Help me plan my Saturday drive in Mass.
March 31, 2017 3:44 PM Subscribe
I want to take my sick mom on an awesome Sat drive tomorrow.
It would include an awesome breakfast place and or lunch and maybe a swanky farm stand, an antique store, pretty scenery and or very pretty homes, and maybe a historic home. (my fav home to visit is Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House but it's a lot of standing for their one hour tour and she is very sick with cancer).
We are in central Mass. and I imagined north shore are or Concord or maybe pioneer valley.
While I know lots of cute towns and like to explore, I kind of wanted specific spots since my mom has never been exploring in a hit or miss kind of way.
It would include an awesome breakfast place and or lunch and maybe a swanky farm stand, an antique store, pretty scenery and or very pretty homes, and maybe a historic home. (my fav home to visit is Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House but it's a lot of standing for their one hour tour and she is very sick with cancer).
We are in central Mass. and I imagined north shore are or Concord or maybe pioneer valley.
While I know lots of cute towns and like to explore, I kind of wanted specific spots since my mom has never been exploring in a hit or miss kind of way.
Response by poster: Just going to pop in for a second. Yes, boo weather. I thought is was going to be a bit more down-graded by tomorrow. I don't mind snowy driving but my mom probably wont like it. We'll do a shorter drive to just breakfast.
While it may not happen tomorrow please participate if you have an idea for better days.
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:24 PM on March 31, 2017
While it may not happen tomorrow please participate if you have an idea for better days.
posted by ReluctantViking at 5:24 PM on March 31, 2017
The drive west on Rt 2 is beautiful, peaceful, and I wish I could tell you the name of the antique shop/cafe, or even what town it's in, as you approach Greenfield. But that's a drive I did when I was half delerious with fever. It was amazing, and ending in Northampton there is plenty to do, esp food-wise. Also the Peace Pagoda is out there somewhere.
posted by little_dog_laughing at 10:14 PM on March 31, 2017
posted by little_dog_laughing at 10:14 PM on March 31, 2017
Another idea for later would be the Healing Garden which is also near Fruitlands and in that same area. Some of this depends on how she's feeling and how she feels about the Cancer Support System but this is another place my mother really likes in that same general area.
Other suggestions for not-today would be
- The Acton Arboretum when the daffodils are out (not sure when call for details)
- Woods Hill Table is a good brunch on Concord, sometimes they have jazz so check it out before hand depending if you like jazz
- Cafe 641 in Hudson is a casual crepe place that I've always liked
- I agree that the drive out Route 2 is nice. There is the Quabbin which might be a hike depending where you are but there are some nifty historical things out there.
Other destination towns you might consider include Peabody (this farm opens in May), Lowell or Gloucester depending on where exactly you are.
posted by jessamyn at 8:16 AM on April 1, 2017
Other suggestions for not-today would be
- The Acton Arboretum when the daffodils are out (not sure when call for details)
- Woods Hill Table is a good brunch on Concord, sometimes they have jazz so check it out before hand depending if you like jazz
- Cafe 641 in Hudson is a casual crepe place that I've always liked
- I agree that the drive out Route 2 is nice. There is the Quabbin which might be a hike depending where you are but there are some nifty historical things out there.
Other destination towns you might consider include Peabody (this farm opens in May), Lowell or Gloucester depending on where exactly you are.
posted by jessamyn at 8:16 AM on April 1, 2017
Pioneer Valley/Western Mass suggestions:
Shelburne Falls: take route 2 as suggested by little dog laughing; it's a beautiful drive. You'll wind up in the charming village of Shelburne, full of artsy shops, home to the Bridge of Flowers and glacial potholes. For breakfast you could go to Gould's Maple Sugar House. For a lunch, try the West End Pub, or a casual sandwich, soup and coffee in the local coop, McCusker's Market.
Montague Bookmill: There's the bookmill itself, which is a rambling used bookstore in an old mill. For food, you can eat at the Lady Killigrew Cafe or at Alvah Stone. Also home to an art studio/galleries and a music store. Also reachable by scenic route 2.
Historic Deerfield: Many of the houses are self-led tours with guides on hand to answer questions. Champney's Restaurant is nice for sit down meals or there's a lunch truck or snacks & drinks at the gift shop.
If it's not too far afield, Hancock Shaker Village is absolutely beautiful--and will have baby animals soon. Many self-led tours, a nice restaurant, very peaceful to visit. For this and Historic Deerfield, check if your library carries the museum pass for free or discounted admission.
Northampton: Breakfast: The Green Bean or Jake's. Lunch: Local, Filo's Greek Taverna or Paul and Elizabeth's. Historic interest: Historic Northampton, Forbes Library, Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue, Lilly Library. Also home of Smith College. Check out Smith's Greenhouse & botanical gardens, Neilson Library (soon to be under construction), and Art Museum.
posted by carrioncomfort at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shelburne Falls: take route 2 as suggested by little dog laughing; it's a beautiful drive. You'll wind up in the charming village of Shelburne, full of artsy shops, home to the Bridge of Flowers and glacial potholes. For breakfast you could go to Gould's Maple Sugar House. For a lunch, try the West End Pub, or a casual sandwich, soup and coffee in the local coop, McCusker's Market.
Montague Bookmill: There's the bookmill itself, which is a rambling used bookstore in an old mill. For food, you can eat at the Lady Killigrew Cafe or at Alvah Stone. Also home to an art studio/galleries and a music store. Also reachable by scenic route 2.
Historic Deerfield: Many of the houses are self-led tours with guides on hand to answer questions. Champney's Restaurant is nice for sit down meals or there's a lunch truck or snacks & drinks at the gift shop.
If it's not too far afield, Hancock Shaker Village is absolutely beautiful--and will have baby animals soon. Many self-led tours, a nice restaurant, very peaceful to visit. For this and Historic Deerfield, check if your library carries the museum pass for free or discounted admission.
Northampton: Breakfast: The Green Bean or Jake's. Lunch: Local, Filo's Greek Taverna or Paul and Elizabeth's. Historic interest: Historic Northampton, Forbes Library, Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue, Lilly Library. Also home of Smith College. Check out Smith's Greenhouse & botanical gardens, Neilson Library (soon to be under construction), and Art Museum.
posted by carrioncomfort at 8:46 AM on April 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
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THAT SAID. It is going to snow tomorrow, current forecast said, so if you want to set yourself up for success you may want to either stay home or plan something close to home because they're forecasting several inches of snow. THAT said, the South Coast of MA is only getting rain so depending where you are you could head straight south and maybe drive around Providence, Newport RI or New Bedford MA. Might not be nice enough for a ferry trip (too rainy) but there are some cool stately houses there and even just driving around the Breakers is a nice thing to do
posted by jessamyn at 4:25 PM on March 31, 2017 [3 favorites]