This small marker is located opposite the Greenfield City Hall and points out the history of the…read moretown. There is street parking nearby. It reads, "Settled 1686 by Deerfield residents, incorporated 1753 & made county seat 1811. A major industrial & commercial center at crossroads of major North/South & East/West transportation routes. Home of first American cutlery factory & world's largest tap and die industry." The sign was donated by the Greenfield Kiwanis Club. The roads referenced are US-5 and SR-2. [Review 18429 overall - 1147 in Massachusetts - 1951 of 2022.]

The original monument was installed in 1887 and honors those from Brattleboro who fought in the…read moreCivil War. The monument is about 25 feet tall and pictures a Union soldier in cap and cloak leaning on an upturned rifle. And like another I have seen recently, the butt of the rifle extends beyond the edge of the monument. The statue and the plaque are copper and quite corroded. The plaque on the front reads: This Monument Commemorates The Loyalty and Patriotism Of the Men of Brattleboro, Who Fought for Liberty and the Union In the Great Rebellion of 1861 - 1865 Enlisted 385. Died in Service 31. Erected by a Grateful Town A.D. 1887. On the back, it lists the different battlefields where the Brattleboro soldiers engaged. On the west plaque, a Union Soldier and a Confederate soldier are shaking hands while a kneeling African-American is between them receiving emancipation papers. The monument includes an updated "context" plaque that was added in 2022 that seeks to include those who were initially excluded and add corrective recognition. Interesting that their Civil War Monument has a QR code. It takes you to https://www.brattleboro.org/index.asp?SEC=610715D0-45F2-412D-9162-D3AFE987DD7E&Type=B_BASIC. [Review 18441 overall - 41 in Vermont - 1963 of 2022.]

Beautiful grounds. In summer the trails take you through an old growth forest. In winter, every…read moreother year the home is decked out for Christmas and open for seasonal tours.

This former home of the poet/journalist William Cullen Bryant is a bit out of the way - it's in the…read moremiddle of nowhere actually and still operates as a farm. The house is in a bit of a shamble and could definitely use some TLC (the Trustees of Reservations, which own the property, seem to do better with outdoor landscapes). I had a moderately good tour of this interesting house. Those who enjoy architecture will be intrigued by the story of the home and its construction stages. I was more interested in the life and work of Bryant and the tour was moderately successful. I was most pleased, however, at the end of the tour when the guide noted she likes to make sure people leave the home knowing some of Bryant's poetry. So, she handed each of us a copy of one of his poems and read from it. This was a touching but important part of the experience - it was a poet's house, after all, so it's only appropriate we should be treated to poetry!

Just off Rt 9 in West Brattleboro VT, this is a quick stop to see an old covered bridge built in…read more1879. Ample parking next property in a church lot. No longer allows vehicular traffic, but foot traffic is allowed. And easy drive to the Chelsea Royal Diner right up the road. Stopped here w best friend Pots & Pans, who drove up from Astoria NY and met me in northern CT. All I kept hearing was he wished that his beloved wife, the breathtaking Maria, was with him cuz he wanted to rename it "The Kissing Bridge". Get a room!

The Creamery Covered Bridge is actually the driveway to a residence/Farm. It's right off Creamery…read moreRoad. You want to look for the signs for the Creamery Sugar House. The bridge is off the road a bit. Easily visible if you turn your head and look. Once you cross the bridge you are in the personal drive way of the farm owners. They happened to be sitting out in lawn chairs when we drove over. Which was a bit awkward. But we just asked if they had maple syrup for sale and they pleasantly directed us to the self serve bridge. So we turned around, drove back over the bridge and bought our obligatory maple syrup. The whole inside of the be was lined with historical signs, syrup and other things for sale. A pretty cool set up. The owners were really nice. We were obviously tourists. City folk. But the owners just took us in stride. Turns out the maple syrup is damn good. Better than any of that stuff you buy at Christmas Tree Shops.

The bridge is named for Eunice Williams and there's a story. On February 29, 1704, 300 warriors…read morefrom the French army along with members of the Abenaki and Mohawk tribes attacked Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 and taking 112 prisoner. Eunice Williams, her husband Reverend John Williams, and five of their seven children were among those captured. As a captive unable to make the journey back to Canada, she was killed here on March 1. The covered bridge was built in 1972 to replace the 100-year-old covered bridge that had been destroyed by a fire set by vandals three years before on Halloween night in 1969. It is a single lane bridge and my Sprinter van would not fit. I parked illegally nearby, walked the bridge. Locals say that the bridge is haunted. I was here during the late afternoon hours when it was still light. I stood quietly on the bridge and listened. No ghosts appeared. [Round number review 22700 overall - 1677 of 2024 - 1226 in Massachusetts]

This covered bridge was named for Eunice Williams, who was killed in the "Deerfield Massacre". She…read morewas wed to the Revered John Williams, who went down in history as the "Redeemed Captive". This was all gathered from the signage around the bridge, I imagine the story is very interesting if you look it up in scholarly books and websites. The bridge itself has room for one car at a time, so be patient and take turns. Observe stop signs. It seems perfectly sound to travel across. Unfortunately, no ghosts were observed on this trip.

This marker points out this historic home in Wilmington. It reads, "The Norton House. circa late…read more1700's, one of the oldest houses left in town, was originally built on Lisle Hill in the first town of Wilmington. It was moved to its present site by ox cart in the 1830's." In 1967, The Norton House opened as "A Quilter's Paradise" to sell fabrics and related quilting supplies, and items used for wool applique projects. The store also sells a bunch of jigsaw puzzles. There does not seem to be much more recent or historical information. This stretch of Wilmington is focused on the tourist trade. There is limited parking along the way. [Review 18449 overall - 49 in Vermont - 1971 of 2022.]

"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind…read morefrom wandering Where it will go" (Lennon and McCartney) 14,000 years in the making!! The Glacial Potholes in Shelburne Falls, MA have been around since the last Ice Age, which is wild to think about. As the glaciers melted and pulled back, fast moving water and swirling stones basically acted like nature's power tools to carve out around fifty smooth, round potholes in the rock. Now they just sit there staring at you, looking like something left behind by an ancient race of aliens. You can see them by walking along a platform that gives you a great view of the holes, pools of water, and a waterfall. What an awesome example of natural beauty.

Went here with my boyfriend!!…read more I'm from New Hampshire and can be picky about hikes (especially) but I was thoroughly impressed and we had a phenomenal time!!! The hike was lovely and the air as we climbed got a little cooler. Would recommend a jacket (even on a warmer day) and definitely some bug spray... We didn't bring any and were chased by bugs all the way down!

The French King Bridge is an interesting place to stop on The Mohawk Trail/Route 2/2A. There are…read moreparking areas at either end of the bridge. The bridge offers some nice views of the Connecticut River. This part of the river is heavily forested.

I love this bridge. When you're driving for hours along Rt 2, you can't really get a feel for the…read morebeautiful countryside you're in: you're surrounded by trees and hills. But then suddenly, you hit the French King bridge, and BAM: you can see for miles! It's gorgeous - not only for the view, but for the bridge itself, which was made back when aesthetics and function were more closely related to public works. Definitely stop and get out of your car and take a look. There are a few places to park your car on either side of the bridge.