Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Holidays In Massachusetts In The Fall, Scenic Drive Through The Berkshires

By Thompson Holiday


In New England the fall is known as foliage season. Many tourists, and other visitors, travel to new England to see the beautiful fall landscapes, and to visit some of the historic towns and cities. This brief article gives some help and advice for those taking holidays in Massachusetts in the fall.

Massachusetts is a state where one can drive from the tree covered hills and mountains in the west, to the pristine beaches in the east, in under three hours. Motorists who wish to see the best of the fall foliage can plan a scenic drive route through the state.

There are various books and websites dedicated to finding the best scenic route through the New England fall scenery. One route, via the top of Mount Greylock, and onto the Mohawk Trail, has for a long time been a New England official scenic route.

The Mohawk Trail/Mount Greylock route combines a scenic drive in the Berkshire Mountains, with a journey over the top of Mount Greylock, the state's highest point. Please be aware that the road over the peak is closed every winter from the first of November.

The section of the drive along Route 2 from the MASS-NY border to the Connecticut River was designated a scenic tourist route by the state legislature in 1914, right at the start of America's love affair with the automobile. This is the Mohawk Trail, a pathway first trodden by the native American tribes, and now a highway through spectacular mountain scenery. As well as spectacular fall scenery, and views such as those of the Hoosac Valley from Route 2's Hairpin Turn, one can visit the Mohawk Trail State Forest (6,457 acres) in Charlemont, where there are several original Indian trails now marked out as hiking trails.

Although you can reach the Mohawk Trail without crossing the top of Mount Greylock it is worth making the 8 mile ascent for the views across the unspoiled rural landscape in this part of the state. From the War Memorial Tower at the summit one can see five states.




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