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| Berkshire County is famously seen as a refuge from the expedited pace of city and business life, yet it bubbles with an excitment, friendliness, and curiosity that's hard to find. Residents and visitors alike generally refer to the top half of the County as "Northern Berkshire" and the bottom half as "South County." |
| "Northern Berkshire" |
Northern Berkshire County is well-known for it's grouping of small towns and cities, state forests & parks, its trio of colleges, and the easy access to many popular destinations - among them are Albany and Springfield, which are both within an hour's drive.
At its furthest point northeast, Berkshire County is anchored by Williamstown, which features the esteemed Williams College (photo
Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts), the Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute (photo
Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts), and the Williamstown Theater Festival. Heading southward, one passes through North Adams, Adams, and Cheshire, traveling by the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) (photo
Mass MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts), Mount Greylock State Park (photo
Mount Greylock, Adams, Massachusetts), the Savoy State Forest, and the 11.2-mile paved Ashuwillticook Rail Trail (photo
Taken while walking on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Cheshire, Massachusetts).
The genuine natural beauty of the area complements the close-knit communities that are a trademark of the Nothern Berkshire area. You'll encounter great restaurants and cafes, small shops as well as large shopping centers, and plenty to do recreationally. |
| "South County" |
South County presents a similarly eclectic mix of smaller towns, high-end restaurants, outdoor recreation, and seasonal entertainment. Popular hotspots are the small shops and streetside cafes in downtown Lenox, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington.
The summer months in South County typically see an increase in the number of visitors from neighboring New York and Connecticut, as well as other states. Lenox's Tanglewood Music Center and Becket's Jacob's Pillow Dance Theater are seasonal favorites. And not to be outdone by the scenic beauty of the Northern Berkshires, state parks such as Mount Washington State Forest, October Mountain State Forest, and Beartown State Forest are as beautiful as they are welcoming to the recreationalist. |
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| County: Berkshire |
| Notable Lakes: Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, Cheshire Reservoir, Otis Reservoir, Richmond Pond, Lake Ashmere, Laurel Lake |
| Notable Rivers: Hoosic River, Deerfield River, Housatonic River, Green River |
| Notable Peaks: Mount Greylock (3,491'), Mount Everett (2,602'), Mount Williams (2,956'), Saddle Ball Mountain (3,238') |
| Ski Areas: Jiminy Peak (Hancock), Bousquet Mountain (Pittsfield), Butternut Basin (Great Barrington), Berkshire East (Charlemont) |
| Golf Courses: Taconic Golf Club, Waubeeka Golf Course, Forest Park Country Club, Pittsfield County Club, Berkshire Hills Country Club, Cranwell Golf Resort, North Adams Country Club, Wahconah Country Club |
| Colleges/Universities: Williams College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Simon's Rock College, Berkshire Community College |
| Arts/Music: Tanglewood, Clark Art Institute, Jacob's Pillow, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Mass MoCA, Norman Rockwell Museum, Berkshire Museum, Barrington Stage Company |
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