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.

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.

People travel from all over the country to attend the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Each year, we hear about superlative performances seen by guests of our Bed and Breakfast Berkshires.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2011 includes:

• 3e Etage: Soloists and Dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet

• Tangueros del Sur – Argentinean tango

• Mark Morris Dance Group

• Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

• Ballet Geneve

In addition, Big Dance Theater will present the world premiere of Supernatural Wife; Louise Lecavalier will dance to Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis and Iggy Pop; and KEIGWIN + COMPANY deconstructs the fashion world in Runaway.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2011 features an extraordinary line-up of choreographers, dancers, and music. Wednesdays through Saturdays there are free performances by students at The School of Jacob’s Pillow, established dance companies, and emerging artists, as well as sneak previews by festival artists. For additional information and festival tickets, please see Jacob’s Pillow.

Plan a Berkshires getaway filled with art, dance and music during your stay at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast.

Doug Varone at Jacob's Pillow

Wednesday August 12 and Sunday August 16 Doug Varone and Dancers bring their “Uninhibited kinetic brilliance” (The New York Observer) to the Ted Shawn Theatre. A writer for The Washington Post once described their movement as “the kind of dancing I might dream about, loose and sweeping in a spirit of exultation.”

The Doris Duke Theatre will present Rubberbandance, the newest work from dancer/choreographer Victor Quijada. According to the Boston Globe, this performance demonstrates an “expansive, sophisticated approach to physicality.” Rubberbandance combines ballet, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, spoken word and video, and draws the audience into their world. There will be a performance Wednesday, August 12, two performances Saturday, August 15, and one on Sunday, August 16.

Our lodging in the Berkshires is conveniently situated; it is close to Jacob’s Pillow, close to Tanglewood, close to hiking trails and close to fine dining in quaint towns. When you have a little down time, laze with a book by the pool or sip tea on the porch. Be sure you take time to relax during your Berkshires getaway.

The first dancers at Jacob's Pillow

In 1930, a dancing couple purchased Jacob’s Pillow Farm, which was first homesteaded in 1790. Since then, dance has been part of the 163-acres that sit atop a hill near an old stage-coach road between Albany, NY and Boston, MA. What ultimately became known as the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival has had many versions throughout the years, but has always remained true to its desire “to present and preserve a wide-ranging variety of dance forms” and to maintain “a diversity unparalleled among American dance festivals” (Jacob’s Pillow Website).

Today, Jacob’s Pillow is an international dance organization that is often considered to be the “mecca” of dance. Dancers from more than fifty dance companies from around the globe make pilgrimages here to participate in workshops, perform, and celebrate dance. Visitors may observe dancers as they train at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, or in performances at one of three venues. Visitors have access to thousands of videos and photographs in the Archives. In addition, more than 200 free performances, classes, tours and events make up the Community Dance Programs that are designed to keep the medium of dance alive and share it with both experienced and novice dancers.

The festivals at Jacob’s Pillow start June 24th. Plan to stay at the Applegate Inn and delight in the wonders of Jacob’s Pillow.