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The Church on the Hill, in Lenox, is renowned as
the site of the fateful sled run in Edith Wharton's
novel of New England, Ethan Frome.
The Berkshires autumn
surpasses all
others in the glorious display of foliage.
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Pontoosuc
Lake in Pittsfield, a location made famous by Wharton in her novella
Summer, is one of many fine recreational lakes within minutes
of Twelve Oaks Village. The recreational opportunities include virtually
all winter and summer sports from alpine and nordic skiing to kayaking,
golf, fishing, and hiking. Berkshire County boasts twenty-four state
parks and three Massachusetts Audubon sanctuaries as well as a good
section of the Appalachian Trail.
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The
Berkshires are noted for their exceptional natural beauty, while offering
the visitor an astonishing variety of cultural and recreational pursuits.
Equidistant from New York and Boston (about 120 miles), the area offers
unspoiled mountains and open terrain, dotted with charming and historic
New England towns and two small cities.
The Berkshires have long been a sought-after destination. American luminaries
such as Herman Melville and Edith Wharton have called it home. During
the heyday of the gilded age dozens of America's legendary families built
their summer "cottages" here, drawn by the area's stunning natural
beauty and proximity to the business hubs of the Northeast. Many of these
historic mansions are now public facilities, such as Canyon Ranch (formerly
known as Bellefontaine) and The Mount (Wharton's Berkshire home).
The Berkshires' most well-known cultural venue is Tanglewood, the summer
home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra just 6 minutes from Twelve Oaks
Village. Thousands of people from all over the planet enjoy picnicking
on its lawn to the sounds of some of the world's finest classical, popular
and jazz music. Near by other performing arts venues include Jacob's
Pillow Dance Festival, Shakespeare and Company, the Berkshire Opera
company, Berkshire Theater Festival, Williamstown Theater Festival,
Barrington Stage and many others.
The Clark Art Institute, a half-hour north in Williamstown, is one of
the great small museumsin the world, with a particularly strong collection
of Renoir, Degas, and other nineteenth-century painters. Other museums
include Mass MoCA, the world's largest museum of contemporary art,the
Williams College Museum of Art, the Norman Rockwell Museum, and the
Berkshire Museum. Historic sites include Hancock Shaker Village, Melville's
home Arrowhead, and Chesterwood, the home of sculptor Daniel Chester
French.
Many award-winning restaurants can be found throughout the area, in
charming settings and country inns. The Berkshires are truly the recreational
and cultural haven of the Northeast.
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