There is no denying that Western Massachusetts is a beautiful place, especially so during the fall foliage season.  Autumn happens to be my favorite season and I love to take advantage of the cooler, yet still lovely weather to spend time outdoors.

Over the past month I have taken the opportunity to visit three special places in Western Massachusetts that I want to share with you:  Skinner Park in Hadley, Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield and Noble View in Russell.

The first excursion was to Skinner Park in Hadley, MA over Columbus Day weekend.  My boyfriend, Morriss Partee and I brought our kids there for a hike and to enjoy the colors of the foliage from this lovely vantage point.  From the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website: “Skinner State Park embraces the slopes and summit of Mount Holyoke, the westernmost peak on the Mount Holyoke Range. At just under 1,000 feet, the summit gives a panoramic view of the valley below and highlands beyond, including New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock to the north, Mount Greylock to the west, and Connecticut’s East Rock to the south. Visitors can see the cities of Northampton, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts.  Hartford, Connecticut, is visible on clear days.”

It was a clear day when we were there and we saw all of the above emblazoned with bold splashes of red, orange and yellow.  We all thoroughly enjoyed touring the Summit House building, which in the 1800s, was a top tourist hotel.  Today, the restored structure is a visitors’ center. You can drive all the way to the summit, but we opted to drive halfway and hike the remainder.  Ambitious visitors can park at the bottom and hike the entire way.  The views from this vantage are fantastic all year round.

My next excursion was to Noble View in Russell, MA. This lovely place is not so well known, but well worth the drive from any other point. Run by the Appalachian Mountain Club, there is 358.5 acres of land including hiking trails, a camp house and a fantastic view of the Pioneer Valley.  Morriss and I opted for the Pitcher Brook Trail, which took us for a lovely one hour plus meander through the woods.  Along the way there were beautiful settings, punctuated by some waterfalls.

We hope to return here often and would love to take an opportunity to bring the kids here to stay at one of the various overnight accomodations.  You can opt to stay in the camp house, to camp out in a tent or to stay in the circa 1831 Farmhouse on the grounds.

The most recent outing was to Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield, MA.  With a fantastic view of the Connecticut River and the valley surrounding it, Mount Sugarloaf is a must do for the outdoor fan.  It is possible to drive to the top of this mountain, but Morriss and I and the kids opted to hike the whole thing.  The hike isn’t a difficult one, only steep in a few places and even my five year old made it to the summit on her own steam.  There is an observation building, pavilion and plenty of room for picnics with one of the best views in the area.

All of these locations are wonderful destinations for most of the year.  If you live in the Western Massachusetts area and enjoy being outdoors then be sure to add these to your list of places to go!