After my last special trip with Andrew, his brother was ready for his turn. I wanted Harry to see the beauty of Western Massachusetts in the Fall, so we head to Deerfield.
This historic town was settled near the Connecticut River in the 17th century during the colonial era. It is also the site of the 18th century Raid on Deerfield where French and Native American forces attacked the frontier settlement. They burned down most of the town, killed 50 people and took over 100 people captive back to Canada with them. The entire village is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.
As you turn down the main street in Deerfield, it is like being transported back in time. Everything seems unspoiled and so authentically New England. The wide tree-lined streets look like they are straight from a movie set. Hollywood has taken notice, filming Little Women here in 1994.
We checked into the Deerfield Inn, which was originally built in 1884 and has 24 guestrooms. We came in on a chilly day and were greeted by a friendly inn keeper and a roaring fire. I loved the little office under the staircase.
There were cookies and tea set out in the afternoon and Harry loved working on the giant jigsaw puzzle.
Each room is decorated with period antiques and no two are the same. The inn is rumored to be haunted, but luckily we didn’t have any extra guests in our room.
The hard part for families staying here is that fire code only allows them to have 3 people in a room at the most. It is still a great place for a couples getaway or a special kids trip like we did.
We were so excited to be there, we dropped our bags in the room and went out to walk the Old Main Street. The inn is the perfect location for exploring Historic Deerfield.
The visitor center is right across the street from the Deerfield Inn, so we could get our map and tickets very easily. While anyone can come to Historic Deerfield to walk around the town, you do have to pay admission to go on a tour of a house or attend one of their workshops. The admission is well worth it. Harry learned how to write with a quill, use a loom and we watched a man making wooden furniture.
When we returned, we headed straight to Champney’s Restaurant and Tavern for dinner which is conveniently located on the ground floor of the inn. We cuddled into a cozy corner and enjoyed a great meal. Don’t miss the truffle fries!
They even had an extensive children’s menu. A large mahogany bar was the centerpiece of the tavern which was then surrounded by comfy booths. It is the perfect place to gather with friends and family.
The following morning, we had a hearty breakfast which is included for inn guests. Most hotels offer a small continental breakfast if it is free, but Harry had french toast with fresh strawberries and I had eggs with home fries. The portions were huge!
We spent the day wandering the historic Main Street once again. There are so any houses to visit but my favorite part was just walking around the village and down the Channing Blake Footpath. Deerfield is home to a prestigious private school and the campus is unbelievable. To download a copy of the town map, click here.
The Deerfield Inn is just the perfect place for a relaxing getaway that is also filled with history. Travel back in time and stroll through a village that is seemingly untouched. You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy this quintessential New England town and the Deerfield Inn will only add to your experience. To book your stay, click here.
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