Berkshires, MA, Guide and Information

New Yorkers have the Catskills. Philadelphians have the Poconos. Bostonians have the Berkshires. But while this western Massachusetts mountain escape destination is a favorite for families, luxury retreat-seekers and outdoor adventurers in Beantown, the Berkshires also attracts its fair share of travelers from other parts of the country. If you’re among them, here’s everything you need to do during your very first visit.

The Berkshires is truly a four-season destination, with something to do no matter if you visit in spring, summer, fall or winter. During the colder months, you’ll find skiing aplenty, plus other winter sports, if you prefer something a little more low-key. During the summer, hiking and biking opportunities are abundant. Want something really high-energy? Try some white-water rafting. Prefer something more relaxing and chill? Get in a round of golf or head out in a kayak.

How do you begin to encapsulate a jumble of charming towns, one city and a host of iconic sites located within one large geographic area? Let’s try. First of all, know that The Berkshires refers to the part of western Massachusetts situated at the tail end of Vermont’s Green Mountains. So The Berkshires refers to both a region and the mountains. (They’re actually more like rolling blue-green hills with Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts at just under four thousand feet, as its pinnacle.)

Whenever there’s a place where the well-to-do have vacationed for years, you can bet there’s a vibrant cultural scene. In The Berkshires, it explodes.

Whether it be the visual or performing arts, there’s enough to keep you going here for weeks. And that’s not just the case in the summer, since many of the arts centers remain open year-round.