day trip
shelburne falls, massachusetts: A delightfully quirky day trip By Andrew Blechman
The Bridge of Flowers
This was my first trip to Shelburne Falls, and I was awfully glad to have made its acquaintance. As I peer into its broad storefront window filled with eclectic impulse buys, the proprietor of Wandering Moon, Laura Felsch, waves for me to come on in. Inside there’s handcrafted silver jewelry by Felsch herself, as well as medieval-themed wall tapestries, a smart-looking collection of international pocketknives, a mix of books about architecture, animals, and social commentary, and curated gift cards. “We’re kind of a mix of all sorts of things,” Felsch explains. “When we first opened 26 years ago, we had a medieval theme. But now we incorporate different periods, like Arts and Crafts”, she continues, pointing to several period lamps. “I can’t really sum up what we are except it feels like a living room filled with beautiful things. We’re unique, so I recommend you just look around and enjoy yourself.” Which is how I’d sum up Shelburne Falls itself: deliciously unique in a way that instills the desire to browse and explore.
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BerkshiresCalendar.com
A 90-minute drive from Great Barrington (and about an hour’s drive from Pittsfield), Shelburne Falls fits what I’m looking for when it comes to a successful daytrip: a friendly destination well under two hours away with a scenic drive, natural and cultural attractions, quirky feel, great strolling, and an array of unusual yet delicious restaurants. This was my first trip to Shelburne Falls, and I was awfully glad to have made its acquaintance. First there’s the drive out there. Sure, you can take the Mass Pike, head up I-91, then jog back west. But the better drive is the one through the “Hill Towns” east of Pittsfield through Dalton and then up, up, and more up. The more altitude you gain, the more rural it becomes. This is a region of Massachusetts that’s filled with scenic byways. If you drive out from South County, you’re likely to travel along at least two of them. If you take a longer route back via North Adams on the granddaddy of scenic byways—the Mohawk Trail—you’ll travel along or cross another two or three. If you do travel up through Dalton and the Hill Towns, you might consider visiting Zoar Outdoor Adventures in Charlemont, about eight miles west of Shelburne Falls, and the go-to place for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and ziplining. When you arrive in Shelburne Falls, the first thing you’ll notice is how it straddles the Deerfield River. The two bridges connecting the riverbanks are immediate visual standouts. The car bridge is an old iron structure dating back well over more news and features at theBerkshireEdge.com
