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.

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.

The beauty of the Berkshires.

We’re enjoying the view while it’s here. The sun is expected to be with us for most of the week and temperatures are climbing. Already the snow is beginning to recede.

Nonetheless, this little taste of winter has invigorated everyone. Children and adults have been out in force with their sleds. People are lining up at ski areas such as Jiminy Peak, Catamount Ski Area, and Canterbury Farms Nordic Center. None of the ski areas are open yet (in spite of having received 12 to 18 inches of snow over the weekend) because ground temperatures are too warm, but we don’t think skiers will have to wait long.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the wild mood swings of Mother Nature while we can. We encourage folks to take advantage of our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast Spur of the Moment Special. Arrive here within 24 hours of booking your 2 night stay and you’ll receive 15% off your entire stay. If you’re office is still closed due to lack of electricity or your home is cold and dark, hop in your car and find warmth at the Applegate Inn.

Sit by the grand fireplace in our parlor, where in the evening we serve a selection of wine and cheeses. Remember the best part of winter – cozy evenings by the fire after days of brisk outdoor activity. You’ll find yourself looking forward to the next snow fall.

Our simple Spur of the Moment Package makes for substantial savings: if you book a room 24 hours (or less) before your arrival you’ll receive a 15% discount on your entire stay. So go ahead, be spontaneous!

We’re currently offering a few interesting Mid Week Lodging Specials. If you travel midweek (Sunday through Thursday) from now until May 15, 2011, choose one of the following packages:

• Sleep Inn – Ski Out: receive two free lift passes to Butternut Ski Resort or discount passes to Jiminy Peak (Monday through Friday)

• Dinner is Served: enjoy a complimentary dinner for two at The Old Inn on the Green (Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday evenings).

• February is for Chocolate Lovers: enjoy a complimentary bottle of Furnace Brook Winery’s Blanc de Blancs bubbly and a sinfully good chocolate treat.

From now through June 25, 2011, enjoy deep discounts on two and three night stays at our inn. Our Three Night $50 Special is available seven days a week: stay two nights and the third night is just $50. Our Two Night Special is available Sunday through Thursday: the second night is discounted $75 (King bedrooms) or $50 (Queen bedrooms).

Please visit the Specials and Packages page to learn more about all the current specials at our Bed and Breakfast Berkshires. You’ll find we offer Culture in the Country, Spa Indulgence Packages, and many interesting Add-Ons. You may just find a compelling incentive to travel to the Berkshires.

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!

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.