5 Reasons to Visit Western Mass. Any Day of the Week this Fall
We can’t deny that fall is truly one of our best seasons in Hampshire County of Western Massachusetts, but that also means it's one of our busiest! Between signature events like the Paradise City Arts Festival and Family Weekends at our schools, thousands of visitors flock to our region every October. But we don’t want that to discourage you! This year we’re inviting you to think about a different kind of getaway. Go ahead—extend your weekend and include a Thursday or Sunday night, or celebrate a little Mountain Day of your own with a midweek getaway! Here's a few reasons why:
Because it’s just as pretty on a Monday…or Tuesday, or Wednesday… and so on. The foliage doesn’t wait for the weekend to display its magnificence. And in fact this fall we might just miss the color if we blink (check out this great foliage prediction map). With a possibly smaller peak foliage window, we’ll have to get out there as many days a week as possible to soak up the splendor! *When you're here, be sure to tag your best fall foliage photos on Instagram with #ColorfulSideMA as well as #OtherSideMA. We'd love to feature the views through your eyes!
You can beat the crowds and pick-your-own any day during the week. For apples check out daily pickings at Outlook Farms in Westhampton, Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, or Bashista Orchards & Cider Mill in Southampton. For pumpkins, we’re home to one of the Best Pumpkin Patches in New England at Fletcher Family Farm in Southampton. Visit BuyLocalFood.org to browse more farms in Western Massachusetts.
The fall harvest is fresh daily and will end up on your plate no matter the day. Our restaurants love to support the local food scene and their menus are often seasonally appropriate. Don't forget about fresh fall brews from our local breweries, too. And of course Atkins Farms bakes a fresh batch of cider doughnuts daily—you can watch the magic happen while sipping on a coffee in the café on site. If you're looking for a reason to shake up the shape of your weekend getaway, celebrate the harvest with one of these farm dinners on a Sunday evening.
Our trails won’t be as crowded. Did we mention it won’t be as crowded during the week? It’s true, on a crisp and sunny fall weekend, there will be traffic on the bike paths so hitting the Nortwottuck and Manhan Rail Trails is best during the week. If hiking is your jam, during the week finding at parking spot at Mount Tom or at the Skinner House on Mount Holyoke will be a breeze. Bonus… after Labor Day the daily entrance fees for getting up Mount Holyoke or Mount Tom disappear!
How about these 22 new businesses and events? We really are so excited by new businesses and there are some pretty special new places to eat, shop and explore this fall.
And if that wasn’t enough, take it from this Huffington Post contributor and her 25 Reasons to Take a Western Massachusetts Fall Foliage Road Trip This Year.