Have you ever been on a road trip or a vacation exploring the local area with a rental car? You are in that relaxed, carefree, leisurely adventurous state of mind. Driving around with a companion, listening to music and hoping to stumble upon a quaint town to explore and stop for lunch. You are looking for a town center like Shelburne Falls, MA, located off the Mohawk Trail aka Route 2. Shelburne Falls is the little gem you come across and fall in love with. The downtown is small, it looks like a town out of a tv show or a movie. As you drive down Bridge street, you pass buildings on either side of the relatively narrow street. The buildings house various necessities like the bank, market, pharmacy, bookstore, art galleries, coffee shop, diner and restaurants, to name a few. There is also a real estate office, because of course people are going to drive into this town and consider moving to the area!
Shelburne Falls has a special place in my heart and like many special things, people and places it’s the feeling you get when you are with them; the energy here fills my heart. There are two bridges crossing the Deerfield River, a spectacular river for fly-fishing too, all year round. One bridge is for vehicles and the other a foot bridge called The Bridge of Flowers, that you will just have to see for yourself.
The community vibe is alive which sometimes gets lost in the way we live these days, but community is important. A community connects people to each other through casual hellos, talks about the weather, goodbyes, waves and smiles, to more in-depth conversations as you frequent the same places and get to know each other better. We always talk about family and friends, but what about our community members who we may not call friends, but they are people we see often and over time and with repetition become part of our day and life. These connections can offer a sense of belonging and comfort, somewhere between strangers and friends. I found just that this year, and it was a pleasant surprise, one I hadn’t experienced before and now value and enjoy very much.
Baked is one of my favorite brunch spots, tucked on Deerfield Avenue right off Bridge Street. Sometimes there are wildflowers in vases on the tables, the staff seems like family to each other, the food is great, mimosas too. Once again, it is more about the feeling I get when there than anything else. I’ve made the acquaintance of the proprietor in the last several months, and she told me a story about a couple wanting her to make their wedding cake, she doesn’t really do many of those types of orders but they were persistent and she agreed. A few months later I came along and asked her to make my birthday cake, knowing very well that she doesn’t really do that often. Well, she agreed, and made me the most amazing chocolate cake with white frosting I’ve ever had and beautifully decorated with a finishing touch of edible gold dust. It wasn’t just about the birthday cake; it was that one of my community members agreed to make a cake for me. I wanted her to make it because I like her and selfishly wanted to feel special on my birthday.
Meanwhile across the bridge overlooking the Deerfield River dam, you will find a building that houses The Blue Rock Restaurant and Bar and Salmon Falls Gallery. The waiting area of the restaurant is a gallery, there are various works of art on the wall, and on that blustery winter evening I spotted a print of a painting of birds and slices of cake. I love cake, I like birds, and the colors were bright, I had to have it, and I got it the next week. The dinner at The Blue Rock was excellent, the place was bustling with people enjoying each other over great food and drink.
As a real estate professional my job goes beyond helping people buy and sell properties, it’s also about learning and being part of the local community and connecting with people within that community. I like people, I like learning about what they do, who they are, where they’ve been, and where they’re going. The next time you are looking for a mini road trip or to visit a local town that makes you feel like you are miles and miles from home, take the ride to Shelburne Falls, you won’t be disappointed.
Baked – 4 Deerfield Avenue, Shelburne Falls, MA
The Blue Rock Restaurant and Bar – 1 Ashfield Street, Shelburne Falls, MA
Salmon Falls Gallery – 1 Ashfield Street, Shelburne Falls, MA
The Bridge of Flowers – Shelburne Falls, MA (closed for repairs until 2025)