The Berkshires in autumn © Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
Sprinkled with classic small New England towns, country shops
and green hillsides that turn to a kaleidoscope of golden colours
in autumn, the Berkshires are a popular weekend destination from
Boston, and in winter the snow-covered peaks and cross-country
tracks lure skiers from around the area. The hillsides are dotted
with grand country estates and Victorian mansions that were once
the summer residences for wealthy families from Boston and New York
and today have become inns or museums. Many have converted their
grounds to outdoor venues for summertime music, theatre and dance
performances that attract thousands of visitors every summer,
particularly the Boston Symphony Orchestra that performs at the
Tanglewood Estate in Lenox. These performances as well as several
museums and art institutions have turned the region into the summer
culture capital of New England. Further north it is easy to escape
the crowds, especially along the scenic route known as the Mohawk
Trail that was used by the Native Americans to travel between
valleys, and there are beautiful views and vistas as it winds
through miles of state parks and forests.
