Glad to have woken up to a bright Saturday in early October, I and my husband embarked on a road trip with no destination in mind. We just wanted to enjoy the colors of fall. After driving on Route 7 and then turning on to Route 2, we found ourselves in Williamstown, also known as "The Village Beautiful". Resting at the foot of Mount Greylock, which by the way, is the highest peak in Massachusetts, this little-known town is surrounded by the blazing colors of Vermont's Green Mountains and New York's Taconic Range. Neat rows of houses decorated for Halloween, beautiful cathedrals, an art institute and a prestigious college stood amidst the rich hues of autumn's colors. Yes, we had to ditch our car and explore.
November 2008 Archives
If you are planning to catch the fall colors without getting stuck in traffic, you could do well to try the Mohawk Trail which runs through the blazing Berkshires for about 19 miles. If you are crunched for time like most of us, no need to do the entire trail. Just do the western terminus, in the city of North Adams and you won't be disappointed.
Autumn in New England is incomplete without a day of picking apples and lugging around pumpkins. As the air turned crisper and the leaves changed color, my husband and I set off for a day in the Lyman Orchards at Middlefield in Connecticut. Rolling meadows, miles of orchards, a corn maze and stretches of pumpkin patches greeted us the moment we stepped out of the car.
If you are planning a trip to Connecticut, chances are you won't think of visiting a town called Danbury, nestled in the western extreme of Fairfield County. But if you do, you may be in for a surprise. Close to Danbury's Main Street, is a 722-acre historic building and land preserve called the Tarrywile Park and Mansion. Unspoiled by tour buses and entry fees, it is a favorite with the locals. The only buses you may see are school buses packed with kids. Scavenger hunts and day hikes are the reason why it's so popular with local schools.
