To be honest I thought we would never find Umpachene Falls in Southfield, Massachusetts when we set on our quest to find this trail. There was very little information on the internet about it the time and the directions were wildly unclear. We wandered and wandered around the back roads of The Berkshires and when we were just about to give up we saw a lady walking by the side of the road. We quickly stopped the car and approached her with the burning question of “Do you know where Umpachene Falls are located and do they even exist?”. Luckily she was extremely knowledgeable about all The Berkshires had to offer and provided us with a ton of useful information, much more than just the location of the Falls. Now the road is clearly marked and you can easily find the falls right here:
The falls are open as of 2021 however if unvaccinated local authorities are urging you to wear a mask and social distance where possible. You can drive right up to the Falls, park your car, walk about 100 yards and Voila! You are rewarded with highly scenic, tall cascades that roll into a pool you can take a dip into if you so desire.
Umpachene Falls are especially scenic in The Fall, which is our favorite time to visit here.
But we also love it in the winter when the cascades look really dramatic and the water is flowing pretty hard.
This quiet, serene and unique waterfall is free to visit, super easy to reach if you follow our directions above and most of the time you can have it all to yourself without the crowds the other popular waterfalls experience. Bring a picnic. There are tables you can enjoy it on while the kids are splashing in the falls and you are enjoying the sun and the sounds of the singing birds or sit back on the many rocks around the falls and enjoy this hard to find gem of nature.
Be sure to carry out what you brought here with you, please do not leave trash behind and do not disturb Nature in any way. Umpachene Falls is one of the most pieceful and quint spots in The Berkshires and we would love them to stay this way so we can all enjoy them for many more years to come.
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Williamstown is located in the deepest of the Berkshire Hills bordering Vermont to the north, New York to the west and is the north-westernmost town in the state of Massachusetts. This college town is one of the safest places to live in America and is home to Williams College, the Clark Art Institute and the Tony-awarded Williamstown Theater Festival.
Just take a little stroll down the main street of Williamstown and you’ll see what we are talking about. From small cozy coffee shops filling the air with delicious aromas of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods, to famous restaurants offering dishes of all kinds, Williamstown has it all. Everywhere you go you’ll be met by friendly faces, people are not shy to offer the biggest smiles. There is a relaxed feel where seemingly the only worry for the day is simply how to enjoy it!
Williamstown is home to the elite, private liberal arts college Williams College ranked #1 in the 2020 edition of “Best Colleges” in “National Liberal Arts Colleges”. The campus of Williams spreads over 450 acres in rural northwestern Massachusetts and contains more than 100 academic, athletic, and residential buildings. The grounds of the college are stunning and definitely worth an afternoon or morning stroll.
Thompson Memorial Chapel located on campus was completed in 1904 in memory of Frederick Ferris Thompson. The tower was build as a replica of St. Cuthbert’s tower at Wells in the southwest of England. It is absolutely beautiful not only on the outside but on the inside as well. The Chapel is open to the public 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Just down the road from the Thompson Memorial Chapel is where you can see perched by the side of North Main Street the stunning building of the First Congregational Church gloating in white standing tall like a giant surrounded by the dreamy blue Berkshire sky and hugged between dense greenery from the ancient tree surrounding it.
Take a self guided tour around the beautiful town of Williamstown with more than a few historic sites. Start with the Westlawn Cemetery and continue on to the Dr. Jacob Meack House. From here proceed on to the Site of the 1st Meeting of the West Hoosac Proprietors held on December 5, 1753. Than follow the markers to the Site of Fort Hoosac, to the Glen Female Seminary, the Field Park, the Site of First (1798-1866) and Second (1768-1798) Meetinghouses.
Make sure to stop and take a look at the 1753 House built in 1953 by volunteers aiming to recreate how a typical home is believed to have looked back in 1753, using 18th-century building materials and tools. The house was built as a reason to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the town’s founding. 
Check out the Williamstown’s Historical Museum website for a detailed description on all the historic buildings in town and a map of their self guided tour.
The scenic Route 7 passes from north to south through the center of Williamstown, crossing into Vermont to the north and New Ashford to the south. The Massachusetts Route 2 also begins in the town, starting from New York State Route 2 at the Petersburg Pass and combining with Route 7 for a stretch before heading east into North Adams.
If you are spending more than a day in Williamstown, MA make sure to check out some of the most popular hikes that can be found around. Our personal favorites are Mt. Greylock, the Field Farm Reservation, The Hancock Village and March Cataract Falls each offering something different depending on what your interests are and all of them equity as stunning especially in Fall and early Spring.
And if you didn’t hear it from the locals we’ll have to tell you that a Wiliamstown day or a weekend trip would not be complete unless you visit the most popular Country Store in the area that will keep you coming back to the area by itself.
The Store at Five Corners is a must, preferably on an empty stomach, as they offer the most mouthwatering quiches and pies, creamy tomato soup, cheddar scallion biscuit, banana bread french toast, chunkiest most delicious chocolate chip cookies, homemade fudge dipped apples, Ragin Cajun and other hot and cold deli sandwiches. They have a list of vegetarian options that are sure to delight, all served by the most pleasant family you’ve ever met (I’m sure that did not come as a surprise to you after hanging around Williamstown, right?) and all paired with the stunning views of The Berkshires either from the little windows inside the Store (if you choose to dine in) or from each and every direction surrounding the store if you choose to walk outside with your lunch. The Store at Five Corners is open daily from 7 a.m to 7 p.m serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a very cozy atmosphere.
We hope we’ve inspired you enough and you are already checking your schedule excited to be awed by some of this views!
Nestled among the beautiful hills of the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in the small town of Hancock only minutes from Pittsfield, MA, and Albany, NY with population of only 717 residents, is where you’ll find this absolute treasure of a spot for kids of all ages with views like no others.
Even the drive to the Farm is stunning, winding through serene small towns and dazzling views of the Berkshires behind every corner, pass deer running by the woodsy roads and birds of every kind flying by the car as if they are greeting you and leading the way to what would be a great day in the Shire.
The ample parking lot at the farm is conveniently located right by the entrance so you are not expected to walk a ton if that is of a concern, but there is plenty to look at and wander around the Farm if you are looking to get some steps in.
There is so much to see and do here! From petting the animals (which are plenty) to a wonderful playground with multiple structures for all ages, hay maze inside and out, a corn play table where kids can fully let there imagination fly and use the toy machines to move corn around or hide the little animals and let their friends find them.
And as if the inside is not entertaining enough, the outside of Ioka Valley Farm is our absolute favorite. A massive playground structure for climbing is where our littles would spend half the day going up the wooded stairs and sliding down the huge tube slide. Hearing them giggle while coming down flying might be my favorite sound in the whole world.
Taking a break from the playground, they loved going around and feeding the animals and playing with the water pump racing to see which little ducky would make it to the end first. Or climbing and swinging on any of the other few smaller playgrounds, before taking a turn riding on the little cow train or bouncing on the bouncy cows and trying to see which one of them stays on it the longest. The smiles on their little faces are everything!
On a warm day we like to go inside from time to time and cool off in the creative play area and either read a book with our friends or color some of the farm inspired coloring pages or just play with some of the wooden toys on the shelves. The sand box is a huge hit especially with the boys as they can dig in the sand and play with the bulldozers and diggers for hours while the girls pretend to be going somewhere while taking a spin on the ride on cars calling the animals by their name and peting them as they go by. We love watching them use their imagination and come up with new ways to use toys that we do have at home but are put to a completely different use here.
Oh and then Fall at Ioka Valley Farm! It might just be our favorite! Every season here is enchanting but fall is something out of dreamy poem. Not only that you get to do all of the things that you can usually do here but you get to do them with spectacular views of the changing leaves surrounding you from each and every direction.
In the Fall when the air gets cooler and days get shorter, Ioka Valley Farm offers your very own pumpkin picking as well as wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, mini corn maze between the most colorful Indian corn, hay tunnels, dress me scarecrows and giant pumpkin house. At their sugar house you can pick and taste any of their maple syrup candies and enjoy some of there homemade cider donuts, cookies, whooping pies and grab apples and cider to take home.
In spring when the days are long and the nights are cold you can warm up by the fire at the sugar house and play a game of checkers while tasting their maple syrup pancake breakfast (on weekends) consisting of a breakfast choice of home-made cake doughnuts with maple glaze, corn muffins, french toast and the fluffiest most delicious pancakes (plain, blueberry, chocolate chip or pecan) with bacon or sausage on the side. And then head outside where you can observe the process of how maple syrup is made. Watch the sap flow from the trees through transparent tubing, into the sugar house, and then getting boiled in their evaporators filling the shack with a sweet aroma.
In Winter when Jack Frost visits, Ioka Valley Farm offers four varieties of Christmas trees and a hayride in “Santa’s Cap” to the Christmas Tree Plantation. Inside the sugar house you can warm up your chilled bodies by the fire while waiting for Santa to stop by for a visit and browse through the farm and their great selection of wreaths, handcrafted decorations, gifts, pure maple syrup and specialty maple products to pick from and bring home.
Ioka Valley Farm is located right around the corner from Jiminy Peak Resort on 3475 MA-43, Hancock, MA 01237. You can check out their hours and events here and if you have any questions you can email or call Missy or Judy at info@iokavalleyfarm.com or (413) 738-5915.
Zucchini which could be either dark or light green are treated as a vegetable in a culinary context and like all squash, originated in the Americas, specifically Mesoamerica in the early 16th century.
Each year in August the event organizers in the town of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts coordinate a huge festival that celebrates summer squash with games, tastings and all sorts of crafts involving the vegetable as the center peace of the day. The main street starts buzzing with hundreds of people that come to take a part in the happenings rolling in in golf cards proudly wearing their big inflatable or hand sawed Zucchini hats.
Friends of ours recently told us over a plate of Crispy Parmesan Roasted Zucchini Wedges that because of the massive amount of people attending the event the coordinators of the event are planing on shutting it down as it’s become to big for it’s own good and there are not enough volunteers to make the festivities go smoothly. We felt compelled to make a mention of the Festival here on our blog as a remembrance of the good times that were had here and in hopes that this tradition continues on and we get to enjoy it for many more years to come.
Each year for over a decade the town people and visitors alike look forward to getting together, enjoying each others company, making new friends and creating memories with their families while celebrating the Zucchini.
There are vendors with the most mouth watering food on side and each one of them has to have a dish that includes the vegetable. There is a contest for the best decorated zucchini (and let me tell you some of them are so creative and impressive you wouldn’t believe that a kid did it *wink*). There are craft tables with home made items for sale, jewelries, hand made sweaters, hand knitted wool scarfs, T-shirts with Zucchini Fest signs on them so you can take something home to remember the lovely day you just spent here, breweries and ice cream tents and even a healthy option stops if you are looking to pass on the delicious barbecue that has been cooking just down the street from here since the night before.
But if you think that that’s all they’ve got you are not even close. The fun doesn’t stop here! There is live music where kids can take a part in and sing and dance with the artist, craft tables for the littles where they can let their wild imagination fly, Zucchini toss and Zucchini catapult, Zucchini weight off, make your own Zucchini car and race it with a friend on the race track to see which one goes down the ramp faster and the best of all: get dunked in the Zucchini juice, which is our favorite to watch. There are always balloon artist and face painter on side that are so talented and always extremely kind and patient with the kiddos.
But most of all you’ll be sure to have a day to remember here and food you wish you can have every day on top of memories you can cherish forever, and would leave you dreaming that next August comes faster than a Zucchini can grow.
As promised if you got this far here are few of our favorite Zucchini recipes that help us past the year before we can go back and enjoy some really appetizing and authentic Zucchini dishes in The Berkshires.
Backed Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
]]>We’ve always wanted to come and explore the abandoned farmland of Savoy Mountain and what better way we thought than a hike to one of the tallest waterfalls in Massachusetts located right in the middle of this 120 acres old growth norway and blue spruce forest.
After driving for a long time on what seemed like never ending rural road we finally reached this sign which we read was the starting point to the almost five mile long hike to the falls. We parked our car and proceeded the trek on foot. The road is not really suitable for small vehicles and we don’t suggest attempting to drive down it unless you have an off road vehicle, a pretty sturdy SUV or are driving a dirt bike or ATV.
Tannery Falls are located off Adams Road but we can’t promise the GPS would be of any use so maybe take a map with you or give yourself some extra time so when you get lost several times so that you still have enough daylight to do the hike back and forth to the falls.
Upon exiting the car and starting the hike on the dirt road that once was maybe a riverbed you can’t not notice how far away you are from the hustle and bustle of the not so nearby towns and feel completely removed from it all in the secluded woods surrounded only by huge lush eastern hemlock, red spruce, yellow birch, and sugar maple trees some of which are 150 to 400 years in age.
We followed the road along the long dirt path, passed an old cemetery listening to nothing else but the birds chirping while stopping for picture taking of the greenery surrounding us, the wild flowers blooming beautifully, the jumping frogs following us by the road and all the colorful butterflies flying around us.
The road gets muddy at places and we can only assume it gets much worse after rain so make sure you are wearing good hiking shoes and leave your favorite pair at home. Bring bug spray as well as they do like to feast on you if not prepared.
The wooden sign pointing to where you need to take a turn to the falls is easy to miss so keep your eyes open and make sure you don’t go right pass it like we did. And if you do, once you reach the parking lot that comes from the other side of the falls and is only sometimes open for use, turn around and follow dirt road back. We suggest you proceed ahead on the path by the stream, following the blue marks on the trees and tracking down the wooden steps and fencing to get to the first falls. You’ll be passing by multiple small cascades along the way. Take your time and stop to enjoy them.
Once you make your way up and down the many wooden stairs, passed the running stream, and lay your eyes on this majestic waterfall the latter of which is a 100-foot drop, you’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of it! You can feel the power of water cutting through the rocks like a sharp knife. With only the noise of the rushing water, the summer breeze and the birds singing Tanners Falls are a magical place. We sat for some time here enjoying the picnic we brought while sitting on a blanket by the water and watching our little one wadding in the pool of water that the waterfall creates before heading down the stone moss covered steps leading to the second waterfall which is even more stunning than the first (if that’s even possible).
It’s wonderful place to bring the kids and dogs and let them cool off in the freezing water on a hot summer day. I can only imagine the scenery in the winter while the falls are frozen and everything is covered in white. Take a moment and sit here and enjoy the beauty and serenity and calm down your busy mind at this amazing spot. We’ve seen so many waterfalls and have to admit this one is one of our favorites. It is so insanely beautiful and surrounded by so much calmness and tranquility which is rare these days as more and more people try to get outside and hit some of the more popular spots.
On the way back we followed the road we came up on and stopped for a few minutes at the cemetery we passed on the way to the falls and read some of the signs on the stones. It’s interesting to see how old some of them were.
We highly recommend you come and try to find Tanners Falls. Enjoy this peaceful area, settle for some time on one of the benches for sitting along the way and watch the stream flow by while clearing your mind and connecting with Nature. You won’t regret it.
There are over five miles of well marked and maintained walking trails around the property in a lovely setting pass a large pond, nicely groomed field with stunning views of the Berkshires and two very different architectural style houses, both very interesting. We had fun trying to spot the little fish in the pond and our little one was having a kick watching some of them jumping over the water and splashing back in.
The trails are super flat and perfect for walking with kids and although the Farm is not necessarily wheelchair accessible it is one of the easiest hikes we’ve done and you don’t necessarily need to be in great shape to enjoy it. It was a little overgrown at times in the woods but nothing unusual for mid-summer and it does get muddy if there has be recent rain so plan accordingly. Bring a hat as there is some shade between the trees on the wooded path but the trail while going through the fields is mostly in the sun. Bring bug spray as the hike mostly follows the pond where there are a lot of bugs around. If you are prepared however that would not be an issue at all and you’ll still be able to enjoy a lovely walk on an unbelievably quiet and beautiful piece of land, without being bothered to much by the bugs.
We grabbed a trail map at the kiosk and began our exploration pass fields, lush forest, few rickety small food bridges and a wide variety of wildflowers. It is so peaceful and secluded you can hear the birds singing and nothing else around you. There were no benches around for a stop, but plenty of spots to throw a blanket on the ground and sit for a minute or few while basking in the sunshine, reading a nice book or just enjoying the quiet of the nature surrounding you before walking some more.
We passed by the guest house named “The Folly” which had a very unique design and is filled with many mid-century furnishings. The mid-century modern cabin is surrounded by many angles and curves in a tranquil setting with gorgeous view. We were told you can stay overnight in one of the houses, which seems like it would be an ideal place to stay with the picturesque grounds surrounding the house where you can sip a strong freshly brewed coffee in the morning or enjoy a herbal tee in the afternoon.
The house offers guest rooms, it has a communal living room for gatherings, a breakfast area and a outdoor swimming pool for summer out in the garden. The breakfast is always freshly made and known as one of the best in the area. You’ll be delighted by the taste of fresh baked quiche, strata or french toast, fresh eggs and vegetables cooked to order always served fresh and the highest quality bacon and breads sourced from our local suppliers. The Inn at Field Farm is a very unusual and lovely place to stay and would never disappoint with the hospitality and friendliness of long-time staff members.
The trail we took circled back to the main house. Inside you can find examples of what are some of the things visitors can spot while exploring the the trail. We suggest stopping here first before heading out on the path.
There are no facilities available here like restrooms, water fountains, food and drink vending machines or picnic benches so plan before embarking on this hike. During our entire visit here we did not see anyone else on the trail so you’ll pretty much be sure to have it all to yourself. Although in the winter this spot is well known and popular for cross county skiing so it does get busy.
You can find Field Farm here:
We took a minute browsing around with a hot fresh brewed coffee and homemade blueberry scones in hand while our little one was crunching on a delicious chocolate chip cookie before heading back to the car and to our intended destination.
Chapel Brook Falls is a little known spot right on Williamsburg Road pass the idyllic small town of Ashfield, MA. It consists of a beautiful set of small waterfalls in a secluded but easily accessible area if you take the road to the right and a hike to spectacular views on the top of Pony Mountain taking the Ledge trail on the other side of the road.
The trail to Chapel Brook Falls is relatively easy and short. Right as we parked the car to the side of the road we “climbed” uphill for about 5 minutes to a wooden bench where we took a short break (little man wanted a sip of water), before going straight downhill mostly walking by the side of the stream before reaching the first of the few beautiful sets of waterfalls that cascade into pools that are deep enough to swim in.
We found ourselves in an absolute tranquil state surrounded by the blend of steep and deep forests and the soothing sound of the waterfalls. The sun was peaking through the leaves of the massive green trees and lighting up the falls with summer colors. The water felt nice and refreshing and we couldn’t wait to dip our toes in it. The rocks makes for a great slide to splash down into the water and despite than none of the falls are more than 20-30 feet high the pool that the running water creates is surprisingly deep enough for a nice refreshing swim.
Come here in the summer and you’ve found yourself a swimming hole most likely to enjoy all by yourself. We only encountered one couple that was leisurely sunbathing during the whole time we were here so I’m pretty sure you won’t have to fight crowds at this spot. Each of the falls had it’s own style and character and each had something different to offer.
We swam in the first one, let our little one splash by the other while we were catching up and had a picnic on a fallen tree log by the other one while listening to nothing other than the sound of the singing birds and of course the casual shrieks from our toddler.
We were pretty tired by the end of the day and didn’t attempt any of the other hiking trails available here, but if you are in the area and have more time to spare we highly recommend checking out the Bullit Reservation, taking a hike to DAR, or up to the summit of Pony Mountain to see the panoramic views of the Highlands and the foothills of the Berkshires.
The hike to the top of the mountain is exhilarating. And although it is only 1,420 feet high we suggest you only attempt to do it if you are an experienced hiker, in good shape to tackle this trail, have plenty of water and good footwear. It’a about half a mile of moderate hiking, strenuous at places to the top of Pony Mountain, but well worth the exertion.
The trails are open daily, year-round from sunrise to sunset. Allow yourself a minimum of an hour and a half to explore onsite and about 3 hours if you set on hiking the D.A.R. Trail or the Two Bridges Trail.