As one guest noted, we are “centrally located for the middle of nowhere”. We are a 30-45 minute drive from amazing arts and cultural venues such as Tanglewood, MassMOCA and Jacob’s Pillow. Nearby outdoor recreation opportunities include hiking at Chapel Brook Falls, Tannery Creek Falls, and numerous state forests; cross-country skiing at Stumpsprouts and Notchview Reservation; downhill skiing at Berkshire East and Mount Snow; whitewater rafting and ziplining with Zoar Outdoors; and swimming and paddling at Plainfield Pond. Earthdance, an internationally renowned arts retreat center, is next door, hosting dance and somatics workshops year-round as well as occasional public performances. Historic Northampton is 35 minutes away, with shopping, restaurants, and the Smith College Botanical Gardens. And don’t forget Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield.

Our favorite nearby spots to grab a bite to eat are The Old Creamery in Cummington (7 minutes away) and Elmer’s in Ashfield (20 minutes away).

We are also very near the 1700+ acres of Mass Audubon’s West Mountain conservation area, with hiking trail access about 1 mile from the house. West Mountain, situated within the watershed of the federal Wild and Scenic-designated Westfield River, is part of one of the largest aggregations of conserved land in Massachusetts. The sanctuary provides valuable habitat for moose, black bears, otters, fishers, and bobcats as well as habitat for a number of state-listed rare plants and animals and nesting sites for threatened ground nesting birds.