Relax in our Massachusetts bed and breakfast after your berkshires hike

Take a break from the cultural richness of the Berkshires and head out into the wilderness for a hike. Nothing calms the mind like being surrounded by trees and magnificent rock formations. You will feel refreshed and ready either to head back to Tanglewood or go straight to your Berkshires bed and breakfast for a dip in the pool and a sit on the porch.

The trail to Ice Glen is less than 1.5 miles there and back, without much gain in elevation. Heavily shaded by huge, old hemlock trees, the trail offers one pleasant surprise after another. Deep caves, stacked boulders, and narrow fissures abound, along with dramatic views of the ravine. This trail has been popular for many years; indeed, Nathaniel Hawthorne called Ice Glen “the most curious fissure in all Berkshire.”

The Ice Glen trailhead is just south of Stockbridge, MA – a short drive from our Lee MA bed and breakfast. We will feed you a delicious breakfast and send you on your way. You should have plenty of time to return to your room and rest before heading out to one of the many delicious restaurants in the region, or to a concert at Tanglewood.

The Clark is perhaps best known for its collection of French Impressionist paintings, which is extensive. In addition, world-renowned exhibits rotate through the museum. Now through October 18, visitors will have the opportunity to view “Through the Seasons: Japanese Art in Nature”. This exhibit features scrolls and screens from the seventeenth through 19th centuries, and contemporary ceramics: the works are linked by “emphasizing the inspirational role of nature in Japanese art” (Clark website). “Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence” runs through September 7, 2009; it explores the influence of Arthur Dove on O’Keeffe and her work. According to the Clark website, the artistic dialogue between O’Keeffe and Dove “yielded a form of modernism grounded in direct, emotional responses to nature, and their profound aesthetic connection helped shape the course of art in America.” Both of these exhibits are worth a trip to The Clark.

Located as it is in one of the most scenic areas of western Massachusetts, The Clark invites visitors to experience the outdoors through Geocaching. Bring your own GPS or borrow one free of charge from the museum and head into the wild. Geocaching is a game. Hikers use a GPS device to locate hidden containers (geocaches) full of treasures that were left behind by other geocachers. Leave your own treasure and then go in search of the next cache. It is a great way to get out into the fresh air, stretch your legs, and enjoy the beauty of the Berkshires.

Check out some of The Clark Art Institute specials that combine entry into the museum with tickets to Tanglewood. Our Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast is ideally situated to take advantage of both Tanglewood and The Clark, and we hope you do while you are staying here. When you feel the need to take a vacation from your vacation, simply pull up a chaise lounge and relax by the pool. Art, music, and relaxation – that is what summer is all about.

It is a great honor for Tanglewood to be the site of two world premiers by Mark Morris. This talented choreographer from Seattle has created works for ballets and operas around the world. Yet perhaps it is no surprise that he chose the Tanglewood Festival to unveil two new performances; he is known for his musicality, and according to the Tanglewood website, “has been described as undeviating in his devotion to music.”

We at our Bed and Breakfast Lenox, MA are thrilled that the Mark Morris Dance Group will be at Tanglewood this August. We look forward to the performance.

Stretch out in our Berkshire b&b pool after the adventure park

Catamount Ski Area has opened an Adventure Park near our Berkshires MA Bed and Breakfast. This is an exciting way to make use of a beautiful area in the Berkshire Mountains that has traditionally been most used in the winter. We are excited by what the new Adventure Park has to offer our community and guests at our Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast.

You may find yourself wondering, “What exactly is an adventure park?” It is a place to have fun while building skills. No rollercoasters here. Instead, you will find an aerial forest rope course complete with platforms in the trees connected by ropes and cable “bridges”. The goal? To move from platform to platform by various means, including via zip-line. The courses vary in difficulty, so visitors are sure to find one that meets their comfort level, or pushes them slightly beyond it. Safety is of course paramount, and participants are always fully secured by a harness.

Spending a few hours at the Swiss designed Catamount Adventure Park is a great way to experience the beauty of the Berkshires. We promise to fill you with a nutritious and delicious home made breakfast at our Lee MA Bed and Breakfast, after which you can head out for great adventure. In the evening, perhaps you will join us for a glass of sherry and regale us with tales of swinging from tree to tree.

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!