ILuvLexie

My family will be passing through the Berkshires on our way to Boston from Cooperstown New York. We have kids 10 and 12. It is just for the afternoon but since I have never been to the area I was wondering where we should spend a few hours, have lunch and walk around. Thanks!

Ackislander

Very quickly, there are five principal towns in which to eat: Lee, West Stockbridge, Lenox, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington. GB is the farthest from the Masspike but has the most choices of food and is probably the best for walking around; Lee had and may still have a Tex Mex place "downtown" nearish to the Pike. West Stockbridge has great dinner choices but nothing stands out for lunch. Stockbridge oozes charm and is fun to walk around in. There is a good deli where you can get sandwiches and picnic supplies. Lenox has a variety of small bistros and cafes, but I have never eaten there. None of these places has chain restaurants in their centers.

ILuvLexie

Thanks Ackislander. I appreciate a layout of the land. I needed that!

tchoiniere

I agree with Ackislander's post. I would definitely choose Stockbridge for proximity to the Pike. You could also go to the Norman Rockwell Museum which is very nice but not sure how interesting for kids.

I believe the Mexican rest. did close in Lee but not positive. There are other restaurants on Main St in Lee. There is also an outlet village right near the entrance to the Pike where you could spend some time. I worked as a toll collector for a couple of summers - you wouldn't believe the # of people pulling on to the Turnpike trying to get to the outlets. I couldnt tell them to do a U-turn so I had to tell them to drive 7 miles to get to the next exit, get off and come back...

Kwoo

I can recommend the Main STreet Cafe in Stockbridge for a nice lunch. We have eaten there several times. Agree with Ackislander that Stockbridges oozes charm. The Norman Rockwell Museum is great. Would your children be interested in it? There is also an excellent Greek restaurant on Rt 7 in Great Barrington called the Aegean Breeze which I highly recommend if you like Greek food.

jod

My suggestion is pack a picnic lunch in a cooler with sandwiches and drinks along with a few snacks. Save the money on a restaurant and go to the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. Eat in the parking lot then enjoy the grounds and museum. We did that going to Cooperstown from the Boston area.

ILuvLexie

Thanks for all the suggestions. We are going to stop in Stockbridge.

Amma

If you stop in Stockbridge, check out the Red Lion Inn. Though it's a bit pricier than a sandwich shop, the tavern has a Kids Menu. We stayed there a few years ago and ate in both the Tavern and the dining room and enjoyed both. The Inn is full of interesting antiques and stuff that your kids might enjoy. It's worth a look. By the way, Stockbridge is a very small town. We also ate at Alice's Restaurant, but I can't recommend it and it's probably closed by now!

Bowsprit

For those without little kids, Once Upon A Table, in The Mews in Stockbridge is a wonderful place for an innovative lunch (escargot pot pie!). They also serve dinner and breakfast. It's a small place that packed a big wallop when we visited.

irishface

If you are settled on Stockbridge, I might suggest Chesterwood for a visit. It is in the same area as Norman Rockwell. It is the home of Daniel chester French (sculptor of the Minute Man statue in Concord and Lincoln in the Lincol Memorial in DC) It shows the miniature, from which he worked his large sculpture) and the tracks where he could wheel his work out into the open to work on it in good light and then roll back undercover. There are gardens and woods to explore. Lots of modern sculptures on the lawn.

irishface

If you are settled on Stockbridge, I might suggest Chesterwood for a visit. It is in the same area as Norman Rockwell. It is the home of Daniel chester French (sculptor of the Minute Man statue in Concord and Lincoln in the Lincol Memorial in DC) It shows the miniature, from which he worked his large sculpture) and the tracks where he could wheel his work out into the open to work on it in good light and then roll back undercover. There are gardens and woods to explore. Lots of modern sculptures on the lawn.