Posts Tagged ‘Petersham’
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Being an Inn located in Petersham has advantages and disadvantages. We are an attractive destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts but often times potential visitors think there will not be enough to do in Central Massachusetts. The result is that innkeepers become travel guides.
In “our spare time” we research and visit interesting places to send our guests. Often our guests help out by telling us about places, which we then go visit.
That was the case with Magic Wings, a Butterfly Museum located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. A lovely, elderly couple from Connecticut told us about Magic Wings, so the next time our nieces and nephews came to visit we went.
It truly is a magical place. The old Candlelight Restaurant owned by Francis Redmond was converted into an 8000 square feet conservatory (new construction), gift shop, and food court (located in the old restaurant).
You enter through an air lock to protect the butterflies. You are not allowed to touch them, but if you are lucky, they will land on you!
As with Old Sturbridge Village, this is a great place for people of all ages — and if you plan to go, be sure to allow enough time — you need at least a half a day! And don’t forget to take your camera–they do allow you to take photographs inside the conservatory.
And again, Magic Wings is only about 35 minutes from the Inn at Clamber Hill!
Tags: butterflies, butterfly, Central Massachusetts, Inn at Clamber Hill, Magic Wings, museum, nature, Old Sturbridge Village, ouotdoor enthusiast, Petersham, South Deerfield
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Monday, January 18th, 2010
Central Massachusetts has a fresh covering of snow this morning making it a perfect day to go cross country skiing.
The book “Skiing the Pioneer Valley” provides a list of great places for cross-country skiing. This includes 8 Cross Country Ski Centers –Brookfield Orchards Touring Center (508-867-6858), Bucksteep Manor (1-800-645-BUCK), Canterbury Farm (413-626-0100), Hickory Hill (413-238-5813), Maple Corner Farm (413-357-6697), Notchview Reservation (413-684-0148), Stump Sprouts (413-339-4265) and Northfield Mountain (413-659-3714).
All of these have trails groomed or ungroomed, some have lodges and ski rentals, most charge a small fee.
Of these eight, the only one I am familiar with is Northfield Mountain which I can heartily recommend! There are 26 miles of wide groomed trails. The terrain varies from meadows to sloping hills to a climb to the beautiful reservoir at the summit. And the Northfield Mountain Visitor Center doubles as a ski lodge.
Or for those that have their own skis and don’t care about groomed trails –Harvard Forest in Petersham also has miles and miles of trails–which the Petersham residents enjoy! Some of these great trails start right at our Inn, Clamber Hill. We have even had guests ski up to spend the night (although they had their luggage dropped off)
No matter which type of skiing you prefer–get out there in time to enjoy the fresh snow!
Tags: Brookfield Orchards Touring Center, Bucksteep Manor, Canterbury Farm, Cross Country Skiing, groomed trails, Harvard Forest, Hickory Hill, Inn at Clamber Hill, MA, Maple Corner, Northfield Mountain, Notchview Reservation, Petersham, Stump Sprouts, Visitor Center
Posted in In the North Quabbin area, Recommended | No Comments »
Monday, January 4th, 2010
Winter is a great time for hiking — or if the snow gets too deep–for snow shoeing. This last week I was lucky enough to squeeze in two wonderful hikes, Bear’s Den in New Salem and Doane’s Falls in Royalston. I have visited both these places often but never seen them as pretty as they are right now this winter.
A Winter Wonderland at Doane's Falls in Royalston, MA.
Both of these waterfalls are on Trustees of Reservations properties and easily accessible. The Trustees have a collection of wonderful properties all across Massachusetts to help both residents and visitors enjoy the Massachusetts landscape.
January is a great time to come out and enjoy a little winter wonderland right here in Central Massachusetts. Nothing is more refreshing than spending a day outside and then coming in to sit by the fire and enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail.
If you decide to hike either Bear’s Den or Doane’s falls this winter, The Inn at Clamber Hill offers Romantic Winter Weekend Packages from November through April.
Tags: Athol, Bear's Den, Central Massachusetts, Doane's Falls, Inn at Clamber Hill, New Salem, Petersham, royalston, trustees of reservation, tully lake
Posted in In the North Quabbin area | No Comments »
Friday, December 11th, 2009
If you’re looking for a quiet weekend to escape all the hustle and bustle of a commercial Christmas, try heading out to the North Quabbin Area for a quiet weekend. There are lots of parks with great snowshoeing trails.
The Inn at Clamber Hill has it’s own trails right out the back door and into Harvard Forest, but there are also trails at the Quabbin Reservoir, Dunn Pond State Park in Gardner, the James W. Brooks Woodland Preserve and the Women’s Federated State Forest in Petersham, and Lake Dennison State Park in Winchendon has miles and miles and miles of trails.
And if you don’t own snow shoes but would like to rent or purchase them, contact either Jim Jackson at Rocky Ridge Outfitters or Paul Anderson at Trailhead Inc. Both gentlemen are more than willing to help you.
So no excuses, come enjoy the great outdoors this winter!
Clamber Hill guests taking a hike in Harvard Forest December 7,2009
Tags: Central Massachusetts, Dunn Pond State Park, Gardner, Harvard Forest, James W. Brooks Woodland Preserve, Lake Dennison State Park, north quabbin, Petersham, Quabbin Reservoir, snow shoeing, Winchendon, winter, winter sports, Women's Federated State Forest
Posted in In the North Quabbin area | No Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Petersham, a small town in the center of Massachusetts, celebrates Christmas in a big way. The town celebrates with music and festivities, a gentle way to ease yourself into the holiday spirit. Coming up this weekend on Sunday December 6th are three wonderful events.
The Annual Members Show at the Petersham Craft Center, located at 8 North St, hosts a reception from 3 to 5 pm with refreshments and a chance to meet the various artists that exhibit there.
The Inn at Clamber Hill at 111 North Main St will also hold it’s annual Holiday Open House this Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. Live music by Mike Tinus and Rebecca Barca-Tinus, refreshments and tours of the Inn.
And you can top off the day with the Annual Petersham Brass Band Holiday Concert at the Petersham Town Hall at 6 pm.
All three of these events are free and everyone is welcome. So come to Petersham, MA and make a day of starting your holiday season on the “right note”!
Tags: clamber hill, holiday music, Holiday Open House, MA, Mike Tinus, music, Petersham, Petersham Brass Band, Petersham Craft Center, Petersham Town Hall, Rebecca Barca, Rebecca Barca-Tinus
Posted in In the North Quabbin area, Recommended | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Petersham is a small town of less than 1300 people and Hardwick out neighbor to the south is similar. But, Hardwick has an exciting new Culture Center at Eagle Hill School that is filling it’s 463 seat theater with The Gilbertville Players, an amateur production of Beauty and the Beast and getting rave reviews doing it. This Broadway classic includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, and some new songs by Alan Menken and Tim Rice. This wonderful show transports you to the heart of a small French town where Maurice becomes lost in the woods. Seeking shelter in an old castle, he dicovers that the master of the castle is actually a horrible beast and of course he is taken captive. Maruice’s lovely daughter, Belle, must give up her freedom to save her father’s life. Belle’s taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome prince has enchanted viewers of this stage production over 13 years and viewers of Walt Disney’s version for even longer. This tale is a family classic with spectacular music, costumes and sets–it’s the Gilbertville Players and the new Eagle Hill Culteral Center theater at its best. Tickets may be purchased online at www.centerateaglehill.org and if you need a place to stay to your theater experience into a lovely weekend Clamber Hill in nearby Petersham welcomes you.
Tags: Abbey Theater, Beauty and the Beast, clamber hill, clamberhill, Eagle Hill Cultural Center, Eagle Hill School, Gilbertville Players, Hardwick, Petersham
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Sunday, October 26th, 2008
This past weekend, Eagle Hill once again hosted a parents weekend, but this one was really special. It was the grand opening of The Cultural Center at Eagle Hill in the brand new Abby Theater. A Gala with Jane Monheit is scheduled for Saturday November 1st. There is a reception at 7 pm and the performance starts at 8 pm. Black tie is optional. Tickets are $30. This is one event you don’t want to miss –check out their website.
Tags: Hardwick, MA, Petersham, The Cultural Center at Eagle Hill
Posted in In the North Quabbin area | No Comments »
