Yankee Magazine: The Berkshires - An Insider’s Guide

[RNCollins]

If you are interested, the Yankee Magazine’s January 2020 cover story is about the Berkshires.

NewEngland

New England Today features the best in New England travel, food, living, fall foliage, and events, plus Yankee Magazine, New England's favorite magazine.

newengland.com

 

[WinniWoman]

Love that magazine. I have a subscription for years.

 

[missyrcrews]

I haven't gotten to the Berkshires article yet, but there's a wonderful article on things to do in winter in the Camden/Rockport/Rockland area. We are headed to Trade Winds in Rockland for the MLK 3 day weekend. That hotel isn't much to look at from the outside, but the timeshare rooms are nice enough, and I love that we can park the car and walk to anything in town. One of the favorite vacation spots for the kids for some reason. Will dogear some pages in Yankee for that weekend! (Now on to the Berkshires article...we are headed there for April vacation week!)

 

[BluetickTraveler]

Thanks for sharing!

I haven't gotten to the Berkshires article yet, but there's a wonderful article on things to do in winter in the Camden/Rockport/Rockland area. We are headed to Trade Winds in Rockland for the MLK 3 day weekend.

Are you me? Thanks for pointing out the Rockland area article.. I'm heading up to Samoset Resort next winter. It will be my first time being north of Boston. We're also going to Berkshires in April (Oak n Spruce) and then Smuggs for 4th of July week.

 

[mdurette]

Ok.....I will confess, I made it 1/2 way through the article on the Berkshires and never finished. For the past 10 years or so, I keep thinking we should check out the area and everytime something comes up that would work, I research and think it is just going to be too slow going for us. I don't need much to entertain the family....but I do need something. Missy, you will need to report back and let me know what the crew thinks. Enjoy the long weekend in at Rockland!!!!

 

[missyrcrews]

Thanks for sharing!

Are you me? Thanks for pointing out the Rockland area article.. I'm heading up to Samoset Resort next winter. It will be my first time being north of Boston. We're also going to Berkshires in April (Oak n Spruce) and then Smuggs for 4th of July week.

Nope...I'm not you, but I sounds like we have similar vacationing tastes! You will love Samoset. We really enjoy this area in winter. There are a few restaurants that close, but most stay open, albeit with limited hours. The Camden Snow Bowl is a fun little mountain for skiing. We've got a full agenda for our three days in town this trip. We've not been to Oak n Spruce. It's been years since we've been to the Berkshires....my 16 yr old twins were just babies. We stayed at Bentley Brook with my mom and dad. Looking forward to exploring it with older kids. I think we'll find enough to do. Norman Rockwell Museum, a little thrift store shopping, a bookstore or two. My kids get "testy" when they get dragged around from one thing to another. Smuggs is hands down our favorite spot for an exchange. We'll be there mid-July this year. The past two years, we've been there for the summer solstice. We were all crammed into a 1BR, but we had a blast. I snagged a 3BR this year for mid-summer, and wouldn't you know it....kids wanted to be there the earlier week so they could see the friends they'd made. :/ Can't win!

 

[WinniWoman]

Samoset is wonderful. Been there years ago. Love the whole area - especially Camden-and we even traveled up to the Acadia National Park for a day trip from there.

I liked the Berkshires, but I was a little bored there. Smuggs. of course, is always fun and I love the state of Vermont.

 

[tonyg]

I live in the Foothills of the Berkshires and would recommend going there from mid May to peak leaf season. Let's hope April is good this year for Missy. VV is in the boondocks, with few restaurants and even less in nearby grocery stores, but then it has been quite a few years since we stayed there. Not sure if there is anything left of the Berkshire Mall which was down closer to rt.90. There is a nice view from a mountain top near the resort area- can't remember it's name. Rockwell Museum is on the outskirts of Stockbridge. The livelier part of the Berkshires is Pittsfield south to the CT border on rt.7. South of Great Barrington to near the CT border on rt. 7 is almost wall to wall antique stores. Gt. Barrington is an interesting town but quite a drive from VV.

 

[missyrcrews]

I live in the Foothills of the Berkshires and would recommend going there from mid May to peak leaf season. Let's hope April is good this year for Missy. VV is in the boondocks, with few restaurants and even less in nearby grocery stores, but then it has been quite a few years since we stayed there. Not sure if there is anything left of the Berkshire Mall which was down closer to rt.90. There is a nice view from a mountain top near the resort area- can't remember it's name. Rockwell Museum is on the outskirts of Stockbridge. The livelier part of the Berkshires is Pittsfield south to the CT border on rt.7. South of Great Barrington to near the CT border on rt. 7 is almost wall to wall antique stores. Gt. Barrington is an interesting town but quite a drive from VV.

Tony, dear, we'll be fine in the Berkshires in April. Remember, I'm in Rockland, ME right now in January. I can find something good about almost anywhere!

 

[DrQ]

We stayed at Oak'N Spruce in Lee a couple of October's ago and loved the area.

 

[DrQ]

I live in the Foothills of the Berkshires and would recommend going there from mid May to peak leaf season.

Ok, I'm aware of leaf season in the Fall, but in the Spring?

 

[tonyg]

May weather is usually pretty good and mud season is usually over. The area is not that crowded as it will be in June and the summer and it is a great time to see the area attractions and activities. Ski season is well over by then. Some things like Tanglewood will not be open until mid June.

 

[tonyg]

Tony, dear, we'll be fine in the Berkshires in April. Remember, I'm in Rockland, ME right now in January. I can find something good about almost anywhere!

I remember being in Southwest Harbor in February one year - not bad except for the snow overnight on our last day there.

 

[mdurette]

Ok, I'm aware of leaf season in the Fall, but in the Spring?

On a similar note we have been to NH many times in all seasons with the exception of spring. But, on our last couple of journeys (summer and fall) I got to thinking about how all the waterfalls on our hikes must be running in the spring. DD has a few days off in April this year......maybe time to check it out!

The problem I usually have by April is that I am tired of the snow and cold and just want somewhere warm...…..