Build Your Berkshire Bucket List

Dream now. Travel later.

Even if you can’t physically travel, you can virtually visit the Berkshires now and plan the perfect getaway for later.

The winter season is always a special time to visit the Berkshires, but if you aren’t able to visit, you can still explore all our region has to offer from the safety of your home. Be sure to keep a list of your fave destinations so you can visit in person when you are able to book that brrr-illiant Berkshire getaway!

BSC’s Holiday Getaway. Photo by David Dashiell.

Give your Netflix a break and binge on these online experiences. Barrington Stage Company is producing Holiday Getaway, a jolly cabaret to shake away the winter blues starring Broadway performers Alan H. Green, Alysha Umphress, and Joel Waggoner. (BSC has other online offerings, too.) Rent this new one-man version of the classic A Christmas Carol, presented by Ventfort Hall in collaboration with Byers’ Choice LTD. If the performer seems especially Scrooge-like, it’s because the star, Gerald Charles Dickens, is the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens! Nothing feels more nostalgically holiday than Norman Rockwell. Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum online featuring curated experiences that allow you to explore the museum’s “renowned collection of Norman Rockwell’s original paintings, his Stockbridge Studio, as well as the Museum’s vast collection of illustration art.”

The magic of winter in the Berkshires extends far beyond the holiday festivities. Outdoor enthusiasts looking for speed or serene skylines will enjoy our many ski resorts, cross-country properties, and snowy hiking trails. Whether you can strap on your skis or snowshoes this winter or next, check out these winter sports and ski conditions to help you plan a chill adventure.

Spencer Finch’s Cosmic Latte features over 150 specially fabricated LED fixtures suspended from the ceiling over an expanse of the 80-foot long gallery. Photo by Sundae Graphic Design and Photography.

There’s a lot to do and see indoors, too. Make plans to visit our many cultural and historic institutions such as The Clark, MASS MoCA, The Mount, and Arrowhead. Until you’re able to visit, consider pursuing these online teasers. The Berkshire Museum has a number of virtual exhibitions as part of their BerkshireMuseum@Home. Explore Objects & Their Stories to virtually peruse mummies, meteors, lizards, and 40,000 unique objects from art, science, and history. Art lovers or anyone who’s ever wanted to learn how to paint can tune into a Berkshire Paint & Sip at Home class. Order supplies online if you don’t have your own, then sip your beverage of choice while you are shown how to bring your canvas to life. Canyon Ranch has a cooking channel, and General Dynamics Mission Systems has been producing fun science experiments – like elephant toothpaste and ecosystems in a bottle – all suitable for any age to try at home under adult supervision.

Nothing will replace the making of memories during actual travel, and we hope the day for safe exploration comes for you soon. Until then, here are some other links to give you a taste of Western Mass and help you fill out your Berkshire bucket list: What to Do, Where to Stay, Eat & Drink, Plan Your Trip