Break for the Berkshires

BY DIANE BAIR

LEAVE THE NEGATIVE ENERGY AND EVERYDAY WORRIES AT THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTAIN DURING A GETAWAY TO THE BERKSHIRES.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT about the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Boston and New York City have something in common (besides their maniacally passionate sports fans): Each city is about 150 miles from the Berkshires. Coincidence? We think not.

Located at the westernmost edge of Massachusetts, in a valley bordered by the foothills of the Taconic and Hoosac ranges, the Berkshires region is a crazy quilt of 19th-century mill towns and graceful Colonial villages. World-class performance venues like Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow blend into a pastoral setting of velvety hillsides and sparkling streams. Despite its proximity to New York, this area has a classic New England appeal, with a natural setting that’s sure to soothe the soul of even the busiest urbanite.

the best strategy for conquering the Berkshires is to mix it up a bit—a performance here, a museum there, a scenic hike and bike ride, punctuated with great local dining. Take in a street fair or festival—from one-day events to season-long series like Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Williamstown th eatre Festival—to soak up the scene, and celebrate the short-but-sweet summer season. For the next couple of months, the local cultural calendar is crammed with possibilities, and the cool mountain air will entice you to play outside between curtain calls.

Here’s a sampling of things to mix-and-match to create your own perfect summer getaway, Berkshires-style.

ARTS & CRAFTS

thanks to the presence of fabulous art museums, the region draws artists and art enthusiasts alike. And museums aren’t just rainy-day activities. the Berkshires region is home to some real gems, including the delightful grab bag that is the Berkshire Museum (www.berkshiremuseum.org) in Pittsfield, a family favorite where dinosaurs meet ancient Egyptians. Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation is the museum’s newest gallery, celebrating innovations that began in the Berkshires, like Cyrus W. Field’s transAtlantic telegraph wire. Williamstown’s

Sterling and Francine Clark

Art Institute (www.clarkart. edu)—which doubles as a research center—always amazes with its first-rate collection of French Impressionists. And the wow-worthy MassMoCA (www.massmoca.org), where large-scale installations are housed in restored 19th-century factory buildings, is the largest center for contemporary arts in the US.

For arts and craft s with local flavor, visit August 8-10 for the long-running Berkshire Craft s Fair (www.berkshirecraft.sfair.org) in Great Barrington, a must-see for the coolest craft s. And through October, Pittsfield gets artsy with 3rd thursdays, when North and South streets morph into a street festival zone with art, food and music.

IT’S SHOWTIME

Nothing says “the Berkshires” like an evening of alfresco culture. A picnic on the lawn is the perfect prelude to a concert at Tanglewood (www.tanglewood.org), the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. If you would rather watch dancers strut their stuff , catch indoor and outdoor performances at Jacob’s Pillow (www.jacobspillow.org), where international dance companies perform modern dance, ballet and even mime.

An enchanting setting for Shakespearean theater is th e Mount (www.edithwharton. org) in Lenox, the exquisite summer home of novelist Edith Wharton. Have lunch on the terrace and enjoy views of Wharton’s gardens and Laurel Lake.

When it comes to live stage shows, you could toss a playbill into the air and it would probably land on a theater in the Berkshires. One of this summer’s hottest tickets is the Tony Award-winning the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Barrington Stage Company (www.barringtonstageco.org) in Pittsfield. It’ll be a homecoming of sorts; the show originated here in 2004 before going to Broadway. (Tip: Snag half-price, day-of-show tickets at ½ TIX booths in Great Barrington, Pittsfield and North Adams.)

And the Williamstown th eatre Festival (www.wtfestival.org) off ers audiences varied theatrical experiences, from late-night cabaret and classics to readings, workshops and special events.

GET OUT AND PLAY

Work up a sweat amid the Berkshire’s mini-mountains. Rising alongside the town of Adams is Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3,487 feet. Although the summit road is currently closed for repairs, you can reach Greylock’s peak on foot via the Appalachian Trail, which runs the length of the Berkshires. Other popular hikes, both in the southern part of the region, include Bartholomew’s Cobble, a footpath through a natural rock garden, and Bash Bish Falls, where leafy trails lead to a 60-foot waterfall.

Behold some of the best views in the Berkshires from atop Monument Mountain, southwest of Stockbridge, where blazed trails traverse a rocky summit called Squaw Peak.

You can also tour the area by bicycle. th e multiuse Ashuwillticook Rail Trail runs from the Pittsfield-Cheshire town line through the town of Adams, skirting Cheshire Lake in places. If paddling is your thing, hook up with Berkshire Outfitters (www.berkshireoutfi.tters. com) in Adams; it’s the go-to spot for bike rentals, too. If all of this seems a tad too tame, check out the 2,600-foot mountain coaster—a true adrenalin rush—at Jiminy Peak (www.jiminypeak.com), the area’s largest ski resort.

Now, about those Sox… oh, fahgedaboudit! A few days in the oh-so-civilized Berkshires, and you’ll be ready to give the whole rivalry a rest—for a few days, at least.

EAT, SLEEP & BE MERRY

BEDTIME IN THE BERKSHIRES

The choices are alluring and wildly different. The Porches Inn (www.porches.com; 413-664-0400), located in North Adams, comprises six 1890s row houses decorated with paint-by-number art, while Blantyre (www.blantyre.com; 413-637-3556) in Lenox is a Scottish-style manor house with towers, turrets and gargoyles. Also in the mix are dozens of graceful B&Bs, like Devonfield (www.devonfield.com; 413-243-3298) in Lee and the cool and modern Jae’s Inn (www.jaesinn. com; 413-458-8032) in Williamstown. In Lenox, you’ll also find Canyon Ranch (www.canyonranch.com; 413-637-4100), a world-class spa, and Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (www.kripalu.com; 866-200-5203), a relaxing retreat.

MOUNTAIN MEALS

Local chefs tease the palates of sophisticated diners with meals that take full advantage of the fresh local produce. Inspired choices include Spice (www.eatatspice.com; 413-997-4300), a hotspot on Pittsfield’s North Street, and Allium (www.mezzeinc.com; 413-528-2118), in Great Barrington, where the cuisine is as fresh and zing-y as the lime-green walls of the dining room. Of course, there are the old standbys that ooze local flavor, like Jack’s Hot Dog Stand (413-664-9006) in North Adams.