Massachusetts Travel Forum

my children want to me to find a place for lodging in a hilly area of this state, but with freedom to travel to boston and other smaller new england states for 1-2 days trips. we will be staying for 1 week in the 2nd week of march (spring break) or for 2 weeks (beginning the last week of july).

i was searching and found Birkshire county may just fit the bill.

do you recommend? what could be advantages and disadvantages?

regards,

I am a huge fan of the Berkshires. There is plenty for the whole family to do. Shopping, Tanglewood (where the Boston Pops performs during the summer months...but there are also other acts that perform there from Mid-June til the first weekend in September). Boston is a few hours drive from the Berkshires, but it is also easy to get to Vermont from there. I don't know how keen you are on winter sports, but if you visit in March there will probably still be some skiing/snowboarding and tubing spots. In the summer there are plenty of outdoor activities in the area. Jiminy Peak is a ski resort in the Berkshires that during the winter has skiing/snowboarding/snow shoeing/tubing and during the summer has fun rides on the mountain as well as hiking and mountain biking. I have friends who own a house there and we love it year-round. jiminypeak.com also try www.berkshires.org another nice area in the Berkshires is Lenox, Mass. If you do decide to visit the Berkshires I don't think it will be a bad decision.

any other questions...feel free to ask. I tend to visit the area at least 2 times a year.

The Berkshires are great, really lovely. I would suggest the July dates rather than March. That time of year will be cold and slushy, not much fun for outdoors stuff, unless you luck out and it is still *really* cold and snowy enough to go skiing. Boston is about three hours away, more or less depending on where you are staying. Vermont is also very close, and it's not far to western Connecticut, either. You have a lot of options for things to do, particularly in the summer.

I guess I'm a little late in finding this question! I lived in the Berkshires (Ashley Falls and Sheffield) for 10 years and then in northwest CT (the foothills) for another 10 or so. Everyone is right---it's a gorgeous place to visit! House rentals in the area are pretty expensive, especially in the summer, but there might be cabins to rent and definitely hotels/motels. July is a great time of year, although you can get some pretty dense humidity. There are no disadvantages that I can think of and, if you are still reading answers to your question, I can make some specific suggestions about what to see not only in the Berkshires but in much of New England.

Angie

i am still listening. thanks for offering tips.

please note that we (my husband, 2 children aged 17 and 12 and i)will be there in the 1st week of august 2008. we will like to drive to all the nearby places - just nice leisurly drive and enjoying towns, villages, museums, antique and local handicraft shopping, scenic spots (i am open to all suggestions).

regards,

In August the weather can be both hot/humid or cool---be prepared for both. I suggest you make your homebase near Pittsfield, MA , the largest "city" in the Berkshires and pretty central to everything. There is a main 2-lane highway (Rte 7)that travels up through the Berkshires from the CT border to VT and it winds through many rustic and historic towns, starting in the South with Ashley Falls and SHeffield (called Antique Alley), going through Great Barrington which is a wonderful town with awesome places to eat and beautiful places to take a stroll. Continue to head north on Rte 7 and you'll pass the entrance to Monument Mountain park--which I highly suggest you stop at if you want a nice hike with a gorgeous view. Your 12 and 17 year old kids should find it easy. A hint here---there are two trails to the top: the one to the right is much harder than the one to the left!

If you continue north from there you'll enter historic Stockbridge with the Red Lion Inn (a must see), many shops and galleries, and the fantastic Norman Rockwell Museum. All around this area are places to swim, hike and sight-see. Continue north from there, on the same route, and you'll go through Pittsburgh, and North Adams before heading into Vermont. The highest peak in MA is in North Adams and you can drive to the top where you'll have panoramic views, be on the famous Appalachian Trail, and be able to buy a bite to eat, or even stay in the hostel up there.

There is so much more---just let me know specifically if you're looking for outdoor things or indoor things and I can give you more.

I'm glad you're visiting there! I look forward to the pictures.