Sep 2, 2021 | Central, North County, Outings, South County, Trail Reviews
When it comes to fall foliage, nothing beats the spectrum of colors on display in the Berkshire hills. Leaf peepers rejoice as the forested landscape erupts into shades of copper, cornelian, cranberry, gold, and every hue in between. From late September to October,... 
Sep 1, 2021 | Activities, History, Outings, South County
The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area announces the 19th annual autumn Heritage Walks on the Saturdays & Sundays of September 4, 5, 6 & 11, 12 & 18, 19 & 25, 26 & October 2, 3. 80+ free, guided interpretive tours will be offered... 
Jul 3, 2020 | Central, Field Trips, North County, South County, Trail Reviews
Being outdoors and in nature is beneficial in so many ways. From healing health benefits, building community connections, education, or just having some fun, the outdoors is a gift. And that gift should be available to everyone. But for many people with disabilities,... 
Apr 11, 2021 | Central, Trail Reviews
Help Make “Happy Land” Happy Again! When: Saturday, May 15th 10 a.m. – Noon Where: “Happy Land” or the Pines off of High Street in Dalton Who: Anyone! This is a family-friendly event Parking is available at the Dalton Senior Center Social-distancing... 
Aug 13, 2021 | Field Trips, History, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Stanley Park, Westfield, MA. When We Went: August 2021 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 0.5 Boots Trail Length: Various Trail Lengths How Long it Took Us: Three Hours “Stanley Park was made possible because thousands were interested in doing... 
Sep 22, 2020 | Activities, Inspiration
Books are a great way to ring in a new season. In the fall, there’s the added bonus of cuddling up with a blanket and a good book! Here’s a list of some of our favorite autumn reads. Bring on the cozy! Look What I Did with a Leaf – Morteza E.... 
Jun 20, 2019 | Central, History, North County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Natural Bridge State Park (North Adams, MA) When We Went : Early June – both times! Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 2 Boots around the Bridges Area – 1 Boot on the Elder Trail (Healthy Heart Trail) Trail Length : The Natural Bridge... 
Jul 22, 2021 | State of Nature
Amy Kirkcaldy, is the co-founder of South Shore Family Adventures, along with her brother Jim. She is a full-time college counselor at Milton Academy and the mother of extremely active nine-year-old twin boys. Amy and Jim started South Shore Family Adventures in March... 
Jul 15, 2021 | Central, North County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Eugene D. Moran Wildlife Management Area, Windsor MA When We Went: July & October Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 1 Boot Trail Length: Less than two miles of trail through the spruce grove on the Bosma Road Side. 2nd trail on Fobes Hill across the... 
Jun 30, 2021 | Inspiration, State of Nature
Lissy Perna, is the founder and CEO of Get Outside Cape Cod. She is a homegrown Cape Codder and mom of two adventurous boys. A longtime lover of nature, Lissy enjoys getting outdoors with her family and sharing their discoveries! Together they walk nature trails,... 
Sep 13, 2019 | South County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary / Lenox, MA When We Went : End of June Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 1 Boot Trail Length : 7 miles of trails (All Persons Trail: 0.3 miles) How Long it Took Us : 2.5 Hours Overview : Gee whiz, Wally!... 
Jun 17, 2021 | Inspiration, South County, State of Nature
Sarah Katan, is the founder and CEO of Whale of a Trail Adventures. Based in Hudson, New York, Sarah is an outdoor enthusiast and self-proclaimed nature geek. Sarah is on a mission to help families with young ones feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors,... 
Jun 16, 2021 | History, South County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Steven’s Glen – Richmond / West Stockbridge, MA When We Went : Mid-June Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 2 Boots Trail Length : 1.4 miles round trip / 45 minutes How Long it Took Us : 2 hours Overview : One of the more overlooked waterfalls in... 
Jun 10, 2021 | Activities, Central, History, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: John Lambert Nature Trail, Pittsfield MA (Part of the Berkshire Community College Campus) When We Went: July Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 1 Boot Trail Length: The Meadow Loop is less than 1 mile, adding the woodland spur trail, about 1.1 miles... 
Jul 24, 2020 | History, South County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Tory Cave Falls – October Mountain State Forest, Lenoxdale, MA When We Went: Mid-June 2020 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 2 Boots, (3 Boots to get to the cave) Trail Length: Just over 0.5 miles roundtrip How Long it Took Us: 1.5 hours... 
Jun 1, 2021 | Field Trips, Outings, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Shelburne Falls/Buckland, MA When We Went: Annually since 2015 (Temporarily closed in 2020) Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 0 Boots Trail Length: Bridge Length, 400 Feet How Long it Took Us: Two Hours Overview: For a small little village off... 
Aug 8, 2020 | Activities, Inspiration
Bird behaviors can be curious and fascinating when we take the time to watch and observe them. One of the stranger behaviors our feathered friends get up to is called “Anting.” Basically, anting occurs when a bird rubs ants on themselves. Pretty... 
Aug 20, 2020 | Activities
The bird world is full of some wacky stuff. From Anting to Drumming, there are so many things to discover when you take a moment and observe. Read a bit about some of these behaviors and then take it outside! Print out the Bird Behavior Bingo worksheet and see how... 
May 19, 2021 | Central, History, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Wild Acres Conservation Area, Pittsfield MA When We Went: Late May, Early August Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 2 Boots Trail Length: 2 miles of trails How Long it Took Us: 2 hours Overview: Located next to the airport off of South Mountain Road in... 
Jun 8, 2019 | Tips & Tricks
Once springtime hits and the first flutters of mild weather breeze in, we’re all ready to get outside after a long, dreary winter. But with the spring thaw comes the onslaught of a nuisance of a different kind, the devil’s parasite – yup. The tick.... 
Aug 22, 2020 | Activities, Inspiration
Lately, the nights have been loud with katydids and I’ve been grabbing a sweatshirt for my morning walks. Fall is definitely in the air. The geese flocks in our nearby ponds are getting restless, somehow sensing the southward journey. As the days become shorter,... 
May 8, 2021 | Central, History, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Warner Hill, Hinsdale MA When We Went: April 2021 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 2.5 Boots Trail Length: 1.4 miles out and back How Long it Took Us: 2 hours Overview: Once pasture and prime farmland, it is hard to believe that the wooded area... 
Jun 10, 2020 | Central, History, Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Widow White Reservation – Lanesboro, MA When We Went : Early April & again in Late May Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : Steep in places, but mostly easy walking on wide wood roads 2.5 Boots Trail... 
Apr 26, 2021 | Activities, History, North County, Trail Reviews
“The fields and the woods are a great deal like the books we read: the more we become familiar with printed page or forest path, the oftener we return to certain thoughts and trails that lead us back to scenes and associations enjoyed before.” — Grace... 
Jun 10, 2020 | North County, Trail Reviews
Where We Went: Margaret Lindley Park – Williamstown, MA When We Went: Early May 2020 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 1 Boot Trail Length: 0.85 miles, Yellow Blazes How Long it Took Us: 1.5 Hours Overview: Margaret Lindley Park is tucked away in the Southwest... 
Apr 14, 2021 | Activities, Central, Inspiration, North County, South County, Trail Reviews
Put to it to list the first seven wildflowers that signal spring in New England, seven botanists would surely give seven different answers. Put the same question to the earliest flying bees and flies, and their answer would be one and the same since their lives depend... 
Apr 9, 2020 | Central, Inspiration, North County, South County
With every aspect of our lives suddenly disrupted, nature and outdoor activities provide essential stability, stress-relief and distraction to the current crisis. Lucky for us, the Berkshires is bursting with open-air spaces. With Spring on the horizon and increasing... 
Mar 23, 2020 | Activities, Inspiration
It’s officially Spring and nature is bursting with change! Tree buds are on the verge of opening and numerous Ever smelled the rotten odor of the skunk cabbage? Or see the earthworms resurface after a Spring rain? How many signs of Spring have you experienced... 
Mar 20, 2021 | History, South County, Trail Reviews
“Too many of us go through life without really looking, blind to the world around us.” — Hal Borland Where We Went: Bartholomew’s Cobble, Sheffield, MA When We Went: March 2021 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 1.5 Boots (Ledges Trail & Hal Borland... 
Mar 7, 2021 | Activities, Inspiration
As March marches on towards spring, we may think our late-winter environments look pretty blah. But on closer inspection, you may just find these red flags. Print out this guide and head outdoors to see if you can spot any of these crimson harbingers. Plus, learn how... 
Apr 13, 2020 | Activities, South County
Today my Iphone photos reminded me that we did this hike April 13, 2019. And here I sit, one year to the day wondering why I never put this review down on paper. It’s a rainy day, much like the one that brought us to Kennedy in search of the red-spotted newts.... 
Feb 28, 2021 | Activities, History, South County, Trail Reviews
“Our reality has changed. The media has become 3-dimensional, inescapable, omnivorous, and self-referring — a closed system that seems, for many of the kids, to answer all their questions.” David Denby, The New Yorker Where I Went: Bidwell House Museum. Monterey,... 
Jan 16, 2020 | Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Dorothy Frances Rice Wildlife Sanctuary – Peru, MA When We Went : June 1st Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 1 – 2 Boots Trail Length : Varied trail network totaling 5 miles – All marked by colors – We hiked the Pond trail, Pink... 
Mar 1, 2020 | History, Inspiration, South County, Trail Reviews
March 1, 2021 It’s been one year since these photos were taken. After this hike, as we sat in the warmth of the close-quartered and crowded Harvest Barn, munching on pastries and cake, mask-free. How could we know that in a few short weeks this simple moment... 
Feb 13, 2021 | Activities, Inspiration
Being able to identify common trees is not only fun, it also helps to connect us to our surroundings and communities. But what do you do in the winter when there are no leaves present? You learn to identify trees by the 3 B’s — Branches, Buds, & Bark.... 
May 10, 2020 | Inspiration
I took this picture on a recent hike and didn‘t think twice about it. I was going through my camera roll and it struck me differently. Tay usually writes the blog posts around here, but since it’s Mother’s Day, I wanted to try and write down how this... 
Feb 12, 2021 | Activities, Central, History, Inspiration, North County, South County
Over 50 years ago, prolific writer and avid naturalist Morgan Bulkeley contributed more than 750 articles for the Berkshire Eagle. Under the title, “Our Berkshires,” Bulkeley illuminated the local history, people, and nature of our richly beautiful Berkshire home. ... 
Feb 11, 2021 | Activities, Central, Inspiration, North County, South County
Spruce, Pine, or Fir? Not gonna lie, for the longest time I called all evergreens pine trees. Conifers solely existed in Christmas tree world, and countless holidays went by without realizing that the oh, Tannenbaum I was trimming was actually a fir — tannenbaum... 
Feb 10, 2021 | Activities, Inspiration
When you were a kid maybe you passed a summer afternoon laying on your back, without a care in the world, finding shapes in the clouds. For most of us, we can’t remember the last time we slowed down enough to do this (or if we could let our imaginations still... 
Feb 8, 2021 | Activities, Central, Inspiration, North County, South County
Tree Warts, as my 7-year old calls them, are actually burls. And what exactly is a burl, you ask? A burl is a gnarly-looking, extraneous growth found on a tree. Scientists are still not sure what causes these bulges to occur, but have theorized that a burl may be made... 
Feb 8, 2021 | Activities, History, Inspiration, North County, South County, Tips & Tricks, Trail Reviews
It’s no secret. Trees are my favorite. Nature and the outdoors are my jam, but trees hold the wooden key to my heart. Strong, silent, and crucial to life-sustaining oxygen, like Richard Power’s wrote, ““This is not our world with trees in it.... 
Feb 10, 2021 | Activities, Central, Outings
Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) wants you to take walk on the wild side… at Wild Acres in Pittsfield that is! BNRC, the City of Pittsfield, Berkshire Family Hikes, and Berkshires Macaroni Kid have partnered together to bring a StoryWalk® to the... 
Jan 27, 2021 | Activities, Inspiration
Craft nature Valentines with a free printable! February is right around the corner and we created some tree-mendous nature valentines ready to gift and delight everyone you love! Simply print out the card template (we printed these on various colors of cardstock), add... 
Mar 13, 2020 | Central, History
Where We Went: Constitution Hill, Lanesborough MA When We Went: Late February Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 6 Kid’s Sized Boots (I’ll explain.) Trail Length: 1.7 miles Constitution Hill Trail How Long it Took Us: 3 hours Overview : In the current... 
Mar 5, 2019 | South County
Where We Went: Longcope Park – South Lee, MA When We Went: Early January Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10): 1.5 Boots Trail Length: Loop Trail, just under 1 mile (Blue Blazes) How Long it Took Us: 2 Hours Overview: Janet Longcope Park is 46-acres of eastern... 
Jun 5, 2020 | Activities, History, North County
Where We Went: Mass Audubon Road’s End Wildlife Sanctuary / Worthington When We Went: January 10th, 2020 Difficulty/Boots 1-10: 2 Boots Trail Length: 1 mile How Long it Took Us: 2.5 Hours Overview : January 10th – it’s 5PM and the moon is... 
Dec 30, 2020 | Activities, Central, Inspiration, North County, South County, Trail Reviews
First Week Hikes 2021 The past few years we’ve celebrated the turn of a new year with a First Day Hike. Read about the changes for 2021 below and then check out this list of family-friendly winter hikes to help you plan your own First Week Hike adventure. ... 
Dec 5, 2020 | Central, Inspiration, North County, South County, Trail Reviews
“Let us not wish away the winter. It is a season to itself, not simply the way to spring. Winter is a table set with ice and starlight.” – Greta Crosby Winter is a wonderful time of year to hike. Blankets of snow and the crisp, cold air bring a fresh... 
Dec 18, 2020 | Inspiration, Trail Reviews
What a year. Full of hardships, heartache and buzz words like “unprecedented,” “new normal,” and “abundance of caution.” But as silver linings go, coupled with the universal closures of the entire world, it left one thing open — the... 
Jan 16, 2019 | Central, Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Mass Audubon Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary / Pittsfield, MA When We Went : February 2019 Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 1 Boot / 1.5 Boot with snow on the ground Trail Length : Sacred Way Trail 1.2 miles / 1 hour How Long it Took Us : 2.5 hours... 
Dec 13, 2019 | Trail Reviews
Where We Went : Field Farm, Williamstown When We Went : Mid- November Difficulty (Boots 1 – 10) : 1 Boot Trail Length : 4 Miles of Trails How Long it Took Us : 2 Hours Overview : This former land of the Mohican and Mohawk tribes is tucked away in a valley... 
