Hilltown Families 
Two Bike Tours of Holyoke Mills & Canals and Mansions
Bike Tours of Holyoke Mills & Canals and Mansions: June 1st & 8th
Teens & adults can take to the streets via bike and join Wistariahurst Museum for two historical bicycle tours around Holyoke. Tours will be led by historian Craig Della Penna who will share his insights of historical buildings, landmarks along Holyoke’s streets.
The Wistariahurst Museum is holding two bicycle tours around the city of Holyoke, one exploring the city’s mills and canals, and the other exploring the mansions of the Fairfield Avenue Historic District. Teens and their parents can spend quality time together while learning local history and developing a greater sense of place by becoming better acquainted with the history and current landscape of this first planned industrial community in the U.S.
The first ride, taking place from 11am-12:30pm on Saturday, June 1st, leads cyclists along the many mills and canals of Holyoke. Local historian Craig Della Penna will be there to teach you about the history of these waterways, as well as the historic buildings built along them. The ride begins and ends at Holyoke Heritage State Park (221 Appleton Street).
The second ride is on Saturday, June 8th from 11am-12:30pm. Cyclists will ride around the Holyoke Highlands and Fairfield Avenue Historic District while learning about the architecture of the area’s Victorian mansions, as well as the architects, builders, and families connected to them. This tour begins at Kennedy Park (Waldo Street) and ends at Jones Park (Oxford Road).
Both rides are for teens and older. Each tour will begin with a review of basic bicycle safety. Please come prepared with your own helmets, water, bicycle and enthusiasm for history. Rain date for June 1st Mill Tour is June 2nd. rain date for June 8th Mansion Tour is June 9th – both at 11am. Registration is required ($). For more information, visit The Wistariahurst Museum online.
If bike riding isn’t your interest (or you have younger children) but you still want to discover the history of Holyoke, check out The Holyoke History Walk: A Virtual Tour of the City.
[Photo credit: (ccl) Bart Heird]
Have you heard of MASS Transit, MASS MoCA’s bike rental program? At only $3/hour, families can bike around and explore North Adams until closing time of the museum. More info here: http://blog.massmoca.org/2011/08/11/mass-transit-moca-bike-rental