Stockbridge

Stockbridge is the quintessence of small-town New England charm, untainted by industry or large-scale development. It is also the blueprint for small-town America as represented picture perfectly on the covers of the Saturday Evening Post by painter Norman Rockwell. From 1953 until his death in 1978, Rockwell lived in Stockbridge and painted its buildings and its residents, inspired by their simple charm. James Taylor sang about the town in his hit "Sweet Baby James," as did balladeer Arlo Guthrie in his famous Thanksgiving anthem "Alice's Restaurant," in which he tells what ensued when he tossed some garbage out the back of his Volkswagen bus down a Stockbridge hillside.

Indeed, Stockbridge is the stuff of story and legend. Travelers have been checking into the Red Lion Inn on Main Street since the 18th century, and Stockbridge remains only slightly altered in appearance since that time. In 18th- and 19th-century buildings surrounding the inn, you'll find a handful of engaging shops and eateries. The rest of Stockbridge is best appreciated via a country drive or bike ride over its hilly, narrow lanes.