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 Rather than letting them sit and deteriorate, many of these outdated relics have been renovated and given a new purpose which serves the community in some way.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.
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.
With its beautiful rolling hills and wide expanses of open land, Franklin County is full of amazing winter sledding, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing spots. Here a few local favorites to enjoy on a snow [...]
Winter is here and with the arrival of beautiful fresh white snow, everyone is itching to get out and play! Getting outside and playing in the snow is a great way to cure the winter and Covid blues. Plus, it’s easy to social distance and keep everyone safe while doing so. Check out these local beautiful spots where you can bask in a winter wonderland!
Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont opened on December 17. The mountain crew has been working hard to make snow and keep the trails maintained for excellent riding conditions. This season, things will be different due to Covid, but Berkshire East has been preparing new systems and amenities to make the season safe and fun. For example, they are asking that all non-season pass holders book their tickets in advance so that they can control the number of skiers on the mountain. For dining, they ask that reservations for dining inside at Crazy Horse be made in advance. Or you can check out their new outdoor dining service. Order online from an even larger selection of food than in the past, and then pick up your order from the window when it’s ready. Plan ahead for your day at Berkshire East by reading their information online related to Covid-19. This will help to make it a safe and enjoyable season for all.
As of December 14, Northfield Mountain announced that they will not be selling trail passes or renting equipment. But the good news is, if you have your own gear, you can still access the trails when the snow cover is sufficient. Just note that the trails will not be groomed or patrolled, so know your limits and plan ahead because there will be no restroom or warming facilities. When the snow cover is thin, the public will be allowed to use the trails for hiking or cycling on fat bikes. All trail users must wear face masks at all times. Check their Facebook page or website for any updates around this.
Happy trails!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
The December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon has some exciting natural events listed for this month! The most interesting events include two meteor showers. First, December 13-14 will be the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower. As many as 120 shooting stars will be visible in the dark sky between midnight and dawn. Then on December 21-22, the Ursid Meteor Shower will originate from the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor). The Ursid Meteor Shower generally has about 5 to 10 meteors per hour, but in rare instances could have bursts of 100 or more per hour.
Check out the full December Outdoor Almanac from Mass Audubon below:
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
The Greenfield Recreation Department has saved Halloween! Alongside businesses and agencies throughout Greenfield, they have planned a socially-distanced drive-thru Halloween experience at Highland Park. Load up your household into a vehicle and enjoy a ¾ mile drive full of fun and scary Halloween sights, including ghosts, goblins, zombies, witches, and skeletons!
Enter Highland Park via Highland Avenue and continue through the display, driving at 5 mph. Once you’ve reached the finish, exit via Crescent Street. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and masks are required.
Plus, the first 2000 children through the entrance will receive a free Halloween Treat Bag full of goodies!
This special Halloween event is happening Friday, October 30th from 4-6 pm. Visit franklincc.org for more information and RSVP to the Facebook event!
Happy Halloween!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
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