Massachusetts - Berkshires/Pioneer Valley/Mohawk Valley

Ten Great Things to Do in the Berkshires/Pioneer Valley/Mohawk Valley Massachusetts

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Marble Luxury at the Hands of Nature

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Discover a geologic wonder and a peaceful place to walk and view the artistry of nature at Natural Bridge State Park. Examine the only naturally formed white marble arch and man-made white marble dam in North America, and tour an abandoned marble quarry. The "natural bridge" for which the park is named, according to geologists, is 550 million year old bedrock marble, carved into an arch by the force of glacial melt water over 13,000 years ago; one of the best places in New England to demonstrate the effects of glaciation. The bridge spans rushing Hudson Brook as it twists and tumbles through a steep 60-foot deep gorge. Phone: 413-663-6392

Namaste

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It might seem like all your trendy friends are heading off to yoga class these days, but the folks at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health have been doing it for more than 30 years. Tucked away in the beautiful Berkshires of western Massachusetts in Stockbridge, Kripalu offers a multitude of classes, workshops, and weekend retreats. Different yogic programs focus on writing, creativity, relationships, body detoxification, cooking, dancing, and even snow-shoeing. So whether you’re a long-time yoga practitioner or a dedicated couch-potato, it’s a safe bet that a stop at Kripalu will make you feel peaceful and rejuvenated. Phone: 866-200-5203.

On the Trail of Abe Lincoln

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Chesterwood, the country home of the 19th-century sculptor who created several statues of Abraham Lincoln, is the center of a self-guided tour, the Lincoln Trail in the Berkshires. The tour consists of 14 Lincoln-related sites, among them the Williams College Museum of Art and The Clark museum in Williamstown, the Berkshire Museum and Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Tanglewood in Lenox, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, and more. Among the things to be seen and heard are Lincoln-related art exhibits, a Mary Todd Lincoln letter, Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copeland at Tanglewood on Parade on June 28, The 1865 Berkshire Eagle headline about Lincoln’s death, and much more. Phone at Chesterwood: 413-298-3579.

Private Poet on Display in Amherst

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Emily Dickinson was a loner, a recluse and a rogue female poet who is said to have spent much of her life hiding out at home. At the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dickinson enthusiasts can tour that home, and the landscaped grounds that inspired so much of her poetry. Visitors can take a guided walk through the house and learn all about the poet’s idiosyncrasies, 19th-century architecture, and the Dickinson family drama. See the room where the prolific poet wrote her masterpieces and learn why, 1,800 poems later, her life and work have generated more than a century of scholarly debate. Phone: 413-542-8161.

Put the Second Amendment to Good Use

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A decidedly outdoor sport moves indoors at the Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center , a public shooting facility on Page Boulevard in Springfield, where shooting lanes are available for use by non-members. If you have wondered about the sport of shooting and want to give it a try, this is a place to do it in indoor comfort. Smith & Wesson firearms and targets are available and there are two classrooms and a variety of support facilities. Through the Try-A-Gun offer, any non-licensed person may use a handgun, one box of ammunition, and three targets for $26.95. Also, for $20 any non-member can use a lane with his own handgun. For quieter enjoyment, the facility also has a special historical exhibit that focuses on the development of firearms and the critical role that the Connecticut Valley firearms industry has had in firearms design and manufacture in America. There is also a retail store. Phone: 800-331-0852.

Abe's Immortalizer Lives On at Chesterwood

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Chesterwood , on Williamsville Road in Stockbridge, is the country home, studio, and gardens of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C., and the Minute Man in Concord. The buildings are furnished with American and European decorative arts and paintings. Woodland walks feature mountain vistas and perennial gardens. The house and gardens are daily open for self-guided tours from May 1 to October 31. Phone: 413-298-3579.

Artists Pick Up Hammers
to Save Revered Showroom

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The 20-year-old Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom on Ashfield Street in Shelburne Falls faced a challenge in the summer of 2009 with the retirement of two key staff members and a flagging economy. But the artists that contribute to the showroom rallied and undertook a major renovation, and the showroom reopened with a splash on October 17, 2009. In the new design of the showroom each window frames a spectacular river view and is surrounded by a bevy of beautifully displayed pots, paintings, collages, mixed media, glassware, textiles, wood work and photographs. The gallery is open to the public daily except Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. Phone: 413-625-9833.

Botanical Garden Offers
Herbal Beauty Year-Round

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Plant lovers can find a place of peaceful, studious beauty at the Botanic Garden of Smith College on College Lane in Northampton. The garden includes thousands of plants, of course, under glass in the Lyman Conservatory and outdoors in various not-so-secret gardens. There is also a collection of dried plants. There are 60,000 pressed specimens available for research in the Herbarium. The public is invited to explore the campus arboretum and specialty gardens. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 413-585-2740.

Bring Your Own Romance … and Some Matches

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This is one of New England's most popular destinations, with lots of fun shopping and holiday spirit. Yankee Candle Village on Routes 5 and 10 in South Deerfield offers a unique shopping, entertainment, and dining experience. Explore the largest selection of Yankee Candle fragrances and styles. Stroll through the Bavarian Christmas Village, Nutcracker Castle, and Home Store. Enjoy fabulous candle, home décor, and holiday shopping. Savor freshly made fudge and other sweet treats in the Fudge Shop. Dip your own candles and watch history brought to life in the Candlemaking Museum. Open daily. Phone: 877-636-7707.

Clear a Path for the Young Ones

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Billing itself as a “true family mountain,” Butternut, on State Road / Route 23 in Great Barrington, puts a heavy emphasis of bringing the beginners of all ages and particularly the youngest learners into the sport. From the SKIwee (for age 4 to 12) and miniRIDERS (age 7 to 12) programs through racing workshops, Butternut declares that its group and private lessons are guaranteed to improve children's confidence and skill at skiing and snowboarding. So grab the kids and get to the slopes. Phone: 413-528-2000.

Conservancy in Great Barrington
Creates a Wonderful Riverwalk

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Downtown Great Barrington is known for its many boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, and gourmet restaurants. A shopping or dining stroll in the downtown should include a visit to the adjacent Housatonic Riverwalk . The paved path that ambles alongside this busy Berkshires waterway is an all-volunteer restoration project of the Great Barrington Land Conservancy. After your riverside stroll, take in some evening entertainment in Great Barrington at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, the Triplex movie theatre, or the town bandstand, site of free concerts. Phone: 413-528-3391.

Farm Fun from Maple Season to Christmas

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The Ioka Valley Farm on Route 43 in Hancock offers fun and educational farming activities year-round. Spring brings the sugaring season and pancake breakfasts, followed through the rest of the year by berry picking, picnicking, pumpkin carving, wagon rides, a haystack maze, Christmas trees and more, all against a breathtaking view of mountains and pastures. Coming up in March: Maple treats! Phone: 413-738-5915.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2+Plunkett+Street,+Lenox,+MA&sll=37.0625

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The Mount, which is the restored home and gardens in Lenox of writer Edith Wharton (1862-1937), will reopen in the summer of 2010 with new installations, exhibits, and special events. Wharton wrote books on architecture, gardens, and interior design, and consequently her home and gardens are a masterpiece of design. The 2010 season begins on May 1 with the unveiling of Dramatic License: Edith Wharton on Stage and Screen. Late July brings the first annual Berkshire Literary Festival to the Mount. A two-week run of “Summer,” Wharton's coming-of-age story set in the Berkshires, will be performed in late August. A visit to the Mount is an uplifting experience for readers, gardeners, and admirers of this progressive Victorian lady. Phone: 413-551-5111.

Tranquil Village

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Hancock Shaker Village on Route 20 in Pittsfieldtakes visitors back to daily life in a Shaker community, founded nearly two centuries ago. Known during its active life as the City of Peace, this historic site now hosts special activities such as watching newborn baby animals, enjoying Shaker suppers or, for kids, exploring the Discovery Room. Fun for all ages. Phone: 800-817-1137.

Unleash Your Inner Child

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This stop is a joy for anyone who loved picture books as a young child. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on West Bay Road in Amherst collects and celebrates the art of the picture book. Much of the fun is child-oriented and interactive: there is a hands-on Art Studio; an auditorium for performances; a library for reading and storytelling; a café; and a museum shop. Bring kids and memories. Open year-round. Phone: 413-658-1100.