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 Kathy Horowitz facilitates a monthly women’s writer’s group at the Life Center in Huntington. Her work has appeared in The Long Islander, Long Island Woman, Calyx, Blue Unicorn, and energyofnewlight.com. She recently self-published her first collection of poems available at Huntington’s Book Revue. Kathy offers freelance editing, writing, and proofreading (kahorowitz@gmail.com). |
| Now that the holidays have passed and the New Year begun, winter is time for travel and rejuvenation for body, mind, and spirit. Recently, my partner and I traveled to Greenfield, Massachusetts to a stately Bed and Breakfast called Poetry Ridge (www.rkotours.com), less than an hour away from the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst (a must-see!). He and I had been gearing up for the holidays—decorating, buying gifts, baking—but needed time to rejuvenate. Poetry Ridge is part of the Berkshires and Mohawk Mountains and is surrounded by the Connecticut River. Built in 1910 it is run by Errol and Mary, a mid-western couple, who greeted us warmly and showed us to our comfortable room replete with fireplace and private bath. There are 6 similar rooms (starting from $160 per night), all of which bear a poet’s name. Poems of Dickinson decorated our walls amidst an old sleigh bed. Windows opened out onto the fields below our second-story room. We could gaze at the stars and cozy up by the fireplace at night and explore by day. In the mornings, we enjoyed homemade breakfasts of scones, ham and egg frittatas, and Peach Melba. Our hosts joined us as we ate to tell us of the homes’ history and all nearby historic sites. The Poet’s Seat sandstone Tower, built in 1912, was often visited by local lesser-known poet Frederick Goddard Tuckerman. Just a brisk 20-minute walk through the woods to the tower and we had a bird’s-eye view of Greenfield. We took a 40-minute ride to the scenic Mohawk State Forest Trail in Charlemont. We hiked miles into 6,000-acre woods, along the Cold River, into open fields where hawks glided lazily on the wind. In our movement, we found relaxation, a time to reconnect with nature and unwind from the excitement of the holidays. We dined at two local restaurants recommended by our hosts: The People’s Pint (great homemade brews) and Hope & Olive (organic dishes). Both featured seasonal fare, reasonably priced. If time does not allow for that proverbial winter cruise to the Caribbean, I recommend a nearby Bed and Breakfast to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones, so that when you come back home, you’re ready for the next spate of holidays. And what better place to reconnect with a loved one than during Valentine’s Day! Happy Travels! |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 