COURTESY PHOTOS
Pictured is Canterbury Farm.
By STACEY MARCUS
I am head over heels in love with the Berkshires in the summer, when the sounds of world-class music waft through the air, stages brim with brilliant performances and the region’s bucolic beauty shimmers in the sun.
Autumn is equally enchanting for foliage trips and harvest festivals, while spring blooms with a welcome chance for renewal at a spa, fly fishing or hiking.
This story is all about the splendors of spending time in the Berkshires in the winter when the rolling hills are perfect for skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. There is something joyful about a blast of cold air painting your cheeks pink and making your heart go thump.
So, jump on the Mass. Pike, head west and take your family on a trip to the beautiful Berkshires. Visit berkshires.org to create your own family winter escape.
Get Cozy at Canterbury Farm
This delightful bed and breakfast offers fun for the whole family, with cross country skiing, skating and snowshoeing. You’ll love the warm fires in the den, hot chocolate and cozy rooms after a day of outdoor fun.
www.canterbury-farms.com
Dine at the Red Lion Inn’s Widow Bingham’s Tavern
A trip to the Berkshires would not be complete without a stop at the Red Lion Inn. Nestled in the center of the historic village of Stockbridge, it is one of the few inns in New England that has been operated continuously since before 1800. Your family will love the rustic Widow Bingham’s Tavern, where all can enjoy a hearty meal and warm dessert.
www.redlioninn.com
Hike at Bartholomew’s Cobble
Check out the great events at this natural wonder, such as Snowshoe Sundays, Family Olympics and Winter Photography in the Woods.
thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/berkshires/bartholomews-cobble.html
Enjoy “Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning” exhibit at The Norman Rockwell Museum
If you’ve never been to the museum that houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell art, now is a great time to visit. The museum is hosting the “Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning” exhibit until May, the first museum exhibition about the world’s most successful animation partnership (“Yogi Bear,” “The Flintstones,” “Top Cat”). And, of course, Rockwell’s remarkable paintings, illustrations and other artwork is here, as are Rockwell’s last studio, the Norman Rockwell Archives and the new Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, the nation’s first research institute devoted to the art of illustration.
www.nrm.org
Experience the Mountain Coaster at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
Jiminy Peak is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England, and is the only mountain resort in North America to generate its own energy using alternative wind power. Its KidsRule Mountain Camps offer instruction for kids ages 3 to 14 and include a full day of lessons, lunch and cocoa breaks. Especially fun is Jiminy’s Mountain Coaster, the first of its kind on the East Coast, offering twisting, turning fun through the woods!
www.jiminypeak.com
https://newitemlive.wpengine.com/lifestyle/super-brunches-in-boston/
Stop and Shop
For those of us who prefer the sport of shopping, Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge offer great places to shop or stop for a mug of hot chocolate. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
Country Curtains at the Red Lion Inn
30 Main St., Stockbridge
www.countrycurtains.com
Karen Keenan Gifts & Home
69 Main St., Lee
www.karenkeenangifts.com
The Arcadian Shop
91 Pittsfield Road, Lenox
www.store.arcadian.com
Chocolate Springs Café
55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox
www.chocolatesprings.com
Guidos Fresh Marketplace
1020 South St., Pittsfield
www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com
Lee Premium Outlets
17 Premium Outlet Blvd, Lee
www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/lee