Trip Details

LENGTH 3 to 5 days

ESTIMATED BUDGET From $300 per day per family

HOW TO GET THERE Fly into Albany or Hartford, or take an Amtrak train to Hudson, New York, or the MetroNorth Railroad to Wassaic, New York. You’ll need a rental car, as taxis and car services can be hard to come by.

Eat

l The Berkshires are full of smal growers, so farm-to-table is the (fabulous) norm at many ar price points. Mezze Bistro + Ba t in Williamstown is a local haun with everything from a fancy prix ixe (from $54) to family takeout. In Great Barrington, s dinner-only Prairie Whale ofers great entrées (from $18) and d cocktails, a bustling energy, an e dining under the stars when the weather cooperates. As the air cools down, the treat of choice shifts from ice cream at High an Lawn Farm in Lee, where you c eat your cone next to the cows who made the milk, to cider d doughnuts. Get these warm an ost rolled in cinnamon sugar at m orchards and farm markets.

t Everyone has their favorite, bu d Bartlett’s Orchard in Richmond never disappoints.

When To Go

The region draws visitors nearly year-round—just bring boots in March and April, when winter melts into mud season. Fall in the Berkshires ofers some of the most Instagram-worthy foliage in New England; winter’s snowy slopes attract skiers, while the woods beg for snowshoeing; and summer is ideal for outdoor picnics and concerts

See

You could walk the art-packed MASS MoCA in North Adams for days—the Sol LeWitt and James Turrell exhibits alone will ill a bright and happy stretch of hours The museum is also one of the region’s best music venues. In the fall it hosts FreshGrass, a weekend of bluegrass on the grounds (this year the festival is scheduled for September 23 to 25). On a much smaller scale, the magical TurnPark Art Space, a former quarry, overlooks a pond in downtown West Stockbridge. For incredible views, don’t miss Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts, accessible by car and foot. There’s even a lodge at the top where you can sleep above the clouds.

Lodging Recs TOURISTS, NORTH ADAMS

At this hip hotel, with minimalist decor, blond wood, and window seats, the clientele skews younger. There’s a cute bar and restaurant called the Airport Rooms. From $259 a night; touristswelcome.com

THE BRIARCLIFF MOTEL, GREAT BARRINGTON

Family- and (very!) dogfriendly, this quirky motel has a central location and free continental breakfast. It’s across the street from Monument Mountain, home to one of the best hikes in the region. From $135 a night; thebriarcli motel.com

HOTEL ON NORTH, PITTSFIELD

General Electric used to be the main draw for Pittsield. Now that the company is gone, this upscale boutique hotel has been part of the city’s renaissance. The rooms are unique and classy. From $199 a night;hotelonnorth.com

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