The Blue Shutters/Hawaii Connection

It has been awhile since the last entry to our online diary, and there are a few reasons for this. We've been busy with some early spring cleaning -- and we've been on the road ourselves. As much as we love Cape Ann, Good Harbor Beach and the Blue Shutters Beachside, we do try to find some time to see other parts of the world. For Ann Marie and Ed, this included a trip up north to the ski resorts of New Hampshire. And for Patty and Anthony, the trek was all the way out to Hawaii for a special celebration of our anniversary (a belated 25th) and our son's graduation (from UMass Amherst). This trip brought our some Shutters-related thoughts. While we had a fantastic time with our kids Tina and Michael (partying in Waikiki, relaxing on Oahu's beautiful North Shore), Patty commented that she wasn't as impressed as she thought she'd be with Hawaii's beaches and waves -- and I think I know why. For those of us who spend so much time at the Shutters, overlooking what is arguably one of the best beaches in the world, the Hawaiian oceanfront reminded us of Cape Ann and Good Harbor Beach. The North Shore of Oahu was similar in many ways to our own North Shore -- the waves, the beautiful beaches, the busy harbors, a unique history and culture. And Waikiki is just 45 minutes from the Oahu's North Shore -- just about same distance the Blue Shutters is from downtown Boston (Waikiki and Boston have many of the same traffic jams too). If you're lucky enough to get to Hawaii, keep this in mind -- but of course, remember that there's a great time to be had a lot closer to home, at the Blue Shutters Beachside Inn.