Berkshires

More than a century ago, wealthy families from New York, Philadelphia, and Boston built "summer cottages" in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts—great country estates that earned Berkshire County the nickname "Inland Newport." Many of those grand houses have been razed, and still others are now occupied by schools or hotels. But the region's legacy as a desirable vacation getaway and cultural hub continues unabated.

Occupying the far western end of the state, the Berkshires lie about two-and-a-half hours by car from Boston and New York City, yet the region lives up to the storybook image of rural New England, with wooded hills, narrow winding roads, and compact historic villages. Many cultural events take place in summer, among them the renowned Tanglewood classical music festival in Lenox. The foliage blazes brilliantly in fall, skiing is popular in winter, and spring is the time for maple sugaring. The scenic Mohawk Trail runs east to west across the northern section of the Berkshires.

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