I’ve always been and likely always will be a “beachy girl.” The ocean – any ocean! – is one of my favorite places to be in the Summertime, with many weekends of my life spent up at Rye and Hampton Beach in New Hampshire, Old Orchard Beach and Ogunquit in Maine, and both Laguna Beach and Ocean Beach whenever I find myself visiting California. I love swimming, catching waves, exploring coastal communities – and especially watching the sunsets over the water! It’s heavenly!
But that’s not to say that I avoid other bodies of water when the temperatures are soaring. I’ve been known to swim in rivers, or splash around in some of the local streams – but one of my favorite places to visit this time of year for a quick cool-off and spectacular views is Ashfield Lake in Ashfield, Massachusetts.
Ashfield has been a backdrop for plenty of posts on ‘Coffee & Chiffon‘ in the past, like when Dan and I grabbed some incredible pizza there back in 2021, or when I posed for photoshoots when I was still a blonde and repping local surf companies. I’ve even taken some of my previous Summertime skin/hair care photos there! It’s a small, quiet community with little to no cell reception – making it the ideal place for a true “day away” where you can unplug from the world and just relax.
Troy first brought me to Ashfield Lake in the Summer of 2018, well before I’d moved to the Pioneer Valley, to show me the area since I’d never been before and to go for a swim at sunset. I instantly fell in love with it, and have made sure to stop by at least a couple of times throughout the Summer and the Fall each year ever since. The place is never too packed, always clean, and somehow the water is always the perfect and most refreshing temperature.
There used to be a restaurant right on the water, too, the Ashfield Lake House, that was very popular amongst the locals but closed during the pandemic. However, it was announced just days ago that it would be reopening soon under new management – and I cannot wait to visit and try out their new menu when they do!
Troy and I recently visited the lake again on the last night of his most recent stay so we could watch the sunset before he had to pack up and get ready to head back to Orange County. and it was as magical and as peaceful as ever.
I’m looking forward to heading back for a long overdue swim once I’m done healing from my recent wisdom tooth extraction – and may even invest in a kayak for the occasion!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 