Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, located in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, is a natural playground for all those who love the Great Outdoors. Flower filled valleys rise to meet the highest mountain peaks in the state. Hiking trails meander past bubbling streams and over rocky drumlins. Stockbridge's picturesque streets are filled with quaint shops, restaurants, and scenery that rival any small town in America. You can spend your time strolling the streets or venturing further afield to take advantage of the Berkshires' many gifts. A day's itinerary in the Stockbridge area can include hiking, fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, white-water rafting, golf, antique hunting, or visiting one of the region's many historical sights.Norman Rockwell used the town as the setting for some of his famous covers for the Saturday Evening Post and in the calendars he created for Brown & Bigelow. Original paintings by Rockwell can be seen at the Norman Rockwell Museum, on the grounds of an estate near the edge of town. Over 500 of his paintings and drawings, as well as the studio where he worked for the last 25 years of his life, are on display. Also in the area is the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. This boyhood home of the famous poet has been turned into a National Historic Landmark, and is filled with furnishings and mementos of Bryant's work and travels. The homestead and its surrounding countryside inspired much of young Bryant's poetry such as The Rivulet and To A Waterfowl.
If you are hearing the call of the wild and want to do some exploring, Beartown State Forest is close at hand. With over 10,000 acres of forested terrain, Beartown has plenty of activities to keep visitors busy. Hikers spend their time trekking along the Appalachian Trail, enjoying the incredible views. Fishing and boating fans flock to Benedict Pond, which has a healthy supply of brown and rainbow trout. The pond also serves as one of the forest's favorite swimming holes. In winter, alpine lovers use the trails for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Snowmobiling is also a favorite pastime in the forest.
Stockbridge is perfectly positioned to enjoy winter attractions. Ski Butternut in Great Barrington has 7 lifts that whisk skiers to 22 runs and over 110 acres of terrain. Snowboarders and cross-country skiers also have plenty of room to maneuver. The Notchview Reservation in Windsor has over 30 km of cross-country ski terrain. Primarily a beginner and intermediate mountain, Notchview also has some hair- raising runs that will challenge any expert. Otis Ridge in Otis bills itself as a family mountain, and caters primarily to beginner and intermediate skiers. The ski camp for kids is the oldest in the nation.
Stockbridge can serve as a jumping off point into other Berkshire Mountain adventures. Take in a play at the Williamstown Theater Festival, a nationally recognized theater offering everything from classics to musicals. Plan your trip around the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, and see where famous musicians like James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma have performed. Shoppers will want to venture south to Sheffield, the "Antiques Capital of the Berkshires." If you want to learn more about the author of that famous story about a white whale, visit Arrowhead, the estate where Herman Melville penned Moby Dick. If you have a green thumb, you may want to visit the Berkshire Botanical Garden. The Berkshire Mountains offer a plethora of activities, so get out there and enjoy this outdoor wonderland.
