Interesting things to do fill your trip to the Berkshires, Pioneer & Mohawk valleys

Massachusetts > Western Mass. > Things to Do and See > 90 Great Things to Do in Massachusetts

This historic region offers a wealth of memorable events and activities framed by breathtaking natural beauty. The Berkshires feature year-round culture, recreation, and adventure in quaint towns like Stockbridge, Lenox, and Williamstown, while North Adams has the fabulous Museum of Contemporary Art. There is no shortage of places to stay , shop, and dine. Great ziplines and canopy tours are here; for all-day fun, visit Look Park with a zoo, lake, water spray park, 18 holes of miniature golf and six tennis courts. In winter, family-friendly skiing and other snow sports are just a short walk uphill.

Berkshire East Mountain Resort

66 Thunder Mountain Road Charlemont, MA, 01339 Phone: 413-339-6617

Featured by USA Today as one of the Top Ten Zip Lines of the United States!

Berkshire East is New England's largest zip destination with three tours to choose from. The Base Tour is our introductory course… give zipping a try! Then move on to fabulous views of the valley on the Mountain Top Tour. Mountain Top zipping is a great family experience and summer memory.

Ready for tour number three? The Valley Jump is fun to the extreme. You will love it. Two 1/2 long mile zips, approaching 200' off the ground. This tour has been featured in the Washington Post.

Come, fly above the tree tops!

Ponds at Foxhollow

Route 7 Lenox, MA, 01240 Phone: 413-637-1469

Great things to do inside and outside this convenient, elegant resort

A list of great things to do at Ponds at Foxhollow, a secluded resort in the heart of the Berkshires, begins with the resort itself: There are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, shuffleboard, bocce, plenty of room on the 223-acre estate to hike, bike and cross-country ski, an exercise room, putting green, basketball courts and canoes to take out on the resort’s very pretty pond. After you have relaxed in your spacious one- or two-bedroom condo overlooking that pond, you might head out to the Normal Rockwell Museum, Tanglewood, a botanical garden, a beach, an historic home. Or just head into Lenox, Lee or Stockbridge to stroll the quintessentially New England streets and sample the excellent restaurants.

Zoar Outdoor

Route 2 (Mohawk Trail) Charlemont, MA, 01339 Phone: 800-532-7483

So many amazing activities at this adventure center for all skill levels

If you have ever wanted to try zip lining, or whitewater rafting or stand-up paddle-boarding, the place to launch your adventure is Zoar Outdoor in the Berkshires. It’s also the place for experienced folks, with whitewater rapids up to level IV and a three-hour zip lining canopy tour that reaches heights of 50 feet. Zoar also offers stand-up paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, easy river floats and, at its center in Wilmington, Vt., snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. Experienced instructors and guides are ready to assist or teach people at every skill level, and the equipment they use is first-rate. Kayaks and paddleboards, for example, are stable enough for first-time users. Lodging options include Hawk Mountain Lodge, 11 cabin tents, five tent sites – and a yurt.

The Berkshires of Western MA

Come discover awe-inspiring fall foliage

In the Berkshires of Western MA we know when the night air turns brisk that fall is on its way. Along with it, comes the beautiful Berkshire foliage. Visitors both near and far and residents alike find themselves throwing on light jackets and soaking in the brilliant colored leaves on hikes, car rides to harvest fairs, and while meandering through apple orchards. This is also a great time to explore some of our world class museums or take in a show at one of our theaters. Fall in the Berkshires is not to be missed.

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Red Lion Inn

30 Main Street Stockbridge, MA, 01262 Phone: 413-298-5545

Make the Red Lion Inn your headquarters for Berkshire memories

There is everything to like about a visit to Stockbridge, MA. There’s two plus centuries of America’s history. Here’s the adopted home of Norman Rockwell not far from his celebrated museum. The studios and creations of famed artists, musicians, and authors are within easy reach. The outdoors offers hiking, biking, skiing, water sports and more. In short, there is something for everyone. The Red Lion Inn has it too. Rooms with complimentary WIFI, air conditioning, cable television, and cozy plush bathrobes. There’s great food rooted in the region’s traditions. Enjoy the fitness room, the partners spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, a porch with rocking chairs, a gift shop, nightly entertainment at the Lion’s Den, and a very curious lobby cat.

Porches Inn at MASS MoCA

231 River Street North Adams, MA, 01247 Phone: 413-664-0400

MassMoCA and more in quaint and quirky North Adams

Visit the world renowned Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and stay across the street at this lodging in restored Victorian row houses. You’ll enjoy the relaxed, cozy atmosphere and quirky and colorful spirit within. Architectural framings and angles vary. Individual decors give a distinct personality to every space. No two rooms are alike and the comforts are everywhere from lofts and/or spiral staircases, separate living rooms, working fireplaces, to private slate floored baths with Jacuzzi, claw foot tubs, and separate shower stalls. There’s complimentary continental breakfast, a heated outdoor pool, fitness center and lobby bar. The museum highlights the northern Berkshire’s arts and crafts scene while quaint, walkable North Adams offers great shopping, restaurants, galleries and more.

Bubbles in the Berkshires

Blantyre, a Relais & Châteaux property nestled near Lenox in the scenic Berkshires, is now hosting a year-round Champagne salon inspired by Dom Pérignon. The salon will offer select Dom Pérignon varietals in indoor and outdoor spaces. Guests can enjoy inventive drinks and fresh fare throughout the year in the Cloister, a secluded garden patio that features a clever tin-to-table menu with an upscale twist on caviar. Inside, guests can seek refuge at La Cave, a sleek underground hideaway next to Blantyre’s acclaimed wine cellar, adorned with original brick and marble stone walls. Elegant! The new Champagne Salon is open Fridays to Sundays, 3 to 11 p.m. 844-881-0104.

Race Brook Falls Is a Three-Horsetail Beauty

Race Brook Falls is a three-level waterfall of Hawaiian-caliber beauty and one of the highlights of the Mount Everett State Reservation. You can climb trails up to all three (or fewer) levels, but be aware that the climb is difficult and you must be careful of slippery footing from the waterfall spray. The steep trail leads you past the falls and even intersects at the top with the Appalachian Trail. Your efforts will be rewarded by views of classic horsetail falls. The trail head is at a small parking area of Route 41 in Sheffield. The trail intersects at the top with the Appalachian Trail.

Broadside Bookshop: Best in the Valley

Broadside Bookshopon Main Street in Northampton was voted Best Independent Bookstore in the Valley by a poll of local readers, so you know from ythe get-go that your love of books will be satisfied here. Located in a college town, the Bookshop says customers shall received personal service by a book-knowledgeable staff. You will find lots of fiction and literary non-fiction, and even hard-to-find journals. Come dive into a place cherished by savvy bookworms. 413-586-4235

Stroll to Your Heart’s Content in These Gardens

Beautiful plants, walks, and seating welcome you to the Berkshire Botanical Gardens at Routes 102 and 183 in Stockbridge. From May to Columbus Day, come wander 23 display gardens that include an 80-year-old herb garden; a mixed border garden; pond and rock gardens; the Towering Arboretum, with exotic tree species. The terrain is generally manageable for wheelchairs, although some trails are slightly inclined. Dive into special events, like the plant sale in mid-May, the Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, and the Holiday Marketplace in December. The Visitor Center offer souvenirs and snacks. Open daily. 413-298-3926.

natural bridge state park in north adams ma

Marble Luxury at the Hands of Nature

Discover a geologic wonder and a peaceful place to walk and view the artistry of nature at Natural Bridge State Park on McCauley Road, off Route 8, in North Adams. 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, 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 glaciers. The bridge spans rushing Hudson Brook as it tumbles through a 60-foot gorge. Phone: 413-663-6392

Pittsfield Hops with Shopping and Browsing Fun

Pittsfield is a lively town centrally located between other stars of the Berkshires, like Stockbridge, Lenox, Williamstown and North Adams. The downtown is a fun place for dining, browsing and shopping. If you need a gift, the options here are delightful: Circa, is a place to fine mid-century antiques, and a selection of vintage clothing and jewelry. Paul Rich and Sons Home Furnishings has made a name for itself selling high-quality furniture. Museum Facsimiles Outlet Store is a fun and unique place to find fine picture frames, framed mirrors, hand printed letterpress and silkscreen greeting cards, all at wholesale pricing.Everything is made here, not imported! Custom framing.

Good, Clean Fun: Canoeing the Housatonic

Berkshire Canoe Tours, based at Decker Boat Ramp on New Lenox Road in Lenox is a family-operated that delights in taking you out onto the lovely Housatonic River for a guided canoe trip. On your two-hour trip, expect to enjoy lovely surroundings and views of lots of animals, like red-tail hawks, owls or Canadian geese; beavers, muskrats, and the great blue heron. Don’t worry if you or your kids are newbies to paddling; trained guides provide general instruction for first time paddlers, along with information on the history and wildlife. Tours are suitable both for the experienced canoeist and for the first time paddler as the river is tranquil and generally a flat water paddle. This trip is suitable for young folks, All gear provided; bring personal needs like bottled water and sunscreen. 413-329-6017

animagic museum of special effects lee ma

Dive Into the Complex World of Animation

Animagic – the Museum of Special Effects in the Berkshires at 135 Main Street in Lee showcases the work of animators who played a large role in major movie animation of the last 30 years. Even better, the museum welcomes people of all ages to take a guided tour; see original models used in famous movies and a genuine Academy Award won by Eugene Mamut, a co-owner of Animagic. After the tour, visitors may take a two-hour workshop in which you create a model; make an animated movie; add sound, music, and title; and see your movie uploaded to YouTube. Tours are free; workshop is $20 per person. The museum is open daily, year-round, but only by appointment. 413-841-6679.

Riverwalk Is an Urban Treat

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 theater, or the town bandstand, site of free concerts. 413-528-3391.

Meet Villagers of 19th-Century New England

Storrowtown, at 1305 Memorial Avenue in West Springfield is a re-crated 19th-century New England village that hosts tours and events and history programs to show audiences how New Englanders lived centuries ago. Costumed docents guide tours of the village’s restored shops and houses and tell stories about the buildings and artifacts and also the people who lived here. Drop-in tours are offered June to August, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Activities like candle dipping, quill pen calligraphy and old-fashioned games add extra fun for families and kids. Storrowton hosts various events throughout the year, like Blacksmith Collective, Little House Family Day and more. 413-205-5051.

paintings of James Champney at the Deerfield Inn Deerfield MA

See Deerfield Through 19th Century Artist’s Eyes

In a place with such natural beauty as Massachusetts’s Pioneer Valley region, it is reasonable that painters have worked there to re-create the countryside on canvas. A painter from the 19th century named James Well Champney worked in Deerfield and much of his work now graces the walls of the Deerfield Inn and its bright, airy Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern. Deerfield Inn is among the several New England lodgings lucky to show original art, often by local artists. A visit to his historic town and inn, or a meal of fresh-cooked New England dishes at Champney’s puts you in the middle of a 19th-century vision of this unique place.

dinosaur museums in western Massachusetts

Fossils Fuel Curiosity at Dino Museums

Dinosaur history and folklore are alive and roaring in the Pioneer Valley region. A day or more of exploration awaits dino fans of all persuasions. The Nash Dinosaur Track Site and Rock Shop in South Hadley displays the largest number of dinosaur tracks in the region. Nearby, the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College in Amherst has impressive exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals, and other geologic specimens. Visitors to Dinosaur Hall in the the Springfield Science Museum in Springfield are riveted by the life-size replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Interactive exhibits at Dinosaur Hall include actual fossils of dinosaur tracks which can be touched and a cast of a huge sauropod footprint for children to climb into. Information: 413-755-1346.

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