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.
Continue reading Williamstown - The Village Beautiful.
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. 
When we think of New Haven, we think Yale. Not always. Close to the hallowed halls of Yale, tucked away in a corner of the city, we found the Lighthouse Point Park. It was an early fall afternoon when we drove through its entrance, and were told that after Labor Day, there was no parking charge for even out-of-towners like us and dogs were welcome anytime!
Looking for a day trip that is off the "beaten path"? Check out Salem Massachusetts. It has much to offer because the town is jam packed full of history. Located about 16 miles north of Boston on the Atlantic coast, Salem, which is well known for witches, also has a fine collection of Federalist Style mansions. One of my favorites is The Phillips House.
One beautiful day in October I decided that it would be nice to have a "lobster lunch". Since there were still some remnants of the fall foliage it didn't take long to convince my husband. He is a camera buff so this meant an opportunity to use one of the many cameras in his collection. He never turns down a "photo op". Little did we know that our journey would take us to the Essex Boat Museum.
5. Stop for a bite at Sylvester's Restaurant on Pleasant Street for a hearty and healthy breakfast or lunch. This restaurant is named after Sylvester Graham who resided in Northampton in the early 19th-century and was know for inventing the graham cracker. Graham was one of the first to tout the importance of fresh produce and whole grains in a healthy diet, and which is evident in Sylvester's menu. A perennial favorite is the Sunflower Seed Bread that is baked fresh daily at the restaurant. Among the menu's highlights are Irish Eggs Benedict and Sylvester's Homefries. You may have to wait a bit for a table but it's worth it. Check it out at 
