Location: Charlemont
Top Things to do in Charlemont
- 1. Crab Apple Whitewater
- 2. Berkshire East Canopy Tours
- 3. Zoar Outdoor/Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours
- 4. Berkshire Whitewater
- 5. Berkshire East Ski Resort
- 6. Mohawk Trail State Forest
- 7. A.L. Avery & Son General Store
- 8. Bissell Covered Bridge
- 9. Hail to the Sunrise / Mohawk Park
- 10. Overwatch Outpost
Top Restaurants in Charlemont
The 10 Best Things to Do in Charlemont, United States
Charlemont is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,266 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Restaurants in Charlemont
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. Berkshire Whitewater
Overall Ratings
5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By YorkieMummy - York, UK
I was slightly wary of this with my occasionally nervous 7 year old but she decided to have a 'brave day' and she; me (47) and my 11 year old had a lovely day. We floated; swam; drifted; spilled; bumped and ricochet'd our way down the river. Great guide. Nice lunch. A good introduction to white water and we never felt unsafe but also had just the right amount of adrenaline for our little group.
5. Berkshire East Ski Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
Berkshire East Ski Area, part of Berkshire East Mountain Resort, features great skiing on 42 trails, 4 aerial lifts, 2 surface lifts and about 1000' of vertical. We have a high quality snowmaking system operated with folks who know how to use it. 3 Lodges, a Children's Center, Ski and Snowboard School, a well regarded racing program, which are all powered by onsite renewable energy. We also are home to: 1) Berkshire East Canopy Tours 2) Berkshire Whitewater 3) The Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster 4) Thunder Mountain Bike Park 5) The Crazy Horse Bar and Grill, additional restaurant and meeting space, fully optimized for mountain weddings.
Reviewed By Michael S - Clayton, Delaware, United States
This was my first time skiing at this resort.
They did a great job grooming the mountain and the staff was freindly. For a smaller size resort I was impressed with the food service, great coffee shop, bar , restraunt. The only down fall to this place was there was a lack of lockers in the lodge everything left on tables. I have skied all over New England and this place is worth the trip.
6. Mohawk Trail State Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
More than 6,000 scenic acres offer outdoor enthusiasts lodging in 62 campsites and overnight log cabins, plus a variety of activities including trout-fishing, hiking and picnicking.
Reviewed By Patrick C - Boston, Massachusetts
Beautiful campground in the forest, with sights overlooking the Cold River. Campground includes showers, bathrooms and dishwashing stations, without taking away from the forest feel. Sights include bear boxes for food. Local attractions include Deerfield River, whitewater rafting and tubing, Williamstown and North Adams are a short drive away, where several museums are located.
7. A.L. Avery & Son General Store
Overall Ratings
5 based on 23 reviews
A traditional New England General Store dating back to 1861 which sells everything from food to hardware to greeting cards.
Reviewed By Lisa P - Cumberland, Rhode Island
Wow, pretty rare to see a real general store these days, but this is the real McCoy! It has everything on shelves, hanging above you and in every little nook and cranny: hardware, school supplies, paints, canned foods, deli, fresh meats, and just about anything else you could ask for. Neat, clean, organized. With other stores so far away, this place fills a real niche in the area.
8. Bissell Covered Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Maurene_K - Dover, New Hampshire
This pretty covered bridge on North Heath Road is a very short detour off the Mohawk Trail. The bridge is 92 feet long and spans Mill Brook. It’s in a picturesque setting.
It was rebuilt in 1951 and has been kept in nice condition so it makes a good subject for photos.
During my visit, the water level was pretty much 100%, and the brook was flowing swiftly.
I spent about 20 minutes at this free attraction.
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9. Hail to the Sunrise / Mohawk Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 23 reviews
This small park, perfect for a picnic, is home to the "Hail to the Sunrise" statue, a tribute to the Native Americans who greeted the first settlers to the area.
Reviewed By 63impala - Boston
The park is a great idea. It is done very tastefully and is a great tribute to the Mohawk Indian. Its too bad that it is across the street from a trailer park. Parking is a little scarce but you can pull off onto the road next to it as the bridge is out so there is no traffic on that road.
10. Overwatch Outpost
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Overwatch Outpost offers world class guided fly fishing trips on the Deerfield and other local rivers. We offer fantastic rates on half day or full day guided trips. Wether you prefer a guided wading trip, or a Drift Boat Trip, we can put you on some of the best fishing in the area! You may use your own gear, or we can supply all Orvis equipment at no additional charge. In addition, we are a fully stocked Orvis Fly Shop. Overwatch Outpost also carries a wide range of hunting and fishing supplies, live bait, guns & ammo and gunsmithing on site!
Reviewed By Kenneth H - Worcester, Massachusetts
Charlie and his guides were outstanding! Great boat and equipment. Very knowledgeable guides with over 4 years of experience on the river. I caught a 20" Rainbow trout within 15 minutes and 50 feet of putting the boat into the Deerfield. A wonderful day.
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