berkshires Attractions

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.