Mohawk Trail vs. Molly Stark Trail-help please!
Oct 1st, 2015, 10:39 AM
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Mohawk Trail vs. Molly Stark Trail-help please!
Hello all,
Husband and I are flying in to the Hartford, CT airport mid-morning on Oct. 15th on our way to see our daughter who is in college in Troy, NY. We decided to take a little side trip and hopefully catch some fall color and different sights but can not decide which route. My first idea after reading some was to take the Mohawk Trail west from Greenfield up to Bennington and eventually on to Troy the next day. However, a friend suggested we drive up to Brattleboro, stay there for the night, and then take the Molly Stark Trail west to Bennington the following day and, of course, on to Troy.
Just wondering if anyone who has made these drives has an opinion on which has the most scenic views along the way and on which one we would be most likely to see fall color in mid-October. Also, any suggestions on fun/interesting places to stop, good photo ops, food joints, etc. would be much appreciated. Oh, and if someone has a different route suggestion from the airport and ending in Troy the next day, we are completely open to a new idea. We're just looking for a leisurely drive to experience a different part of the country(and hopefully come home with some beautiful pics and new memories).
Thanks in advance for any help!
Husband and I are flying in to the Hartford, CT airport mid-morning on Oct. 15th on our way to see our daughter who is in college in Troy, NY. We decided to take a little side trip and hopefully catch some fall color and different sights but can not decide which route. My first idea after reading some was to take the Mohawk Trail west from Greenfield up to Bennington and eventually on to Troy the next day. However, a friend suggested we drive up to Brattleboro, stay there for the night, and then take the Molly Stark Trail west to Bennington the following day and, of course, on to Troy.
Just wondering if anyone who has made these drives has an opinion on which has the most scenic views along the way and on which one we would be most likely to see fall color in mid-October. Also, any suggestions on fun/interesting places to stop, good photo ops, food joints, etc. would be much appreciated. Oh, and if someone has a different route suggestion from the airport and ending in Troy the next day, we are completely open to a new idea. We're just looking for a leisurely drive to experience a different part of the country(and hopefully come home with some beautiful pics and new memories).
Thanks in advance for any help!
Oct 1st, 2015, 12:42 PM
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I have traveled both of these routes* and would recommend taking the Mohawk Trail westbound to Troy and the Molly Stark Trail eastbound. I think you have potential for nice color in both directions, but the views are better in the directions I suggest.
Try to leave time to visit a bit in the towns along the way, even an hour. They are very different, even Bennington and Brattleboro. If you have more time and like history, I strongly recommend Deerfield Village as well. If you only have time for three Williamstown, Bennington, and Brattleboro are my choices, with North
Dams and MASSMOCA an alternative.
*In fact I have never driven from Williamstown to Troy by that route, and it has been a long time since I drove the Troy-Bennington route, but I have driven the MA portions and the VT portions fairly recently.
Try to leave time to visit a bit in the towns along the way, even an hour. They are very different, even Bennington and Brattleboro. If you have more time and like history, I strongly recommend Deerfield Village as well. If you only have time for three Williamstown, Bennington, and Brattleboro are my choices, with North
Dams and MASSMOCA an alternative.
*In fact I have never driven from Williamstown to Troy by that route, and it has been a long time since I drove the Troy-Bennington route, but I have driven the MA portions and the VT portions fairly recently.
Oct 1st, 2015, 01:16 PM
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I agree that you chances of color are good on both routes, and the entire area in general. The fall color change in the area hasn't really started yet beyond the very early roadside sumacs.
Driving (or hiking) up Mt. Greylock is another good option for getting a great fall color view in 360 degrees.
Another option for a stopover is Great Barrington area. Since you are looking for a Thu night 10/15 hotel you should not have too much difficulty. It will be harder on Fri/Sat in the Berkshires.
Did you consider flying into Albany? It's 15min from the airport to Troy/RPI/Sage area.
Driving (or hiking) up Mt. Greylock is another good option for getting a great fall color view in 360 degrees.
Another option for a stopover is Great Barrington area. Since you are looking for a Thu night 10/15 hotel you should not have too much difficulty. It will be harder on Fri/Sat in the Berkshires.
Did you consider flying into Albany? It's 15min from the airport to Troy/RPI/Sage area.
Oct 1st, 2015, 06:31 PM
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Hi and thanks for your opinions! Wish we had more time, of course. So much to see and experience! We are getting excited now that it sounds like we may catch some color this year.
J62, this is our 4th autumn visit to see our daughter at RPI(she is a senior this year)and we do usually fly in & out of Albany. This year, we happened on a great airfare to the Hartford airport and decided to add an extra day to make this short "side trip" just for us thinking it will likely be our last chance to see a new area of the country. We have enjoyed checking out New York state and Vermont these past three years and will miss having a reason to venture north in the Fall. Too bad our daughter is going to grad school closer to home at Georgia Tech!
Again, I thank you all for taking time to answer!
J62, this is our 4th autumn visit to see our daughter at RPI(she is a senior this year)and we do usually fly in & out of Albany. This year, we happened on a great airfare to the Hartford airport and decided to add an extra day to make this short "side trip" just for us thinking it will likely be our last chance to see a new area of the country. We have enjoyed checking out New York state and Vermont these past three years and will miss having a reason to venture north in the Fall. Too bad our daughter is going to grad school closer to home at Georgia Tech!
Again, I thank you all for taking time to answer!
