Cold, snowy days inspire romance.

When it’s cold outside, we like to curl up by a fire. We like to sip warming drinks like cocoa or brandy. When it’s cold outside, we like to snuggle against someone warm. Cold outside = romance inside.

In short, February is ideal for romantic getaways at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast.

All that cuddling and snuggling by the fire is even better after a day out in the cold. Plenty of opportunities to enjoy the winter weather exist near our Berkshires inn: downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing; this winter, which has seen relatively little in the way of snowfall, hiking is an option.

Nearby Jiminy Peak has great skiing, and après ski entertainment to help transition to romance. Their John Harvard’s Restaurant and bar has live music every Saturday and Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. To accompany the music, food and drink specials run from 3 to 5 p.m.

Nothing puts some people in a romantic mood more than a few hours of cross country skiing. For these folks, a trip to Canterbury Farm Ski Touring Center in Becket, or Hilltop Orchards in Lenox is an order.

For those who find romance in adventure, try the moonlit snowshoe trek at Hilltop Orchards. Weather permitting, the next two take place Saturday, February 4 and Saturday, March 10, 2012. Walk hand in hand through the snowy, New England woods. Find warmth and entertainment by a bonfire or inside by the fire, and enjoy wine tasting as well.

Back at our luxury Bed and Breakfast Berkshires, have a soak in a whirlpool tub or a relaxing steam in a steam shower. Sit together in front of  your own fireplace and let romance blossom.

Our Romance Package includes a sumptuous 3-course dinner for two, as well as chocolate and a split of champagne. Please see our Berkshires Inn Specials page for more details.

* In truth, St. Valentine’s Day dates back to the days of ancient Rome, a city not known for it’s extreme cold or snow. For the purposes of the this blog, we chose to overlook that fact.

Edith Wharton's Estate, The Mount.

The region has superlative outdoor recreation, from hiking to skiing, paddling to zip-lining. It has some of the finest cultural offerings in the country: Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. It has world-class museums and historical sites: The Clark Art Institute, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Edith Wharton’s The Mount, and Melville’s Arrowhead.

Many guests of our Berkshires B&B live in a city, either New York City, Boston, or Hartford. They come to the Berkshires to stretch out and breathe in the fresh air. Some are avid outdoorsmen, and want to spend all of their time exploring the mountains, lakes, and rivers of the Berkshires. Others are drawn to the quintessential New England small towns that surround our inn. Still other guests come to enjoy the many cultural offerings the region has to offer.

No matter what you do by day, consider stepping out in the evenings.

Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield offers a wide array of entertainment. Recent events include the great Elvis Birthday Bash, which featured both a young Elvis and Elvis from the ’70s. Upcoming events include Jamie Kent & The Options on February 2, T Bone Daddy, a rocking’ blues trio on the 9th, and The Duke’s Men of Yale: A Night of Love and Heartbreak with Da Doox! on February 11.

Of course, quiet evenings spent at our luxurious Berkshires Bed and Breakfast also hold great appeal.

The Massachusetts Berkshires are home to dozens of antique stores, some small and crammed with every kind of knickknack and collectible imaginable, others large, sparse, and elegant. Avid antiquers have spent months–no, years–perusing the shops and galleries that surround our Berkshires Inn. Regardless of what is found, the hunt itself is exciting.

Antiquing ignites passion.

The thrill of discovering something long sought makes hearts pump faster. The thrill of finally finding that perfect antique table, or a rare piece of china, can have the same effect. This is especially true when antiquing with someone you love.

Sheffield, Massachusetts, the “Antiques Capital of the Berkshires” is less than twenty miles south of our Berkshires B and B in Lee. After a leisurely breakfast at the inn, you’ll have plenty of energy for a day of browsing.

• Check out the great selection of old American clocks at Dovetail Antiques (440 Sheffield Plain).

• You’ll find amazing furniture at Susan Silver Antiques. Susan Silver is a woman who freely admits that antiques make her heart race; visit her store.

• Antiques are artfully placed throughout an 1815 colonial that is Painted Porch Country Antiques.

• Corner House Antiques specializes in American antique wicker furniture from 1870-1930.

• Cupboards and Roses is the best place in the Berkshires to find Swedish antiques and Scandinavian folk art.

• Kuttner Antiques features 18th and 19th Century American Antiques, Hooked Rugs, and Unusual Accessories.

These are just a few of the many antique stores in Sheffield and elsewhere in the Berkshires. But antiquing is a bit like wine tasting; you don’t want to do too much in one day. Instead, plan to return to our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast again and again.

Passionate about antiques? Head to the Berkshires.

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Jiminy Peak is close to our Mass Bed and Breakfast.

Now that the holidays have passed and the cold days of winter are stretching before us, it’s time to think about ski getaways in the Berkshires. Our Berkshire B and B is close to several terrific downhill ski areas.

• Ski Butternut, in Great Barrington, is about 12 miles from the inn.

• Catamount Ski Area, in Hillsdale NY, is about 20 miles from here.

• Jiminy Peak, up in Hancock, Massachusetts, is about 30 miles from our inn.

Although we haven’t received a healthy dose of snow since the Great Halloween Blizzard of 2011, all three ski areas are open, and all are making snow.

Ski Butternut is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends 8:15 to 4 p.m. This area also offers snow tubing on holidays and weekends.

Catamount Ski Area is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m (it opens at 8:30 on weekends); night skiing is offered Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m.

Jiminy Peak is open open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (opening at 8:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays). Live music frequently entices skiers to linger after leaving the slopes of Jiminy Peak. A full calendar of events is listed at Jiminy Peak.

Skiers who stay at our Mass Bed and Breakfast Monday through Friday will receive two free lift passes for Butternut Ski Area, or discount passes to Jiminy Peak. If you’d rather ski Catamount, take advantage of our three night, $50 Special Package and put the savings towards your ski tickets. Details about these and other specials are available on our Bed and Breakfast Berkshires Specials page.

Why not stay for several days and try all three ski areas? Folks who are traveling from New York City, Hartford, or Boston may find that stretching out a weekend makes the most sense; instead of driving out here every weekend, come out here every other weekend for three days. Less driving, more skiing. Wonderful.

We’ve had another great year at our Berkshire B and B, and as in the past, it’s thanks to all of our wonderful guests. We so enjoy seeing old friends, making new friends, and welcoming you all to our Massachusetts inn.

Without you, we’re nothing; and so we raise our glasses high and say,

“Happy New Year!”

Len and Gloria

Spend a quiet New Year's Eve in the Berkshires with the person you love.

The New Year’s Eve special at our luxury Berkshire Bed and Breakfast includes champagne and hors d’oeuvres on New Year’s Eve, candlelit gourmet brunch on New Year’s Day, and a decanter of Brandy and chocolates in your room. Guests who stay more than one night will be treated to wine and cheese the other evenings, and candlelit breakfasts the other mornings.

Curl up next to the person you love and watch flames flicker in the fireplace. Talk quietly together of your dreams and aspirations, your shared memories, and your future plans. Indulge in hour after hour of each other’s company. Delight in one another.

Let someone else do the partying this year. Leave the boisterous New Year’s Eve parties behind in the city. Embrace tranquility and romance in the Berkshires.

Please call 800.691.9012 to speak with us about our New Year’s Eve Specials.

Indulge in a Romantic Berkshires Getaway this winter.

The Applegate Inn is one of the “best places to kiss in the Berkshires.” Our grounds have many secluded spots where couples may steal a kiss during outdoor strolls. The parlor has a grand piano, for folks who like to woo their sweetheart with a song. Our fireplace rooms kindle romance.

The Romance Package of our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast is a fine way to enhance a romantic Berkshires getaway. It includes two nights in one of our fireplace rooms, chocolate, and a split of champagne. We have a room with a steam shower and a room with a two person whirlpool tub – you’re choice.

Plan a Romantic Berkshires Getaway this winter. Squeeze one in before the holidays, or offer one as a gift to the person you love most in the world.

Need a gift idea? Try a gift certificate for Applegate Inn.

Western Massachusetts is known for its natural beauty and its strong arts communities. People travel here from Boston, Hartford, and New York City to admire fall foliage, hike, and ski. They come to watch world-class performances at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Tanglewood in a stunning natural venue. They come to breathe in fresh air and visit museums like The Clark and the Norman Rockwell Museum.

At this time of year, they also come to shop. It’s hard to find more aesthetically pleasing places to shop than the picturesque New England towns surrounding our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast. And it’s hard to beat the convenience of shopping at nearby Prime Outlet Village. We’ll even supply Prime Outlet coupons to guests here for a Shopping Getaway.

Downtown Lenox is filled with interesting shops and art galleries. Wit Gallery, Lenox Gallery of Fine Arts, Church Street Art Gallery, Sienna Gallery, and Concepts Art feature fine art, hand-crafted jewelry, sculpture, paintings, Judaica, and more. Shops such as Berkshire Classic Leather & Silver and B. Mango & Bird are also full of fun items.

Many galleries and shops line the streets of Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. Visit An American Craftsman Gallery, Schantz Galleries, and Hoffman Pottery. Browse an eclectic mix of fine antiques and jewelry at Heirlooms Jewelry, and a stunning variety of CD’s, Wee Forest Folk, and Norman Rockwell items at Seven Arts. Admire unique items at Hotchkiss Mobiles and Inner Vision Studio, and load up on delicious maple syrup and miscellaneous sundries at Charles H. Baldwin & Sons

Shopping can spark an appetite; fortunately, there are excellent restaurants close to our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast. In Lenox, try Alta, where fresh, simple dishes are enhanced by fantastic wines. Church Street Cafe is a good spot for lunch or dinner enjoyed with a local beer. Firefly features tasty tapas, late night dining, and a full bar. In Stockbridge, try Michael’s Restaurant, Once Upon a Table (a cozy bistro), and the always-tasty Red Lion Inn.

Shopping can be fun when incorporated into a Berkshires getaway.

Bartholomew's Cobble.

The best antidote to a day of feasting is fresh air and exercise. Both can be found in spades in Western Massachusetts. After spending Thursday in the kitchen and around the table, head to our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast with hiking boots in hand.

Snow accumulation from the amazing October blizzard has melted, meaning that hiking trails across Western Massachusetts are open. The forecast promises a sunny Thanksgiving weekend. In short, hiking conditions will be perfect.

Favorite Hikes Near Our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast:

• Beartown State Forest. Hike the easy Benedict Pond Loop Trail; follow a stretch of the Appalachian Trail for a  hike of moderate difficulty; explore one of the forest trails for a more difficult hike.

• Brace Mountain. The views from the top of Brace Mountain are glorious on a clear day. Bring a picnic, for you’ll want time to rest after this invigorating hike.

• Bartholomew’s Cobble. Explore five miles of trails and stand atop Hurlbut’s Hill. Visit the natural history museum to learn about the area’s fascinating geography,  and historic Ashley House to learn about its history.

• Sages Ravine. The waterfalls should be roaring at this time of year. For a moderate hike, drive to the top of Mount Washington Reservation and then follow the trail down tot he ravine. A more strenuous trail leads from the Undermountain Trail.

To make a reservation at our Bed and Breakfast in the Berkshires, please call 1.800.691.9012 or visit our reservation page.

Come to the Festival of Trees at The Berkshire Museum.

It’s hard not like Christmas trees. They’re pretty. They sparkle. They smell good. Christmas trees evoke the best of the holidays.

Surround yourself with Christmas trees the next time you come to our luxury Berkshires Bed and Breakfast this winter. “Under the Big Top: Festival of Trees 2011” runs at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield from November 18 to January 2, 2012. The more than 100 decorated Christmas are just part of the extravaganza.

The circus theme conveyed with “Under the Big Top” is underscored on November 18, during the Opening Night Party. As guests enjoy drinks and tasty appetizers, atmospheric aerialists, towering stilt walkers, and a nimble contortionist will move among them. Circus workshops take place the following day for children aged 8 to 16. Walls will be lined with circus posters, circus memorabilia, and circus photographs throughout the duration of the exhibition.

The circus comes to town again on December 31st for a Circus Spectacular at the Berkshire Museum. Acrobats, jugglers, and contortionists will take the stage at 11 a.m. What a cheerful way to bid 2011 farewell.

The Berkshire Museum has several interesting permanent exhibits as well. See toys created by Alexander Calder in 1927, walk through the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation, and gaze at the wondrous underwater world of the Aquarium, on the museum’s lowest level.

Plan an enchanting getaway at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast sometime between November 18, 2011 and January 2, 2012, and stop by the “Under the Big Top: Festival of Trees.”