The Berkshires - An Artistic Hub and Recreational Capital

Comfortably nested in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in Western Massachussets, and neighbouring Vermont, Connecticut and New York, the Berkshires boast incredibly beautiful scenery and a vibrant atmosphere. The surrounding area is abundant with captivating towns, providing numerous outdoor recreation activities, charming restaurants serving meals with home-grown fresh produce and of course, majestic views which will make you stop in your tracks. The Berkshires is beautiful four seasons of the year, whether you want relaxation and seclusion or entertainment and nightlife.    

A Berkshire-style vacation offers different types of lodgings: elegant boutiques with historical background, old-fashioned Bed and Breakfasts, exquisite full-service resorts, unpretentious motels or simple cabins revealing stunning views of the bright-coloured sunsets. Long-term accommodations with all the necessary amenities are also available for the whole family.    

If you think you deserve to be spoiled a little bit, boutique day spas, salons, healing arts centers or destination spas will take a good care of you, eliminating stress from your body and mind. Besides the rejuvenation and spa procedures, outdoor types will be dazzled by the endless opportunities for sports activities enhanced by the gorgeous natural setting. Hiking, biking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, golfing, rafting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snowboarding and snowshoeing - all this in the middle of the picturesque rural hills, decorated by alpine streams and pristine lakes. A perfect spot for a family excursion, the Berkshires also has plenty of open-air summer camps, which will guarantee memorable experience for your children.    

Apart from all that we have covered so far, the Berkshires have another side: the region is a wellspring of cultural events, making it one of the art hubs of the country. This cultural mecca is rich in museums, historic sights, dance and art gatherings and inns.     Shopping in the Berkshires is a thrilling adventure. Aside from shops with everyday things and specialty shops you may visit some of the intriguing antiques stores where you will run across unique items.    

The summers in the Berkshires are under the spell of Tanglewood, a venue for jazz performers from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many others.

Cultural offerings vary from the emotional Americana illustrations, exhibited in the Norman Rockwell Museum, to the Impressionists at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. The proud owner of contemporary art collections, the Williams College Museum of Art, also displays both American and Asian works. MASS MoCA is the largest art center in the country - it's a huge complex with displays of large-scale contemporary art.