The 1826 Round Stone Barn is the most notable building at Pittsfield’s Hancock Shaker Village.
Harvest time at a Berkshire farm.
A popular hiking trail near the town of Mt. Washington leads to Bash Bish Falls, which cascade down a series of gorges to a dramatic 80-foot drop.
Autumn leaves decorate this back road in the Berkshires.
I’m a big fan of living museums, so my favorite among the many Berkshire museums is historic Hancock Shaker Village near Pittsfield. The well-preserved 19th-century Shaker village, a farm and workshop complex set on 1,200 verdant acres, interprets the activities of a close- knit Utopian/religious community that existed here from the early 1800s until 1960. The Shakers, a Christian sect that emigrated from England to America in the 1770s, was named for the trance-like trembling its believers exhibited during worship services. A commitment to celibacy, self-sufficiency, communal life and dedication to manual labor defined the movement. Some 300 Shakers lived at Hancock, where they farmed and crafted elegant furniture, implements, and household items that were—and still are—much in demand by collectors. Herman Melville, in fact, was an avid buyer during his time in the region. It should be abundantly clear at this point that the Berkshire region is a culture-driven destination. But there’s plenty else to entertain visitors. Those seeking recreation, simple sightseeing and dining will find their interests well served. The seasons, of course, dictate most activities. Summer is peak season in the Berkshires and is definitely the
time to visit if music, theater, or dance is your thing. My favorite time is the shoulder season—early September to mid-October. At this time of year, crowds have thinned a bit but there’s still an opportunity to take in some of the cultural events as the fall foliage begins to show its colors. The weather is near perfect as well for outdoor activities. One of the area’s most popular recreational venues is Ramblewild. This eight-course aerial park near Lanesborough invites you to climb, walk and zoom through the forest canopy. The courses cover more than 10 acres with some 100 elements—zip lines, balancing logs, nets, rope bridges, ladders and tunnels—on a self- guided system employing clip-in harnesses. Ramblewild’s exciting tree-to-tree adventure is open to anyone over age 7 and more than 55 inches tall. Nearly 80 percent of the land in the Berkshires is undeveloped. That means there’s plenty of nature to explore by hiking, biking, walking and, during winter months, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The Ashuwillticook Trail between Lanesborough and Adams is ideal for walking, jogging, and biking. The trail runs 11 miles along a former rail bed through valleys and along the Cheshire Reservoir. Another popular trail leads to Bash Bish Falls near the town of Mt. Washington.
BERKSHIRES
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2018
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