Perfect New England Travel: Bike Paths and Farm Stands in MA
There are several secrets to quality New England travel. As you may have seen from my first article about Western Massachusetts travel, my husband, two zany cousins and I have been putting in the research so you can merely sit back and follow our suggestions. It's been hard work, I tell you! (Burp.)
First, research bike paths in the region of New England that interests you. Triangulate a bike path close to a bicycle rental store that is also near a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. Sites like TrailLink.com provide nice, dorky methods to do this via zip code searches and star rating systems.
In our case, we zeroed in on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail (yes, that is a real name, I didn't just sneeze) near Cheshire, Massachusetts. Other amazing New England trails that I've tried are the East Bay Bike Path in Rhode Island and the Minuteman Trail near Boston.
Colin and I rented bikes at a store near the mouth of the trail. My cousin Eric has a tiny folding bike (perfect for his Manhattan home) which he simply brought with him on the bus to the Berkshires, MA. Andrew transported his bike by car from Connecticut... And off we rolled onto the trail! The crisp autumn air blew through the rainbow autumn leaves and the miles flew by. YIKES! I jammed on the brakes to avoid smushing the disgusting newt pictured, above!
Amid the sparkling glory of New England fall, we conquered all eleven miles of the rail trail with our trusty bikes. Our tummies growled with anticipation as we turned around our spinning steel steeds, because we knew we had passed a farm stand... and were headed right back towards it!
Eric stood guard at the bikes. Doesn't he look intimidating in the photo, above? Colin, Andrew, and I charged into the farm stand. The sample table was piled high with heaven: pumpkin fudge, fresh mango salsa, cinnamon donuts, hummus and crisp chips... We stuffed our faces. Then we bought a vegetable pizza and ate some more, olive oil dripping down our arms.
The bottom line: You simply cannot have perfect New England travel without excessive eating at farm stands. Where else is there such a primal intersection of the great outdoors, pretty sights, fresh ingredients, and deep frying?
Back to the rail trail we whizzed, our bike wheels munching the golden leaves. Colin tried a few miles on Eric's tiny folding bicycle and his six-foot-two frame towered precariously over it.
The bike trail hugged blue water and the purple Berkshire mountains. "I can see why this earned a five star rating on that biking website!" said Andrew. "This is crazy idyllic!"
We returned to the shop which rented our bikes, triumphant, and the owner's dog was highly excited to see us. Then I accidentally locked Colin's keys in the car and we sat in the parking lot for an hour until a leathery auto-mechanic chugged up and popped open the door. We recommend you do not lock your keys in your car during perfect New England travel.
The perfection was re-achieved once we hopped in the car and headed for an astoundingly eccentric and scrumptious meal at a place in Pittsfield called Elizabeth's. Another perfect New England travel tip: There are GREAT restaurants out there. Consult your B&B host and/or Yelp to find them.
When we returned to our Bed and Breakfast -- WHOA! -- tea and freshly baked cookies greeted us! What more could you want? We went to bed full of fresh air and wholesome baked goods, eager to see the breakfast that would greet us in the morning. Ahh, New England travel... you treat us right!
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English, fitness fan, and mother of two who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched Around the World “L” Travel and Life Blog in 2009, and over 4.2 million readers have now visited this site. Lillie also runs TeachingTraveling.com and DrawingsOf.com. Subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and follow @WorldLillie on social media!
Hey Lillie,
I love reading your interesting travel report about New England. I have never been there. I am so fascinated by the landscapes of New England.
Best regards from the snowing winther Munich
It's nice to read this comment because I always think of New England as "normal," forgetting that billions around the world have never seen its glory!
Great post Lillie,
New England looks a lovely place to visit.
Thanks! T'is!
New England is an area I've always wanted to go to during the fall, but sadly I always miss out. I'm envious to see all these great things. Maybe next year, I'll finally make it out there during my favorite time of the year. I'd love to experience a hike surrounded by the changing colors of time.
Yes! 'Tis worth the trip!
Beautiful trails (and yummy-looking cookies...). I'm dying to see a New England fall one of these days!
Do it! :)
Honestly I have never see such a huge pumpkin with my own eyes! And the Lizard, nice shot! If I drop by UK! I will have a visit there ;)
You wouldn't find it in the UK, though, as this is about Massachusetts in the U.S.! :)
Few blog posts induce me such a wish to visit a place like your post did :) The pictures are great! I feel the urge now to make some tea and eat some cookies.
Yaaaaaayyyyy!!!! :) :) :)
All of your photos of New England really make me want to go!
Oh good! :)
Lillie, your depiction of The Berkshires is Right On! I was born here in The Beautiful Berkshires and am the owner of Taking Shape via Indoor/Outdoor Fitness. I provide Guided Outdoor Excursions (hiking, biking, kayaking, and snowshoeing). What really surprised me about your photos is that you captured a picture of my grandparent's former home on Cheshire Reservoir (better known as "Cheshire Lake" to local residents), along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. When I was just a young tot, I remember my brothers, sisters and me standing out near the railroad tracks (waiting for the train to come by) so we could signal the train conductor to sound his steam-powered Whistle. Those were the days. My grandfather was the boat safety policeman of Cheshire Lake where he would be sure boaters were not speeding, wearing their life preservers, not drinking, and not bothering the wildlife (Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, Painted Turtles , etc.).
If any of your readers/bloggers are interested in seeing some other local photos (taken during my excursions), they can visit my website: taking-shape.com or Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/taking.shape.viafitness. The Berkshires are an amazing place to witness Mother Nature's beauty. One can hike/snowshoe some 90 miles along the Appalacian Trail (AT) from the Connecticut State Line thru Berkshire County to the Vermont State Line, kayak along the Housatonic River or some other 20 picturesque bodies of water, or bike along the scenic Ashuwillticook Rail Trail or any of the rolling country roads throughout The Berkshires.
Thank you Lillie for you kind words about The Beautiful Berkshires!!!
Fascinating coincidence, and wonderful resources and tips! Thanks, Jim!
A lot of this reminds me of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York. We have family friends from New York City who own a house up there (just as good as a B&B, maybe even a bit more extreme with no Internet or television and a wood burning stove for heat, I'm making it sound like a cabin but it's a legit house with two floors) and they have invited us countless times at different times of the year--fall, winter, summer, spring. We once happened to visit right at the peak of the colors changing, it was amazing.
That sounds dreamy! I have to visit the Catskills someday soon!
I've always wanted to visit New England - I imagine it to be picturesque and quaint and your pictures only make me want to go even more (LOVE the pumpkin photos!!) xx
Oh good! Pumpkins are such naturally photogenic pieces of produce! :)
Beautiful colours in the leaves this time of year, pity they will all turn a little white soon! The pumpkin-chocolate muffins sounds like an interesting combination, looks delicious for breakfast
A feast for the eyes and belly!
The photos in this article make me want to go NOW! New England at this time of year must be incredible. I love your tips for the area. I will definitely be planning a Fall trip there in the future.
Yay! So happy you are successfully lured. :)
Beautiful photos! Looks like such a relaxing place to explore - I love all the pumpkins...
Glad you delight in them, too! :)
Now I know........I just have to come for a visit
Enjoy!
Love your article. . .love your photos. . .loved having you all at Harbour House. . .come back in the summer for theater and concerts, a kayak on the Cheshire reservoire, and of course tea in the gazebo and breakfast brimming with summer delicacies!
Thanks so much, Eva! We loved Harbour House Inn. Ooo... you tempt us now with more Cheshire adventures!
I've always wanted to visit New England - especially in the autumn - and this looks just perfect!
I'm a TAD biased, but I think New England is an ideal tourist destination!
This makes me so supremely jealous. I really wish we had season change like this in Florida!
Awww! Well we are jealous of you in the icy winters!
Wow! With all those photo ops at every turn, I suggest tandem bike... then you can snap photos and ride w/out stopping. Yeah, 'someone' has to pedal but that doesn't have to be you and with all the delicious food about, it's good for them. *laugh*
Hah!!! Love it!!
I love traveling around New England, especially in the fall. Riding the bike trails would be so much fun. I've got to do that next time. Great photos, but the newt looks a little creepy to me.
Isn't that creature terrifying?! All these people have been commenting on my Facebook page that I am very lucky to have seen that newt because they don't come out that often, but... yeek!
That is a beautiful spot! Sounds like you need the bike ride just to work off all the food haha.
Seriously! And paired with the hike we did earlier in the day, we earned our calories. :)
Incredible photos! With such vivid and peaceful scenery all around, I think I would find it hard not to stop every 5 minutes to take a picture.
Funny that you should say that because that's exactly what Andrew and I did (stop and take photos every 5 minutes) and when we finally got back on our bikes, Colin and Eric had sped on and already reached the end of the trail!
Sigh -- I love these photos. Here in Los Angeles they need to truck in pumpkins to sell in large lots or supermarkets; not the same thing! I'll b e visiting my grandma in a couple of weeks, she lives nera the Finger Lakes. Will take my kids out to experience what life is like when the temperature drops below 65 degrees then. :)
Ahh, how great! There is something about kids and fall nature/pumpkins that goes PERFECTLY together!
Oh wow your pictures are fabulous - I can almost feel the crisp air and smell the flora!
New England reminds me of North Yorkshire in England. I want to put my walking boots on now...
Thanks! Though I've spent time in London, I haven't yet explored the countryside of the UK... And seems I need to!