Think music, museums, and mountains. On the western border of Massachusetts, the Berkshires provide an unbeatable array of visual and performing arts experiences and outdoor adventures in a magnificent rural setting.

CHECK IT OUT

Summer in the Berkshire is synonymous with Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a venue for popular and jazz artists. Cultural offerings run the gamut from the evocative Americana illustrations of the Norman Rockwell Museum to the Impressionists and Old Master’s of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. The Williams College Museum of Art has an active schedule of American, Asian, and contemporary art exhibitions. MASS MoCA is on the cutting edge of the art world; its sprawling mill complex is filled with large-scale contemporary art. Stage and screen stars return each summer to practice their craft at the Williamstown and Berkshire Theatre Festivals; the Bard rules at Shakespeare & Company. Hancock Shaker Village provides fascinating insights into the Shaker way of life. For gardeners, two must-see Berkshire estates: Naumkeag and The Mount Estate & Gardens.

FRESH AIR

The 11-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail runs through the Hoosic River Valley from the Pittsfield/Cheshire line to Adams; bikers and walkers are rewarded with great views of Mt. Greylock. In winter, the trail is popular with cross-country skiers. When the snow flies, 19 friendly and affordable ski areas offer a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders.

WHAT'S NEW?

Jacob’s Pillow marks its 75th anniversary this summer as an internationally famous dance festival. Performances take place on two indoor stages and the informal setting of the Inside/Out stage. Or perhaps you’d like to dance across the hills yourself on the Mountain Coaster, only the second one of its kind in the USA, newly installed at the Mountain Adventure Park at Jiminy Peak.

Berkshire Visitors Bureau