We just got back from a fun, long weekend in the Berkshires. I had always heard of these Berkshires, and I visited Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for a day...but I had never been to Western Mass and not really explored the Berkshires.
My parents flew in on Thursday night, and they spent the night at Nancy's, right near by. At 7:15, while we were all upstairs and the kids were just thinking about getting out of bed, the front door opened, and in they came. My dad rushed up the stairs to get onto his hands and knees and crawl into Elie's room to surprise him as a "horse." Phew - I didn't have to watch two of my kids for the rest of the weekend. We got the car packed up, and by 9 we were on the road...
After the hike, we drove back down the mountain to Gould's Sugar House, which had the best pancakes I have EVER had. No joke. They make their own syrup too (we bought some - even that was so good). We all loved it.
After lunch we drove for a while so Elie could have a nap. We drove out to North Adams, which looked kinda cute, but we didn't get out, other than for a cup of coffee. We drove through Williamstown and Williams College. It was absolutely beautiful. Elie was still sleeping so we stayed in the car. Then we did a hike to Sunset Rock, just outside of North Adams. It was beautiful, but it started to get cold - mid-30s, and no sun. Kids were champs.
We went to grab dinner back in Shelburne Falls, but the one good restaurant had a hour and 45 minute wait (at 5:30!!!). So we got pizza and went back for the same bedtime situation as the night before - first Elie and then Sam.
Matt and I killed my parents at Euchre - BOTH nights.
Sunday it was rainy and cold. We took it easy at the place we were staying (The Kerry Lea House on Air bnb - I SOOOO recommend it!), and we left at 11. Matt and the kids wanted to do this corn maze, so they did that, and we grabbed a quick lunch in Charlemont, near the maze. Then we drove alllllll the way back to Newton, driving through Concord on the way.
Overall, it was a super trip - beautiful to see the amazing colors. Nice to have my parents around. Felt like a real holiday, even though it was barely two days!
My parents flew in on Thursday night, and they spent the night at Nancy's, right near by. At 7:15, while we were all upstairs and the kids were just thinking about getting out of bed, the front door opened, and in they came. My dad rushed up the stairs to get onto his hands and knees and crawl into Elie's room to surprise him as a "horse." Phew - I didn't have to watch two of my kids for the rest of the weekend. We got the car packed up, and by 9 we were on the road...
Gotta love that minivan. We all fit (SEVEN PEOPLE!), plus all of our stuff, a stroller, ice chest and food for the weekend...and it wasn't even squishy (says the lady who sat in the front the whole time...maybe I should ask my parents...).
First stop was near Amherst, at the Eric Carle Museum. It was pretty cool to see so much of his beautiful art and be introduced to so many books that we had never even heard of. We had a great time exploring the museum and doing crafts.
After the museum we went to Northampton and had a fantastic lunch/brunch at Jake's. We walked all around - including all over Smith's campus. Elie had a nap in the stroller and Sam was a champ and walked the whole way. We then hopped back in the car and drove north to the place we were staying, just outside of Sheburne Falls.
After we got the baby down for a nap (and Matt too), the rest of us went to town to the Farmer's Market. There were two stalls of veggies, a few other random stalls plus a tuba and guitar (and harmonica at the same time) player. The music was the highlight. We grabbed a few veggies and went home to make a simple dinner. Sam and Elie were sleeping in the same room, and we had made the mistake in New Hampshire of putting them to bed at the same time. We had to get Elie to bed by 7, so Sam could go to bed after, but not too late. It worked. All slept well.
When I came out of bed, the kids couldn't even stop reading for a second to say hello to me. They love their Savta.
We got up and out around 9 to a hike called High Ledges, up the mountain behind where we were staying. The hike was basically a mile out to this amazing look out (at high ledges...) and then back. The kids enjoyed a short additional hike with my parents on a more strenuous path with some elevation while I was feeding the baby. The leaves were BEAUTIFUL, and the sky was beautiful (it was cloudy after this for the rest of the weekend).
Elie probably hiked for about 30% of it
Pretty, no?
Bamba is the hiking snack of choice in our family
After the hike, we drove back down the mountain to Gould's Sugar House, which had the best pancakes I have EVER had. No joke. They make their own syrup too (we bought some - even that was so good). We all loved it.
After lunch we drove for a while so Elie could have a nap. We drove out to North Adams, which looked kinda cute, but we didn't get out, other than for a cup of coffee. We drove through Williamstown and Williams College. It was absolutely beautiful. Elie was still sleeping so we stayed in the car. Then we did a hike to Sunset Rock, just outside of North Adams. It was beautiful, but it started to get cold - mid-30s, and no sun. Kids were champs.
I turned Koby around, and he was loving the leaves too.
This was the first hike - so pretty!
We went to grab dinner back in Shelburne Falls, but the one good restaurant had a hour and 45 minute wait (at 5:30!!!). So we got pizza and went back for the same bedtime situation as the night before - first Elie and then Sam.
Matt and I killed my parents at Euchre - BOTH nights.
Sunday it was rainy and cold. We took it easy at the place we were staying (The Kerry Lea House on Air bnb - I SOOOO recommend it!), and we left at 11. Matt and the kids wanted to do this corn maze, so they did that, and we grabbed a quick lunch in Charlemont, near the maze. Then we drove alllllll the way back to Newton, driving through Concord on the way.
Overall, it was a super trip - beautiful to see the amazing colors. Nice to have my parents around. Felt like a real holiday, even though it was barely two days!
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