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.
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. |
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. 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.
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 museums, 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 a
recreational and cultural haven in the Northeast. |
