The Berkshires
The tranquil beauty of the Berkshires, located just 45 minutes from Litchfield, has long been a haven for the wealthy and famous, artists, actors, and singers. A tour of Ventfort Hall, located in Lenox, was once owned by Sarah Morgan, sister of the illustrious JP Morgan. Today the house celebrates the Gilded Age in a fascinating museum that covers American life in the second half of the 19th century when wealthy families like the Morgans, Duponts, and Vanderbilts built summer homes away from New York City.
After that, you can have lunch on the terrace at the Mount, the turn-of-the-century residence designed by author Edith Wharton. Leaving Lennox, travel to Stockbridge and stop at Naumkeag, one of the region's earliest cottages in the gilded shingle style. Explore an eight-acre wonderland of expertly groomed grounds, which also includes the well-known Chinese Garden and forty acres of woodlands, meadows, and pastures. Don't miss Asia Barong, the largest Asian art gallery in America, on your way from Stockbridge to Great Barrington on your way back to Connecticut for a change of pace. It has more than 25,000 pieces in stock, including large Buddhas, Spirit Houses from Thailand, traditional structures from Sulawesi, Indian temple doors, Balinese puppets, and exotic jewelry.
Location: Massachusetts and Connecticut, United States
Website: https://berkshires.org/
Distance from Connecticut: 50 miles
Travel Time: 1 hour
Tel: (413) 499-1600
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5
