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.

Romance packages at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast include:

• in-room fireplace, ready to warm cool evenings
• sumptuous gourmet dinner for two, served here at the inn
• split of champagne
• fine chocolates

Take advantage of the Romance Packages at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast, through May 2011.

This spring, a romantic getaway in the Berkshires may include long walks through our gardens, or a horseback ride through the woods. It may consist of golf in the morning and afternoons in Stockbridge and Lenox.  It may even include a night with the Metropolitan Opera (live in HD) at The Clark Art Institute.

Some folks prefer to spend most of their time relaxing at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast. It is a such a peaceful place for guests traveling from cities like Boston and New York. Evenings by the piano give way to lazy mornings and decadent breakfasts. Bring the person you most love.

Please see our Berkshires lodging specials for details about our Romance Packages. Call (800) 691-9012 to make a reservation.

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.

Reconnect with your spouse during the holidays at our luxury bed and breakfast.

How do you make the person you love feel special during the busy holidays? Whisk your sweetie pie away to our Berkshires bed and breakfast luxury lodging.

Sometimes we forget to make time for our closest companions during the holidays. It’s easy to become preoccupied with hosting events for friends and family. All free time is suddenly devoted to cleaning house, cooking for dozens, shopping, wrapping, and all-around preparing. Our calendars fill with events booked at home and away, and while you may be with your spouse, you may not have time to actually be with your spouse. It’s different.

Sound familiar?

Our Romance Package, offered now through May, 2011, may be the best gift of the season for both you and your lover. Clear your calendar of all obligations and spend two nights at our romantic bed and breakfast Berkshires. Our inn is surrounded by picturesque historic towns and lovely New England landscape. Spend your days exploring Stockbridge and Lenox hand in hand, where you can be together while shopping for others. Or fill your lungs with fresh air in nearby Beartown or October Mountain State Forests.

Our romance package includes a sumptuous three course dinner for two and lodging in a room with a fireplace. Call (800) 691-9012 for more details, and find out just why Applegate Inn was given an A+ for best place to kiss in the Berkshires.

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.

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.

Garrison Keillor at Tanglewood on June 26, 2010

Opening Night at Tanglewood is July 9, 2010, yet there are events almost every night starting June 26, when Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion take the stage. This live broadcast is sure to be full of beautiful music, poignant tales, and silliness.

11am Sunday, June 27, marks the start of the String Quartet Marathon at Tanglewood. Fourteen string quartets will perform music by Mozart and Schumann among others. Later that night, the Mark Morris Dance Group takes the stage to perform a Grand Duo, and a new piece set to Beethoven arrangements of traditional folksongs. The Mark Morris Dance Group are currently Tanglewood Music Center Fellows.

Now is the time to peruse the Tanglewood 2010 Schedule and make your picks. Once you do that, you are ready to plan your stay at our Tanglewood Bed and Breakfast, minutes from Lenox, Massachusetts. We’ll make you comfortable, feed you well, and share our shortcut to Tanglewood. It’s time to listen to the music.

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.

The Tanglewood Festival is an annual celebration of music held at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox. It is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and setting for a variety of musical performances and events. One of the best ways to spend a summer evening in the Berkshires is to grab a blanket, some fixin’s for a picnic & head to Tanglewood for a night of music as the sun sets and the stars come out.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is currently running a Clark/Tanglewood ticket offer: Buy now and pay only $45 for two tickets to The Clark and two Tanglewood lawn tickets. I had to read that three times before I believed my eyes; four tickets to world-renowned art and mucis venues for only $45?!? It is an amazing deal and one you should take advantage of right away!

The Lawn at Tanglewood

The Clark is located in Williamstown, about a 45 minute drive from both the Tanglewood Music Center and our Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast. Of course, the drive through our pastoral landscape in the summer with a warm breeze in your hair is not much of a chore. Plus, The Clark is not to be missed.

The Clark features an outstanding collection of Impressionist, American, and Old Master paintings, set among 140 scenic acres with hiking and walking trails. On view this summer, Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence and Through the Seasons: Japanese Art in Nature.

Look for more information on Tanglewood from our Lenox Bed and Breakfast soon!

to strap on our boots and warm jackets and get ready!

The first thing I would recommend to do is get out for some cross-country or downhill skiing! The nearby Cranwell Resort in Lenox has 10 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails, which are also great for snowshoeing. The resort offers snacks and drinks as well as a complete line of rental equipment. They also

Bed and Breakfast Lenox for Winter Activities!

have professional instructors there to help you through your first day back on the snow!

Don’t let a little weather dissuade you from a relaxing stay at our Stockbridge Bed and Breakfast!