Great Barrington -- What's to do in the area? Restaurants?
Jun 24th, 2014, 05:05 AM
#1
Original Poster
Great Barrington -- What's to do in the area? Restaurants?
We'll be in Great Barrington for 3/4 days in August. Any particular sites to visit in the area? We enjoy pretty much anything. We want to do some hiking so any trails would be good to hear about. Restaurant recommendations in the area would be appreciated. Any type of food, moderate price range (under $100 for 2 people.) Thanks!
Jun 24th, 2014, 05:30 AM
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went to the Berkshires in 2008 or so. I really loved the area. I liked the Norman Rockwell Museum in particular. The gallery talk was great. http://www.nrm.org/
"Gallery Orientation Talks
Make the most of your visit with an orientation talk! Let our expert gallery guides introduce you to the art and life of Norman Rockwell and the special highlights of our collection. Offered at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission"
What to do stuff is easy to find on the internet. http://berkshires.org/
I didn't do any real hiking but I did go to Natural Bridge State Park and also to Mount Greylock (highest point in Massachusetts), both of which are further north of Great Barrington.
"Gallery Orientation Talks
Make the most of your visit with an orientation talk! Let our expert gallery guides introduce you to the art and life of Norman Rockwell and the special highlights of our collection. Offered at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission"
What to do stuff is easy to find on the internet. http://berkshires.org/
I didn't do any real hiking but I did go to Natural Bridge State Park and also to Mount Greylock (highest point in Massachusetts), both of which are further north of Great Barrington.
Jun 24th, 2014, 07:02 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like Batholomew's cobble, which is south of Great Barrington, near to Connecticut. Its not major hiking but its very pretty. I think Monument Mountain is supposed to be pretty good hiking, though I have not been.
There is a ton of cultural possibilities....Tanglewood, Jacobs Ladder (dance), Shakespeare & Co, Barrington Stage company, and probably others I'm forgetting.
Along with the Rockwell Museum, there is Chesterwood which was the home and workshop of Daniel Chester French who sculpted the famous Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in DC, also Naumkeag which is a great gilded age mansion to visit.
A bit farther afield, the Clark Institute is re-opening their permanent collection galleries this year, and is a terrific museum. Mass MOCA if you like modern art.
For food, we recently ate at Prairie Whale in Great Barrington and though it was really good. I like Cafe Adam but it might be a little bit over your budget (maybe not, if you weren't including too much alcohol). Castle Street Restaurant is a favorite. There is a little place right on Main Street, I think its just called "The Diner", that has very good sandwiches, and good breakfast items. There's a new italian place in Great Barrington called Mario's...haven't tried it yet. The location its in seems cursed, i think its changed names 3 times in 3 years, yet the restaurants that have been there have seemed pretty good to me.
hope that helps a little. I'll be in Great Barrington next weekend, so I will perhaps have new restaurant recommendations then.
There is a ton of cultural possibilities....Tanglewood, Jacobs Ladder (dance), Shakespeare & Co, Barrington Stage company, and probably others I'm forgetting.
Along with the Rockwell Museum, there is Chesterwood which was the home and workshop of Daniel Chester French who sculpted the famous Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in DC, also Naumkeag which is a great gilded age mansion to visit.
A bit farther afield, the Clark Institute is re-opening their permanent collection galleries this year, and is a terrific museum. Mass MOCA if you like modern art.
For food, we recently ate at Prairie Whale in Great Barrington and though it was really good. I like Cafe Adam but it might be a little bit over your budget (maybe not, if you weren't including too much alcohol). Castle Street Restaurant is a favorite. There is a little place right on Main Street, I think its just called "The Diner", that has very good sandwiches, and good breakfast items. There's a new italian place in Great Barrington called Mario's...haven't tried it yet. The location its in seems cursed, i think its changed names 3 times in 3 years, yet the restaurants that have been there have seemed pretty good to me.
hope that helps a little. I'll be in Great Barrington next weekend, so I will perhaps have new restaurant recommendations then.
Jun 24th, 2014, 10:59 AM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of town on Stockbridge Road called Xicohtencatl with ordinary Tex Mex except for the parts of he menu that have absolutely delicious Rick Bayless authentic Mexican food. Fabulous.
The Best Hardware Store in the Whole Wide World is on a side street in the town center. If you have only been to a "home center" or Ace, you won't believe it. Wanna build a log cabin? Sure, over here. Two packed floors.
The Best Hardware Store in the Whole Wide World is on a side street in the town center. If you have only been to a "home center" or Ace, you won't believe it. Wanna build a log cabin? Sure, over here. Two packed floors.
Jun 24th, 2014, 08:05 PM
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jacobs Ladder (dance)
It's Jacobs pillow.
Several threads that I used last year to plan a short trip -
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...berkshires.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...berkshires.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-262177-2.cfm
It's Jacobs pillow.
Several threads that I used last year to plan a short trip -
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...berkshires.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...berkshires.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-262177-2.cfm
Jun 24th, 2014, 09:30 PM
#10
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Over 50 years ago, I played in a tennis tournament on Mt. Greylock.
I was introduced to Friendly's in Gt. Barrington. At that time Fribbles were called Awful Awfuls. (It meant Awfully Good, Awfully Thick.) But when Hershey's bought Friendly's their marketing geniuses thought who would buy something called Awful Awful.
I was introduced to Friendly's in Gt. Barrington. At that time Fribbles were called Awful Awfuls. (It meant Awfully Good, Awfully Thick.) But when Hershey's bought Friendly's their marketing geniuses thought who would buy something called Awful Awful.
Jun 25th, 2014, 03:28 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 61,952
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Farmers Market on Saturdays at the Fairgrounds is worth a visit. Rt 9 grill is quite good for ( admittedly Northern) Bar b que.
we very much like Aroma for Indian Food.
I second Ackslander for hardware store.
we very much like Aroma for Indian Food.
I second Ackslander for hardware store.
Jun 25th, 2014, 04:05 AM
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,358
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The current issue of Conde Nast TRaveler (July) has an article on the area. No idea if the suggestions are good ones, however. I tried to link it for you but annot find online. The entire issue is about the US
Jun 25th, 2014, 04:35 AM
#14
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CMC
I googled Awful Awful. Friendly's and Newport Creamery have a complicated history as to the name.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2210,3513378
I googled Awful Awful. Friendly's and Newport Creamery have a complicated history as to the name.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2210,3513378
Jun 25th, 2014, 03:25 PM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Clark Museum in Williamstown is fabulous if you have time to go there ..
Love the Rockwell Museum and as you drive around, you will just come upon little outdoor art shows or flea markets.
In Great Barrington are some really good shops ( Karen Allen ( yes the actress) .. dishes, pots and pans, jewelry, records, cds and everything under the sun ... just walk down the street)
I still haven't been to Aroma and I have a taste for Indian food .. I think I will go there this week and bring something home.
On Rt 7 leaving Great Barrington on the way to Lennox, on the right is a fabulous cute little family owned donut shop .. they made the best coffee. My husband and I rarely passed the place without stopping and having some coffee and bringing home a bag of sweet stuff.
I was in Great Barrington today- where is Marios ?
And the "Diner" is right next to a coffee shop that is so good !
Love the Rockwell Museum and as you drive around, you will just come upon little outdoor art shows or flea markets.
In Great Barrington are some really good shops ( Karen Allen ( yes the actress) .. dishes, pots and pans, jewelry, records, cds and everything under the sun ... just walk down the street)
I still haven't been to Aroma and I have a taste for Indian food .. I think I will go there this week and bring something home.
On Rt 7 leaving Great Barrington on the way to Lennox, on the right is a fabulous cute little family owned donut shop .. they made the best coffee. My husband and I rarely passed the place without stopping and having some coffee and bringing home a bag of sweet stuff.
I was in Great Barrington today- where is Marios ?
And the "Diner" is right next to a coffee shop that is so good !
Jun 27th, 2014, 03:06 AM
#20
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree strongly with Jubilada as to the Williams College Museum. I have seen terrific shows there.
Because it is downtown, you could do it in the morning, have lunch in one of the downtown places, then go the the Clark in the afternoon.
Because it is downtown, you could do it in the morning, have lunch in one of the downtown places, then go the the Clark in the afternoon.
