Boston and Beyond: Discovering Cities, Harbors, and Country Charms

The Boston region is overrun with classic beauty--cityscapes, snow-capped mountains, tranquil harbors, and sleepy historic hamlets. Show-stopping, scene-stealing, I-pulled-over-for-this charm exists in every season all over the Boston region. All you have to do is open your eyes and see it. Boston and Beyond takes readers on nearly 30 tours--in Boston or an hour or two from the city--through one of the most idyllic parts of America in a wholly unique way.

Accompanied by sumptuous photography, Boston and Beyond is a visual love song honoring the essence of what makes the region singular and guides readers to dozens of places that offer hidden charms, fun, novel discoveries, and original experiences. The locations featured in this book are within striking distance of Boston, allowing for convenient day trips and enjoyable excursions to charming locales.

Sheila Moeschen is a photographer, writer, and passionate New Englander. In the not-so-distant past, Sheila could be found stalking around Boston with her camera or photographing musicians at local clubs and area festivals. In 2020 that all changed. Though the pandemic put a lot on pause, for Sheila and her photography, it provided a fertile new period to explore and discover her local surroundings. Capturing moments from her daily walks, Sheila began documenting what she saw using the hashtag #keepcalmandphotograph. This became an unexpected project and practice. It gave Sheila a way to manage the emotional overwhelm of the pandemic, to create a stunning visual record of the area's seasonal beauty, and served as testimony to the many benefits of slowing down and paying attention. Her photography has been licensed for album, commercial, fine art, news and community websites, and sold as prints and calendars.

When she is not out with her camera, Sheila is busy writing. She is the author of The League of Extraordinarily Funny Women: 50 Trailblazers of Comedy (Running Press). Her essays on humor, gender, and pop culture have appeared in Belladonna Comedy, FanFare (Medium publication), RIOT, Niche Literary Magazine, Feminine Collective, and MariaShriver.com among others. She has been a guest on NPR and more.

Sheila spends her time between Boston and New Hampshire. She is happiest out on the road-- either by car or foot--with her camera, eyes, and heart open to catch whatever beauty is waiting to be found.