Romantic weekend in the Berkshires?
 

I have an excuse to be in Great Barrington in July so my husband and I are thinking that it will be a good chance for a romantic getaway. We have not been to the Berkshires before and are looking for some guidance. We like good food, a comfortable bed and outdoor activities and don't object to a little luxury (but not over the top). I have a good budget for lodging and can go up to about $400 per night, probably 3-4 nights. A spa nearby would be a plus.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Orchards Hotel-Williamstown, MA

Williamstown is a longish way from Great Barrington if that is to be the center of their activities, though not to make an expedition to the Clark.

Can't help with a place to stay because we stay with friends, but I can strongly recommend trying for Tanglewood tickets, the lawn is fine; Jacob's Pillow (take a picnic) and there are free outdoor dance performances by students/apprentices before the main performances; and Aston Magna for chamber music.

A trip to Hancock Shaker Village is a nice addition to the many other museums. The Clark, in Williamstown, usually has something good in a lovely setting, and the Williams College Museum should not be ignored.

There is an old-fashioned hardware store I think next to a bike shop on one of the side streets going down the hill from the main street near the town hall in Great Barrington. Your husband will think he has died and gone to heaven if he likes tools at all. In addition, there is a very fine high end stereo shop (McIntosh, B&W) on a corner on the main street. I think there are some places that sell girl stuff, too, but I never really noticed them.

Lots of good restaurants, but one that you might miss is a Mexican place with a name like Xochi something on a highway strip outside the center of the town. The front of the menu is standard tex-mex. Get beyond that, and there is real Mexican cuisine.

Yes, Ackislander, I realized at about 5 AM today that I had gotten my state borders mixed up and Williamstown is near VT not CT. like Gt. Barrington. Doable from W/town but...

I'd recommend checking out the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art if you're looking for things to do in the Berkshires. It's my favorite museum in Western Massachusettes. I'm sure you could find somewhere nice to stay nearby, and there are lots of other things to do in the area.
Western Massachusetts: http://www.massvacation.com/westernMass/

gayletmom,
You can click on my name to read my short trip report for the Berkshires from this past January. I give names of restaurants we ate at, sightseeing recommendations, etc. Because we were there in January, we didn't do any outdoor activities.

In a nutshell, for sightseeing we visited museums: Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Clark Art Museum in Williamstown, & Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. We stayed at the White Horse Inn in Pittsfield.

On another trip to the Berkshires, we stayed at the Berkshire B&B in Sheffield. Visted the Mount, Edith Wharton's home, & also Hancock Shaker Village.

Tanglewood tickets for the lawn are extremely cheap on friday nights and can be bought last minute so you can wait to see how weather is.

The hardware store that Ackislander mentioned is on Bridge St. (as described) and it is a bike store as well as a hardware store. It is Fosters. There are "girl" stores as well. Besides Main St. there is Railroad St.

The Brewery on Rte 7 north is a good place to eat--lots of choices at reasonable prices and beers brewed in house.