Day Trip to Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

On a recent visit to a town called Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, we stopped at the local market in town. The signs read that they carry local fresh produce and here is the proof. The store was overflowing with organic fruits and vegetables, all bright colors of the summer season.

Our next stop was a quick walk across the street to the Bridge of Flowers. The local community takes care of this walking bridge that is lined on either side with every variety of flower you can imagine. It is the only one of its kind in the world. Built in 1908 as a trolley bridge across the Deerfield River and abandoned as such ins 1928. Antoinette and Walter Burnham transformed the structure into a flower bridge in 1929 and is still maintained to this day by the Bridge of Flowers Committee. It is free and open to the public from early spring through late fall.

Over 500 varieties of annuals and perennials are planted and tended to by volunteers to ensure continuous blooming throughout the seasons. The yearly operating budget is $1,000 and they are always looking for donations. To find out more about the Bridge of Flowers and how you can donate visit www.bridgeofflowersmass.org

After we had our fill of the beautiful flowers views of the River we continued our walk through the quaint town of Shelburne Falls. There are so many fine restaurants available, shops to visit, and even a theater.

We landed at Cafe Martin. The staff was most pleasant and the atmosphere very relaxing as we ate our early dinner. We opted for lighter fare having LoMein and salad with water and lime for our drink. You can read more about Cafe Martin and view their menu at www.cafemartinsf.com

Cafe Martin
24 Bridge Street
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
(413) 625-2795

On our way out of town towards home we spotted a quilt shop (A Notion To Quilt) and stopped to check out their fabric. As a long time quilter I love looking at new fabric patterns. On this trip I purchased a square ruler to help me cut long strips of fabric but project I am working on. I found out that they have an annual Quilt Shop Sock Hop in October where you can get a passport for $5.00 and visit a list of shops throughout Massachusetts all in one day. During this special event you go from one shop to another, eating treats, winning prizes, and checking out the special sales. The event happens October 15 – 17 and you can find out more about that by visiting www.massshoptoit.com

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Shelburne Falls and plan to go back in the Fall during peak leaf season. During that time we will check out the Mohawk Trail, Haygar Farm Market, and Goulds Sugar for pancakes.

Shelburne Falls Vacations