New England USA Mini Road Trip 2020 - Day 5 - Massachussetts #fiveexplore #newenglandroadtripusa2020

DAY 5: Tuesday 13th October 2020

Day 5 of our New England road trip was a washout and probably the least favourite day for our children (as we spent most of it in the car) but it uncovers a surprising story of wizarding legacy. The rain was relentless throughout the day and as we travelled south into Massachusetts, we observed that the mountainous surroundings were engulfed in a dreary fog.

Thinking that there wasn’t much to blog about, we didn’t do an original post on Day 5 but looking back over my photos I was inspired. We had planned to visit several places (-prior to the bad weather) and rather than find indoor alternatives, Roy and I decided we would all do the very British thing and brave the elements.

I’m going to begin with our second stop, Mount Greylock, as this is what compels me to write this post. I have always been a fan of the Harry Potter books and am currently rereading them with the children. Whilst researching our trip, I had discovered that Mount Greylock is the site, named by J.K. Rowling, on which the American school of Witchcraft and Wizardry stands. This intriguing fact, coupled with the fact that Mount Greylock is highly recommended for its beautiful fall foliage, meant that it was definitely worth a visit, even in the rain.

The drive leading up Mount Greylock to the summit (at an elevation of 3491’) was a sight to behold. The leaves in the forest had turned an intense yellow and they almost glowed in contrast to the grey, wet road and the dark, towering tree trunks.

As we peered from our open car windows into the forest, we felt a sense of mystery, which was heightened as we drove up higher and the fog embarked upon us.

At the top, the temperature was cold at only 6 degrees. We had come from 25 degrees in Boston only two days earlier, so this was a shock to the system. After putting on our raincoats, we fought against the driving rain to climb the stairs from the car park to the grey, fog engulfed monument at the very top.

As I stood there, I imagined that I was standing on the site of the magical school, hidden from Muggle eyes. We couldn’t see the view through the mist and the cold wind took my breath away. Mount Greylock was indeed grey and the view had been locked away by the mist, along with the hidden school of magic.

The great North American school of magic was founded in the seventeenth century. It stands at the highest peak of Mount Greylock, where it is concealed from non-magic gaze by a variety of powerful enchantments, which sometimes manifest in a wreath of misty cloud.

(https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/ilvermorny)

I could not remember whether Mount Greylock was mentioned in one of the original Harry Potter books so I decided to find out more. To my delight, I discovered that there is an entire short story surrounding Mount Greylock and a pioneering, determined witch named Isolt. You can read the story ‘Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ on Pottermore for free and I highly recommend that you do, regardless of whether you are planning a trip to Mount Greylock or not.

The story combines magic and adventure with local American colonial history and it refers to Hogwarts and some famous wizarding names. It is a compelling tale of strong beliefs, bravery, loss, dreams, discovery, new friendships, new beginnings, love, loyalty and legacy. All of this and some intriguing magical creatures, such as the Pukwudgies (which seem kind of like Gringotts goblins combined with house elves). J.K. Rowling also introduces four new school houses, each with their own characteristics. Which Ilvermorny school house would you belong to? According to an online quiz, I would be in Pukwudgie! Since the story is set in the 1600s, it precedes all of the original Harry Potter books and you can read it as a stand-alone story in less than an hour. It actually reminded me of a dark fairytale and I can’t wait to tell it to our children, although maybe not our four-year-old!

As a ‘tick in the box’ kind of person, I was thrilled to add Mount Greylock to my list of Harry Potter locations that we have been to, including Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the Warner Bro’s Studio Tour. Mount Greylock didn’t have the obvious attractions associated with these other experiences but it was cool to visit the place where fictional history is said to have happened!

Our other stop of the day is worth a mention, as another beautiful place to view the fall scenery in Massachusetts. Shelburne Falls contains the Bridge of Flowers, which crosses over the Deerfield River to connect Shelburne and Buckland. The bridge was unfortunately closed due to Covid-19 but we were able to peep through the gate. The attraction is a beautifully maintained floral pathway surrounded by water and juxtaposed by the backdrop of the autumnal tree lined mountains.

Apparently, it is also worth seeing the falls and exploring the artsy shops and eateries in Shelburne Falls. Due to the rain, and the fact that we had promised the kids a McDonalds, we chose not to hang about but would love to have seen more of this quaint, little town.

Shelburne falls is also the beginning of a stunning drive along Route 2, where we saw the best fall colours of the entire five-day trip. We headed in the direction of Mount Greylock and my car window photography skills were put to the test as I tried to capture the amazing coloured foliage whilst Roy drove us through the rain.

Although we were only touring New England for five days, we felt that we really got a taste of what this beautiful region has to offer in fall. We are now eagerly awaiting Halloween to see the fantastic front yard displays that are already popping up in our neighborhood!

In addition to this blog, you can check out our Instagram feed for more photos and short posts documenting our travels and family adventures @fiveexplore