Berkshires Region, Massachusetts
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
In the highlands along the western portions of Massachusetts, locals and visitors alike come together to eat, drink, and explore. These highlands—collectively referred to as the Berkshires—offer some of the most beautiful landscapes and interesting recreational activities anywhere in the broader Appalachian Mountains.
Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find it here. Enjoy tours of the area’s beautiful orchards and farms and the wineries and breweries that make use of the local produce to create delicious drinkables. Explore the many specialty food markets, world-class bars and restaurants; visit an art museum; hike a beautiful Green Mountain trail; and celebrate life at a seasonal festival. Chart a course through the Berkshires with your very own RV rental and make a custom vacation just right for your family. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
The Berkshires are an outdoor enthusiast’s playground, with a huge variety of nature and recreation activities to suit any tastes. Enjoy water sports at any of the mountain lakes and rivers in the area, or go for a long hike or mountain bike ride on a trail in one of the Berkshire’s many parks. In the warmer months, hit the links at one of the Berkshires’ world-class golf courses, or come out for plenty of excellent skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, and other winter sports when it gets cold.
Looking for something a bit more intense? The Berkshires has a bustling Adventure Tourism scene with tons of bucket list activities and once-in-a-lifetime experiences the whole family will love. Of note are aerial experiences like scenic flights from Berkshire Aviation Enterprise and hot air balloon rides over the Berkshires with Spirit Ballooning. Ramblewild is a family favorite for its aerial adventure park, ropes course, and winding trails. For more info on these another adventures, including whitewater rafting and horseback riding, check out this webpage on Berkshires adventure tourism.
The family fun doesn’t stop at the door in The Berkshires. There’s an endless supply of amazing indoor destinations and unique experiences throughout the region your family won’t want to miss. For a true getaway from the everyday, check out the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield and its on-site farm, shops, and café. Also in Pittsfield is the Berkshire Museum, a combination art, science, and history museum with an aquarium thrown in for good measure.
The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge gives visitors a hands-on experience in their Art Zone, as well as a close look at the great artist of Americana himself. This isn’t the only look at American artforms the Berkshires has to offer, either. Case in point: Animagic Museum of Animation and Special Effects in Lee, Massachusetts. This one-of-a-kind institution celebrates the technical wizardry of Hollywood’s special effects artists. For more information on these and other family-friendly activities, check out this list from the Berkshires.
No mountain getaway would be complete without some “me time,” and the Berkshires has opportunities for that in spades. The area is renowned for great spas, massage therapy centers, holistic health retreats, and fitness centers. Work your body out on the trails and streams of the Berkshires, then give it the attention it needs with relaxing therapeutic massages at favorite spots like Body & Soul Day Spa in Great Barrington or InTouch Massage & Day Spa in Williamstown.
If you’re in need of a more intensive wellness experience, the mountains are home to a great selection of sanctuaries and retreat centers that offer everything from overnight experiences to wellness classes in practices such as yoga and Chinese art. For a full list of these retreats, as well as other spas and fitness centers in the Berkshires, click here.
The Berkshires have earned a reputation as a top destination for arts and culture in Massachusetts and for good reason. There are fabulous museums, art galleries, gardens, and historical sites spread throughout the region. Here are just a few of the most popular of these attractions:
For a more complete listing of the many cultural destinations in the Berkshires, of which this list only scratches the surface, visit the Berkshires.org website.
Contributing to the arts and culture appeal of the Berkshires, the performing arts in the area are worthy of their own section of this list. It’s not every tourist destination that places such a great emphasis on world-class performing arts like the Berkshires does and that means you’ll always find a play to watch or a concert to enjoy while in the Berkshires, including:
Granville State Forest is home to the Berkshire County State Parks Campground and its 22 RV-friendly campsites. There are no hookups, but there are excellent toilet and shower facilities on site. The streams and brooks running through the forest are fun to hike for man and canine alike, and fishers love to spend an afternoon hooking small fries. Granville State Forest is also a popular horseback riding spot if you’re inclined to bring your family’s equine friends along for the trip.
The 12,000-acre Beartown State Forest is a fantastic place to swim, boat, fish, ski, and snowmobile. Located in Monterey, Massachusetts, the campground at Beartown is one of the more rustic on this list with no hookups, but the close access to the swimming beaches and boat launches is a fair trade for electricity when you’re looking to truly get away and enjoy nature in the Berkshires.
At the base of Mount Greylock in Lanesborough, Massachusetts is the popular Mt. Greylock Campsite Park. There are tons of RV sites here with full electric/water/sewage hookups and even onsite propane available. Enjoy the recreation hall, park pool, and playground for the kids, and don’t miss an opportunity to fish the on-site pond.
Visitors to the Berkshires love Bonnie Brae Cabins & Campsites in Pittsfield for its close proximity to major attractions. There are many RV sites that come with electric hookups and can accommodate RVs all the way up to 40 feet or more. The on-site pools are also a great way to relax and unwind after a busy day exploring everything there is to see nearby.
Rounding out the list, Savoy Mountain State Forest is another destination perfect for outdoor lovers and the RV crowd alike. While none of the 45 campsites at the park’s campground offer hookups, there is an on-site dumping station and restroom facility. Great for fans of boating, swimming, and even snowmobiling in the winter months!
There are too many dining options to do justice even in a long list but suffice to say that the Berkshires are a veritable melting pot of food culture. You’ll find quality local wines and cheeses at favorites like Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar and District Kitchen & Bar. Enjoy upscale tapas at Brava, Colombian cuisine at La Fogata, and incredible French food at Starving Artist Café & Creperie.
For a comprehensive list of all the restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, and markets the Berkshires have to offer, there’s no better place to look than Berkshires.org’s Eat & Drink page.