"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind…read morefrom wandering Where it will go" (Lennon and McCartney) 14,000 years in the making!! The Glacial Potholes in Shelburne Falls, MA have been around since the last Ice Age, which is wild to think about. As the glaciers melted and pulled back, fast moving water and swirling stones basically acted like nature's power tools to carve out around fifty smooth, round potholes in the rock. Now they just sit there staring at you, looking like something left behind by an ancient race of aliens. You can see them by walking along a platform that gives you a great view of the holes, pools of water, and a waterfall. What an awesome example of natural beauty.

Went here with my boyfriend!!…read more I'm from New Hampshire and can be picky about hikes (especially) but I was thoroughly impressed and we had a phenomenal time!!! The hike was lovely and the air as we climbed got a little cooler. Would recommend a jacket (even on a warmer day) and definitely some bug spray... We didn't bring any and were chased by bugs all the way down!

A ten-minute uphill walk to this tower that mental patients were ordered to build for physical…read moreactivity/to alleviate their illnesses. Sadly, when it was done, many started jumping off the top to their deaths, so of course I had to visit and see what this was like. Parked in the ski slope Farm Retreat parking lot and walked to the trailhead across the street. Worth seeing and hiking up to the tower as it's so quick, though you can't enter the tower/climb up it. Visitors put wildflowers at the base of the tower by the sealed door which was so nice. 5 stars!!!!

Since it was a beautiful day out we decided to take a little hike during lunch and thought that the…read moreRetreat Tower would be the best spot to go. This was the first time we have hiked up to the tower and we have to say that we were not disappointed. The walk itself was fairly low impact and didn't take very long. Once we got to the top we enjoyed sitting by the tower while taking in the serenity of the wood. Overall it was a great experience and we would totally hike here again.

The French King Bridge is an interesting place to stop on The Mohawk Trail/Route 2/2A. There are…read moreparking areas at either end of the bridge. The bridge offers some nice views of the Connecticut River. This part of the river is heavily forested.

I love this bridge. When you're driving for hours along Rt 2, you can't really get a feel for the…read morebeautiful countryside you're in: you're surrounded by trees and hills. But then suddenly, you hit the French King bridge, and BAM: you can see for miles! It's gorgeous - not only for the view, but for the bridge itself, which was made back when aesthetics and function were more closely related to public works. Definitely stop and get out of your car and take a look. There are a few places to park your car on either side of the bridge.

Not really a business but a rare bridge!! Beautiful setting with good vantage points for…read morephotography of the bridge and general area.

One day while exploring Western MA, we drove through Conway and came upon this bridge spanning over…read morethe Deerfield River. This historic truss bridge built in 1882 is such a unique structure and the views from the bridge are incredible. For the past few summers we have made it a point to stop by this bridge to not only marvel in the views, but to swim under the bridge. On either end there are parking lots, and often the water is moving slow enough that swimming here is a blast. Last Fourth of July we parked one of our cars here and ended up tubing down the river. This was a great place to start and parking was great because it was off the road. In the end, we love traveling to this bridge especially when it is snowing. One of our other favorite parts of this area is that the train passes by the bridge and listening to it pass as you are spending the day swimming here is relaxing.

This was, by far, my favorite covered bridge of the trip! Not only is it strikingly beautiful and…read morehistoric, but the surrounding area is everything you could want - bucolic, peaceful, colorful, and a perfect place to practice any photography skills! It has become the place I return to in my mind when I'm stressed or meditating lol! This is the largest bridge in the area and was built in 1864 to replace the existing bridge. There's plenty of room to park off to the side and the bridge has walkways on either side that span the length of the bridge. There are also pathways that take you down to the riverbank for more views! The river is incredibly beautiful, especially with the fall foliage - just wow! I could've quite happily stayed here all day! It's very easy to find - just plug the name into google maps and it will get you here (Apple Maps didn't work for me though).

While driving down the back roads in New Hampshire, trying to get home, I came across this really…read moreamazing covered bridge. This bridge located in Winchester is huge and also has some really unique features. My favorite was that both sides of the bridge had covered areas to walk, which you don't see in some of the smaller covered bridges. Overall, it's a unique little landmark hidden in the middle of nowhere and if you are a little bit of a nerd like me you'll probably enjoy it.

He was the first President born in the 20th century. he was one of the nation's youngest…read morepresidents. And for Americans of a certain generation, his death on November 22, 1963 was a shattering life event. The John F. Kennedy memorial plaza was funded by the parishioners of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Holyoke and the memorial is located on front of the church. The memorial consists of a granite base and a bust of a youthful Kennedy. There are granite slabs flanking the memorial with quotes from his inaugural address and book "Profiles in Courage". Behind the memorial are granite blocks engraved with the names of recipients of the JFK award and the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick's Day parade. The front of the base is inscribed: John Fitzgerald Kennedy 35th president of the United States May 29, 1917 Nov. 22, 1963 The back of the base has the presidential seal and the following inscription: John Fitzgerald Kennedy May 29, 1917 Nov. 22, 1963 The various inscriptions read: "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country" inaugural address 1961 "All this will not be finished in the first hundred days, nor will it be finished in the first thousand days, but let us begin." inaugural address 1961 "A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and damages and pressures, and that is the basis of all human morality" "Profiles in Courage" 1955 "... let us go forth to lead the land we love asking his blessing and his help, but knowing that here on earth god's work must truly be our own." Inaugural Address 1961

Not the biggest or most interesting memorial park I've been to, but a nice little park non the…read moreless. I drive by often and have stopped here a couple times and I'm actually really impressed with how well kept the memorial area is. I wouldn't say this location is something worth making a special trip, but do stop in if you're in the area.

If you're ever driving on Route 5 near the Springfield/Longmeadow line, be prepared to do a double…read moretake if you are lucky enough to spy this landmark. It has the epic name of Omiskanoagwiah, or "the Wolf People Medicine Man". It is fifteen feet of magnificent carved wooden awesomeness! It was carved from a single log by Hungarian born sculptor Peter Wolf Toth. It is just one of the sculptures in the "Trail of the Whispering Giant" series of over sixty sculptures across the US and Canada. Check out the details of the sculpture! He wears a feathered wolf headdress, he has long braided hair, and he sports an ornament on his chest. And for some reason there is a carved turtle on the sculpture too. There's a metal plaque on the stone base that reads: The Trail Of The Whispering Giants "Omiskanoagwiak" Wolf-People Medicine Man Dedicated to the: Pioneer Valley Indians Sculptor: Peter Wolf Toth Mayor Richard E. Neal Courtesy City of Springfield Park Commission Sponsor Joseph J. Deliso, Jr. November 18, 1984

Odd but interesting landmark along route 5. Just a quick detour off I91. If you like wooden…read moresculpture or native American art this might just be a spot for you to check out.

This house is where the pre-treasonous Benedict Arnold recuperated after being wounded at the…read moreBattle of Bemis Heights. The house is an interesting landmark for what it represents historically. It is not open to the Public.

The bridge is named for Eunice Williams and there's a story. On February 29, 1704, 300 warriors…read morefrom the French army along with members of the Abenaki and Mohawk tribes attacked Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 and taking 112 prisoner. Eunice Williams, her husband Reverend John Williams, and five of their seven children were among those captured. As a captive unable to make the journey back to Canada, she was killed here on March 1. The covered bridge was built in 1972 to replace the 100-year-old covered bridge that had been destroyed by a fire set by vandals three years before on Halloween night in 1969. It is a single lane bridge and my Sprinter van would not fit. I parked illegally nearby, walked the bridge. Locals say that the bridge is haunted. I was here during the late afternoon hours when it was still light. I stood quietly on the bridge and listened. No ghosts appeared. [Round number review 22700 overall - 1677 of 2024 - 1226 in Massachusetts]

This covered bridge was named for Eunice Williams, who was killed in the "Deerfield Massacre". She…read morewas wed to the Revered John Williams, who went down in history as the "Redeemed Captive". This was all gathered from the signage around the bridge, I imagine the story is very interesting if you look it up in scholarly books and websites. The bridge itself has room for one car at a time, so be patient and take turns. Observe stop signs. It seems perfectly sound to travel across. Unfortunately, no ghosts were observed on this trip.

Perfect day for a cemetary stroll. Very peaceful with some graves dating to the 1800s. The tower is…read morerather impressive. Would love to see it's twin in Ireland some day.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of…read moreAmerica that most people have never heard of or been to before, If you love Castles, Towers & the Fairytale Rapunzel or the Disney movie Tangled then you'll be excited about our journey today. It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour the Earth & take you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist. We have set the dial to the 1890's in the town of Milford MA about an hour outside of Boston. We've landed at this Beautiful Irish Round Tower that conjures up images from a bygone era. The Tower looks like it has been plucked from medieval times from thousands of miles across the Pond in Ireland. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Father Patrick Cuddihy envisioned an Irish Round Tower as the centerpiece of a new cemetery when the land was purchased in 1890 for the Catholics of Saint Mary's Parish in Milford. Travelers from all over the globe spend thousands of dollars & travel to Ireland to see The Irish Round Towers. There is one Irish Tower in particular called The Devenish round tower & is located in County Fermanagh on an island located on Lower Lough Erne Lake. The Round Irish Tower in Milford is almost an exact replica with the same look, design & height as the The Devenish Tower in Ireland. It is made out of Granite from the Milford quarry. It stands tall over the graves of thousands of Irish immigrants who were buried in the cemetery. They are laid to rest in an Irish setting that mimics the architecture & land of Ireland. You might wonder why did Fr. Cuddihy build this tower? The answer can be found in his obituary "It may be folly - yet when you and I have passed away, the Irish in America will make a pilgrimage to the Irish Round Tower at Milford." Now although it was very popular in its day this has now fallen completely under the radar. Now just about everyone has heard of the German Fairy Tale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm, but have no idea that a Rapunzel like Tower even exists here in America. The Milford Round Tower was the only one of its kind in the whole USA for decades & only a few Irish Towers in the whole world even exist outside of Ireland. In 2003 The Tower at Castleton Lyons Farm was built in Kentucky to be an exact replica of the round tower at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary Ireland. So now there are 2 Irish Round Towers in the US. The Milford one is well over a hundred years older than the one in Kentucky. It represents a unique granite architectural wonder that pays tribute to Father Cuddihy vision of an Irish Tower in America without going overseas. The 1978 East German stamps of Rapunzel look just like the Devenish Tower in Ireland & the one in Milford MA. I have posted the stamp pictures for you to see too. Just so you know the door to the Tower is locked so you can't venture to the top! In addition, behind the Irish round tower there is a small pond & benches with pine trees in the background that makes a peaceful place to pray, meditate & explore the grounds. On the other side there is a mysterious cave like structure that resembles a catacomb. Across the street there is a public park and free parking. You really wouldn't expect to see an Irish Round Tower or a Rapunzel Tower at a cemetery, but that's where it is - a True Hidden Gem. To make it really worth your trip in the area check out The Moon Tree a tree that went to the Moon & The Largest Rosary Beads in the World both in Holliston. All of these are Freebies as well. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!