There is nothing like autumn in New England.

Driving down country lanes is a wonderful way to see a lot of trees. Spreading a picnic blanket under a large maple is a delightful way to drink in an autumn afternoon. But those who can delve deep into a New England forest during the peak of foliage season are truly fortunate.

Berkshire Horseback Adventures leads trail rides through nearby Kennedy Park and up Lenox Mountain. To experience New England foliage from the back of a horse is magical. The scent of the horses mixes with the woody odor of fallen leaves. The crisp air magnifies the sound of the horses breath, his feet clipping along the trail.

Leave New York, Boston, and Hartford behind and drive west like a cowboy heading into the sunset. Spend a few days at our Bed and Breakfast in the Berkshires this autumn. While here, treat yourself to a trail ride. It is sure to be one of the most memorable events of the year.

More information about trail rides may be found at Berkshire Horseback Adventures.

“The Certificate of Excellence is awarded to qualifying accommodations… listed on TripAdvisor that maintain a high overall user rating and a high volume of recent and quality reviews.” (TripAdvisor)

We are honored and thrilled.

We’d like to thank all our guests who have taken the time to write a review for us on TripAdvisor; we appreciate the time and effort it takes. We strive to make your time with us as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Thank you for recognizing our efforts.

Some guests arrive at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast with tickets in hand to see performances at Tanglewood or Jacob’s Pillow. They come ready to see the latest exhibit at The Clark or the Norman Rockwell Museum. Some come with a plan to visit Hancock Shaker Village.

A delightful surprise for many of our midweek guests are the free concerts in Lilac Park on Wednesday nights.

See the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors at the Lenox Concerts in the Park.

Lilac Park is on Main Street in Lenox – a very charming place to enjoy live music. Some listeners bring picnics, while others dine early or late at one of the restaurants within walking distance of the park:

• Rumpy’s Tavern: a great spot for drinks.

• Rumplestiltzkin’s Restaurant: enjoy a meal full of seasonal offerings.

• Frankie’s Ristorante Italiano: hearty, tasty Italian fare.

Lilac Park Concert Schedule for July, 2011:
7.6: The Berkshire Highlanders
7.13: JoAnne Redding and her Band
7.20 Sister City Jazz Ambassadors
7.27 Jazz Tuber Trio

Father’s Day is this weekend, on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Celebrate in style. Throw the family in the car and head to our Berkshires Lodging. If you live in Boston, New York City, or Hartford, you’ll be here soon.

Picture dad dozing by the pool this weekend.

People of all ages find the Massachusetts Berkshires enchanting. There are art galleries and museums galore, miles of trails for hiking, meandering country lanes to cycle, and extraordinary music and dance performances. Dad may enjoy a round of golf at Greenock Country Club, which is just across the street from our inn. He may find horseback riding in the Berkshires thrilling. Or he may prefer to relax at the inn by day, dozing by the pool, so he’ll have plenty of energy for an evening out.

If you are a family with young children, give us a call. We welcome children 12 years or older in all of our rooms, and we welcome children under 12 in some of our rooms. If you can’t imagine spending Father’s Day away from the kids, bring them along. They’ll find the Berkshires great fun.

Take advantage of the “Spur of the Moment Special” at our Lenox MA Bed and Breakfast. Call today, and you’ll receive a 15% discount on your stay this weekend. Call 800-691-9012.

Blake Barn, at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

Internationally renowned dancers and musicians travel to the region to perform in several different venues. Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, also showcases such artists as the Mark O’Connor String Quartet and master story-teller Garrison Keillor. MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) sponsors Bartleby’s Pen, a Friday night series of lively discussions lead by prominent literary figures, and The Clark Art Institute periodically screens Broadway performances.

One of the most thrilling opportunities for both residents and travelers to our Berkshires Inn is Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which takes place each summer. Many of the artists featured at Jacob’s Pillow make only a handful of appearances in the United States, and most of those performances take place in large metropolitan areas. Yet they travel to the Massachusetts Berkshires to participate in Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, which The New York Times has called “the dance center of the nation and possibly the world.”

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2011 runs June 18 through August 28. During the course of the festival, there will be performances by more than 50 dance companies and more than 200 free performances, talks, and special events. Spectators will be treated to:

• the U.S. debut of 3e Etage: Soloists and Dancers of the Paris Opera.

• a 30th anniversary performance by the Mark Morris Dance Group

• the U.S. premiere of Supernatural Wife by Big Dance Theater

• Argentinean tango by dancers and musicians of Tangueros del Sol

The list goes on and on, for Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is all about bringing world-class dance performances to viewers.

Check out the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2011 calendar, and then book a room at our Bed and Breakfast in the Massachusetts Berkshires. We’re located less than 10 miles from world class dance.

See Earth, Wind, and Fire at Tanglewood, June 25, 2011.

Since its creation in 1969, Earth, Wind, and Fire has garnered accolades from the music industry, critics, and fans. Eight of their albums went double-platinum. Their work has been nominated for 20 Grammy Awards and has won six Grammys. In 2000, Earth, Wind, and Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2003 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Their music has inspired more than one generation of artists and won fans of all ages. It will be sheer pleasure to experience them live at Tanglewood.

Tanglewood offers Meals-To-Go for the Earth, Wind, and Fire performance on June 25, 2011. Choose a Picnic Bag for one, a Boxed Dinner for one, and a Picnic Tote for Two. Or arrive at Tanglewood prior to the performance and dine at the Tanglewood Café and Grill. If you’d rather dine elsewhere, ask us for a recommendation – there are several excellent restaurants near our Berkshires B&B.

The Shaker Farm-to-Table Dinner could be a delightful addition to a summer getaway at our Inn Berkshires. Spend the morning delving into the history of the Shakers at Hancock Shaker Village. Return to the inn for an afternoon by the pool, then enjoy a glass of wine in the parlor before heading back to Hancock for dinner.

Chefs from the following restaurants will have a hand in preparing this wonderful Shaker meal:

• Mezze Bistro and Bar
• Allium Restaurant and Bar
• Mission Bar & Tapas
• Red Lion Inn Restaurant
• Route 7 Grill

Hancock Shaker Village is located in Pittsfield, approximately 20 minutes from our luxury Berkshires lodging in Lee. The Shaker Farm-to-Table Dinner takes place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 16. Reservations are required.

Bring your mom to our luxurious Berkshires B&B.

Most mothers don’t go into the business of motherhood for the glory. They don’t become mother’s because of the great pay and the good hours. They do it for love.

In truth, rewards of motherhood are many and great. Cuddles are priceless, as is the joy of watching a child grow.

Yet from time to time it’s nice to show our mothers how much we appreciate all they’ve done for us over the years. This can be done in many ways, with a bouquet of flowers or a card. But the most meaningful way may be to give back a little of what mom gave to you – time.

Bring your mother to our luxurious Bed and Breakfast Berkshires for Mother’s Day. Spend a couple of days together, away from the distractions of daily routines. Do what your mom likes to do: visit museums, shop, or simply sit on the porch and talk. Walk around lovely Hancock Shaker Village, or spend an afternoon at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Drive to nearby Stockbridge for dinner, or wander down the street to one of the restaurants near our Berkshires inn.

Mothers devote an inordinate amount of time to raising their children. They do it without thought, because that’s what they need to do. You don’t need to stop everything and spend a weekend with your mom – that’s why it it will be that much more meaningful when you do.

We still have availability at our luxurious Berkshires Bed and Breakfast the weekend of May 7 – 8, 2011. Give us a call at 800.691.9012.

Walk among tulips at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens.

The Berkshire Botanical Garden opens for the season on May 1, 2011. Each year we know that spring has truly arrived once the Botanical Garden opens. We look forward to it – not just as a herald of warm weather, but because of the many fine events offered at the gardens.

The season opens with Out on a Limb: Tree Houses: Architects Take a Bough. The exhibition features six creative tree houses by the following architects and designers: Michael Trapp, Joseph Cho, Stefanie Lew, Robyn Sandberg, Gray Davis, Will Meyer, Mark Smith and Tim Smith, and James Odegaard. These tree houses redefine the treehouse that your father may have built in your backyard. They make the spirit soar with possibilities.

Berkshire Botanical Garden is comprised of 15 acres of meticulously maintained gardens and trails. The gardens are some of the oldest in the country, and focus on plants native to the region. Many guests of our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast enjoy visiting the gardens during their stay with us.

The Berkshire Botanical Gardens are approximately six miles from our Berkshires Lodging. We recommend stopping by Stockbridge Massachusetts on the way there or back for a bite to eat.

Additional information about the gardens is available at Berkshire Botanical Gardens.

Enjoy wine tasting during a stay at our Inn Berkshires

Our Berkshires lodging is close to four wineries, all of which offer wine tasting. Many of our guests enjoy visiting these Berkshire wineries during their stay – especially in the spring, when it is hard to predict whether to bring skis or hiking boots along for a vacation in the Massachusetts Berkshires.

Berkshire and Hudson Valley Wineries

• Furnace Brook Winery is less than 30 minutes from our Inn Berkshires, and 15 minutes from downtown Lenox. They offer wine tasting Thursday – Sunday at The Farm Winery Store at Hilltop Orchards. In addition to both red and white wines, they make fantastic hard apple cider and a variety of fresh baked pies, apple cider donuts, and homemade preserves. See Furnace Brook Winery for more details. http://www.furnacebrookwinery.com/

• Hudson-Chatham Winery is just over 30 minutes from our Berkshires lodging, in Ghent, NY. Try their award winning 2009 Baco Noir Reserve or their semi-dry sparking Blanc de Blanc (perfect for a warm afternoon on our porch). Open for wine tasting Friday – Sunday; see Hudson-Chatham Winery for additional information.

• Brookview Station Winery is in Castleton, NY, about 45 minutes from our Inn Berkshires. Try wines like the Whistle-Stop White, a semi-dry apple wine, or the All Aboard Red at their Wine Tasting Bar Monday – Saturday. More information is available at Brookview Station Winery.

• Finally, Tousey Winery is just over an our from our Berkhsires bed and breakfast. You’ll find a small but varied selection of wines – a Riesling, a Pinot Noir, a Rebellion Rose, and more -  at their recently renovated tasting room. Open weekends; for more information please see Tousey Winery.

You’ll be able to purchase more wine if you take advantage of the off season rates at our Berkshires lodging, good through June 16, 2011.