The 63 mile stretch of Route 2  from Exit 16, between Petersham MA and Orange MA, all the way to the New York State border, just west of Williamstown MA, has become a popular tourist destination.

Among the many things to see and do along the Mohawk Trail, there is a marvelous spot about halfway along  in Charlemont MA, which combines the natural beauty of the landscape with a newly popular but actually ancient sport of ziplining.   Berkshire East, a wonderful ski resort in its own right, is now home to Berkshire East Canopy Tours.

Berkshire East, located in Charlemont MA

Ziplining is a great adventure any time of the year, but especially breathtaking in the fall.  This innkeeper went on September 28th when the fall foliage was just starting to develop and is sure that this week and next will be even more glorious in the gentle Berkshire Mountains.

View from a Zip Line Platform at Berkshire East

The Mountain Top Tour, the medium priced of the three offered, is a great experience and a bargain at $85.   There are 7 sip lines varying in length from 250 feet to 800 feet.  It is an exhilarating experience.  Not recommended if you are afraid of heights but otherwise there are no special skills required.  Two guides accompany the group through the whole trip.  Children must be at least eight years old and weigh between 70 and 275 lbs for the Base Tour and at least 12 years old and weigh between 100 and 260 lbs for the Mountain Top Tour.  On the Mountain Top Tour there is even one spot where 2 people can race!

The race is on at Berkshire East Canopy Tours

Three different tours are offered.  The Base Tour at $30 pp for four zips is a great place to start, the Mountain Top at $85 pp for seven zips is a great deal and the top of the line Valley Jumping Tour which takes you over the Deerfield River 200 feet in the air and back on 1half mile long zip lines at $110 per person.  (That’s one of the next things on this innkeeper’s Bucket List!)

With the Mountain Top Tour takes a couple of hours to complete, even if your group is small, so make a day of it or better yet a weekend or even a mid-week getaway with a stay at Clamber Hill Inn in Petersham MA.  Berkshire East is just an hour and 15 minutes west of the Inn and Clamber Hill is a great place to come back to and unwind with a cold one.   Berkshire Brewing Beer is available at the Inn to top off a great day in the Berkshire Mountains!

Clamber Hill's selection of Berkshire Brewing's Beer

The view of the Quabbin from Enfield Lookout

I will never forget that sign because the word “discontinued” seemed like such an odd word to use.  After we moved here and opened Clamber Hill Inn, I began to understand.  While beneficial to Boston and 46 other cities and towns the creation of the reservoir was devastating to Central Massachusetts, at least in the early days.  2500 people were displaced, 7561 dead bodies were dug up and reburied, and 650 homes were either relocated or destroyed in order to provide a public water supply for the city of Boston.

It was never debated that Boston needed water, what was controversial was that rural land could be taken by eminent domain for an urban population center 70 miles distant.

The first winter we were here, we discovered that the surrounding towns, still hold memorial services for the lost towns and bitterness is kept alive as the Quabbin history is taught in the local schools.  The Swift River School in New Salem created a website about the Quabbin as a school project, delving into history, interviewing many local experts and learning modern technology at the same time.

The view from New Salem

In hindsight, the creation of the Quabbin has been a good thing for Central Massachusetts (although not for the families that were displaced) as it has created a huge wildlife refuge in the center of the state which has slowed development and created a tourist attraction.

The Quabbin is a truly great recreational area.  We hike there often, exploring the trails created by the discontinued roads that are now the 55 “Gates” around the reservoir.   The gate to Dana is a favorite hike with our inn guests, as you can see the old Town Common with the surrounding cellar holes.  Fishing is big on the Quabbin with the season starting in April and ending in early October.  When friends visited from South Carolina we took them fishing on the Quabbin and had a great day on the water catching a few fish and hearing and then seeing some Common Loons.  Hunting in the Quabbin Reservation is popular in the fall.  The Quabbin Controlled Deer Hunt is an annual event conducted on Quabbin Reservoir watershed lands, implemented as part of the anagement  program to maintain a balance between deer herd densities and forest regeneration.  And the 1982 Massachusetts Bald Eagle Restoration Project has been tremendously successful.  The best time and place to see the eagles is February and March from the Enfield Lookout in the Quabbin Park in Belchertown.

A view of Pottapaug Pond from the lost town of Dana

With so much to do, the Quabbin is a great place to visit, any time of the year.  The towns of New Salem, Shutebury, Pehlam, Belchertown, Ware, Gilbertville, Hardwick and Petersham from a circle around the reservoir just like the 55 gates leading to the reservoir.  Exploring these small historic towns and the landscape  that surrounds them is a nature enthusiasts dream vacation come true.

Many folks love bird watching.  In fact birding is rated as the #1 sport in America—hard to believe if you’re a fellow New Englander with Patriots and the Red Sox fever — but there you have it.  Bird watching is a quiet passive sport often seeking to spot birds hidden in the bush.

Falconry, the “Sport of Kings” on the other hand is something entirely different, very exciting and supposedly the origin of this saying.  Having a valuable falcon or hawk on your hand was more valuable than two birds of prey.

A Harris Hawk

Falconry dates back to approx 2000 BC and it was very much a part of the royal lifestyle in China, Arabia and medieval Europe  (400AD-1500AD).

Falconry reaches its highest level in England and is governed by very strict rules– only a king could fly a gyrfalcon.  Other designations were that an earl could fly a peregrine; a yeoman could have a goshawk, a priest the sparrowhawk and servants were allowed to fly kestrels.  William Shakespeare(1564-1616), famous as a writer but not a sportsman was nonetheless an avid falconer.

Falconry came to the US in the early 1930’s and today the North American Falconer’s Association boasts over 2000 members.  Quite a feat considering that falcons almost died out in the US  from the use of pesticides in the 1960’s and 1970’s.   It used to be that falconry meant working with falcons but today one is called a falconer when working with a falcon or a hawk, the word “hawker” just doesn’t have good connotations anymore.

Falconry is not every man’s sport.  It requires tremendous dedication and a thorough understanding of the falcons (or hawks).  It is necessary to care for and work with your birds every day.  Teaching a wild animal to hunt on command and then give up it’s prey and resubmit itself to a human control, is not an easy feat.  Yet that is what this sport is all about.

Master Falconer Chris Davis

It is however possible to experience flying a falcon, even if you do not happen to have any royal blood in your veins.  If you love nature and are looking for a modern day adventure, consider a trip to the Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts where Master Falconer Chris Davis will introduce you to the ancient “Sport of Kings” using his trained Harris Hawks.

Chris Davis instructs Innkeeper Mark Ellis on the art of Falconry

Innkeepers Mark and Deni Ellis of Clamber Hill were lucky enough to experience a “bird in the hand” up close and personal and highly recommend an afternoon with Chris Davis and his falcons.  Chris offers three different levels of falconry, an introductory session for $65, a 1.5 hr extended session for $150 or a full blown hunting session for $200 per participant.  Any of the three will be an experience you will never forget.

Coming in for a landing

If you are interested in falconry call ahead for reservations 413-259-1466, and of course you may stay at Clamber Hill Inn , it’s not far away and we’ll share experiences at the end of the day.   You may even see a Red Tail Hawk in the bushes of Clamber Hill.

Clamber Hill Inn where Red Tail Hawks may be seen flying overhead

Mt. Monadnock, a wonderful mountain to climb

If you check back in the Clamber Hill blog-o-sphere, there is another post about Mt. Monadnock from August of 2010.   But recently discovering the pictures of our last climb up the mountain, which was also on a gorgeous September day, Mt. Monadnock was just begging to be illuminated once again.

The mountain is located just 34 mi north of Clamber Hill in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.  The claim is that it is the most frequently climbed mountain in North America and the second most frequently climbed mountain in the world.   With a peak 3165 ft (965 m) it is by no means the highest but there is an extensive trail network and the views from the top are fantastic, making it a popular mountain to climb.   Many locals climb the mountain several times a year and at all different times of the day, sunset or sunrise are especially nice.

View from the Summit of Mt. Monadnock

Mt. Monadnock is a New Hampshire State Park, and the Headquarters are located on Poole Rd in Jaffrey.  The White Dot trail, a level 4 climb, leads up 1815 ft (553 m) to the Summit directly from the Park Headquarters.  Partway up the White Cross Trail splits off at Falcon Spring.  Both of these trails are approx. 2 miles long and approx. 30% grades  requiring 2 hours to climb to the Summit.  The Spellman Trail is the steepest, most difficult, rated a level 5  with 490 out of 550 yards at a grade of 38%.  Descent along this trail is not recommended.  Starting farther to the west, the Old Halfway House Trail combines with the White Arrow Trail which combined leasd you 2.2 miles to the Summit with an average grade of 27%.  One of the easiest trails is the Pumpelly Trail which starts on the northeast side of the mountain, from Dublin Lake Rd.  This is a 4 mile trail with an average grade of 24% and requires 3 hours to climb to the Summit.

The White Arrow Trail

And there are many, many more, trails making Monadnock a mountain to be climbed again and again which is exactly what happens, once you become addicted.  The fall is the best time of year to climb Monadnock.  The weather is fantastic, the bugs are gone and the views are great with the fall foliage, even in mid-September.   Many folks make a day of it and take picnics with them to the Summit.  If you do, just remember to carry out what you carry in, i.e. leave no trace.  Picnic or not, it’s advisable to carry water when you climb. With an ascent of 1800 ft you’ll be thirsty no matter which route you have chosen to the top.

If you want some sneak previews or if you’re a shutterbug and want to share your Monadnock experience, Facebook has a Mt. Monadnock page.  Some of the photos there are absolutely spectacular making it easy to understand why this “isolated mountain” is so popular!.

A hint of color at the top of Mt. Monadnock

Here in Central Massachusetts, we are lucky to have two Living History Museums close by.  The more famous one, Old Sturbridge Village is located on 200 acres.  It now has 59 buildings, 3 mills and a farm.  It exists thanks to the Wells family of Southbridge MA, who established the museum between 1935 and 1946.  Channing Wells, AB Wells and Cheney Wells were all avid collectors of antiques.  In 1935 they established the Wells Historical Museum in Southbridge.  At a meeting in 1936, one of the brothers made the comment that a whole village was needed to house their various collections and the idea of Old Sturbridge Village took off from there.  The first major step was purchasing the farm of David Wight in Sturbridge MA, complete with a saw mill, grist mill and working mill pond, all of which are still in existence today.  From there, the mission expanded to collecting houses from all over New England.

After years of collecting and relocating houses and other structures, Old Sturbridge Village (OSV)  officially opened on June 8, 1946.  Included in the Village is the Friends Meeting House, the Center Meeting House, the Tin Shop, the Salem Town House, a Law Office,  a Parsonnage, the Asa Knight Store, the Thompson Bank, the Fenno House, the Fitch House, a Printing Office, a Shoe Shop and a Town Pound.  There is even more to visit as you walk down the country roads to visit the farm or the mills.

With such a collection of houses, it’s difficult to pin the history to a particular year.  The period portrayed ranges from 1790-1840.  This period is of major significance to New England because lives were transformed by the rise of commerce and manufacturing, improvements in agriculture and transportation, the pulls of emigration and urbanization, and the tides of educational, political, aesthetic, and social change.

Interpreters or docents dressed in period costumes, help you experience village life  in the historical period.  But don’t think that history is boring.  This is a great place to bring children and let them make such necessities as wax candles or tin candle holders.

The other Freilicht museum near by is Historic Deerfield.  This is both a town where time has stopped and also a vibrant modern community with a nice historic inn and a famous prep school.  Unlike Sturbridge, the town and the museum are co-mingled which provides a slightly different experience for museum visitors.

Historic Deerfield was founded in 1952 and comprises 52 buildings on 93 acres.  Eleven houses are open during museum hours.  These were build in the period from 1720 to 1850 and with a couple of exceptions are all original to the town of Deerfield.

In addition to the buildings, the museum has a collection of over 25,000 historically significant objects including American Furniture, American & English Silver, American & English Textiles, English & Chinese Ceramics and hundreds of paintings on display in the houses.  In addition to the historic buildings there is a visitor center, a museum store and the Historic Deerfield Inn built in 1884.   The Inn has 24 guest rooms and a fine dining establishment.

Clamber Hill, another albeit smaller and younger historic inn with a fine dining restaurant, is located more or less equi-distant between these two wonderful museums.  So if you’re a history buff and want to learn more about New England, plan a weekend or even a week here in Central Massachusetts.

Central Massachusetts has many great places to hike and many of them are just a short drive (or hike) from Clamber Hill.  The closest place to hike is out the back door, through our woods and into Harvard Forest.  It takes about 90 minutes to hike down the hill to Havard Pond….and then of course another 90 minutes back to the Inn.  There are lots of “loops” in the woods though so you can adjust your hiking time and distance with ease.

Hiking with the dogs at Jacobs Hill

Innkeepers Mark & Deni Ellis love to hike, especially with their dogs, and have many recommendations for the overnight guests interested in hiking.  There are twelve Trustees of Reservation Properties in Central Massachusestt and nine of them are very close to the Inn.  Three are right in Petersham, the North Common Meadow, James W. Brooks Woodland Preserve and the Swift River Reservation and hiking with dogs is allowed.  A fourth property is just down the road in Phillipston, the Elliot Laurel Reservation–beautiful when the mountain laurel are in bloom.  The next closest to the inn, all have beautiful waterfalls to be enjoyed along with the hike:  Doane’s Falls in Athol, Bear’s Den in New Salem, Jacobs Hill in Royalston and Royalston Falls (also in Royalston).  And the ninth is Rock House Reservation in West Brookfield.

Hiking alongside Doane's Falls in Athol MA

Another great place to hike is the Quabbin (however your canine companions must be left behind).  The Quabbin Reservoir, a 39 sq mile body of water, holding 412 billion gallons of water when it is full.  The reservoir has 181 miles of shoreline and 55 “Gates” which are basically old roads turned into hiking trails which lead in most cases to the shore line.  Most of the “Gates” take you to the shoreline with hikes of  1 to 3 miles.  One of the most popular Gates is number 40 which leads to the old Dana Town Common.  One can still see the old cellar holes surrounding the Dana Common.

And this is just the beginning of the list.  There is also the Federated  Women’s Club State Forest on the Petersham/New Salem line, the Long Trail at Tully Lake, trails in the Wendell Sate Forest, the Erving State Forest, the Otter River State Forest, the Lake Dennison Recreation Area, the Mt. Grace State Forest, the Rutland State Park etc. etc. etc.

And if you love to climb while you hike, Mt. Monadnock is just a short drive away in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.  It is the most climbed mountain in North America and there are many different trails leading to the top.

Mt. Monadnock, one of the most frequently hiked mountains in the world.

So there is an abundance of opportunity for hiking, trekking, rambling, tramping, bushwhacking or whatever term you happen to use for walking in a natural environment here in Central Massachusetts.   And not only are the Clamber Hill innkeepers ready and willing to offer advice and maps, but they also have a library of books on hiking opportunities in the area.  Come for a day or come for a week–but come to Central Massachusetts because August, September and October (up to the start of hunting season) is the best time of year to get out there and discover the truly “Great Outdoors”.

The Giffords Ice Cream is delicious at the King Phillip Dairy Bar

One of the closest is also the newest.  The King Phillip,  long known as a popular restaurant, opened a Dairy Bar just a few years ago serving 24 flavors of Giffords Ice Cream.  That’s the Giffords from Skowhegan Maine, not the one from the Washington DC area. King Phillip turns a size-able portion of their parking lot into outside seating for the summer months, complete with picnic tables and umbrellas.  And with so much pavement around, the bugs are minimal.

Just down the road in Templeton MA is the Templeton Ice Cream Barn.  An easy drive down Rt 101 from Clamber Hill, past Queen Lake one finds this ice cream stand inside an old barn in the center of Templeton.  They  serve Hershey’s Ice Cream and have some unusual but definitely delicious flavors like Outrageous Oatmeal Cookie and Caramel Cashew.  The seating is inside, but you can also enjoy the Templeton Common just across the street.

On the Common across from the Templeton Ice Cream Barn

Less than ten miles from Clamber Hill via the back roads, one finds Calico & Creme.  A gem of a place, located on Williamsville Road in Hubbardston and family run.  This is a former farm turned into an ice cream stand back in 1983.  They actually make their own ice cream right there on the farm and it is definitely fresh, fresh, fresh!  They have outside picnic tables and a small playground for young ones.  An a large piggy bank which collects donations for local causes.

Farm fresh ice cream at Calico & Cream in Hubbardston MA

And then to the west in Orange MA is Anne’s Dairy Drive-In and Seren-Dip-Ities. Both of these ice cream stands have been around forever — and they are almost across the street from each other.  They serve ice cream, burgers and fried seafood–all outside dining–good places to grab a quick dinner in the summertime.

Also in Orange is  Herrick’s Tavern Dairy Bar right next to the 202 Entertainment.  A great place to get ice cream and then play mini golf.

Another of our favorites is located to the south of Clamber Hill in Ware, MA –Janine’s Frostee.  Like the King Phillip they serve Gifford’s Ice Cream from Skowhegan Maine, but also serve Hoods Soft Serve.  Mark, our chef, says they have the best Lobster Roll he’s ever eaten!

Everwhere you turn in New England there are ice cream stands.  Take a drive on a sunny afternoon and no matter which direction you head you will find summertime ice cream stands along the drive.  It’s a summertime tradition here in New England, the place that gave the country two great national companies:  Friendly’s Ice Cream and Ben & Jerry’s!   But beware if you go searching for ice cream in September!  Most of these places close down for the season when school starts up again.

How did something so huge come to be located in a town so small?  The antique show started in 1959 as an outdoor auction held by Gordon Reid.  At first it was called the “Auction Acres”, starting small with only 67 antique dealers on the Reid property.  Due to the Reid’s success, the neighbors starting copying the idea, turning their own land into additional antique fields.  By the 50th anniversary in 2009, the Brimfield Antique Show had  grown to 21 “fields” in a one-mile stretch along Rt. 20 in Brimfield.   Each field (also called a show) is managed by a promoter, in  most cases, these are the local property owners.   Some open shows are open for only one day, and some open for the entire week.   There is no central organization –it’s 21 individuals working together to pull off this event.  The “Show” always starts on a Tuesday and ends on a Saturday.  The different fields/shows open at staggered times throughout the week, so be sure to check the schedule carefully.  There is usually a mad rush to get into a field/show on when if first opens.  The original Reid field , called J&J Promotions, is still one of the most famous, is now operated by Gordon Reid’s daughters, Judy and Jill.

Some of the promoters specialize, accepting only certain types of dealers and others accept a wide variety of dealers.  Between the 21 fields you may find almost anything.  Rugs, lamps, furniture, silverware, jewelry, paintings, glass, china, linens, primitives, hardware and so much more.  It’s fun to just go browse but if you are looking for something in particular, it pays to educate yourself before you arrive.  Easy to do these days with the internet.

An unexpected find at the Brimfield Antique Show

Brimfield is an ideal place to browse for hard to find items.  Everything from small things such as sterling silver napkin rings and demitasse spoons to large Oriental carpets may be found if you know where to look.  Some golden rule of open air markets include 1) shop with cash to get the best deal 2) buy it when you see it –it won’t be there later or you will be too tired to go back 3) “buyer beware” –you are the judge of the quality and the value.   Be sure to take plenty  a backpack, shoulder bag or plenty of shopping bags.  Carts come in handy for heavier items.  A hat, sunglasses and/or an umbrella may also be found useful.  Be ready for the weather to change — you are in New England.  Wear comfortable shows and travel light, you will be walking several miles.  You will be tired by the end of the day, but hopefully you will be going home happy with your amazing finds.

Sterling silver demitasse spoons found at Brimfield

If you want to spend a couple of days and really see the show, plan ahead.  Lodging is scarce during show weeks, so plan ahead.  Both dealers and shoppers stay in hotels, motels and B&B’s up to an hour’s drive from the show in Worcester, Springfield and even Connecticut.  If you are looking for a quiet place to relax at the end of the day, Clamber Hill in Petersham MA is just 30 miles and 35 minutes to the north.  One or two Brimfield shoppers stay at Clamber Hill during each show.   Innkeepers Mark and Deni have mapped out and personally tested the best way to drive to either end of the show.  Best of all, once you arrive at Clamber Hill, you don’t have to leave again, you may just relax and the innkeepers will serve you cocktails and dinner right there at the inn.  Early breakfasts to start your next shopping day are not a problem if you are headed back for another day of bargain hunting.

Clamber Hill's dining room carpet was found at Brimfield!

There is a heated debate if Brimfield is truly an antique show or just a flea market.  It for sure the largest show of its kind in New England and some say in the world.  It rates right up there with the antique market in Tongerin, Belgium.  Both offer a mixture of everything from high quality antiques to junk.  Flea market or antique show,  truly does not matter, for shoppers and collectors, the fun is all in the thrill of the hunt.  This makes Brimfield an adventure not to be missed!

The show dates for 2011 are May 10-15, July 12-17 and Sept 6-11.  For a map of the fields, the schedule, parking and more general information visit either www.brimfieldshow.com or www.brimfield.com.

Happy Hunting!

And this is the crux of what makes an inn different from a hotel.  Innkeepers put their individual “stamps” on their Inns.   Not surprisingly innkeepers support a variety of cultural organizations and events in their local communities  —and sometimes they even organize them.

The Back Road Inns of Central Massachusetts is a group of six country Inns, each with their own unique style.   These inns have chosen to work together in an association and one of the outcomes of that is an annual event called “Arts at the Inns”.  This year’s “Arts at the Inns” is coming up April 17th from 11 am to 4 pm.

The Back Road Inns of Central Massachusetts

This is a marvelous event and free to the public.  It is open to all ages, anyone who is an inn-lover or an art-lover or both.  Each Inn is holding an open house with all their guest rooms on display.  And make no mistake, Innkeepers are Artists—the Guest Rooms are their canvases.

A Guest Room is an Innkeepers Canvas

The open house will provide tours of the artistically decorated guest rooms, and most of the inns have  collections of artwork which are always on display in the common areas.  On April 17th each Inn will also be hosting area artists and photographers who will have their portfolios on display and for sale.  Among the participating artists are Julie Pepper, Jeffrey Anderson, Joanne Quinn, Mary Lou DiPietro, Gary Lippincott, Pat France, John Burk and Lynn Hartman.

The participating Inns are Colonial Hill Alpaca Farm and B&B, Clamber Hill Inn & Restaurant, Winterwood at Petersham, Hartman’s Herb Farm, Jenkins Inn & Restaurant and Stevens Farm Inn.  These six Inns are located along an eight mile stretch of State Highway Rt 32 in Petersham and Barre –right in the very center of Massachusetts.  See Goggle Maps for directions.  Colonial Hill Alpaca Farm is the northern most inn in Petersham MA and Stevens Farm Inn is the southern most inn in Barre MA.

Light refreshments will be served at each Inn and again this is a free event.

If you’re touring on the 17th–just look for the purple, gold and blue balloons at the end of each driveway.  If Sunday is anything like today– the gorgeous drive along the Massachusetts back roads makes the day in and of itself!

Snow Tubing, a great winter sport for young and old alike!

I was pleased to discover that there are at least five places in Massachusetts to go Snow Tubing or as I call it “White Winter Rafting”.  Some of them even have large rafts for large groups of people, but most have individual tubes.   Just north of  Boston is Amesbury Sport Park in Newburyport, where for $30 you can tube all day!  Then moving west there is Nashoba Valley in Littleton MA, which has fifteen lanes and four lifts.  $25 buys two hours of tubing.  A little further south in Shrewsbury MA, there’s Ski Ward where you can tube for two hours for only $22 and if you’re active duty military you get 50% off.  Then  to the west of Petersham, where our Inn is located, there is  Berkshire East in Charlemont with the Beastly Tubing Park open 10 am to 4 pm weekends and the whole week of winter vacation and finally Butternut Ski Area way out in  Great Barrington has a seven lane tubing park open on the weekends.

Snow tubing is a winter sport that requires no experience and is fun for all ages, so if you’ve never done it, come out and give it a try this winter.  Might as well make good use of all this white stuff we’ve got on the ground in New England this year!

Make a weekend or mid-week mini vacation out of it and stay at one of the great Back Road Inns of Central MA! Centrally located between Nashoba Valley Ski area and Berkshire East!