Arts Escape
Berkshires Theatre
Calling all theater fanatics! By nature, the Berkshires area is an arts-eccentric hub where creatives flock to explore, create, and share. The Berkshire Theatre is no different as it features numerous shows debuting daily, consisting of everything from classic favorites to new renditions. A visit promises excitement and charm in every way.
Barrington Stage Company
In 1995, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd started this professional theater company in the Berkshires with a mission to not only produce stunning and compelling work, but also to create new plays and musicals as well as inclusive educational outreach programs that engage the community in a meaningful way. Today, The Barrington Stage Company shows are known to be engaging, provocative, and impeccably directed and produced, but we will let you be the ultimate judge of that.
Clark Art Institute
Stop into this local museum to experience special exhibitions covering topics such as writers, nature, the senses, war, and more. The Clark also has their permanent collections available for guests to view all year around, featuring decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century, European and American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper among others. It’s the perfect activity to add to your Berkshire getaway itinerary this summer.
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
One of the world’s most renowned museums of contemporary art, Mass MoCA is a must on your list of summer activities in the Berkshires. The museum's love of color, artistic expression, and individuality comes alive to provide visitors with a distinctive, soulful, and artful experience as they meander through the rooms.
Stay at a boutique and charming hotel nearby to embrace the artsiness of the area. We recommend Porches Inn and Hotel Downstreet, both located in quaint North Adams.
Outdoor Escape
Hickey, Peeskawso, and Mohican Mountain Loop
Summertime in the Berkshires is perfect for all things outdoors: bird watching, biking, rafting, swimming, and more. Oh, and hiking—how could we forget? The Hickey, Peeskawso, and Mohican Mountain Loop is a wonderful nature walk-type hike for families with younger children and pets as this 2.6 mile journey is rated ‘easy’ and only takes an average of 1.5 hours while still allowing you to explore the great outdoors.
Monument Mountain
If you seek a bit more of a challenge, embark on one of the three trails of Monument Mountain. Located in the picturesque Housatonic River Valley, this famous mountain features trails that range from easy to strenuous and all offer different, unique sights along the way. There’s no going wrong as the 1,642-foot summit views are worth it from every angle. Just take it from iconic authors Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne as they hiked this same trail together in 1850 and unsurprisingly gained inspiration that you may find reflected in some of their works.
Lake Mansfield Park
Fancy a swim? Or a picnic by the water? Lake Mansfield Park has you covered. This beautiful Great Barrington park features a 29-acre pond and 29-acre adjacent conservation forest making it the perfect natural community space for walking, hiking, picnicking, swimming, and exploring. It also has a sandy beachfront, grassy picnic areas, and forest hills and river trails, ensuring that your day in the park is packed with activities.
Stay in the area at the dog-friendly Briarcliff Motel for an authentic and comfortable getaway.
Cultural Escape
Tanglewood
With visiting musicians, community performances, education programs for kids, and more, it’s no secret why Tanglewood is known as one of the world’s most beloved music venues. In the summer, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops take the stage here as the 500 acres that make up Tanglewood welcome more than 350,000 visitors to performances, recitals, and seminars.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Founded in 1969 with the help of Norman and Molly Rockwell, this museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work including 998 original paintings and drawings. The museum’s exhibitions also shift with the seasons to showcase special visiting works on a wide range of topics including belonging, community, race, pandemics, iconic historical works, and more.
Ventfort Hall Mansion & Gilded Age Museum
If you’re intrigued by stories of paranormal activity or interested in architecture, Ventfort Hall is the perfect place to explore this summer. A Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893, Ventfort Hall is one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century, just as the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. A visit promises interesting lectures, exhibits, theatrical performances, and special events, as you learn about history, art, architecture, and more.
Seeking accommodations? The Red Lion Inn, The Inn at Stockbridge, and Deerfield Inn are our favorites in the area and will likely be yours too.
About New England Inns and Resorts
New England Inns and Resorts was founded in 1907 and has been devoted to providing unforgettable experiences ever since. With over 300 hotels, inns, and resorts located across New England, we support exceptional hospitality with a dedication to keeping it local at every location.
No matter which escape you crave, you’ll find that the sunny season is best spent in the Berkshires. Now that you have a complete list of summer activities in the area, you’re ready to explore. The last thing to do is reserve some accommodations nearby and you’ll be on your way to the perfect Berkshires getaway.
