Eat At A Historic Tavern and Hike To A Gorgeous Waterfall When You Stay At This Massachusetts Inn
By Kim Falchek|Published March 06, 2024
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Kim Falchek
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Kim Falchek has been exploring the towns, trails, and hidden gems of Massachusetts since her college days in Boston. When not writing, Kim enjoys photography, going on road trips, and spending time at the beach. Kim has previously been a contributing writer for LA Family Travel, Global Munchkins, and Latched Mama. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts where she and her family embrace all things Halloween!
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One of my favorite things about living in Massachusetts is that I can easily travel to many diverse areas within a few hour’s drive. For my most recent birthday, I decided to pass on the big gifts and celebrate the occasion by taking a fall road trip with my family. The scenic Berkshire region of the state is one of my favorite places to visit and this is where we headed. Because the area is filled with so many wonderful quaint towns, it was difficult to decide where to stay. We ended up booking a night in Sheffield, a rural town nestled in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts. Our destination here was the rustic Race Brook Lodge.
Our trip started with a delicious lunch and a bit of exploring in the nearby town of Stockbridge, and then we headed over to the Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield. As we pulled up to the property, I immediately fell in love with the place.
The rustic inn lies beneath Mount Race. The property is surrounded by tall trees and a babbling brook. It is a popular spot for romantic getaways, wellness retreats, and weddings.
Accommodations include rooms in the main Coach House, cottages, and a four-bedroom villa that sleeps up to 15 people. We opted to book one of the cottages. It was simple yet cozy and provided enough room for our family of four.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
The inn also has some pretty cool amenities! There is an outdoor pool, lawn games, and an indoor area with books, a kitchen, and kid's play equipment.
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For my celebratory birthday dinner, I booked a private room at the lodge’s on-site restaurant, The Stagecoach Taven. The restaurant has dining room seating, an outside courtyard area, and four private rooms within the tavern. These rooms can be reserved for an additional cost, however, this fee is waived for overnight Race Brook Lodge guests.
As we approached the 18th-century tavern, we were greeted with a warm fire outside. Another burned brightly from inside, giving the restaurant a warm and cozy feel. The wood beams and wide-planked floors reminded us of just how historic the property was.
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Our server led us to the "Rose Room" and sat us around an antique table. The room was dimly lit with candles and music played softly from a private stereo system. We perused the menu which included selections such as duck confit, bronzino, and tavern burgers. I decided on the tagine (butternut squash meal) and a glass of cabernet and then sat back to enjoy the warm surroundings.
Everything that we ordered was absolutely delicious. Before we left, we spent some time talking with our waitress about area attractions. She highly recommended taking the Race Brook Falls
waterfalls hike, which could easily be accessed from the lodge’s property.
Photo by G. Falchek
The next morning we dined on some complimentary tea and homemade muffins and headed out to see the waterfalls. Although it was a crisp 29 degrees, the sun was shining and we kept warm by ascending the mountain. The hike was moderately challenging and a little slippery with fallen leaves, but we kept trekking.
As the magnificent waterfall came into view, we knew that every step of our cold-weather adventure had been worth the walk! The falls were simply breathtaking! We just sat and marveled at their beauty and made sure to take a bunch of photos. The hike continued further on, however because we more stops to make, we decided to head back down the mountain.
When we got back to the inn, we spent a little more time exploring the property before heading out to explore Sheffield’s infamous UFO park.
Photo by Kimberly Falchek
As we made our departure, we were already talking about returning again!
Have you taken a trip to the Race Brook Lodge? If so, what did you enjoy most about your trip? More information about this hidden gem can be found on the Race Brook Lodge website and the Race Brook Lodge Facebook page. For the latest news about The Stagecoach Tavern, please refer to their Facebook page. To prepare for a hassle-free road trip, check out the expert tips on the OIYS Ultimate Road Trip Packing List.
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