The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) encourages you to pursue even more adventure during the 26th annual Walktober, now in mid-stride with close to 70 offerings in the National Heritage Corridor this week. With more free time available for many due to the Columbus Day holiday, you can squeeze in some extra Walktobers.

Hikers looking for big mileage will want to lace up for the Breakneck Pond Loop Hike (listing #80) and Hike it Up with Thompson Trails & TLGV at West Thompson Lake. 

Enjoy one of the many Walktober choices in Southbridge, this year featuring 10 Years to Pluto & Mars Adventure (listing #91), a tour of the historic downtown (listing #101), view the treasures at the American Optical Museum (listing #112), release your wild child at Opacum Land Trust’s Thompson Family Forever Wild Preserve hike (listing #122), celebrate the jubilee year with historic Notre Dame Church during a tour (listing #125), and let the Gravestone Girls bring you on a tour around Oak Ridge Cemetery (listing #133.)

Animals are calling you this week! Alpacas are friendly and Walktober listings #98 & #132 let you meet our fibrous friends. Turkeys gobble (listing #99), birds tweet (listing #110), buffalo roam (listing #113), cows make cheese (listing #115), and the mighty Friesians gallop (listing #128).

Other highlights this week include tantalizing views, Air Line Trail walks, First Fridays, Irish Wakes, festivals galore, firefighting museums, woodland hikes, forestry, history, de Chastellux, floods, land trust preserves, leaf hunts, paranormal investigations, dark skies & telescopes, cemeteries, dam tours, fire house tours, cider pressing, mills, reservoirs, General Putnam, social ferment, firearm factories, lifting fish, Lebanon Crank, and a special Heins Farm Photowalk where you can learn to create stunning fall landscape images (listing #129).

Get a Walktober brochure at:  www.thelastgreenvalley.org; or pick one up at any town hall, library or information kiosk within the region.