With cooler weather and beautiful autumn foliage, now is the best time of year to enjoy the wilderness in Western Mass. There are many ways to get outside and enjoy, including running, kayaking, and mountain biking. Why not do all three at the 6th Annual Great River Challenge Off-Road Triathlon in Northfield, Massachusetts! This event is happening this Saturday, October 9th, so act fast to get involved. 

Drawing its name from the longest river in New England, the Great River Challenge Triathlon starts with a paddle down a scenic stretch of the Connecticut River, followed by a run on single track trails and in the woods, and finished by a mountain bike ride on mixed single track and open trails. There are options for short or long courses which can be done either solo or as a relay team. 

If you want to be part of the fun but don’t want to participate, you can also register to volunteer. Volunteers help with parking, registration, water stations, and more. Sign up to volunteer here.

For 6 years, the Great River Challenge Triathlon has promoted the Upper Pioneer Valley’s cultural and natural resources, as well as a healthy and active lifestyle in our local community. This event benefits the signature programs of the Northfield Kiwanis Foundation for area children and families.

To learn more about the Great River Challenge Triathlon and to sign up, go to greatriverchallenge.com.

Photo credit: greatriverchallenge.com/gallery

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

One of the benefits of living in Franklin County is having so many beautiful rivers to enjoy locally. Unfortunately, these rivers often suffer from pollution. Walking along the rivers or paddling down them can reveal certain areas where trash and debris has accumulated, interrupting the natural beauty of the river banks and harming wildlife. [...]

The Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze will be open for the 2021 season on Saturday, September 4th! Corn mazes have long been a favorite fall activity in New England and we are lucky to have our own amazing local corn maze right here in Franklin County. You can easily find the Hicks Corn Maze on the Mohawk Trail/Route 2 in Charlemont, MA. 

A 5th generation farm in operation, Hicks will be celebrating its 11th year of the corn maze this year. Check out the scavenger hunt in the maze or play mini golf in the field. Plus, don’t miss the haunted weekends in October, Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 pm. 

Visit the Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, September 4th through October 30th and the evenings during their haunted weekends. Tickets for the corn maze are $8 for children 12 and under and $10 for adults. 

For more information and to view aerial photos of past years’ mazes, visit hickscornmaze.com.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

Summer Evening Strolls at Historic Deerfield

Historic Deerfield’s Summer Evening Strolls are a must-do activity during the summer in Western Mass. The last stroll of the season on Sunday, August 22 will show you how to “listen to the land in Deerfield.” This tour will open up your senses and show you how to notice the land’s constant changes. You’ll discover how the land is always active through bird songs, sounds of a farm, and selected poetry.

Tours will depart from Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center at Hall Tavern every 15 minutes from 4 to 7 pm and cost $10 per person.  Tickets must be purchased in advance, using this link, or before 4 pm on the day at the Flynt Center.

Learn more about the tour here.

Dine at Champney's Restaurant and Tavern after the tour!

Participants who wish to dine at Champney’s Restaurant and Tavern at the Deerfield Inn will receive a 20% discount on entrees. You can make a reservation to dine on their website here.

For more information and to see other upcoming events and tours, visit historic-deerfield.org.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

Last month, the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum finally reopened its doors after skipping its 2020 season due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The Trolley Museum is a staple of Shelburne Falls and the community is so overjoyed to see its [...]

Franklin County is a wonderful place to get outside and connect with nature. One of the ways that locals and visitors alike love to do so is by trout fishing. The Deerfield River offers some of the best fly fishing in the eastern US both for wild and stocked trout. The stretch of river below Fife Brook Dam consists of fast moving water, [...]

Around Franklin County, you’ll find many old buildings, structures, and features which were built around the time of the Industrial Revolution and no longer serve a purpose. Rather than letting them sit and deteriorate, many of these outdated relics have been renovated and given a new purpose which serves the community in some way. One example of this is the Canalside Rail Trail, a little treasure in Turners Falls. 

Once a rail bed, which runs along the canal and the Connecticut River, the trail has been paved and made usable for walkers/joggers, cyclists, and other forms of human-powered wheels. The stretch of trail runs 3.7 miles with ample parking on both ends, at Unity Park in Turners Falls, and McClelland Farm Road in Deerfield. Along the way, you’ll cross the 1880 trestle bridge over the Connecticut River, from which you can gaze up and down the river and even see the mouth of the Deerfield River. You’ll also pass many serene rest stops with benches and picnic tables which offer stunning views of the river and the wildlife. Once you reach Turners Falls, you'll be riding alongside the canals and old factories (hence the name!) and eventually come to the fish ladder where you can get a close up view of the migrating fish. The Canalside Rail Trail has a lot to offer and I recommend riding it during different times of year to see the trail in all its forms! 

After the trail, be sure to check out the wonderful village of Turners Falls. There are some great eateries such as The Rendezvous, Five Eyed Fox, and Black Cow Burger Bar to name a few, and some great places to shop, like Tangible Bliss and LOOT Found + Made.

More information on the Canalside Rail Trail here.

Happy Trails! 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog

Social distancing can be tough this time of year, when it's cold outside and you're running out of ideas for indoor activities. If you're looking for some creative ways to occupy some time, check out this [...]

The story of how the land where Franklin County sits was formed can be told through the incredible rock formations you can actually see! The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Guide has a wonderful and informative summary of the geology of Franklin County, written by Richard D. [...]

Greenfield’s 99th Winter Carnival looks a little bit different this year than in past years. The Greenfield Recreation Department has cleverly themed this year’s carnival as an “Iceolation Celebration.” The Winter Carnival will run from February 5th through 7th and includes a series of socially distanced and virtual events which the community can participate in either from their home or around Greenfield, Mass. 

The Winter Carnival Sleigh Bell Run will be held virtually this year. Runners can register online at runreg.com. Then choose your own route and walk or run anytime during Carnival weekend. Upload your time to RunReg and share photos and videos of your run on the Greenfield Winter Carnival 2021 Facebook event page. 

Many of the other usual events have been altered this year to accommodate safe social distancing. Instead of the usual cardboard sled contest, this year the contest will be held virtually and be based purely on design. While the Keg Pull contest will be put on hold this year, people can still upload photos of their dogs pulling a keg and submit it to the photo contest. Other events include a Paper Snowflake Contest, a city-wide scavenger hunt, downtown ice carvings, and more. 

Check out the rest of the events and more information about the Greenfield 99th Winter Carnival at greenfieldrecreation.com/wintercarnival.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.