If you live in the northeastern United States, you can probably rattle off the region’s most popular summer weekend spots: There’s the Jersey Shore, Dewey Beach, the Hamptons, Cape Cod, Nantucket.
Besides being some of the most charming places on the planet, the above locations have another, fairly dreadful, summer vacation trait: crowds. Lots and lots of crowds.
Advertisement
Some east coasters head to the Catskill mountains or the Poconos to get away, but you might just find yourself at a resort with, you guessed it ― more crowds.
So where can you go to enjoy a quintessential East Coast summer without everyone else? The Berkshires. Situated in western Massachusetts, the towns of Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield and more are just waiting for you to bring a book, grab a picnic blanket and simply take a break. Here’s why you need to visit.
Advertisement
1. There’s barely any cell service.
Obviously it depends where you are in the area, as cell service in some areas is stronger than in others. But on a recent trip to the area, reception was spotty between the lovely towns mentioned above. but, this was a welcomed characteristic of the area.
Advertisement
Despite what you’ve seen on some reality shows, the Berkshires is a calm, relaxing place. It’s no surprise that having spotty cell service can make it somewhat easier to disconnect for the weekend, which allows you to be more mindful of where you are. Research has shown that unplugging from devices for a period of time can reduce stress and improve sleep.
And since the Berkshires boasts some of the best scenery in the northeast and isn’t overrun with tourists, it’s the perfect place for low-stress living and restful nights. If you’re relying on your GPS to get around, you might want to pick up a physical map of the area to use instead.
2. The drive there is gorgeous.
Whether you’re coming from New York City or Boston, skip the highway and take a scenic route: picture rolling green hills dotted with barns, cows, horses and hay barrels.
In fact, you could go on an entire doughnut tour of the Berkshires and be a very happy camper. The area’s various farms set up stands and stores alongside the road, which makes it super easy to stop by. Grab a donut and a bottle of Berkshire’s local hard cider, Johnny Mash, and be on your way. Be sure to check out the area’s farmer’s markets, too.
A photo posted by anitapixlondon (@anitapixlondon) on
4. You can enjoy nature any way you want!
A small 2012 study showed that spending time in nature device-free boosted scores on a creativity test. In the Berkshires you can ski in the winter ― hike, bike, walk, camp and swim in the summer. Stroll along the budding beauties at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, or cool off at Bash Bish Falls State Park where the area’s highest single-drop waterfall resides. You can also hike, swim and camp in Beartown State Forest. And if frolicking in nature is not your thing, you can take scenic drives instead.
5. A night at Tanglewood is summer at its finest.
As Boston Symphony Orchestra’s official summer home, Tanglewood hosts multiple concerts throughout the summer months. James Taylor typically plays over Fourth of July weekend, and other popular artist concerts are sprinkled throughout the season. On most other nights, you can grab a picnic blanket, sandwiches and a bottle of wine while taking in the incredible talents of Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.
Advertisement
6. There’s so much history.
Stay at The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, one of New England’s oldest and longest-operating inns. Visit the studio of Norman Rockwell, one of America’s greatest artists, and spend some time strolling through the museum housing his most famous work, including all the covers he illustrated for The Saturday Evening Post. Then head on over to The Mount, the summer estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton. On Saturday evenings, there’s live jazz on the main home’s patio. Pack a picnic and sit in the gardens.
7. Picnicking is the area’s unofficial official pastime.
Picnics, live music and stunning scenery? How could you say no? Happy travels!
Language has been updated to include more details about cell service in the area.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.