The Blog

Crossing The Blossoming Bridge

by Daniel Hales

Do you have a favorite flower? A dozen favorite flowers? Want to be horticulturally promiscuous and meet dozens of gorgeous, sexy new flowers all at once? There is no better place for amorous encounters with wildly diverse flora than the Bridge of Flowers. No list of the Seven Wonders of Franklin County is complete without this blossoming bridge.

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Dreamscaping In Ashfield: Double Edge Theatre

by Daniel Hales

When you’re driving out Ashfield to pick your own blueberries, currants, gooseberries, and raspberries at Bug Hill Farm or apples, pears, and plums at Clark Brothers Orchards, you’ll discover that something you might need even more is grown in Ashfield: dreams. At world-renowned Double Edge Theatre, they plant, nurture, and harvest some of the wildest, most delicious dreams you’ll ever taste.

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Four Sweet Pick-Your-Own Apple Spots

by Lisa Davol

Looking to get out of the office and into the fresh air? Been meaning to do more physical activities and eat more fresh fruit? What about getting in some fun outdoor activities with the family before the cold weather hits? Picking your own apples is the perfect way to check these items off your list.

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Natural Beauty, History, and Industrial Chic: John McNamara and Erin MacLean

by Cori Urban

John D. McNamara has spent years hunting for treasure, and when asked what his favorite find has been, he smiles. It’s not an interesting industrial steel mold or a well-worn workbench or even drawings of silverware from the former Lunt Silversmiths.

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Birth of the Craft Cider Movement: Judith Maloney

by Ben Watson

When Judith Maloney arrived in Franklin County with her husband Terry back in 1972, they had no idea they were going to settle down here. The couple had been living in San Francisco, where Terry had just completed his medical training at the University of California, and Judith had gotten her teaching certification.

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Craft Beverage Tasting Room Sampler

by Lisa Davol

Nestled in the hills and along the rivers of Western Massachusetts you’ll find creative craft beverage producers offering small batch liquid art using the freshest local ingredients. Make an afternoon of drinking at the source.

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Maple: A Taste of Spring

by Lisa Davol

March is Maple Month in Massachusetts and Franklin County sugarhouses are yielding the first taste of spring as the maple sap begins to flow. Whether you kick off spring with breakfast at a sugarhouse or pick up fresh maple products including syrup, candy, spread, or other maple items, there are delicious options awaiting. And don't miss Mass Maple Weekend March 18th and 19th, 2023!

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Get Outdoors This Winter!

by Lisa Davol

With Franklin County’s rural landscape featuring more than 75 percent of its acreage in forest and open land, it is no surprise that winter recreation abounds. Whether your destination is a resort or multi-activity facility or a quiet pond, the most rural county in Massachusetts is sure to please.

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Creating a Life of Adventure: Bruce Lessels

by Cori Urban

Almost a dozen years ago Bruce D. Lessels traveled with his wife and two daughters to Chile — where 22 years earlier he had trained for the U.S. Whitewater Team. When he stepped off the bus in the same town, the first person he saw called to him by name.

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