The Berkshire Mountain Region is Alive with Culture, Dining, and the Great Outdoors! The Ideal New England Vacation!

 

                                                        Village of LEE, MA

The New England state of Massachusetts has a lot of offer, an Ivy League University named Harvard, charming and cosmopolitan Boston, the stunning Cape Cod region, and the idyllic islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Colonial landmarks, scenic landscapes, and picturesque villages abound in Massachusetts. In the western side of Massachusetts is the breathtaking Berkshire Mountain region with its stunning mountain range dotted with winding roads and open pastures leading to quaint & relaxing villages. Stay at a bed and breakfast or country inn and be pampered. Lovely scenery seems to appear everywhere so it's obvious why Norman Rockwell made Stockbridge his home from 1953 until his death in 1978 at the age of 84. He loved Stockbridge and painted his greatest works in Stockbridge. The Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the most visited attractions in the Berkshires and is tucked away in a tranquil section of Stockbridge. You'll be mesmerized by all the exceptional works made by Norman Rockwell and you can even take a lunch break at the quaint "Terrace Cafe" located inside the museum.

First Congregational church in Lee.

                                                             A nostalgic diner in Lee

LEE, just a few miles away from Stockbridge is my favorite place in the Berkshires. Its genuine New England quintessential setting makes for an ideal vacation. The Lower Main Street Historic District encompasses the historic center of town with its white steeple church called First Congregational Church. Lee lies along the Housatonic Railroad Line where a passenger train travels from Pittsfield to Great Barrington and terminates in New Milford, Connecticut. You can see trains passing right through Lee, day and evening. Near the railroad tracks at 85 Center Street is the iconic Joe's Diner, loved by locals and tourists. Joe's Diner has a diverse menu of homemade food featuring hot from the griddle breakfast items, seafood specialties, tasty sandwiches and more. The fruit pies for dessert are wonderful. Craving lobsters rolls? You can eat an authentic Maine lobster roll at an affordable price at Let's Do Lunch at 56 Main Street. For just $10.95 enjoy a lobster roll with a choice of side dish. Salmon Run Fish House at 78 Main Street has excellent seafood dishes and daily specials in a cozy setting. Not to be missed is Starving Artist Creperie and Cafe at 40 Main Street. Decadent crepes, scones, and paninis top the list with other specialities. Gluten free and vegan dishes are available too. For a taste of South America, have a meal at Alpamayo Peruvian Cuisine, at 60 Main Street. Enjoy hearty portions from a vast menu of Peruvian standards. Summer just isn't summer without ice cream and the best place for ice cream in the Berkshires is High Lawn Farm. Mingle with the cows while eating homemade ice cream available in a variety of flavors. I personally favor the vanilla ice cream. It's awesome! High Lawn Farm is a working farm with jersey cows grazing on grass in the meadow. The storybook setting is lovely.

                                       Eat at Mint Indian Restaurant at the Black Swam Inn in Lee

You're in the mountains where "hiking rules" so be certain to hike those majestic Berkshires. One popular place is October Mountain State Forest. It's a 16,460 acre forest and recreational preserve located primarily in Washington with connections in Becket, Lee, and Lenox. It's the largest state forest in the state of Massachusetts. Donato's Trail/Goose Pond Reservation, a 2.3 mile slightly trafficked loop trail is a small hike above Goose Pond. Charcoal Trailhead in Stockbridge is a trailhead for six miles of good trail with great views. After hiking you can do some swimming at Lenox Town Beach. At present this beach is only open to Lenox residents so if you have family or friends in Lenox, you're in luck. Mount Greylock is the highest point in the state. At 3,489    feet, you can count on a good workout to the summit. The main trail is located near the town of North Adams in the Berkshires.

                                              Jacobs Pillow, dance festival in Beckett!

The Berkshire Mountain region has some of the best cultural stimulation in America and top notch talent too. Barrington Stage Company, Becket Arts Center, Berkshire Theater Festival, Colonial Theater, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, Williamstown Theater Festival and Tanglewood, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra are just some of the places that will provide you with excellent entertainment whether you're a local or a visitor. The arts are alive and well in the Berkshires!

Where to stay? You'll be captivated by all the lodging options available from quaint bed and breakfasts to extravagant resorts. My favorite place to stay in the Lee/Stockbridge area is Black Swam Inn, 435 Laurel Street, Lee, MA  (pictured on the left). Spacious guest rooms, a dining room with complimentary breakfast, water craft rentals on Laurel Lake, an exercise room, and lakeside dining at MINT Indian restaurant known for exotic tasty dishes. There's a sense of serenity at this property especially when you sit in an Adirondack chair at the back of the inn and enjoy the calm waters of Laurel Lake. The friendly staff will make you feel right at home. Located right in the town of Lee, Chambery Inn, 199 Main Street is a mix of old and new. This luxury inn was once a 19th century school. Here you'll find plenty of comfort and a charming breakfast basket is delivered to your door  every morning during your stay. Over in Stockbridge everyone raves about The Red Lion Inn, one of the best places to stay in the Berkshires. Sit on a rocking chair on the famous porch and gaze at the beauty of the town. Norman the cat, a tuxedo feline ambassador resides here and is often seen by guests in various spots around the inn. There are three places to eat at The Red Lion Inn, the elegant Main Dining Room, the casual Widow Bingham's Tavern, and The Lion's Den Pub. There's a heated swimming pool and hot tub on the property, as well as a pool house.

Western Massachusetts, Berkshire Mountain Region is beautiful, cultural, idyllic, and picture postcard perfect. Norman Rockwell knew what he was doing when he decided to make this stunning part of New England filled with charm his permanent residence. #intheBerkshires provides an informative brochure about the area. See you in the Berkshires!

                                         The jersey cows at High Lawn Farm are sweet as ice cream