Cute if you're in the area - no long train rides but they do little minute long rides and blow the…read morehorn which is fun. Very pretty overlooking the pond out back. The little museum inside the old train station is cute, not a ton to see but it is interesting to learn about the trains in the yard. $5 for adults

Apparently a review for the BSRM could mean the museum itself, the old train ride (pre-2016), or…read morenew train ride out of North Adams, MA (2016+). Having heard that it was scheduled to open, I tried to go in 2015 but they apparently only had one weekend of trips. So, when they announced a scheduled run in 2016 the same weekend as my birthday (Memorial Day) I jumped on it. I am a train nut, so even a bad train yet will still garner a couple of stars here. However, based on our trip in May I can only give it three. Here is why: 1.) It was HOT. VERY HOT. Riding in the train/RDC with no air conditioning, or the ability to open windows, led to most people on our train ride being very uncomfortable. People were visibly sweating. No water was sold on the train, which would have helped. Waiting for the train, there wasn't a "station" of sorts so people gathered in line on the ballast in whatever shade could be found. The only breeze came when the train was moving through the front and rear door, but it just isn't enough. An open riding car would help a lot. And that was just May. 2.) A conductor read from a script about the things we were passing by as the train rolled along. It was nice, but it was hard to hear, even though the entire train is one car long! The speakers need to be turned up. BUT... he also read for nearly the entire trip. Without stopping. It was just a wall of noise that we tried to tune out as we wanted to talk on the train, not listen to someone read something for 80 minutes or so. On the return trip, it seemed like (from the bits and pieces we could make out) that he was just reading the paper in reverse. Some interesting commentary is nice, but it needs to be cut back and louder. I hope they do well. I have heard that the AC was repaired, which would be great. Also, the scenery was less than spectacular (some old factories, some old roads, some trees, etc.) but perhaps in the fall when the leaves change colors it would be really nice I bet. I probably would come back and ride it, but as train rides go it wasn't one of the better ones.

The Mission House was built with the intent of teaching local indigenous people christianity. Built…read morein 1742, missionary John Seargent lived there with his wife. Previously located across the road from Naumkeag, Mable Choate purchased the Mission house in the 1920's and moved it downtown for more people to learn about Indigenous peoples history in Stockbridge. The building is maintained by The Trustees group. This house is open during the warmer months for a self guided 'tour'. As there are only two rooms to see, it's a quick stop. The gardens are open to the public year round at any time. They do offer house tours about once a month. Check their website for dates, times and how to reserve your spot. We wandered their gardens on a day the house was closed. There are signs with information and one of them highlights a walking tour with some of the town's history. You can walk the town stopping at each site and watch the videos or enjoy the tour from home. It was interesting and we walked up into the woods behind town hall to see some of the historic sites there. Before the tour we had no idea they existed so kudos. We returned to the house on a day it was open for a self tour. There was no docent on site so we couldn't ask questions. The two rooms to view have plexiglass doors so you can only see them. There was a bit of information in the house and barn to read about local indigenous history which sometimes seems agressive. I can understand that. We all know generally how Indigenous people were trated historically. This is the story of Stockbridge. The three stars is based solely on my disappointment of not having more access to the house and more information. The gardens are a lovely, quiet spot with a medicinal garden area and the house is well maintained. If in the area, the guided tour may be quite interesting. Hopefully someone will leave a review with more info on that.

I am so glad I added this house to our itinerary. Thankfully the house was saved so we can all…read moreenjoy it! Sadly, it occurred after some of the interior demolition was begun. Our docent tour guide was very enthusiastic and informative. She made the tour so much fun. The tour includes a history of the property from it's construction, to it's use as a dorm for musicians, a dance school and movie set. Very interesting. The staircase with it's musicians gallery, the butler safe and original bathrooms are all part of the 'modern' amenities included in this home. There is an unimaginable amount of restoration that has been done to this property and restoration continues, including on the day of our visit when the salon, used as the gift shop, was having it's floors restored. The home's furnishings are, for the most part, donated or loaned to the museum and they are doing a nice job staging everything. The visit begins with a short film after which you begin your guided tour. The collections on display includes some beautiful clothing items. Really lovely. The fireplaces throughout the house a beautiful as well. The kitchens have not yet been restored and they are working on some of the upstairs rooms as well. It is truly amazing what they have been able to do, bringing this home back to life. The museum hosts fund raiser events, including 'Tea's' and you can rent the facility for private events. Definitely check that out! I would love to attend a Tea here.

As the owner of another Gilded Age mansion in the Berkshires, Holmesdale, I have a deep…read moreappreciation for the history, architecture, and dedication required to preserve these remarkable estates. My visit to Ventfort Hall exceeded every expectation. The staff was exceptionally professional, knowledgeable, and welcoming, providing outstanding service while sharing the fascinating history of this magnificent home.The ambiance is perfectly suited to the Gilded Age, transporting visitors back to a time of elegance and grandeur. Every detail reflects the care and commitment that has gone into preserving this historic treasure. Whether you're passionate about history, architecture, or simply want to experience one of the Berkshires' finest landmarks, Ventfort Hall is an absolute must-visit.

Beautiful house and gardens. Purchase tickets online before you visit. Parking is very limited…read more Grounds are grass, mulch and stairs. Not accessible. Only the lower floor of the house is accessible. Take the garden tour. It provides much information about the family, building the home and gardens and the architects/designers. Well worth the time. The property is on a hill so wear your walking shoes. A dirt 'one way' road leads past the house, to the dirt parking lot, then down the hill off the property. The lower part of the road, off property, is very rutted. (it happens to drive right past Norman Rockwell's grave site) Early spring the gardens are beautiful. The staircase from the cutting garden to the house is gorgeous. A leisurly walk down the Linden walk then curves around to a stroll in the wood. Many little gardens areas. Plan to spend at least two or three hours.

Another really underrated museum and estate in the Berkshires, the gardens and grounds are amazing…read more You have a wonderful view of the valley below and the house has a lot of stately charm. The tour guide we had was fantastic and is probably one of the best ones I've had for a museum tour. He was informative but kept it light. I didn't feel like he was flooding the zone with information to flex. There's some Asian/Chinese flavor in the home and the surrounding gardens, as the Choates had a keen interest in Asia. There's significant walking up and down, so keep that in mind, and not a ton of parking. This summer cottage is worth a visit, especially if you're interested in estates during the Gilded Age.

This is a story about three things:…read more 1) A public drinking fountain built over 100 years ago for thirsty citizens and thirsty horses. 2) How that fountain deteriorated over time to the point that it was stained and crumbling. 3) How the local citizens rallied around their historic fountain to raise enough funds to beautifully restore it. This two-sided Temperance Fountain was built in 1899 by the Temperance Union to honor Amelia Jeannette Kilbon. The marble used to build it was mined from local quarries and has a drinking trough for horses on one side and a stream of water flowing from a fish sculpture on the other. The fountain's front has an engraving of Chief Konkapot of the Stockbridge Mohegans tribe, The back of the fountain has this inscription: THIS FOUNTAIN WAS BEGUN BY THE LOYAL TEMPERANCE UNION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AMELIA JEANNETTE KILBON AND WAS COMPLETED BY OTHER FRIENDS AS A TRIBUTE TO HER MEMORY 1870 1897 Over time, the fountain became damaged from wear and tear, and internal leakage. It was stained and crumbling, and badly needed restoration, as well as a plan for preservation. A movement to gather donations and restore it started around 2013. How successful was that movement? Very successful! Private donations by 375 kindhearted individuals and businesses donated $45,000 to that cause. The restoration work began last summer as the fountain was dismantled and shipped off to a repair vendor who discovered problems with the fountain's internal plumbing lines. Leaks had helped decay and stain the marble. The marble was repaired, the water lines were updated with better material, and over one dozen hidden pins were imbedded into the Chief's face to keep it stable. An additional $5,000 or so for a plaque and landscaping around the tiny park where the fountain sits is still needed to wrap up this project. On May 25, 2019, the fountain was re-dedicated and it looks brand new. Gone are the old stains and cracked marble. Members of the Mohican tribe were invited to the dedication and said a blessing over the fountain to honor their ancestor Chief Konkapot. I thought that was pretty sweet.

This is a small town in MA just across the border from NYS. It's an exit off the Mass Pike…read more Cute town with outlets. The outlet mall is a smaller one and they built it just outside if town. It gets lots of traffic from the highway. The town itself is a New England town with small mom and pop gas stations, a few places to eat and some boutiques for shopping. There is a diner mentioned in roadfood.com, a few very cute lunch sandwich places and some dinner restaurants. The boutiques re pricey but they have some nice things. This is a great walking town. Once you park it's all pretty close together. After some outlet shopping come to town to fill the tank and get some sustenance. Well worth it. Parking is street or lot but it's not easy all the time. A little patience will do you well for parking.

Gorgeous library repurposed from a former ca. 1800's court house (itself on the National Historic…read morePlaces Register). While small, it is charming, efficient in its use of space, a hub of this small town's life (great to see youngsters and teens in here reading and studying!), and utterly nostalgic. The architecture both inside and outside is beautiful. The staff is very friendly as well and knowledgeable about the building's history. In terms of a small-town library, you can't get much better than this one! And if you ever need a dose of classic New England Americana, Lenox is the place to visit and this library is a great place to start!

An oasis of peace and tranquility in an already peaceful town. Enveloped in two sides by a fabulous…read moreflower garden with benches to relax on the cool interior awaits. On entering the library you'll be on a mezzanine floor. Straight ahead for the library, left for the clean and well appointed bathrooms, and downstairs for the Lenox museum and meeting room. The library is comfortable and has a few.computers that you can use at no cost. A gem to experience.

It's a bittersweet Boston Symphony Orchestra, that's life. Try to make ends meet, try to find some…read moremoney, then you attend a concert here. They are, by any standards, a pretty amazing Orchestra and are well-known around Boston. BSO are one of my faves, and the orchestra plays in this spectacular huge Pops hall close to downtown. They impressed Barbie in particular, who saw them on repeated occasions during all the time she spent in Boston in college, and she is a huge fan. She brought me here and introduced me to them and now I'm a fan too. I'm especially a fan of the structure itself which is nothing short of gorgeous.

Tucked away in the bucolic Berkshire mountains, Tanglewood is a world renowned destination for arts…read moreand culture, anchored by it being the summer performance venue for BSO. The surrounding towns, some settled as far back as the 1700's provide wonderful opportunities for dining in charming historic buildings, browsing antiques and arts, exploring historic destinations, enjoy and much more. A visit to Tanglewood is an enchanting mountain get away.