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.

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.

Silken, by Dan Dailey, at Schantz Galleries.

Nearby Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Lenox and Lee have antique shops, art galleries, and clothing stores. Our inn is also close to the Prime Outlet Village; we offer a Berkshires Shopping Getaway Special which includes a variety of discount coupons for the village.

Origins Gallery in Stockbridge features unique art, masks, and artifacts from remote villages in Africa. An American Craftsman Galleries features many unique holiday gifts such as lovely glass ornaments. Amazing glass art by Dale Chihuly, Dan Dailey and others may be found at Schantz Galleries. Inner Vision Studio is a good place to find watercolors and drawings by local artist Karen Andrews.

Antique shops abound throughout the Berkshires, particularly in Great Barrington. Elise Abrams Antiques features fine antiques for dining; the Emporium Antique Center offers many treasures to those with patience and stamina to browse through more than 23,000 square feet; the Great Barrington Antiques Center neatly displays items from many dealers in more than 5,000 square feet.

Treat yourself to a Berkshires Getaway this holiday season and have fun shopping for others.

Enjoy the first meal of 2011 at our luxurious bed and breakfast in the Berkshires.

Spend two or three nights in beautiful  Western Massachusetts and let us pamper you. Enjoy wine and cheese in the parlor before dining at one of the good local restaurants. When you return to your room after dinner, you’ll find chocolates and a decanter of Brandy awaiting you. Break your fast by candlelight, on crystal and fine china. Spend your days exploring charming New England towns, skiing, or relaxing by the fire.

On New Year’s Eve, we’ll break out the champagne and feast on tasty hors d’oeuvres. Laugh and cry over the best and worst of 2010, and share your aspirations for 2011. Play a song or two on the piano, challenge each other to a game, or simply enjoy conversation with friends, old and new.  Finish the evening with more brandy and chocolates, and sleep peacefully. On New Year’s Day, sleep late and then start the year off with a gourmet brunch by candlelight.

We’re happy to combine some of our other packages with our 2010 Bershires b&b New Year’s Special. Contact us to discuss your options; call toll free: (800) 691-9012 or email info@applegateinn.com.

Challenge your spouse to a game of Scrabble in our cozy sun room.

Spend the weekend after Thanksgiving being pampered at our Berkshires bed and breakfast. Use the time to gather your forces for the upcoming swirl of holiday parties and events, or to get a start on holiday shopping. Antique shops abound here in Western Massachusetts, as do quaint shops in nearby towns like Stockbridge, Lenox, and Lee. Take advantage of our Shopping Getaway B&B Special, and we’ll provide some coupons for nearby Prime Outlet Village.

There is no better place to sit and knit or read a book than by the roaring fire in our parlor. Play the piano if you feel inspired, play a game, or simply enjoy some good old fashioned conversation. Unwind with a glass of wine in the parlor in the late afternoon, and then settle down in your room at night with a glass of cognac and gourmet chocolate.

The holidays are a fun time, but they can be exhausting. Be prepared.

The lovely little town of Lee, Massachusetts.

We are just a half a mile from the center of Lee. Sidewalks make walking there safe as well as pleasant, and since the road is wide and not heavily trafficked, biking to town is also fun.

After a lazy morning lounging by the pool at our Berkshires bed and breakfast, head to town for a delicious Vietnamese lunch at Pho Sai Gon. Stroll to town on a summer evening for a delicious Indian meal at Bombay. Or enjoy French bistro style dining at Chez Nous.

Notice the hanging baskets of flowers when you’re in town. Gloria has been in charge of these baskets for the past three years. Thanks to her efforts, the baskets have grown in number from twenty to seventy. Gloria raises funds for the baskets, hangs brackets, buys baskets and works with the local nursery to create colorful, lasting flower baskets. In addition to the baskets, Gloria and the Chamber of Commerce of Lee have encouraged local businesses to sponsor and care for small pocket gardens throughout Lee.

We’ve been here eleven years now. We love being involved, and are pleased that Gloria’s efforts have been well received by visitors and locals alike.

A happy couple gets back to nature while riding horses in the Berkshires.

Horseback riding season opens mid-May near our Lenox bed and breakfast, so make your plans to escape from NYC, Hartford or Boston today. Berkshire Horseback Adventures offers trail rides that last an hour, an afternoon, or overnight. You may arrange a private ride, or join a small group. Whether you are an accomplished rider or a novice, you’ll find yourself safely negotiating scenic trails through tranquil Kennedy Park, in Lenox.

After a few hours in the saddle, you are sure to be ready for a little luxury. Return to our bed and breakfast Lenox MA and enjoy a hot soak. If the pool is open, stretch out your sore muscles with a swim and a nap on a lounge chair. Once refreshed, stop by the parlor for a glass of wine and appetizers before heading out to dine at one of the many excellent restaurants in nearby Lenox, Lee or Stockbridge. You will certainly have a good appetite.

If you enjoy antiquing, we’ll happily share some of our favorite shops with you. The heart of Lenox has several good antique shops, as does downtown Lee; those of you willing to spend a day driving around Western Massachusetts will discover many fantastic shops.

The area around our Berkshires bed and breakfast draws artists and craftspeople, and as a result, there is an abundance of local art and crafts. From the shop in our inn to any number of stores on any Main Street, you’ll find unique jewelry, pottery, textiles and paintings. Bring a little bit of the Berkshires home with you, or to someone you love.

There is also a terrific outlet village near here, so if you realize after browsing through dozens of smaller stores that you’d rather shop for bargains, you’ll find them here too.

We’ll be sure to feed you well before you head out for a day of shopping, and when your feet are sore, come back to the inn, enjoy a glass of wine and a soak in the tub. We offer a Shoppers Special for the shoppers among you, complete with coupons to the aforementioned outlet stores.