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.

Spend an afternoon walking among robots on the grounds of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Autumn in the Berkshires is living art. The landscape is a canvas of colors – red, russet, orange, yellow, green, blue… It is interactive art at its finest.

The Norman Rockwell Museum has integrated this natural art into one of its exhibits. “An Outdoor Installation for the 21st Century” has been at the museum all summer and it lingers to stand against a backdrop of fall foliage. It will close October 31, 2011.

Have you seen the 2005 film Robots? If so, you have some idea of what you’ll find on the grounds of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Artists and craftspeople from all media were invited to submit sculptural robots inspired by the the film. The robots stand in stark contrast to the traditional paintings inside the museum, and the pastoral landscape surrounding it.

It’s worth a look.

Come spend a few days at our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast. The Applegate Inn is located in Lee Massachusetts, just a few miles from Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum. It takes about fifteen minutes to drive to the museum from here, and less than 45 minutes to bike there.

For more information about “An Outdoor Installation for the 21st Century”, please visit the Norman Rockwell Museum.

To book a room, please see our Berkshires Bed and Breakfast reservation page.

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.

Cuddle by the fire while you're here. We do.

Take advantage of our Berkshires Romance Package, which includes two nights in a room with a fireplace, chocolate and champagne, and a sumptuous three-course dinner for just the two of you. Please see our Bed and Breakfast Specials for more details.

A romantic getaway means different things to different people; fortunately our corner of the Massachusetts Berkshires has an abundance of outdoor recreation, cultural activities, and fine dining. Spend your days skiing at Catamount Ski Area, Jiminy Peak, or the Canterbury Farms Cross Country Ski Center. See the latest exhibits at the Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, or the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Our guests are always welcome to simply relax at our luxury Lenox MA lodging. Play games, play the piano, or cuddle by the fire as much as you like. Our goal is to help you enjoy a wonderful romantic Valentine’s Day with the person you most love.

The Berkshire Museum, in Pittsfield has many great permanent exhibits, such as pieces by Alexander Calder and local creations in the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation. There is also a fascinating visiting exhibit about the Art of the Arsenal through June 6, 2010. See a Sioux War Headdress, a Samurai suit, and a Persian horned helmet. It is fascinating to see how our ancestors armed themselves, and to learn something about the ritual of war (war is not glorified in this exhibit, merely examined).

The work of Giovanni Boldini, and impressionist in Paris, is currently at The Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown. There you will also find the impressive Manton Collection – over 200 pieces of British art by greats such as Turner and Constable.

Or spend an afternoon at the nearby Norman Rockwell Museum. On view is through May 16, 2010 is To Rockwell, With Love: Fan Mail and the Saturday Evening Post. A lifetime of the artist’s work is put in perspective when you read how the public responded to him.

We offer a “Two Night Culture in the Country Package” through June 25, 2010. Stay two nights during the week at our Lenox inn and receive free admission to the local museum of your choice. In addition, you enjoy all the comforts of home – and then some – at the inn.

Stockbridge Mass is just a few miles from our Lenox MA bed and breakfast. A morning or afternoon spent at the Norman Rockwell Museum is time well spent. In addition to the upcoming special exhibit of Rockwell’s photographs, the museum houses the most complete collection of his iconic American paintings. Rockwell’s last studio, which he called his best, now sits on the museum’s grounds, and is open to visitation.

Take time to visit this remarkable museum when you stay at our Western Massachusetts lodging. The museum store has a wonderful selection of prints and books, which make lovely gifts for the upcoming holidays.

Read more about the Norman Rockwell museum at the Applegate Inn Blog.

The Norman Rockwell Museum, in Stockbridge

The Museum is in Stockbridge, MA. It holds the largest collection of his work, as well as many of his photographs and letters.

The museum has a very informative audio tour as well as a docent-lead conversation every day at 10 a.m.

Some highlights include favorites from Saturday Evening Post covers, ‘Four Freedoms’, and ‘Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas’. The museum is a very nostalgic experience; with its close proximity to our Bed and Breakfast Lenox, we hope everyone has a chance to see the work of this exceptional American artist.

Also included is the original Rockwell Stockbridge studio building and its contents. This is a notable space, that includes his personal art collection, his equipment and artist materials as well as mementos from his travels.

The museum currently has a fascinating exhibit on World War I propaganda posters, encouraging the purchase of war bonds. The prints are almost 100 years old, and beautifully patriotic! The exhibit will only be up until January 25, so you better hurry over to our Lenox Bed and Breakfast for a visit!