Mohawk Trail

Excursion to Natural Bridge State Park

We drive about ten miles to return to Williamstown and then we will take the Mohawk Trail. This trail is actually the US2, built where an old Indian path used to run, allowing passage over the hills towards the west. A 63-mile road that takes us all the way to Greenfield. The scenery isn't as spectacular as on the other roads we have traveled before, especially considering that it is in a less mountainous area, but there are certain sections where the drive is definitely worth it. We start from Natural Bridge State Park, with a beautiful waterfall cascading down over smooth marble. Continuing on, I was particularly impressed by the bridge, this time discovered, of Shelburne Falls It's a pedestrian walkway surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden, perfectly blooming despite the season.

Turners Falls

Although it doesn't represent a major tourist destination, we were amazed by how much beauty can be achieved with so little, while still enjoying the unique scenery. The favorable weather, which highlights the cobalt color of the stream below, plays an important role in creating the overall picture. Along the trail, you will also find French-origin villages such as Charlemont or Savoy. In particular, we paid tribute to a monument dedicated to the past in Charlemont. Hail to the Sunrise, a statue representing a Mohawk in its gesture of greeting to the sun and at the same time paying homage to the Indian population decimated by colonization. Turners Falls It's worth a short stop along the Connecticut River at the dam and the attached staircase that allows salmon to swim upstream (which happens around May). In Greenfield, we say goodbye to the countryside and take Interstate 91 South, which is also lined with vibrant autumn colors. After a drive of 170 km, we arrive in New Haven, Connecticut. The town really doesn't have much to show besides its famous campus. Yale Looking closely, this doesn't show buildings that are worth the visit on their own; we find ourselves in the usual university town, made pleasant by its youthful atmosphere. Many places frequented by students, where one must pay a considerable sum to graduate; but this is the price paid for excellence. In some ways, it's not far from what we will see tomorrow at the even more famous Harvard. Instead of spending the day, we turn towards the east to head towards Highway 95 towards Newport, with an intermediate section on State Route where we can better admire the landscape. The highway runs inland in parallel to the coast in a coastal region that has always attracted the elite of American cities. Therefore, there is a concentration of enormous villas here, which are even more luxurious if you consider that they were used for only a few weeks per year, but during the golden age of US capitalism, they represented a status symbol. The great-grandchildren of Rockefeller and Vanderbilt today choose more exotic destinations to spend their free time, while their ancestors who lived in the 1800s had much better means of transport and having a seaside resort at hand was a major advantage. In fact, Long Island is right across from New Haven, while New York is only a few tens of kilometers away. So, arriving here... Newport as the sun sets, we rush down a path called Cliff Walk, on the left side of which there is a steep cliff overlooking the sea and on the right side are the large villas that have now been transformed into museums or accommodation. While the sunset offers stunning views of already enchanting corners, we cover the entire 6 km stretch and return in the darkness. All that remains is to retrieve the car that was left alone in the parking lot facing the beach and drive a few miles inland in search of dinner and overnight stay. The first will be a real treat: at the hotel reception, they recommend a hidden restaurant where we can eat some… excellent fish. In reality, it's a fish market with an attached restaurant. You order at the entrance by looking at a menu accompanied by illustrative photos that scroll on a digital TV screen, you go to sit down and after a few minutes the fun begins, first for the eyes and then for the palate! We share a large lobster and then indulge in a mixed fried seafood dish of epic proportions (the Atlantic salmon will be lighter). I stick to the rule that food should be eaten, so I'll spend a night full of dreamy emotions. The experience is still positive, although it's better not to repeat it every week.