This was our second year to visit Riiska Brook Orchard. The drive was very lovely. Easy parking…read more The orchards are lined with tree after tree weighed down with beautiful apples of many varieties. The apple picking visitors were were having such fun. The atmosphere was very relaxing. The staff was extremely helpful. We left the orchard with wonderful apples and enticing donuts. We look forward to next year and our visit to Riiska Brook Orchard,

Great experience today -- went apple picking w/ the wife & our poodle (yes, dogs are allowed). We…read moreall enjoyed our time at Riiska Brook Orchard. Place was not crowded at all, and there were a variety of apples to pick from. We appreciated that the rows of apple trees were labeled, you don't often find that at other orchards. Scenic views also (and the ride to the orchard was very scenic too). Staff was super-friendly, and the apple cider is the BOMB (we took a sip before departing and realized how awesome it was, so I ran back in to purchase another 1/2 gallon). Also, we picked up two butternut squash for only a dollar a piece -- a savings of at least $5, and it tasted way better than what you get in a supermarket, We will definitely be back again !

The Blandford Fair is a true small town country fair, held each year on the three days of Labor Day…read moreweekend. It's been a part of my childhood, my youth, and my adult life, and I hope it will be for many years to come. In the interests of full disclosure, although I don't work for the Fair, I have plenty of relatives who volunteer there. In fact, I've been told that it's really a family reunion cleverly disguised as a country fair... That's not quite accurate, but I must confess that I'd just closed the car door today when one of my aunts called my name. Blandford is a small town (in population), and it's a nice compact fairground. The two short midways offer an assortment of games and foodstuffs, with relatively little overlap between vendors, but plenty of variety. Fresh lemonade is here; burgers are here; fries are here. In addition to the long-time fair staples of fried dough and soft-serve ice cream, other cuisines have appeared in recent years. The fair's own kitchens produce some amazing meals as well. I tend to favor the booths of the local organizations - the Legion, the Boys Scouts, the Fire Department - but certainly other vendors get my business each year as well. The horse show is a favorite, as well as the pulling contests for teams of horses, oxen, or ponies. Go on the right day and you'll see tractor pulls, and even a demolition derby. In the exhibit halls, local farmers and gardeners still submit their best produce for judging, while the photography contest has grown each year in contestants and in quality. There are cows and chickens to see, pony rides, and craft vendors. The midway rides will make you wish you hadn't eaten quite so much, but you'll be ready to eat again when the scent of frying wafts past. Today I spent quite a bit of time enjoying the fiddle contest, which included some amazing musicians. Set atop a mountain ridge in western Massachusetts, it's a beautiful spot for a relaxing day. Check it out.

gorgeous setting, wonderful small town new england fair…read more great place to visit over the labor day weekend.

"Come a little bit closer Hear what I have to say…read moreBecause I'm still in love with you On this harvest moon" (Neil Young) Want to experience a quintessential small town New England Fair? Well, you sure won't go wrong checking out the Granville Harvest Fair. It's open three days on the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, from October 12-14, 2024. The fair is spread across multiple locations and there is a shuttle bus connecting the various lots and locations. You'll see hundreds of vendors selling crafts, food, woodworking, clothing, art, books, and more. Alcoholic drinks are well represented, with locally brewed beer from Skyline Beer Company, wine and "slush wines" from Hardwick Vineyard and Winery in Orange, and Mead and Honey Wine from Granville's own Daggers Meadery. Ever have a hankering for maple flavored cotton candy? Well, you can scratch that itch here. Ever want to take a tour of a 160-year-old drum factory? Granville has one. Want to check out a quilt display? Gotcha covered here. Want to hear a pretty good four-piece rock band belt out a very respectable live cover of Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good?" Yup, it's on their playlist. Want to spend a beautiful time in an old school New England town full of friendly people and gorgeous scenery? Well, by now you know where you can.

"But now when I'm lonesome, I always pretend That I'm…read moregetting the feel of hickory wind" (The Byrds) Sweet Wind Farms has been operated by the Case family going back into the 1940's. From June to October, they sell naturally grown (no chemicals or fertilizers) fruits - strawberries, blueberries, Raspberries, apples, rhubarb, and melons. During the summer, you can buy cut flowers, bouquets, and garden plants or even attend a class or workshop. Some of the flowers they sell are cosmos, zinnias, dahlias, and sunflowers Year-round maple products are their specialty - pure maple syrup made on-site, maple sugar candy, granulated sugar, maple cream, maple jelly, and maple lollipops. Their sugarhouse was built in 2005, and the first bottles of syrup were made in 2006. We visited yesterday, because yesterday was the second Saturday in March, and that meant for the 19th time it was time for their Annual Maple Festival. Admission was free, and let me tell ya, the Sugar House was packed. We saw how pure maple syrup was made, sampled some maple syrup and maple cream, checked out their big selection of maple products, and enjoyed their warm hospitality and some live music. They were selling pancakes, sausages and (of course) fresh maple syrup, and I peeked into their open kitchen and saw a young lady diligently cooking sixteen perfect pancakes on their grill. The Maple Festival is a fantastic look at a New England tradition! Mark your calendars for next year, but feel free to visit anytime and take home a bottle or jug of pure sweet maple goodness.

The man who was working was very kind. We bought some maple candies and blueberries. They have a…read moregreat selection of plants and berries. It was a very good experience.

This weekend, I enjoyed a free lunch in a Connecticut castle. You can too. Did you know, Norfolk,…read moreCT has a European Style castle built in the early 1900's? Since 2020, it's been home to the CT Asia Cultural Center. About one weekend a month, the Center and its exhibits are open to the public and free of charge. Many of the exhibits focus on religions such as Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The Center has an impressive collection of art, teachings and traditional clothing. Following our tour guided by volunteers who had traveled from around the US, we attended a short program, and they offered a complimentary vegetarian lunch including sushi, a spring roll and dumplings. The rain dampened some activities planned around land-bound dragon boats, but the effort put into the day was impressive. The Center is very cool, and the people who volunteer there were very nice and helpful. 4.5 Stars

This is a working farm for gatherings that's rooted in listening to each other and the teachings of…read morethe earth. It's an amazing venue that honors everyone equally where Black, Indigenous, people of color, and queer lives and voices are centered.

You haven't eaten peaches until you shop at Nestrovich. Juicy and plump doesn't do justice to the…read moreambrosia that flows from these amazing fruits! Nectarine season may be short but it too is sweet. It is a highlight of summer and worth a 30 minute drive. The seconds make terrific preserves, which carry the flavors into the colder months.

I grew up on Fall days spent sneaking into Nestrovich Farms from the outlying woods and climbing…read moretheir trees for hours on end. A friend of mine lived close enough to the edges of this farm for us to enter undetected and spend the early evenings in the branches. Every fall I still go back to buy my favorite Macoun apples by the bagful for friends, family and myself. I make a day of it and stop off at the Granville Store (the only store in the town I grew up in) and grabbing a block or two of their famous cheddar cheese. This farm has been in business for well over 30 years and is run by less than 25 people, all of whom are family aside from their small pool of hired workers. Old man Nestrovich still runs the cash register and greets you with the occasional smile and the never forgotten thank you. A true American farm, there aren't any frills or hayrides or petting zoos.. just bins of beautiful apples and gallons of wonderful cider tucked into their makeshift shop at the back of their barn. Do yourself a favor and climb up one of the hills in the back of the farm to grab a snapshot or two of the beautiful Berkshire foothills. Nestrovich Farms means home to me, and I bet if you check it out.. it will feel like home to you too.

This winery was one of the highlights of our visit to the Berkshires. It's located in a beautiful…read morespace with a small outdoor patio and an elegant tasting room. We purchased a bottle of their Berkshire red blend (Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet) to enjoy with our own cheese and crackers, and it was great. The outdoor space is relaxing and tranquil since it's a relatively small winery. I also did a small tasting ($1) of their pumpkin wine, because, pumpkin and wine. It is a light white wine with pumpkin spice notes. Immediately bought two bottles. While we were enjoying our wine and cheese the owner, Wayne, came out to greet us and he was so friendly and kind. The winery is a family business and the name is inspired by three women whose names begin with the letter "M". Can't wait to stop back here on our next visit to the area.

One again a wonderful afternoon at Les Trois Emme. Mayjane and Wayne are amazing hosts! We were…read moredelighted to pair Stingy Jacks with Maryjanes delicious homemade soup. Enjoyed pur table wothbthe beautiful putdoor view. Already looking forward to our next visit!