CHARMING BERKSHIRES | Autumn trip to Lenox, Adams, + Tyringham MA!

It is the last weekend of a New England October. The low sunbeams are going through a filter that can not be recreated in any digital way. It is a filter of chlorophyll and colors that the New England trees always are generous to share with its travelers, reaching for new adventures. 

Our destination is towards the western edge of Massachusetts, a rural mountain region called “the Berkshires”. A place where old stories of historic bravery are lingering like the atmosphere of a book that has yet to be read. We have an exciting schedule ahead of us that BERKSHIRES.ORG has prepared for us, the quintessential Berkshire planning tool. We had the opportunity to work directly with them for a personalized familiarization tour they designed for us. We could not be more thankful for the work they put down to make this stay so special for us and so that we can share with fellow small town fall foliage loving kindred spirits.

We arrive at a very charming inn in the beautiful town of Lenox, called Birchwood Inn, dating back to 1766. The owners, Tom and Debbie, are an intercultural couple who don’t hold back on their friendliness. Their story to become innkeepers is fascinating. Before they decided to make Birchwood Inn their own they drove from St Louis to visit the area. Tom tells us one of the first things he first noticed was the stonewalls that you can see here and there. 

Debbie mentions that they knew this place was “the one” as the house in itself spoke to them in a special way. The town is truly a charming “Hallmark” kind of town, with walking distance to great eateries, and friendly people everywhere. After a nice tour and a little bit of history, we reach our room called the Goodwin Room. We have learned that the rooms are named after former owners, and if the walls could talk we would probably stay inside just listening to the fascinating stories of the life back in their bygone days. 

The next morning, through the window in our room on the 3rd floor, a thin layer of mist is making the scenery milky. We can see a cascade of yellow leaves and a view of the church on a hill, that looks straight from a vintage postcard. Unfortunately, it is going to rain today,  but we are lucky that today’s schedule only includes “roof covered” activities.  While in the dining room we are greeted with coffee and tea and are very soon served an entry dish of “Smoked Salmon Bruschetta” which tastes wonderfully, soon followed by “Creme Brulee French Toast” topped with strawberries. To me one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. Tom & Debbie were so accommodating with our dietary restrictions as well. We’re ready for a day of adventure as we drive 45 minutes almost to the Vermont border to North Adams. We are going to visit MASS MoCA today, a huge museum of contemporary art of the bigger scale set in a widespread brick building from the late 1700s, where an industry has left a clear mark. Everything from ironwork to fabric has been manufactured inside these walls. Even though they have a floor with traditional paintings we realize quickly that this is a place of art that we haven’t really been exposed too before. In different rooms, we face installations of gigantic size. This is art which doesn’t necessarily have to be admired by the eyes alone, but with feelings, reactions, and thoughts. Even if I don’t understand everything myself, I can still see why people get something by spending a day at a museum like this. This museum does not make me change my personal taste of art, but it leaves me with an understanding that art can be as people, different, and that is just great. 

As the wind increases, we are on our way to take a round trip scenic train ride with Berkshire Scenic Railway. Yankee Magazine 2017 said that this is one of the “Top 10 foliage train rides in New England”. We are very excited as we are greeted by a group of older gentlemen who are true enthusiasts when it comes to trains, and it is completely on a volunteer basis. Dressed in authentic outfits they are doing this with such a big passion that it is hard not to feel a little bit jolly. We are entering the classic 1955 Budd RDC which is historically correct for this route. Despite the rain, it is still a nice ride. We pass old buildings, a Victorian graveyard, and beautiful sceneries. All accompanied by 1940s and 50’s big band music, interesting history, and fun facts as we slowly move along. I believe it is the best way of traveling and we should very much like to experience their other seasonal train rides.

 After a full day of adventures, it is a pretty inviting thought knowing that you have a comfortable bed waiting for you, a roaring open fire in the big living room, bookshelves holding stories, and home-baked treats served with great coffee and tea.  We reflect and talk about our day filled with old-fashioned dreams and brand new experiences, feeling more enriched than yesterday. 

After yesterdays breakfast success we are excited to enjoy one more. As we expected, it is as great as the first one. We are served “Baked Pear” (with mascarpone and pumpkin seed crunch) followed by “Eggs BeneFlore” with spinach and ham. Coffee tastes great, and a freshly baked muffin rounds it off, putting a smile on our faces. As much as we want to stay we have to say bye for now as we have one last stop on our schedule. We feel truly blessed as we wave goodbye to this historic Birchwood Inn and its owners that now feel like friends.  On our way out of Lenox we were recommended to stop at Olivia’s Overlook for a breathtaking view of the hills of the Berkshires.

The last visit on our Berkshire weekend is a private guided tour at the interesting Santarella, or as it’s also known, “Tyringham’s Gingerbread house”. The owner Denise greets us and tells us interesting stories about this one of a kind place. The architecture is unique and it makes us believe it is taken directly from a fairytale book, placed in our world. The unique and whimsical design was built by Santarella’s most famous owner, Sir Henry Hudson Kitson, a sculptor from England, known for many statues around the world.

We learn that the original roof used to have the same colors as the stunning autumn colors we are surrounded with. Golden, red and green in a playful shingle patterns making it become a part of the forest. As the tour moves along we are shown the two silos, today refurnished to romantic and comfortable rooms, that you can stay in. One of them is said to be inspired by a samurai helmet to honor Sir Henry’s Japanese gardener, and we can surely see the similarity. This is a place for your dream wedding to come true, or why not a private getaway. As the tour continues into the garden, we can imagine the wonder of spring, when flowers come back, reflecting their beauty in the pound that now is surrounded by burning red leaves. 

Here is where our story ends at this time. At a corner of the world where the line between fairy tale and reality are so thin that it is hard to know what side your feet are on. After all, this is Tyringham’s Gingerbread house, a perfect ending to this chapter of our storybook in the charming Berkshires.

Dearies, do you dream of a fall foliage getaway like this? We hope you feel inspired to one day experience the wonder of Berkshires yourself now. If you are curious, feel free to ask us about our experience, or contact berkshires.org who put this weekend getaway together for us, which was such an old-fashioned dream come true that we’re so happy to share with our kindred spirits here.

Thank you for reading, sending loads of crisp autumn wishes your way.
Bye for now!
– Jonas & Lindsay      

P.S. If you can’t get enough of the charming Berkshires like us you can experience our October getaway there from last year HERE with time spent at the Norman Rockwell museum and Hancock Shaker Village!