Hello,

My girlfriend and I will be spending a weekend in the Berkshires on the weekend of May 6th and 7th. We'll be staying two nights in a B&B in Lenox, MA. We'll be driving up from NYC.

We already have a couple of hours carved out for horseback riding, but don't really have anything else planned out yet. Perhaps a visit to the Mount if renovations have been completed. We are looking for beautiful scenery and pleasant strolls/hikes. She'd also like to do some shopping as well.

Any suggested itineraries or sights to see during our two-night stay?

Also, any recommended restaurants for lunch and dinner? Looking to spend no more than ~$80 at dinner and ~$40 at lunch, for 2, drinks not included.

Thanks in advance!

The Norman Rockwell museum is not far and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

I really like the town of Great Barrington...lots of shops and restaurants. Also hiked (about 1-2 hour hike) to a place called Devil's Pulpit. Very nice...maybe the B&B folks could tell you how to get there. I don't remember, but it was close to Lenox

South of Lenox near Great Barrinton are the Bash Bish Falls. Very pretty (no hike just a stroll from the car park).

Chesterwood, the summer home and studio of Daniel Chester French, is less than a mile from the Norman Rockwell museum and well worth the trip. French is the sculptor who designed the Lincoln statue for the Lincoln Memorial in DC; also the Minute Man sculpture.

Mount Greylock is not far either. Stop at the Visitors Center for info on hiking. Drive to the top for the scenic view and lunch (bring your own). Eat in the lodge if the weather is cold. Drive down the other side of the mountain into North Adams and stop at the marble quarry or Mass MOCA .

This site has links to things to do/see in the Berkshires and Lenox area: http://www.chesterwood.org/hidden/sites/site24.html

I'm from Berkshire county, so can help here. Good hikes can be had all over berkshire county. The devils pulpit hike mentioned is at Monument mountian reservation between Stockbridge and Great Barrington. GB is one of the best spots in the county for dining choices. Baba Lou's for great woodfired pizza, check out Pearl for a splash out diner. Bizen for excellent sushi.
A drive up Mount Greylock is a great way to spend an afternoon, tallest Mt in Mass, great views, and some great hiking from the top. Mass Moca is North adams for great art museum, as well as Clarke art and Williams college museum, both is Williamstown.
Near Lenox check out the Pleasant Valley wildlife sanctuary for a really nice place for a easy walk or harder hikes, many miles of trails.
Any questions drop a message.

Thanks for the great suggestions so far!

How long of a drive is it to the Mt. Greylock summit from Lenox? It looks like we will only have one day to do some light hiking and nature seeing, so I am trying to decide whether we should do Mt. Greylock or a combination of Bash Bish Falls + Devil's Pulpit. I am leaning towards the latter as it would allow us to us also do some sightseeing in the towns of GB and SB.

Also, any more suggestions for restaurants in Lenox, Great Barrington, and/or Stockbridge (that fall into our price range) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

Ah, Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. Thanks for that nice memory, soboyle. I can't tell you how many delightful school field trips we took there from my little one room school house on the Pittsfield/Lenox border. Neat place.

karmasalad, as much as I love Greylock, if you only have the one day I'd stay south county and do Bash Bish, and explore that area. There are some beautiful backroads drives too, following along streams in that area. Although I grew up there I never did Devils Pulpit--my father, who had been a big hiker in the Rockies told us there were rattlesnakes on Monument Mountain and that alone was enough to keep me away!

My list of good eats in Great Barrington:

Castle Street Cafe
Verdura
Pearls

It is too early, I can't remember anymore