blog @ Applegate Inn B&B

March is National Women’s History Month, which means it is the perfect month to gather together a few good friends for a Girl Friends Getaway Special at our Lenox MA inn.

Sit by the roaring fire, enjoy a glass of wine and tasty cheese, and talk about old times. Then get out there and create some new memories together. We’ll give you coupons for some of the shops at the nearby Prime outlet stores, just two miles away. We will also happily arrange a luxurious spa day for you all.

Celebrate the women of history with a concert at The Mount

Are you up for a bit of spontaneity?

Edith Wharton’s Estate The Mount is presenting a special performance of Edith Wharton’s Parisian Salons, featuring the Cantilena Chamber Choir, on March 13, 2010, at 4pm. The Cantilena Chamber Choir is the leading a cappella choir in the Berkshires; they will sing French music that was performed in one of Wharton’s Parisian Salons, such as Sept Chansons by Francis Poulenc, the Trois Chansons by Maurice Ravel.

Many of Wharton’s Salons were fundraisers for the Belgium War Relief Effort in World War I. She worked tirelessly for the relief effort, and for this she was recognized by the French and Belgian governments. The concert in the drawing room of The Mount is a fitting event during Women’s History Month.

The concert begins at 4pm on March 13, and is followed by a reception. Space is limited, so advance tickets are strongly recommended. Call (413) 551-5111.

We hope to see you and your girlfriends this weekend at our bed and breakfast Lenox.

Consider a few days in the cultural hotbed of the Western Massachusetts Berkshires. The area around our bed and breakfast Lenox, Lee, and Stockbridge have fantastic museums. The perfect time to explore them is now, while it is still cold and snowy outside.

The Berkshire Museum, in Pittsfield has many great permanent exhibits, such as pieces by Alexander Calder and local creations in the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation. There is also a fascinating visiting exhibit about the Art of the Arsenal through June 6, 2010. See a Sioux War Headdress, a Samurai suit, and a Persian horned helmet. It is fascinating to see how our ancestors armed themselves, and to learn something about the ritual of war (war is not glorified in this exhibit, merely examined).

The work of Giovanni Boldini, and impressionist in Paris, is currently at The Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown. There you will also find the impressive Manton Collection – over 200 pieces of British art by greats such as Turner and Constable.

Or spend an afternoon at the nearby Norman Rockwell Museum. On view is through May 16, 2010 is To Rockwell, With Love: Fan Mail and the Saturday Evening Post. A lifetime of the artist’s work is put in perspective when you read how the public responded to him.

We offer a “Two Night Culture in the Country Package” through June 25, 2010. Stay two nights during the week at our Lenox inn and receive free admission to the local museum of your choice. In addition, you enjoy all the comforts of home – and then some – at the inn.

Less than 10 miles from our Lenox bed and breakfast is Canterbury Farm Ski Area. They have 22 km of groomed trails perfect for ski skating, cross-country skiing, and even snowshoeing. The trails make their way along brooks and through the woods, guaranteeing a peaceful and lovely outdoor experience.

There is a good deal of snow here now. Ski while you still can!

22 km of trails at nearby Canterbury Farm Ski Area

Do you crave fresh air and quiet, but can’t imagine a vacation without access to great theater, dance, and music? Do you like the idea of the country, but do you only enjoy dining at excellent restaurants? Fear not, there is a place for you.

Our Lenox inn is nestled in the heart of the Western Massachusetts Berkshires. In addition to the peaceful woods and fields inherent in such a location, we are surrounded by a vibrant arts community that thrives year round. We feel we have the best of both worlds: plenty of tranquility, fresh air and open space, and outstanding arts.

Many people are aware that Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow Dance bring world-renowned artists to the region during the summer. Do you also know that the arts flourish at alternate venues throughout the year?

Ailey II comes to the Berkshires

In the coming months, The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in nearby Great Barrington, MA, will present a variety of superb performers. I’ll rattle off a few of the highlights. If you can be spontaneous, you can make it to jazz pianist McCoy Tyner on February 21, and enjoy dinner before the show at the Castle Street Cafe. The Irish Band Cherish the Ladies promises toe-tapping fun on February 27. If you prefer to plan ahead, look forward to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey II on March 21, 2010. This is one of the most popular dance troupes in the country, merging youthful energy and talent with some of the most creative young choreographers in the field.

Or head south to the restored Colonial Theater in Pittsfield. Its calendar boasts everything from a production of “The Wedding Singer” on March 2 and 3, to the Susan B. Anthony Dance Theatre Troupe’s presentation of “Back on Broadway” on April 9. 2010. In between, take in The Irish Rovers, Roger McGuin and Tom Rush, and have a taste of Broadway in the Berkshires.

So don’t despair; it is possible to visit the country without forsaking the great entertainment you’ve come to expect in the city. Our Lenox lodging is about an hour from Hartford, CT, two hours from Boston, MA, and three hours from New York City. You’ll have everything you need once you arrive, so plan to stay awhile.

Did you know that our Lenox MA bed and breakfast is just two hours west of Boston? The drive couldn’t be simpler: get on I-90 with coffee and water, and get off in Lee, well-hydrated and ready to go. It’s an easy escape from the city.

Strap them on and go

Here, in the Berkshire Mountains near Lenox, the air is clean and the crowds are thin. Why join the masses as they head north to NH when you could sail west? After your drive, enjoy a glass of wine at the inn before heading out to dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants in nearby Lee, Lenox or Stockbridge. Back in your room, relax with a glass of brandy before drifting off to sleep. You’ll want to be well-rested.

There is terrific skiing near our Lenox area inn. Jiminy Peak in Hancock is the largest downhill ski area in Southern New England. It’s 44 trails are open day and night, so you can ski or snowboard until you drop. Catamount on the NY border, and Butternut Ski Area in Great Barrington are also excellent mountains for skiing and snowboarding. Be sure to check out our Berkshires ski and lodging special while planning your next trip.

If you prefer to avoid adrenaline sports, Beartown State Park to the south has superb trails for XC skiing and snowshoeing. Or head east a few miles to October Mountain State Forest, where more trails for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing await.

Fresh snow is expected this week. Grab your skis, boards or shoes and head west!

There are lovely aspects to winter in the city: it is perhaps the best time to head to museums and matinees, and to hole up in cafes drinking coffee and watching people. Yet somehow the cold is colder in the city, and the wind more ruthless as it roars between buildings.

So when you are feeling tired of winter in the city, head to our Lenox bed and breakfast in the Berkshires. The cold can be refreshing and invigorating under the right circumstances After a weekend of lazy mornings, scrumptious breakfasts and a romp or two in the snow, you’ll be ready to return to winter routine in NYC or Boston.

Kennedy Park is a scenic five miles north of our inn.

Kennedy Park, in Lenox, MA, is just over five miles from our Berkshires bed and breakfast. Old carriage roads and fifteen miles of groomed trails through hardwood forests make Kennedy Park an ideal place to XC ski or snowshoe. If fresh snow has fallen you can even try to ski to Kennedy Park from the inn. You’ll look forward to warming yourselves by the fire back at our inn.

Perhaps the best part of a weekend in the Berkshires is that you don’t need to sacrifice culture. If you tire of outdoor activity, spend an hour or two in one of the many fine museums in the area.

You musn’t forget to ask your innkeepers to share some of their favorite restaurants. There is excellent dining in Western Massachusetts, and you should have a good appetite after several hours in the fresh air.

You may never want to return to the city again.

Our Western Massachusetts bed & breakfast is less than 20 miles from one of the oldest ski areas in the Northeast – Catamount Ski Area. The close proximity allows you sleep in, enjoy a delicious breakfast at the inn, and still get in a full day of skiing.

Catamount Ski Area is a short, scenic drive from the inn.

The thirty minute drive is both lovely and relaxing. You’ll pass through Great Barrington, MA, where there are many restaurants to nourish you after a day on the slopes.

It is not uncommon for Catamount Ski Area to offer heavily discounted lift tickets during the week. You may also be interested in our Breakfast and Ski specials.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and now is the time to plan to sweep your sweetie off his or her feet with a stay in a romantic bed and breakfast Berkshires.

Under normal circumstances, a little getaway to our Lee MA b&b can be pretty darn romantic. A beautiful setting, lazy mornings and delicious breakfasts help set a certain tone. Roaring fires in the winter add a nice touch, as does the brandy you’ll find in your room at bedtime.

Share a quiet evening in front of the fire

If you are looking to create an ultra-romantic mood for Valentine’s Day, we offer two Romance Packages at our inn. You’re room will have its own fireplace, ready to be lit. We’ll feed you a three-course dinner for two, by candlelight. Your room will have a soaking tub and steam shower or a whirlpool large enough for two. We’ll bring a split of champagne and chocolate to your room, and we’ll leave you alone.

It is possible to add to this with our Ultimate Romance Package, which includes fresh flowers and a framed 8×10 photo of your time together here.

Of course, there is plenty to do in and around Lee MA should you decide to leave your room. Excellent restaurants, art galleries and shops await, as do miles of cross-country and downhill ski trails.

Sometimes it’s just nice to do something extra special for the person you love.

Now that the temperatures outside our western Massachusetts lodging seem to be settled into the twenties, it seems like the perfect time to bring up our Spa Indulgence Special. If you are from anywhere in the Northeast, you are used to long, cold winters. You may even enjoy them. But from time to time, everyone needs to take a break and feel warm and pampered. For some, that means traveling to Florida. For others, it means a day at a spa.

The latter, of course, is much more economical. Spend a few days at our Lenox MA inn, where you will find warmth, comfort, and excellent food. Each day as the light wanes, you’re invited to sit by a roaring fire and enjoy wine and cheese. At bedtime, you’ll find cognac and chocolates in your room. Throughout your stay you may enjoy several comfortable seating areas throughout the inn; play the piano, play a game, read a book…. Relax.

Indulge yourself...

To help you feel extra pampered, head to nearby Lee and the Soul Spa. Both of you will enjoy an almost hour long deep tissue massage, and you may each choose from these additional services: Reflexology, Aromatherapy, or Facial Rejuvenation. As guests of our bed and breakfast Berkshires, You’ll receive a 10% discount.

Staying in colder climates during the winter has its advantages. We feel entitled to certain things, like spa days. And in truth, we deserve them.

Time for a relaxing ski trip

The holidays are behind us now. Visiting family has returned home, the gifts have been put away, the house cleaned. You are back to your normal routine, except you keep writing 2009 on your checks instead of 2010. Life is good, but it feels like there is something missing.

In short, it’s time to plan a little trip to our bed and breakfast Berkshires.

What you need is an invigorating getaway skiing at Butternut Mountain and being pampered at our Lenox MA inn. We offer a Breakfast and Ski special Mondays – Thursdays throughout the ski season, which includes free lift passes at Butternut Ski Resort. You may also ski Jiminy Peak (for a small fee). Stay at least two nights, or extend your trip and receive additional discounts. Please see our b&b specials page for details.

There is no need to feel rushed. Sleep late, eat a hearty breakfast at your leisure, and head to the slopes when you are ready. Ski as long as you like, then return to the inn to sit by the fire and enjoy a little apres ski (the best part of skiing, in our opinion). You are here to relax and enjoy yourself, not count minutes after all.

See you soon.