In 2009, I moved from the coast of Maine to the mountains of western Massachusetts. Prior to my relocation, I knew nothing about the Berkshires, short of what I’d gleaned from a few visits to see my fiance (now husband) in the two years he lived there before we married. Luckily, I’ve discovered that the Berkshires is an amazing area for art, culture and food. There’s been a lot of exciting developments in the area over the past several years and I’m thrilled to be part of the future of Berkshire county. I’ve collected some of my local favorite places and day trips below. At the bottom of the page are articles from other sources regarding the Berkshires.
I do my best to keep this page updated with all my Berkshire-related posts, but for a complete list of all posts tagged “Berkshires”, click here.
Restaurants
Adams Ale House (Adams, MA)
BrewHaha (North Adams, MA)
Barrington Brewery (Great Barrington, MA)
Bascom Lodge, atop Mount Greylock (Adams, MA)
Halfinger Haus (Adams, MA)
Mezze Bistro and Bar (Williamstown, MA)
NoCo Pastaria (North Adams, MA)
Public Eat+Drink (North Adams, MA)
Spice Root (Williamstown, MA)
Not all my restaurant stops get posts. Check out Zomato for all my restaurant reviews.
Activities
Anytime
Check out the Vermont Tasting Room and Hoppy Valley Organics
Run a race:
- Greylock Federal’s 5k Fall Classic (2011, North Adams, MA)
- Humane Race 5k (2014, Williamstown, MA)
- Dash for Dana (2014, 2015; Adams, MA)
Explore Hancock Shaker Village (Hancock, MA)
Join a CSA – we love Mighty Food Farm (Pownal, VT)
Visit Glass Bottom Brewery (Lee, MA)
Summer
Listen to awesome music at Tanglewood (Lenox, MA)
Check out the Garlic and Herb Festival 2009, 2010, 2012 (Bennington, VT)
Pick blueberries at Mountain View Farm in Lanesborough, MA (2012, 2015)
Attend the Western MA Craft Beer Festival (Dalton, MA)
Stock up at the Farmer’s Markets:
Visit The Bridge of Flowers and Glacial Potholes in Shelburne Falls
Fall
Rock out at Mass MoCA’s Fresh Grass Music Festival 2014 (North Adams, MA)
Celebrate apples and donuts at the Apple Barn (Bennington, VT)
Hike Mount Greylock 2012 (Adams, MA)
Winter
Visit Berkshire Grown’s Holiday Farmers’ Market (Williamstown, MA)
Longer Day Trips
Amanouz Cafe (Northampton, MA)
Hyde Park, NY (the home of FDR)
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (Waterbury, VT)
Harney and Sons Fine Teas — 2009, 2009 visit #2, 2013, Harneyfest 2014 (Millerton, NY)
New World Bistro Bar (Albany, NY)
The Troy Winter Farmer’s Market (Troy, NY)
The Outdoor Troy Farmer’s Market + other Troy explorations (Troy, NY)
Others’ Thoughts about The Berkshires
Leaf-Peeping Season in the Berkshires – Goop – 2018
A Perfect Fall Weekend in the Berkshires – Architectural Digest – 9/27/18
Thinking of visiting upstate New York? Consider The Berkshires instead – Vogue – 3/7/2019
Betting on the Berkshires – New York Times – 4/13/18
The Berkshires is the Weekend Trip You MUST Take This Summer – Huffington Post – 7/23/16
Micro Guide: A Long Weekend in the Berkshires – The Manual – 1/4/16
8 Reasons to Visit the Berkshires – Zagat – 12/21/15
Pittsfield Gearing Up As Go-To Destination Once Again – The Boston Globe – 10/18/15
The Berkshires Minus Museums – The Boston Globe – 9/26/15
It’s Not Just Hype: The Berkshires Are Special – Berkshire Eagle – 7/19/2015
On the Road in Northern Berkshire County: County Overview (Video) – WGBY Connecting Point – 6/3/15
Betting on the Berkshires – New York Times – 4/13/18
The Berkshires is the Weekend Trip You MUST Take This Summer – Huffington Post – 7/23/16
Micro Guide: A Long Weekend in the Berkshires – The Manual – 1/4/16
8 Reasons to Visit the Berkshires – Zagat – 12/21/15
Pittsfield Gearing Up As Go-To Destination Once Again – The Boston Globe – 10/18/15
The Berkshires Minus Museums – The Boston Globe – 9/26/15
It’s Not Just Hype: The Berkshires Are Special – Berkshire Eagle – 7/19/2015
On the Road in Northern Berkshire County: County Overview (Video) – WGBY Connecting Point – 6/3/15
If you’re interested in going beyond the Berkshires, explore my adventures in other places.
