutes north of the Forks.

Ice Dams at the Kennebec River this past winter.

This summer, Michael will be guiding again, and we plan on making the 5-hour trip up to The Forks and having a great time once again. This time, we will try to get Mary Beth to join us for the rafting trip.

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, nestled in the pine trees of Maine, book a white-water rafting trip with your family and friends. You will be sure to have a great time.

Hope to see you there. Frequently Asked Questions

What are some unique things to do in The Forks?

There is a natural spring at the side of the road to fill water. Many people who drive up for the week or weekend to their camp (small house with little to no running water) will stop at the spring to fill up massive jugs of water for the week. Michael and I stopped to fill our water bottles. Per my Google search, the location is situated just a short drive from where Lake Moxie Road intersects with US Route 201. As you head down Lake Moxie Road toward the Moxie Falls trailhead, keep an eye out for a small pull off area on the side of the road where the clear spring water flows out.

What is your favorite part about The Forks?

White-water rafting is by far the favorite thing to do and Moxie Falls is a very close second.

How difficult is the hiking at Moxie Falls?

It is a relatively easy hike in and out, probably about 1 mile in from the road. When you get to the falls, there is an easy viewing area with some steps but for the adventurous types, you can hike further down.

What class rapids is the Kennebec?

The Kennebec has rapids that are class II-IV. The upper gorge, where you get the smell of pine, has class III and IV while the lower gorge widens and makes for a more relaxing class II and III rapids.

Start Your Own White-Wate Rapids Sensory Experience with Northern Outdoors

If you are looking for the fun, adventure filled experience, Northern Outdoors is the way to go in The Forks, Maine. It will elevate your sensory experience and provide memories that will last a lifetime. Book today and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I truly love and use myself. Also, as noted, while none of the companies listed are sponsoring this post, Michael does work for Adventure Bound and periodically, its sister company, Northern Outdoors.