What turns a rail-trail stop into an overnight stay? At Highland Lake Inn, Pecco Beaufays says cyclists generate 25% of revenue.

Craig Della Penna hosts Roads Less Travelled to explore how trails connect communities and local businesses. As the first U.S. REALTOR to specialize in homes near rail trails and the author of five books on greenway development, Craig brings a rail trail real estate perspective to Pecco’s experience serving Northern Rail Trail visitors.

Learn how bike tourism shapes guest services, premium hospitality, and the daily demands of running an inn along New England rail trails.

🎙️ Host / Guest

Host: Craig Della Penna — Realtor and rail-trail advocate.

Guest: Pecco Beaufays owns Highland Lake Inn and Andover Barn in East Andover, New Hampshire. His hospitality career began with a cooking apprenticeship at Hotel Sacher in Vienna and later included work with Kempinski in North and South America.

💡 What You’ll Learn

Assess bike tourism’s business potential: Pecco says cyclists generate 25% of Highland Lake Inn’s revenue.

Make one-way cycling trips easier with trailhead transport and access to guests’ cars.

Support premium rates with quality bedding, breakfast ingredients, and personal service.

Prepare for guest emergencies through Pecco’s account of four EMS calls in two days.

Build trail awareness through collaboration with New Hampshire’s tourism office.

Decide whether running a B&B fits your life and willingness to care for guests.

❓ Key Questions Answered

Q: How does bike tourism differ from resort tourism?

A: Craig Della Penna describes bicycle touring as journey tourism, with visitors traveling along a route. Resort tourism centers on one destination.

Q: How does Highland Lake Inn handle e-bike charging?

A: Pecco describes an outdoor charging area away from the building, following local fire department advice, and discussing battery condition with guests.

Buying an inn or investing near a trail? Follow Roads Less Travelled on Spotify for more conversations about trail-connected communities.

🎧 Considering a trailside property? Follow Roads Less Travelled for the conversations behind the purchase.

⏱️ Chapters

(00:00) - Intro

(01:39) - From Luxury Hotels to Highland Lake Inn

(06:20) - Alex Bernhard and the Northern Rail Trail

(13:05) - What Cyclists Need From an Inn

(18:52) - Bike Tourism and Local Economies

(23:14) - Guest Services and E-Bike Charging

(27:49) - Before You Buy a Bed and Breakfast

(30:56) - Premium Rates and Personal Service

(34:22) - Four EMS Calls in Two Days

(36:06) - Cyclists and 25% of Inn Revenue

(37:54) - Working With Tourism Partners

(40:27) - Addressing Rail-Trail Opposition

(43:21) - What Makes Innkeeping Rewarding

(48:36) - Closing Remarks

💼 Connect with Pecco Beaufays:

🌐 Website → https://www.highlandlakeinn.com/

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/nyt-bb-story-1

🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/craig.dellapenna/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

📌 Don't Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

#RoadsLessTravelled #CraigDellaPenna #RailTrailRealEstate #NorthamptonRealtor #PioneerValley #BikeTrailHomes #GreenwaySolutions #NewEnglandRealEstate #RailTrails #SugarMapleInn

What if the people who used to feel like strangers could become the family you choose? Craig Della Penna talks with Alex Jarrett (Petal People Cooperative) and Daniel Trenner (a 17-year intentional co-living household) about cooperative business, shared living, and the insurance and policy challenges still standing in the way.

🎧 Hosted by: Craig Della Penna

👤 Guest:

🏡 Alex Jarrett - Co-Founder, Petal People Cooperative

Alex Jarrett co-founded Petal People Cooperative (founded 2002), hauling trash and recycling by bicycle in Northampton, MA every day since 2007, and serves as President of the Northampton City Council.

🏡 Daniel Trenner - Professional Dancer & Co-Liv

Daniel Trenner is a professional dancer who converted his Florence, MA home into an intentional, intergenerational household that has hosted more than 100 residents over 17 years.

ing Pioneer💡 What You'll Learn:

✔️ How Petal People hauls trash and recycling entirely by bicycle

✔️ Why Daniel converted a five-bedroom house into a nine-bedroom intentional household

✔️ Cooperative living vs. co-housing vs. co-living, explained

✔️ Why insurance and lending are still unsolved problems for co-living

✔️ How group living reshaped the pandemic experience for both guests

🎧 Listen now for a fresh, practical look at alternative ways to live and build community.

💼 Connect with Alex Jarrett:

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/pedalpeople (company)

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/pedal_people_coop/ (company)

💼 Connect with Daniel Trenner:

🔗 Website → https://www.alexjarrett.com/campaign/

🏢 Company → https://www.pedalpeople.coop/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/DanielTrennerTango/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/trennerstangoarchive/

🔗 Website → https://danieltrenner.com/

🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/craig.dellapenna/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

#CoLiving #Cooperative #Sustainability #RealEstate #Northampton #IntentionalCommunity #RoadsLessTraveled

Marianne Borowski joins Craig Della Penna on Roads Less Travelled to discuss the creation and expansion of the 83-mile Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. Learn how historic rail corridors, multi-use collaborations, and local business partnerships are transforming rural tourism.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Roads Less Travelled now.

🎙 What you'll learn:

• The layout and geography of the 83-mile Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail.

• How combining rail trails with dirt back roads creates multi-day cycling journeys.

• The importance of community collaboration with local chambers and businesses.

• Managing multi-use trails alongside snowmobiles, ATVs, and walkers.

• Technical insights on trail surfacing, crushed stone mixes, and maintenance.

• Why cycle tourism drives sustainable economic growth in small mountain towns.

🎧 HOSTED BY: Craig Della Penna

👤 GUEST: Marianne Borowski – Trail Developer & Outdoor Recreation Advocate

Marianne Borowski is the President and Founder of the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail and Vice President of the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition. A former protein biochemist during the early years of biotech, she shifted careers after moving to Mt. Washington Valley in 2003, becoming a cross-country ski instructor, later director of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation ski school, and now a member of its Board of Directors. Today, she focuses on restoring, maintaining, and connecting rail trails across New Hampshire. An avid cyclist, Marianne has also biked across the U.S.

👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MARIANNE BOROWSKI

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/crossnewhampshire

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/crossnewhampshire

👉🏻 CONNECT WITH CRAIG DELLA PENNA – ROADS LESS TRAVELLED

• Website: https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

• Website: https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

• Website: https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

Host Craig Della Penna welcomes conservationist and organic farmer Kristen Sykes to discuss the vital connections between local agriculture, trail infrastructure, and community well-being in Massachusetts.

🎙 What you'll learn:

• How local trail networks and organic farms support community health and active transportation.

• The reality of managing an 8.5-acre organic farm on protected floodplain land.

• Why pedestrian infrastructure is essential for aging populations and car-free commuters.

• The intersection of local farm markets and small business support.

• How historical right-of-way conversions transformed travel routes in Massachusetts.

• The mental and physical health benefits of everyday access to nature.

🎧 HOSTED BY: Craig Della Penna

👤 GUEST: Kristen Sykes – Conservationist, organic farmer, and advocate for sustainable land use and active mobility.

Kristen Sykes is a conservationist, organic farmer, and advocate for biking and pedestrian infrastructure. She has been actively involved in advancing sustainable land use, active transportation, and community-based environmental initiatives. Through her work in conservation and agriculture, Kristen promotes healthier ecosystems and resilient local communities, while championing safe, accessible mobility options for all.

💼 Connect with Steven Hawk:🌐 Website → https://www.facebook.com/kristen.sykes2/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/super.syked

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-m-sykes/

🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below!

How one resident transformed a muddy path into an accessible community lifeline.

Steven Hawk joins Craig to explore the powerful impact of ADA-compliant rail trails in small towns like Ware, Massachusetts. Steven shares how he advocated for safer access points, leading to rapid infrastructure improvements that benefit everyone from wheelchair users to local dog walkers. This episode covers practical strategies for communicating with town officials, the economic potential of accessible outdoor spaces, and the future of integrating local history into community paths.

🎧 Hosted by: Craig

🎤 Featuring: Steven Hawk

Steven Hawk is a resident of Ware, Massachusetts, and an active user of the local Rail Trail. As a wheelchair user, Steven relies on the trail several times a week for transportation, grocery shopping, visiting family and friends, and enjoying time outdoors. His experience highlights the importance of accessible community spaces that support independence, connection, and mobility for people of all abilities.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔ Transforming personal physical limitations into community-wide accessibility improvements

✔ Educating local officials on the real-world impact of ADA compliance

✔ Building productive relationships with town managers to fix safety hazards

✔ Utilizing the third place concept to revitalize small-town economies

✔ Securing fast infrastructure updates by speaking directly to land developers

✔ Implementing QR codes to share local history and community wayfinding resources

✔ Encouraging outdoor exploration and independence for residents of all abilities

💼 Connect with Steven Hawk:🌐 Email → stevenhawk813@yahoo.com

🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

#RailTrail #Accessibility #ADACompliance #CommunityDevelopment #OutdoorRecreation #InclusiveDesign #SmallTowns #WheelchairAccess

Explore how Western Massachusetts is balancing modern transit shifts, trail safety, and community engagement with former eMarketer analyst David.

Joined by host Craig, David shares insights from his transition to Northampton, discussing everything from e-bike regulations on local trails to creative solutions for vacant downtown landmarks.

🎧 Hosted by: Craig

🎤 Featuring: David

David is a retired communications professional, former chief marketing officer, and community volunteer in Western Massachusetts with a background in digital media trends and local advocacy.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• ✔️ The impact of class-three e-bikes on traditional walking and biking trails

• ✔️ The history of regional rail corridors and future trail expansions

• ✔️ Policy tools to revitalize vacant community spaces like the Calvin Theater

• ✔️ The importance of screen-free environments for building local connection

• ✔️ Unique grassroots sustainability projects like pedal-powered waste management

📇 Connect with David:

🌐 David’s journey → https://sl1nk.com/olxzwuh

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallerman/

📇 Connect with Craig:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

📘 Facebook →

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

🚀 In this episode, host Craig Della Pena sits down with Tara Brewster, VP of Business Development at Greenfield Savings Bank, to explore the power of community banking, social entrepreneurship, and kindness in local development. Tara shares her journey from entrepreneur to banker, her passion for giving back, and her vision for Western Massachusetts’ future. From partnerships between nonprofits and businesses, to the impact of kindness and collaboration, this episode shines a light on building stronger communities together.

🎧 Hosted by: Craig Della Pena

👤 Guest:Tara Brewster – VP of Business Development, Greenfield Savings Bank & Community Leader

Tara Brewster is the Vice President of Business Development and Director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank, where she leverages her entrepreneurial experience and strong community ties to foster partnerships and philanthropic initiatives across Western Massachusetts. A respected community leader, she’s been honored as a BusinessWest 40 Under Forty alum and recognized as a Difference Maker in 2022 for her tireless work raising funds and awareness for area nonprofits. In addition, she was recently appointed as a trustee for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, reinforcing her influence in helping drive equity and opportunity in the region.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ The difference between community mutual banks and “too big to fail” stock banks

✔️ How social entrepreneurship drives innovation and community impact

✔️ Real-world examples of nonprofits and businesses partnering for change

✔️ The importance of kindness, relationships, and helping others

✔️ Why Western Massachusetts is a unique and thriving place to live

✔️ Tara’s vision for the region’s growth and collaboration in the next decade

🎵 Whether you’re a business owner, nonprofit leader, or simply passionate about community, this episode will inspire you to see how kindness and collaboration can transform local life.

💼 Connect with Tara Brewster:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenfieldsavings.com/

💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/taratbrewster/

🎧 Follow Craig Della Pena:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

📘 Facebook →

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/

In this episode, Craig sits down with Dylan Carey, Director of Policy & Planning at Parks & Trails New York, to discuss the newly released economic impact report showing the trail network generates $1.87 billion annually for New York's economy.

From boosting local businesses and increasing property values to creating healthier communities and expanding tourism, Dylan explains why trails are far more than recreational amenities—they're powerful economic development tools. The conversation also explores trail-oriented development, bike-friendly communities, and the future vision for expanding interconnected greenway systems across New York and beyond.

🎧 Hosted by: Craig Della Penna

👤 Guest:Dylan Carey – Director of Policy & Planning, Parks & Trails New York

Dylan Carey is the Director of Policy and Planning for Parks & Trails New York, leading advocacy efforts to expand the state's greenway networks and support public lands. Leveraging a background in politics and government, he collaborates with local communities to maximize the economic impact of these resources and promote the Empire State Trail.

💡 What You'll Learn:

✔️ How the Empire State Trail generates $1.87 billion in annual economic impact

✔️ Why trails increase tourism, local business revenue, and property values

✔️ The role of trail-oriented development in community revitalization

✔️ What makes a bike-friendly business or bed & breakfast successful

✔️ The future vision for expanding New York's statewide trail network

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Dylan Carey:

🌐 Website → https://www.ptny.org/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/parkstrailsny/

👻 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/parksandtrailsny

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-carey-08611a76/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/parks-&-trails-new-york/

🎧 Follow Craig Della Penna:

🌐 Website → https://www.greenwaysolutions.org/

🌐 Website → https://www.northamptonrealtor.com/

🌐 Website →https://www.sugar-maple-inn.com/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/craigdp413/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdp/

📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

⭐ Produced by Icons of Real Estate - https://iconsofrealestate.com/