The Berkshires in Western Mass is of the best spots to enjoy fall foliage in New England. To help those looking to plan a fall visit to the area, I’ve listed out some of my favorite spots to check out in in my Fall Travel Guide to the Berkshires, below.
The Clark Art Institute in the Berkshires.
Last fall my husband and I took a road trip out to the Berkshires for a long weekend, and packed a lot into our 72 hours in the area. Whether you’re interested in foliage, hiking, art, golf, history or just relaxing in a beautiful setting, the Berkshires truly offers something for everyone.
Depending on exactly where you’re heading, the drive from Boston to the Berkshires takes a little over two and a half hours. We opted to start in North Adams and the Williamstown area, after which we worked our way down to Lenox and then Stockbridge.
Fall Travel Guide to the Berkshires: North Adams & Williamstown
The Porches Inn, North Adams
We decided to make North Adams our home base for the first night of our trip, with a stay at the lovely Porches Inn, located right across the street from MASS MoCA. The Porches Inn is made up of a block of 19th century Victorian row houses, formerly occupied by the mill workers employed in the building that now houses the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Self described as “granny chic,” the Inn offers retro vibes, but with modern comforts, like marble bathrooms, cozy robes and comfy beds. And of course the rocking chairs set out across the iconic porches (the perfect spot to cozy up with a book or your laptop). Decor includes retro plates adorning the walls, along with vintage signs and paintings. The Inn offers a year-round heated pool and complimentary continental breakfast. Homey, with a touch of whimsy, it was a comfortable spot to spend the evening.
MASS MoCA, North Adams
The biggest draw to the area is MASS MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. And I will tell you, I was absolutely blown away by this museum. One of the largest centers for contemporary art in the US, MASS MoCA exhibits art by both well-known and emerging contemporary artists.
With its huge amount of exhibition space in a converted former textile mill, the museum encompasses several large buildings and is filled with natural light. I absolutely loved the large-scale, immersive installations and exhibitions that fill the soaring galleries. Even if, like me, you feel like you don’t always “get” contemporary art, I truly believe anyone who visits Mass MoCA will leave feeling transformed on at least some level.
Natural Bridge State Park, North Adams
One of the most unique spots I visited while in the Berkshires was Natural Bridge State Park in North Adams. The park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America, created from glacial erosion more than 13,000 years ago. You can see the water rushing below through a 60-foot gorge, and the rock formations are pretty incredible.
The park is also home to the only man-made white marble dam in North America, making for a very pretty waterfall. You can also explore the abandoned marble quarry, which produced white marble used in local buildings and cemeteries from 1810-1947. It became a state park in 1985 to preserve its unique geologic features. Open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, the park will be closing for the season soon, so I recommend a visit while you can!
The Cascades Trail, North Adams
If you’re looking for a scenic and relatively easy hike while in North Adams, The Cascades Trail is for you! The path is well-marked, and follows a babbling brook through a wooded area, leading to a pretty cascading waterfall at the end. The hike takes about an hour and a half, and with a moderate incline, it’s definitely doable for even inexperienced hikers.
There’s no parking at the trailhead, so if you visit, you’ll want to park at the nearby YMCA. From there, it’s just a short stroll to the trail. Even when visiting on a Saturday afternoon during peak foliage season, I encountered very few people, and enjoyed listening to the sound of the birds chirping and the brook bubbling beside me.
Mount Greylock, Lanesborough
The fall foliage in the Berkshires is gorgeous in the fall, and there is no better place to take it all in than Mount Greylock! Standing at an elevation of 3,491 feet, the summit of Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts. It offers views of more than 90 miles in every direction.
I opted to drive to the top, and the drive up was as pretty as the summit, with several well-marked scenic vistas along the way. When you reach the pinnacle, there is a small parking lot ($5 for cars with MA plates, $20 for out of staters). You’ll see the Veteran’s War Memorial Tower, standing at 93 feet. If you climb to the top, you’ll find each window helpfully marked with information about the view and what exactly you’re looking at.
I took a walk around the overlook, and perched on a rock for a little while to take in the views. Some people had brought picnics, and there are picnic tables located around the summit (just make sure to bring out anything you bring in). The road up the mountain is open May – October, so go while you can.
The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
Another spot that art enthusiasts are sure to love is The Clark. In addition to its indoor museum, The Clark offers 140-acres of lawns, meadows, and walking trails. Those exploring the grounds can enjoy Ground/work, the Clark’s first outdoor exhibition, which features site-specific works by six artists including Kelly Akashi, Nairy Baghramian, Jennie C. Jones, Eva LeWitt, Analia Saban, and Haegue Yang. The exhibition is free and open to the public day and night, with no tickets required – and the scenery is as gorgeous as the works themselves. Open now through Oct. 17, 2021, its well worth checking out if you visit this fall.
Inside the museum, The Clark features seasonal exhibitions, along with a permanent collection filled with European and American painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century. Advance timed-tickets are required for non-members.
Other spots to explore in North Adams/Williamstown:
- Enjoy a delicious dinner at PUBLIC Eat & Drink
- Stop into Bright Ideas Brewing for some locally crafted beers
- Pop into Greylock Works, and make sure to check out the Berkshire Cider Project
- Dig into some pulled pork or ribs at A-OK BBQ
- Take a stroll through the quaint Williams College campus (want more art? They have an art museum as well!)
- Hit the links at Taconic Golf Club or Waubeeka Golf Links
- Enjoy retro vibes with a stay at TOURISTS, inspired by the classic American roadside motor lodge
Fall Travel Guide to the Berkshires: Lenox & Stockbridge
The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, Lenox
In high school, I was assigned to choose an author to study throughout the course of a year – and I picked Edith Wharton. Having read many of her novels, I was excited to visit The Mount, the home Wharton built and designed in 1902 in Lenox, MA.
We unfortunately weren’t able to get tickets to see the inside of her home, but really enjoyed walking around the gardens, which are open to the public year round at no charge. Even in the fall, flowers were still blooming, and the grounds were immaculate.
Inside the home, here are no velvet ropes or stanchions and guests are encouraged to explore and interact with the interior. I’d love to book a private tour of Edith Wharton’s personal 2,700 volume library, during which you can see personal inscriptions and notes she marked within her books.
The Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
The Berkshires is a destination absolutely full of great art, but one of my favorite places was The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The 36-acre grounds are lovely (and open to the public for free), and it was so neat to see the red barn studio where Rockwell painted many of his works later in life. With stunning Berkshires views and scenic paths and walkways, the grounds are also peppered with sculptures created by Rockwell’s son, Peter. And you’ll walk by several apple trees, each planted for one his grandchildren.
The museum itself is lovely, and definitely worth visiting for anyone who loves illustration and Americana. You might not realize just how many iconic works were painted by Rockwell’s hand – especially his 323 “Saturday Evening Post” covers, all on exhibit at the museum. Commemorating the town he lived in for the last 25 years of his life, Rockwell’s “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas (Home for Christmas)” is part of the permanent collection, and one of my favorites of his work.
The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge
The afternoon that we arrived in Stockbridge, we enjoyed cocktails on the gorgeous porch of The Red Lion Inn. The Inn’s fall decor is always lovely, and it was a perfect fall evening with a crispness in the air, made even better by a hint of woodsmoke from a nearby fireplace. A great spot for a drink and a snack, I’d definitely recommend stopping by for afternoon or evening drinks at the Inn next time you’re in the area!
Other spots to explore in Lenox/Stockbridge:
- Take a hike through the Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Sanctuary
- Experience Gilded Age style and splendor at Naumkeag, run by The Trustees
- Indulge in handcrafted chocolates at the amazing Chocolate Springs Cafe
- Visit Chesterwood, the historic home of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of The Lincoln Monument
- Check out the highest waterfall in Massachusetts at Bash Bish Falls
- Take a step back in time (and pick up some of the amazing vanilla extract) at Williams & Sons Country Store
- Enjoy sculptures and other public art at Turnpark Art Space
Have you been to the Berkshires? I’d love to know your favorite spots to explore!
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Categories: Destinations