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Situated in the westernmost corner of Massachusetts, the Berkshire Hills have a literary and artistic heritage to go with its peaceful rural communities and gentle scenery, which each autumn attracts leaf peepers to its renowned fall foliage.
Since the late 19th century city dwellers from Boston and New York alike have been drawn to the sleepy serenity of the Berkshires, which offer attractions for each season. In the Winter time, the Wachusett Mountain Ski Area offers a sporting alternative to the more popular ski resorts in Vermont and New Hampshire, in spring the region is in full bloom, while in summer time the Berkshires provide a great outdoors retreat and respite from the summer heat of the city. But it’s autumn that brings out the best in the Berkshires, as the golden colours of the fall foliage attract leaf peepers by the car-load, and the quaint Berkshire towns have everything from locally harvested produce to antiques fairs and art galleries.
Route 2 runs from Boston into the Berkshire Hills, along which is the 63 mile Mohawk Trail, an old Native American route east to west and a popular leaf peeping route in the autumn. The Mohawk Trail passes some of the most ruggedly romantic scenery of the Berkshires, through deeply wooded mountain valleys where wild bears roam and through North Adams, an old town from the region’s industrial past, then on to Williamstown, one the most attractive of New England towns, before it joins the Route 7 north to the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Stop by Williamstown to wander around its many antique shops and galleries containing works from local artists from the Williams College Museum of Art and the famous Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute.
Overlooking Williamstown is the tallest peak in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock rising 3,491ft. You can trek on foot or drive to the peak along a steep winding road from the Mt. Greylock Visitor Centre. The views from the top are stunning and span the four states of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.
Another popular town in the Berkshires, is Tanglewood famed as the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote Tanglewood Tales while living in the town and there is a replica of the little red cottage in which he resided in the town. Tanglewood is also the setting for some of New England’s best -known summer festivals; the Boston Pops and the South Mountain Concerts. During summer, Saturday morning rehearsals are free to the public.
Other summer festivals in the Berkshires include the Aston Magna Festival in Great Barrington, the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, which run between May and October.
As well as theatre, the town of Stockbridge also has a rich artistic legacy. It was here that Norman Rockwell, illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post created many of his signature covers depicting 20th century American life. Stockbridge’s Main Street heavily influenced Rockwell’s illustrations and the Norman Rockwell Museum outlines his works in a recreation of the artist’s studio. While in nearby Chesterwood, is the summer home of Daniel Chester French where he created The Seated Lincoln – for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
Among the region’s varied visitor attractions are the Basketball Hall of Fame and Dr Seuss National Memorial in Springfield, historic theme parks like the Hancock Shaker Village near Pittsfield, the Old Sturbridge Village and the Emily Dickinson Homestead outside Amherst.
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