The Berkshires

In summer, the rolling mountain region of the Berkshires become a cultural destination par excellence, with world-class drama, music and dance; with its fine museums of art, walking trails and picturesque villages, this is a region well worth exploring.

The Tanglewood estate, in the town of Lenox, is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but the music programme also includes opera and jazz. In nearby Stockbridge, a “classic” New England town, you will find the Norman Rockwell Museum which houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work, including 574 original paintings and drawings.

In North Adams, an abandoned factory complex was turned into one of America’s largest venues for contemporary visual and performing arts,  MASS MoCA, . Close by is 3,491-ft Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. It is easy to hike or drive up for the 60-mile views.

One of the USA’s first scenic drives was the Mohawk Trail, a 65-mile road from Orange to Williamstown that is particularly stunning in autumn, where enroute in Shelbourne Falls you can stop for local crafts and to photograph the unusual Bridge of Flowers. In Williamstown itself, the Clark Art Institute is the major draw. One of the country’s finest small art museums, its collection includes works by Renoir, Turner, Monet and more. Summer brings an excellent theatre festival, presenting both new and familiar works.

Just outside the vibrant city of Pittsfield, is the Hancock Shaker Village, a beautifully restored 19th Century town, set amongst acres of farm, woodland and pasture that tells the story of this intriguing religious sect.