Top 10 things to do in the Charlemont Area
Top Ten
1) Berkshire East Ski Area, Berkshire East Canopy Tours
All season long, Berkshire East is your #1 destination for activity and adventure in the Charlemont area.
Wintertime family skiing on 44 trails, 4 chair lifts, 2 magic carpets, 1,000 feet of vertical, and a tubing park– all at affordable family pricing –makes Berkshire East southern New England’s premier family resort.
www.berkshireeast.com
413-339-6618
Berkshire East Canopy Tours is the largest zip line tour company in the northeast, featuring over 25 zip lines that span over 4.14 miles, including a dual cable course for racing. Our zip line tours offer panoramic views of the foliage while delivering a high-speed adrenaline rush through the forest canopy. Three tours, ranging from beginner to extreme, are available daily. Online booking is available at www.berkshirezip.com
413-339-6617
2) Crab Apple White Water
Crab Apple Whitewater has been operating in New England for 28 years and is a leader in the white water adventure industry. Crab Apple is based on the Deerfield River with tours ranging from easygoing Funyaks to Class 4 white water rapids. Crab Apple provides a full spectrum of rafting adventures on three sections of the Deerfield River and Millers River.
www.crabapplewhitewater.com
800-555-7238
3) Bridge of Flowers and Downtown Shelburne Falls
Nestled around Salmon Falls, the towns of Shelburne and Buckland come together to make up the artistic village known as Shelburne Falls. Home to The Bridge of Flowers (www.bridgeofflowersmass.org), a trolley bridge that’s been converted into the community’s floral masterpiece, the bridge welcomes visitors from April to October to admire the vast array of unique flowers and blooms. On either side of the bridge, shops and restaurants proudly display local creative talent in their windows and incorporate locally grown produce on their menus. Also, for good weekend fun, check out one of America's longest running bowling alleys!
www.olliesdownunder.com
Sunday, Thursday, Monday, 4:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
www.shelburneartscoop.com
Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
4) Clark Art
In 1950 Sterling and Francine Clark chartered the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute as a home for their extensive art collection. Opened to public in 1955, the Institute has built upon this extraordinary group of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the world, known for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment. One of the few institutions in the United States that combines a public art museum with a complement of research and academic programs, including a major art history library, the Clark is now a leading international center for research and discussion on the nature of art and art history.
5) Mass Moca
Since opening in 1999, MASS MoCA has become one of the world's premier centers for creating and exhibiting the art of our time. With annual attendance of 120,000, it ranks among the most visited institutions in the United States dedicated to new art. The museum thrives on making and presenting work that is fresh, surprising, interactive, and challenging.
www.massmoca.org/index.php
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. everyday
6) Fly Fishing
The Deerfield River Watershed is the premier cold water fishery in southern New England. There are many public access points along the river, and the fishing is excellent. There are also several guided tour services on the river, all of whom provide excellent service and excellent fishing.
Pheasant Tail Tours
www.pheasanttailtours.com
Colrain, MA 01340
(413) 834-7301
brian@pheasanttailtours.com
Harrison Anglers
www.harrisonanglers.com/floattrips.html
Dan/Tom Harrison
99 Northfield Rd.
Warwick, MA 01378
Dan: (413) 626-4738
harrisontrad@hotmail.com
Tom
(413) 222-6207
tom@harrisonanglers.com
Northeast Fly and Spey Fishing Guide Service
http://www.neffguide.com/
38 Elm Street
Hatfield, MA 01038
Phone: 413-247-5579
Mobile: 413-575-5421
7) Historic Old Deerfield
A short drive from Charlemont, Historic Old Deerfield, offers a unique living history perspective of early America. The museum includes a range of tours, artifacts, programs, and events.
Most museum houses are shown on the hour during guided tours that last approximately 30 minutes each. Two museum houses as well as the Flynt Center of Early New England Life are open all day for self-guided tours, and the Apprentice’s Workshop at Dwight House is open from 12-4 p.m. A free orientation film is shown throughout the day at the Visitor Center.
http://www.historic-deerfield.org/
2010 Regular Season: (April 17 – November 28, 2010)
Open daily from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Nov. 25).
Please call Historic Deerfield at (413) 775-7214 if you have any questions.
8) Mohawk Trail State Forest
A clear, cold river cascades through Mohawk Trail State Forest along a rocky streambed. One of the most scenic woodland areas in Massachusetts, the state forest offers visitors a taste of real wilderness in a rustic setting. Over 6,000 acres of mountain ridges, deep gorges and tall old-growth trees support a diversity of plant and animal life. Discover miles of rivers and streams for excellent trout fishing, a swimming area, and a day-use picnic area. The state forest is located along and named for the Mohawk Trail a historic Native American foot path that connected the Connecticut and Hudson River Valleys.
175 Mohawk Trail/Rte. 2
Charlemont, MA
(413) 339-5504
9) Eating
Curtis Country Store
The aroma of freshly baked pies, fudge, hot cider, roasted coffee and deli sandwiches mingles with the scents of spices and candles!
159 Main Street
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-4900
Fax: (413)-339-4043
Mohawk Park
Offers a full bar with live music on Friday & Saturday nights. Wednesday is all-you-can-eat Pasta night!
Route 2, Mohawk Trail
Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: (413)-339-4470
Mocha Maya’s Coffee Pub & Music Venue
An independent coffee house serving only the finest certified Organic Fair Trade, shade grown, heirloom coffee.
47 Bridge Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Phone: (413)-625-MAYA(6292)
Ollies Down Under
Works closely with local cheese makers and farmers to support community agriculture and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-haul deliveries.
10 Bridge Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Phone: (413)-625-8133
West End Pub
Great pub fare, great prices, great location! They're right in town and next to the Bridge of Flowers. They've got outdoor seating right next to Deerfield River.
16 State Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Phone: (413) 625-6216
10) Fall Foliage, Apple Picking, Farm Stands, Maple Syrup
The Mohawk Trail has, for over 100 years, been known as one of the most accessible regions for fall colors. Make this trip more enjoyable by stopping by the farm stands and orchards that litter the area (http://www.hagersfarmmarket.com/) or (http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=1514). A stop into one of these stores will leave you with no choice but to fill up on freshly baked apple pies. Most of these farms are 5th or 6th generation enterprises and the care and pride with which they produce their wares have been steeled by years of hard work and frugality. Further west up the trail from these beautiful hillside orchards is the Gould Sugar House, whose pancake reputation has grown so strong that if you are not there at least twenty minutes before opening (8:30 am) than you will waiting in line.
The most defining characteristic of our unique area is the sheer number of interesting and authentic experiences that you can create in a single weekend! There are open air glass studios, beautiful waterfalls, farmers markets, potholes, beautiful back roads, mountain biking, road biking, the list is endless. We hope you enjoy your trip!
