There are places that make you feel as though you've stepped into another era, and Hidden Springs…read moreMaple is one of them. Tucked away about an hour north of Hadley, Massachusetts, the drive alone is worth making. On this visit, the sun was shining, the temperature never climbed above 80 degrees, and the winding country roads were perfect with the sunroof open. By the time I arrived, it already felt like I'd left the rush of everyday life behind. I've always been fascinated by how real maple syrup is made. The kind that comes from the sap of maple trees rather than the artificially flavored syrups so many of us grew up with. While I didn't get to see the sugaring process itself, Hidden Springs Maple serves as the retail home for the family operation. Inside, the rustic barn-style shop is wonderfully nostalgic, with weathered wood, shelves lined with glass bottles and jars, and the unmistakable feeling of an old-fashioned country store. It feels less like a gift shop and more like a place where New England traditions have been carefully preserved. The young man behind the counter patiently entertained every one of my tourist-style questions, answering each with genuine enthusiasm and an obvious pride in the craft. Before making a purchase, I was invited to sample three grades of syrup--Amber Rich, Dark, and Very Dark (Robust)--a thoughtful touch that lets visitors appreciate how the flavors deepen from one variety to the next. Amber Rich was my favorite, and I happily left with a jug, along with maple cream, locally produced honey, smoked maple syrup, and a gift box of regional jams. Now comes the only real challenge: figuring out how to pack the maple jug and those glass jars for the trip home without breaking a single one. It's a small price to pay for bringing home a taste of a place that feels wonderfully timeless.

TLDR: delightful maple creamies in a beautiful spot…read more Beautiful shop with lots of maple syrup and souvenirs including some toys for kids. The maple creamies just had the right amount of sweetness. If you're feeling more decadent the diabolical donut bowl might fit the bill, which is maple creamie soft serve over a donut with maple syrup poured over.

Great food with amazing service. Love finding family own cute places, Instagram picture perfect.read more

I heard about this place from a group on facebook. So many people were talking about how great it…read morewas that I had to try it! This is such a cute, restaurant! I absolutely loved the decor here and the old fashioned music playing in the background just added to the ambience! We walked in and they pointed out the menu to us on the wall. Here you decide what you want, sit at your appointed table, and they come and take the order. They also have self serve beverages. Our waitress was sweet and very helpful. She wrote everything down exactly as we wanted it. Don't let the paper plates fool you, the food here is amazing! I had the French toast with a side of bacon and loaded home fries. Hubs had the thistle breakfast which was pancakes and egg with bacon. It comes with coffee or tea. He didn't realize he could have had sausage until later. This French toast was so good I'm still thinking of it the next day! Warm fruit compote with a warm maple cream with brioche bread! Yummmmmmm! The potatoes were excellent amd the bacon was crispy, just as I asked! My husband loved his as well. They also use real maple syrup! I can't wait to go back!!

We love shopping here for special clothing and jewelry. The staff is warm and always helpful.read more

Love this eclectic little spot. Wonderful selection of clothing, jewelry and home items. Obsessed…read morewith their scarves and candles! I will say we were totally ignored by the clerk, not even a hello or welcome. She proceeded to make a personal call while we were browsing near the register which put me off enough to leave without purchasing anything but it's a nice store worth popping into.

I've been coming to Galanes since they were a clothing and sporting goods store back in the 80's…read more Now they're a VT themed gift shop, so when I was in town with my family, I came in here with my wife to browse the locally themed items. I ended up leaving with a t-shirt and some maple candy. I can't resist maple candy. It's in my blood. Service was average, which is why I didn't give the final star, but the location and items in the store bring together a lot of what people want to see when they visit the area.

I'm actually surprised by the low rating! I visited this shop just to browse (I've been to VT…read morebefore but I brought my family here for some trinkets during their visit). I ended up buying myself a few articles of clothing with bears on them since I love the brand Lazy One (and the prices were reasonable). The cashier was pleasant and very welcoming to my visiting family. The floor was clean and everything was well stocked. I'm glad I decided to walk in!

Great store with a lot of nice seasonal items. Definitely worth visiting! Excited to go back. Be…read moresure to follow their Instagram

We absolutely loved our shopping experience at A Thyme and Place! They appropriately followed…read moresocial distancing measures, and though the shop is smaller, we felt safe browsing with just 1 other customer in the shop. We came at the transfer from fall to Christmas decor and were thrilled to find a plethora of holiday decor! The shop is filled with classic and country style decor of all kinds, both fit for indoor and outdoor decorations. The staff is helpful and personable and clearly hard working, as the shop is beautiful and constantly supplied with the latest items. Would definitely recommend a trip out to the "country" to visit this wonderful shop!

Hannah Grimes is an upscale shop featuring quality handmade artisan gifts and decor. Most of the…read moremerchandise has a New England theme, of course. There were rooms filled with art, jams and syrup, knitted and woven items, jewelry, woodworking and much, much more. The charcuterie boards caught my attention, but they were a little heavy to carry back on the plane. I did purchase a few gift cards, that were locally made. The clerks are friendly, but let you roam without pressure. Prices are high, as you would expect for handcrafted items. They have a public restroom. There is metered street parking out front. Worth a visit and a great place to buy meaningful gifts.

Staple of the downtown community they have all the crafts and goodies to make a great birthday or…read moreholiday gift basket. Plus way more art, studio pottery and clothing options in the back if you want to buy something to decorate your home or office. Grateful to have had the opportunity to stop in recently and hope to find the time to check in more frequently going forward.

OMG this is the most beautiful and perfect gift shop I've ever been to! There is something for…read moreeveryone for newborns, weddings to housewarming gifts, decor, jewelry, candles, you name it they got it! The service is incredible and the owner is so kind and sweet! They have Vermont ski pillows and super cute blankets! Their clearance in the basement also has the best sales! We bought the most beautiful glasses, magnets, coasters, and recyclable bags! I bought the most unique and colorful belt that is handmade for $28! Bought a 100% recycled big bag for $4.50! You can't beat these prices cause everything around town would be more expensive! Everything here is very affordable and we can't wait to go back! Even my husband had to buy things and he HATES shopping hahaha Love this place! Come stop by before or after skiing or during the summertime!

My wife and I travel 360 miles round trip every Thanksgiving weekend to the Greenbrier as it…read moredoesn't get any better than this. Go out of your way for this gem.

This gift shop is a must-visit, both for the mountain views and the sheer variety of gifts and…read moretreats inside. You'll find all kinds of drinks, candies, donuts, and snacks that make it hard to leave without your hands full. There are tons of pins, postcards, Christmas ornaments, and other little treasures to browse, and it's easy to lose track of time and spend an hour just looking around. With the bar right across the street and a distillery up the hill, you can turn a quick stop into a whole afternoon hanging out in the area.

Gift shop was clean and well managed, bathrooms were dirty though. Had lots of cool things and had…read moredelicious maple ice cream! Service was great!