Arthur may be out looking for the next best roller coaster, and this blog has been discontinued. Thanks for visiting and happy travels!

With our arduous winters and springs that should be more aptly named "mud season," we savor summer in Massachusetts. That's why we endure two-hour waits to cross the Cape Cod Canal (fly over THIS, State Highway Department!), sport lobstah-red sunburns, and eat far too much clam chowdah. Ah, clam chowdah. The creamy broth, the chewy clams, the delicate potatoes, the hint of butter: Is there anything that says summer in Massachusetts quite like a bowl of delectable chowdah? If you want to overindulge and help separate the littlenecks from the quahogs, visit these chowder fests and get slurpin'. But be forewarned: While you may know that Boston baked beans, beans are good for your heart, you may not be aware that clam chowdah makes it louder.

• Cape Cod Chowder Festival
  Sunday, June 24th, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis
  $10 in advance, $15 day of event
  One dozen restaurants duke it out for chowdah supremacy. Entertainment and ice cream included.

• Boston Harborfest's Chowderfest
  Sunday, July 1, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  Plaza at City Hall, Boston
  $10 for adults, $7 for children
  Organizers expect to ladle out more than 2000 gallons of chowdah.

Photo: dinewise.com