While Governor Maura Healey is yearning to travel the Northwest Passage and kayak in the Arctic Circle, she is setting her sights on destinations closer to home this summer. More specifically, the beaches north and south of Boston, including Wingaersheek and Good Harbor in Gloucester, Crane Beach in Ipswich, Plum Island beaches, and, of course, those on the Cape and islands. Born in Bethesda, Md., and raised in Hampton Falls, N.H., Healey said she feels fortunate to have so many beautiful locations and vacation destinations right in Massachusetts – including the Berkshires, where she plans to attend a concert this summer. Healey, 54, was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2022, after serving as the Commonwealth’s attorney general for eight years. When asked how she is juggling all of the ongoing political issues at the state, national, and international levels, she said in a recent phone call that she is “keeping my eye on the ball and focusing on Massachusetts; focusing on what our people need.” That includes more affordable housing and jobs, lower energy costs, and a continued commitment to transportation and education, she said, noting that earlier in the day she had signed a supplemental budget that will make a “historic investment” ($1.32 billion from the state’s Fair Share revenue) in transportation and education. “The bottom line is making Massachusetts more competitive and more affordable,” she said. We caught up with Healey, who lives in Arlington with her partner, Joanna Lydgate, cofounder and chief executive officer of the United States Democracy Center (a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting free, fair, and secure elections), Lydgate’s two children, a 12-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter, and their golden retriever, Charlie, to talk about all things travel.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? I’d love to travel the Northwest Passage and end up in a kayak paddling around at the top of the Earth in the Arctic Circle. More likely, I’ll be loving day and weekend trips with family and friends to amazing Massachusetts places, from the Berkshires to the Cape and islands.
Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own? I like to have input and give direction, but I’m terrible at booking, so I need help. And it saves time.
Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation? Books and books. Sitting by the beach on the water. And without our phones, except for taking pictures.
What has been your worst vacation experience? Turbulence over the Pacific on a flight to Fiji about 25 years ago. I was white-knuckling it and saying a few prayers.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory? We didn’t really have a chance to take vacations as a kid — my mom had her hands full with the five of us kids — but we did go every day to the beach, either to Hampton or Plum Island (Sandy Point). My favorite memory is being on my grandfather’s shoulders in the water and jumping off, and him teaching us to body surf.
Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all? All of the above. I do really love to absorb the sensibility, history, and culture of the place. I try to avoid touristy locations and seek out where the locals go. You learn more about a place that way, but you also get a better memory.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation? “North Woods” by Daniel Mason.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be? Oprah. Number one, because she’s been everywhere, knows everyone, and would have the best recommendations. And number two, is there a person with a better aura to travel with and be around than her?
What is the best gift to give a traveler? A book about the place they’re going – more a travelogue type book than a guidebook – but something that gives them a sense of the place.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip? Honey mustard pretzels.
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation? A Koa Outrigger canoe paddle given to me by a Hawaiian racer.
What is your favorite app/website for travel? I love using TripAdvisor for suggestions on where to go and what to do. Not only is it a Needham-based company, but I find it to be a helpful tool for discovering new things in new places.
What has travel taught you? Traveling is knowledge and it’s learning. Learning about new places, cultures, people, and ways of living. Travel has opened my eyes to the world and also has given me a broader perspective and understanding of the human condition.
What is your best travel tip? Follow the locals. And always bring back something – even if it’s small and inexpensive – but that has meaning to you and reminds you of that travel experience.
Juliet Pennington can be reached at writeonjuliet@comcast.net.
