The Berkshires: beauty and history

The Berkshires, in western Massachusetts are an area of tremendous beauty and history. Stretching between Massachusetts and Connecticut, and bordering New York, the Berkshires are dotted with charming New England towns.

From hiking and biking to wildlife sanctuaries, cultural experiences like galleries and performance spaces, fine dining, local cuisine, and unique shopping opportunities, the Berkshires are a great place to visit and an even better place to live. 

Enjoy nature right in your backyard

Living in the Berkshires means living amidst natural sites like the Appalachian Trail, Natural Bridge State Park, and the Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, and the in-town River Walk.

There are seemingly endless opportunities to bike, hike, walk, and enjoy water sports and winter sports. 

Shop, dine, and relax in the Berkshires

When you’re home in the Berkshires, you have famous outlet shopping centers only a short distance away. You also get to enjoy the charm of small towns like Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox and Sheffield. Whether you love visiting antique stores, or are looking for a gift as unique as your loved one, you’ll always be a stone’s throw from the perfect place.

Looking for somewhere to eat? There are countless bars and restaurants for your consideration, ranging from casual to classy. From wine bars in Lenox to historical taverns in Sheffield, the Berkshire region has it all, plus wineries, breweries, and distilleries throughout.

The Berkshires are home to a wide variety of cultural experiences, from museums and galleries to performing arts centers. Take in a show at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, visit the birthplace of Susan B. Anthony in Adams, or bring the kids to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.

The Berkshires have a rich and varied history

Life in the Berkshire region is a special treat for history lovers.

In Great Barrington, local historical sites include the W.E.B. DuBois National Historic Site and William Stanley Overlook.

In Stockbridge, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting walking through the Main Street Historic District, and for good reason! Many of Rockwell’s paintings were inspired by this idyllic town, and the Norman Rockwell Museum is only a short ride away. 

If Stockbridge sounds familiar to you because of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant,” you’re imagining the right town. While the original Alice’s Restaurant was “around the back” on Main Street, you’ll find the Guthrie Center in Great Barrington.

 In Sheffield, you’ll find a statue of Elizabeth Freeman, for whom the Elizabeth Freeman Center (addressing domestic and sexual violence) is named. Freeman, known as “Mum Bett” was an enslaved woman who is often called the “mother of the civil rights movement.” Thanks in part to a landmark legal case brought by Mum Bett, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided to outlaw slavery in the state in 1783.

In Pittsfield, Hancock Shaker Village celebrates 250 years of Shaker History in America. With 20 historic buildings and a working garden and farm, visitors have the opportunity to not just observe, but to experience history firsthand.

A sampling of what the Berkshires has to offer

These are only a small sampling of what the Berkshires has to offer. The Berkshires are a great place to live and work, or retire. With plenty of recreation and resources, there is truly something for everyone.

Ready to make the first move towards living in the Berkshires? Contact Marguerite today at 413-528-8289 (office) or 413-329-7568 (cell).