Location: Shelburne Falls
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Shelburne Falls, United States
Shelburne Falls in United States, from Nouth America region, is best know for Bridges. Discover best things to do in Shelburne Falls with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Shelburne Falls
1. Bridge of Flowers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 490 reviews
Bring your camera when you visit this former trolley bridge, which is a flower garden ablaze with color.
Reviewed By Weekend_Roamer1 - Warrington, United Kingdom
Originally built in 1908 as a trolley bridge to cross the Deerfield River, this is a beautiful attempt at regeneration. I did read the plaque that explains who first converted it into a bridge of flowers but my memory cells are not at their full capacity!
We were there on a sunny day in October and the display was fantastic. I appreciate that the display will depend on the time of year you visit but even if all you get are the gnarled trees growing around the lamplight supports it is still nature at it's best.
Take the time to take photo's and walk it in both directions because you see something new that way.
2. Historic Deerfield
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 238 reviews
This New England museum of history and art is presented as a preserved 330-year-old western Massachusetts village, which features a collection of 18th- and 19th-century houses.
Reviewed By Ali921 - Edinburgh, Scotland
We came through with low expectations on a driving holiday but were totally impressed with what the local community has achieved. The "Main street" is beautiful. The restored houses were the most authentic we saw throughout our holiday in New England. The guides have tremendous knowledge and very happy to chat (or not) about the town or properties. Absolutely worth a visit if in the area.
3. Crab Apple Whitewater
Overall Ratings
5 based on 453 reviews
Reviewed By Autumn L - Frigate Bay, St. Kitts
Had an amazing time!!! Ashlee Brede was an amazing tour guide! I was so scared of going thinking I would get hurt but Ashlee reassured me and made me feel safe!! Will def do it again!! Great experience!Thanks for giving rafting a try ... and finding out that it is not death-defying. We have mild trips and wild trips but injuries are extremely rare on all levels. Glad you had a good time with Ashleigh.
4. Glacial Potholes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 182 reviews
Natural, water-created carvings in the rocks.
Reviewed By Weekend_Roamer1 - Warrington, United Kingdom
Nice traditional town in MA, USA and a short stroll down a side street you come to a purpose built promenade where you can view the glacial potholes. Interesting if you are into this sort of thing but will only hold that interest for a quarter of an hour or so.
They have held off the river so you can see the potholes and they then release the water across Salmon Falls and this is quite pretty but a restricted view.
Make sure you also visit the Bridge of Flowers because that is stunning.
5. Berkshire East Canopy Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 290 reviews
Berkshire East Canopy Tours (BECT) has 25 Zip Lines spanning 3 different Tours. Our 4.14 miles of Zip Lines that are constructed with a Passive Gravity Braking system. Each Tour features Dual Racing Zip Lines which allows two rider to Zip at the same time. The Valley Jump Tour has two of the Longest Zip Lines in North America- X1 is 2300' -- X2 is 2600' in length. Riders on these zips fly 187' above the valley floor. The BECT Guides are friendly, informative and trained/certified by the leading Zip Line Design and Building company in the nation, Experience Based Learning.
Reviewed By Sherri M - Plainville, Massachusetts
This zip lining tour should have been amazing. We had done zip lining before, and I knew that the lines on this tour were longer and faster. But as we were going through it, I kept thinking, this isn't as amazing as I expected, However, it wasn't until that night when my 14 year old son offered his assessment that I figured out why. Simple reason - I spent most of the time zipping backwards.
In our first zip experience (a direct competitor of Berkshire East), we were responsible for our own braking, which means we had our gloved hands on the zip wire at all times. I thought that East Berkshire was going to be an improvement, because you don't have to worry about braking. However, while friction from holding the wire can make your hand uncomfortably warm, the advantage this confers is that you actually maintain a forward facing direction simply by virtue of your hand on the zip wire. In contrast, at Berkshire East you don't have your hand on the wire, and, by design or necessity, the zip harness is actually free-spinnig with respect to the wire. The result of this is that if you don't have your legs super tight up against your body, the wind flowing past you will naturally orient you backwards; even if you start with your legs forward, the flowing air will automatically push them slightly to one side or the other, and then from there, the wind will push them all the way around.
After the first of 6 zips, the guides tried to explain how to change your orientation by applying pressure to a certain part of the harness to force it to turn. They made it seem easy, and of course, when you watch the guides, they always come in straight forward. However, there is a huge delay between when you apply pressure and when you turn, and conversely, a delay when you try to stop turning. Add to that the wind always wanting to push your legs backward (unless you can keep them really tight to your body), and if you are like me, you spend the entire length of the zip trying to go forward, but going backwards or spinning instead. And every time I tried to look in a certain direction to enjoy the view, the view would spin out of my sight. Although they emphasized your speed would be improved by tucking your legs, they never pointed out that tucking your legs could also improve your chances of going forward. And on top of all that, they are very explicit that you should not try to control your direction at all on the last two zips, the two longest and fastest, so what should have been amazing wasn't because I was primarily going backwards or spinning side to side, pushed by the air currents.
So that was why I found myself profoundly disappointed in the experience. Imagine riding in the front seat of a roller coaster, but sitting backwards. You can't see the scenery rushing at you, only the receding vision of where you have been. You can't feel the wind rushing in your face. And worse, by trying to steer to face forward, I ended up way more focused on steering than enjoying the ride. The last two zips were better than the middle three because at least I wasn't distracted trying to steer. I just wish I could have enjoyed them facing forward.
The company is clearly top notch. The guides were great, and the company has clearly invested a ton of money to make sure that their zip lining and mountain biking are not just like everyone else's, but are truly unique and amazing. If I could have faced forward, the time on the zips probably would have been some of the most memorable moments of my life - flying through the air like a bird, nothing but trees and sky around me, for what seemed like a minute or two at a time. But instead I came away very disappointed, and initially not sure why. I'm sure people who can do a better job at either tucking their legs or steering have a much better experience. But the experience of my younger son (14) and I was very disappointing.
6. Zoar Outdoor/Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 356 reviews
Since 1989, Zoar Outdoor has offered the best in New England white water rafting trips, zip line canopy tours, kayaking clinics, canoeing instruction, rock climbing classes and bike rentals for adventurers of all abilities, from beginners to experts. Based out of our convenient location in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, Zoar Outdoor river trips, canopy tours and instructional clinics are only 2 hours from Boston and New Haven and just 3 hours from Providence and New York City.
Reviewed By merideehope - Madrid, Spain
My mom and I were camping at Mohawk and saw Zoar Outdoor as we were driving to Charlemont to have breakfast. We went in to chat with some people about options and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. We decided to do the trip and...MoreI'm glad to hear you had a fun experience. The river this time of year is especially beautiful with the changing leaves and the autumn light. I will let Joanine know that you appreciated her help as well. Hope to see you again soon!
7. Gould's Sugar House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By Walter C - Boston, Massachusetts
This is a wonderful Sugar House with over 50 years of sugar-making experience.
Walk right inside the sugar house and watch them stoke the evaporator with over 3 cords of wood per day, and see the syrup come right out of the machine.
Stand within feet of the equipment and the workers, while the steam rises to the rafters and the condensation falls like rain around you.
Have a cone of maple ice cream, and then have a stack of pancakes and sausage in the restaurant -- but get there early and put your name in, and expect an hour wait!
8. Apex Orchards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By AnniE34203 - Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
On a day trip to view foliage on the Mohawk Trail, we took a short side trip off Rte. 2 to the Apex Orchards. When we arrived, we were blown away by the spectacular view. We later agreed that the view from Apex Orchards was so great that we did not need to travel the Mohawk Trail. Their gift shop sells local products. We bought Massachusetts maple syrup made in Conway, MA and honey made in Shelburne, MA. Of course, I comparison shopped at other gift shops along the way, and discovered Apex Orchards' prices were the lowest. The gift shop is small and sells quality products at reasonable prices. We also stopped at Yankee Candle and Pete's Fish Market. We suggest you enjoy the Deerfield, Greenfield, and Shelburne area as a day trip destination.
9. Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum has restored, and operates for the public a trolley car built in 1896 (one of the oldest operating trolleys in the country) for the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway. Your all-Day-Pass includes a trip back in time on the trolley (bring your imagination), a self-powered ride on our antique pump car and a chance to explore our Visitors Center, with pictures, toy trains and more.
Reviewed By Peter H - Royston, United Kingdom
Visited Shelburne Falls for the normal sights and discovered this lovely little museum.
Not much to see, but you can have fun riding on the trolley back and forth over the line and in particular have a go on the pump car, the kind of thing you see in old movies where people are chasing each other on railway tracks.
They also have a caboose you can board and learn about what they did in addition to old photos and plans.
10. High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By turtleprz - Chesapeake, Virginia
This was a great hike! You can either go quickly up the one mile wide path to the ledges and view or wind your way around the various trails in the area. The trails are all well marked and labeled, they go by wetlands, ledges, and through woods. It was slightly soggy, but had rained hard that morning. I enjoyed it immensely and will definitely be back!
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