New England Vacations

In 1892, Lizzie Borden gave her step-mom 40 whacks, and when she saw what she had done, she gave her dad 41 - or so the nursery rhyme goes. Did she really? No one living knows for sure. She was aquitted of the murders and continued to live in Fall River until 1927 when she died of pneumonia at a different house than the one where the murders took place.

The Borden house, now an inn, is said to be haunted. Clairvoyant Rebecca Shott Muller writes about her experience staying at the Borden Inn in 2007 on her website. She reports communicating with a male spirit in the cellar, feeling the presence of the maid, as well as sensing Abby Borden’s black cat (Abby was Lizzie’s step-mom). So is the place really haunted? Book a room at the bed-and-breakfast and find out for yourself (evil laughter here).

Tags: fall river, haunted inn, lizzie borden

What could be more fitting for a beautiful fall weekend in New England than some good old-fashioned corn husking, barn dancing and cider pressing?

This week’s highlighted New England event is at Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, Vermont. Harvest Weekend, Oct. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will also include butter and ice cream making and harvesting garden vegetables.

Billings Farm is a working dairy farm in an attractive small New England town with a robust shopping district and attractions that include the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion and a covered bridge that leads into town. Nearby is Quechee, Vermont, and Quechee Gorge - also popular visitor attractions.

If you head to Quechee, look for Simon Pearce glass maker. The retail shop includes an area for demonstrations in glass-blowing. You’ll also find a restaurant there that overlooks the Quechee Gorge.

Tags: billings farm, harvest weekend, Vermont, woodstock

The food at a Berkshires restaurant that I sampled this week was very good, but the view was amazing. Along Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail), the road suddenly reverses itself in a hairpin turn in North Adams. Right before the turn there is a popular roadside spot for viewing the mountains. The Golden Eagle restaurant is located at the turn, and diners who are lucky enough to secure a window seat have stunning views of the mountains. There is an outside deck with tables, although when I was there, the wind was too strong.

So how was the food? I was there for lunch and was impressed. I ordered a crock of clam chowder, which had an interesting hint of nutmeg flavor, followed by the roast beef special - freshly cooked meat with a flavorful sauce spread out over toast points. The placemat said the restaurant was famous for its black diamond steak, and I would come back to try it some day. The mat also warned reservations are recommended. Sounds like good advice given the view, especially during fall foliage season.

This amazing scene was captured in the parking lot of the Golden Eagle Restaurant on the North Adams/Clarksburg line.

Tags: Fall Foliage, north adams, restaurant, view