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Stockbridge, MA: On the other hand,
you just might want to continue westward from Springfield and
visit the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts
which you’ll find within a 45 minute gorgeous drive from
Springfield. If you’re driving directly to Stockbridge from
Boston, you can make the trip in about 2 hours. If you’re
visiting in July or August, be sure to check the concert schedule
at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
For classical music lovers, this is THEE place! Additionally,
you’ll find the program filled with the music of Gershwin,
Film Night conducted by composer John Williams, this year featuring
musical scores from great films such as Lawrence of Arabia and
a John Williams score from the Harry Potter suite. James Taylor,
and Tanglewood on Parade, a day-long musical adventure that takes
place all over the grounds from 2pm to the fireworks after the
performance of the 1812 Overture late into the night, make this
a special Tanglewood season. Check out www.bso.org for tickets
or call 888-266-1200! During the day, visit Chesterwood, the summer
home, gardens and sculpture studio of Daniel Chester French, the
designer of the Lincoln seated in the chair that is the centerpiece
of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Just ½ mile
from Chesterwood you’ll find the Norman Rockwell Museum
and his studio. Looking for a casual place to stay on 600 gorgeous
acres? Try Eastover Resort in Lenox where your room rate includes
3 meals daily. You'll find indoor and outdoor pools, archery,
tennis, and a Civil War museum that is the largest private collection
of Civil War memorabilia in the world! For a bit of Victoriana,
try the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge which is memorialized in the
Norman Rockwell Christmas scene you’ll see at the Rockwell
Museum. And for the big splurge, my favorite is Blantyre. You’ll
think you’re in a chateau in France at this fairytale castle
set on 200 acres of parkland!
Williamstown, MA: Drive north on
Route 7 from the Lenox/Stockbridge area. Be sure to stop for a
sack of the best chocolates you’ve ever munched at Chocolate
Springs Cafe located at 55 Lenox/Pittsfield Road in Lenox, MA,
where chocolatier, Joshua Needleman, creates high-cocoa content/low
fat, amazingly exquisite-tasting chocolates guaranteed to put
a smile on your face as you travel through Berkshire County! Continue
into Pittsfield and take a walk around to see the public art displays.
Follow the signs in Lanesborough to visit the tallest mountain
in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock, from which you can see five
states, which I always tell people are: Massachusetts, Vermont,
New Hampshire, New York and Nevada. . . but it’s really
Connecticut! Some folks with poor geography skills actually believe
me! Of course, the view is so astounding that you might just think
you can see that far! Then continue north on Route 7 to Williamstown,
home of Williams College, scenes of which can be seen in the Anthony
Hopkins/Nicole Kidman film, “The Human Stain,” and
which was home to Cole Porter in his later years as depicted in
the film, “De-Lovely.” Be sure to visit the Clark
Art Institute, the private collection of Francine and Sterling
Clark, where you’ll find no less than 35 Renoir paintings
plus their personal favorites among the impressionists and other
masters! Quite a find in the middle of this gorgeous countryside.
Also check out the art museum at Williams College whose admission
is free giving you an added bonus! Enjoy the serenity and majesty
of this college town before driving onward. You’re close
enough to three of my favorite places from here: (1) Berkshire
County’s Natural Marble Bridge, a gorge carved by the glaciers
into the natural marble of the areas terrain. Truly worth a visit;
(2) Clarksburg’s Hairpin Turn where you’ll find a
spectacular view of the mountains and valleys of Massachusetts
and Vermont, and the Golden Eagle Restaurant. Sit on their balcony,
have refreshment, and remember why traveling makes you feel so
good; and (3) Shelburne Falls, NY, where you’ll want to
take a walk on the Bridge of Flowers and have a snack in one of
the cozy spots on the main street.
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