This is the Berkshires! The western county of Massachusetts lined with quaint towns and filled with history. We decided this would be the perfect weekend getaway from NY for our October birthdays. We’re going to show you a few reasons why you should experience the Charming Berkshires!
We stayed at the Black Swan Inn which had a really friendly staff who made us feel very welcome! The lake-view was perfect to wake up to embrace the beauty of New England.
We started our day by visiting Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. Originally settled in the late 1700s but unfortunately we didn’t see any real Shakers because they left this village in 1959. It is now an open air museum where you can walk through the beautifully restored village is set amid acres of farm, woodland and pasture and learn about how farming the hear of their community.
The world-famous Round Stone Barn is a testament to Shaker efficiency, innovation and design. Did you know they were among the first to sell packaged garden seeds? Walking around was like a step back in time and it is easy to see why the Shakers called their village “the city of peace”
Inside the Brick Dwelling you can experience what their communal life would have looked like. As you explore the buildings you will see the a collection of Shaker furniture, traditional oval boxes, and Shaker clothing. You can even experience a Shaker service and hear their traditional songs and join in a lively dance from where they got their name. After an exiting day we had a warm cup & treat at the Seeds Market Cafe.
As we were heading back to Lee, we made a wrong turn and ended up at an apple orchard on a hill at sunset where the view took our breath away as the sun hit the golden leaves and it felt like a special birthday gift just for us.
For dinner we went to charming restaurant in an old Victorian house called 51 Park Restaurant & Tavern where we ordered mac & cheese & fish & chips.
We woke up the next morning to the sound of rain and after checking out at the Black Swan Inn we made our way to The Mount in Lenox; the estate of author Edith Wharton. A successful writer in a time period where women duty was in the home. She wrote 40 books in 40 years and was a Pulitzer Prize winner. The Mount was built 1902 and she lived their ten years. Today you can visit the lovely gardens, take a tour of the house, eat at the terrace cafe, and find a book in the gift shop.
The rain continued to fall as we went into Lee. We felt it was time for something sweet and popped into the Starving Artist cafe where we had a delicious pumpkin spice crepe.
On the other side of the street we found some treasures at Finders Keepers Antique store that we would take home with us.
We almost found ourselves singing in the rain as we left charming Lee towards Stockbridge, the home town of famous artist Norman Rockwell. The Museum houses the largest collection of Rockwell’s art where you as a visitor get a glimpse of America as it used to be and pay a visit to his own studio.
As it got dark we went to Old Stockbridge Main street where found a quaint chocolate shop “Peace Love & Chocolate” just before they closed.
Before we went home we had dinner at the historic Red Lion Inn which is of the few New England inns operating continuously since the 18th century. Where we ate in the “Lion’s Den” which was a super cozy tavern which was a perfect ending for this perfect trip in the charming Berkshires of Massachusetts.
Thank you for coming along with us to the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Our little weekend getaway only scratched the surface of what the Berkshires have to offer and we hope to return one day and discover more charming places to show you.
Until the next adventure, Bye for now!
-Lindsay & Jonas
