Top Things to do in Berkshires
Top Hotels in Berkshires
- 1. LakeHouse Inn
- 2. Cornell Inn Lenox
- 3. Vacation Village in the Berkshires
- 4. Fairfield Inn & Suites Great Barrington Lenox/Berkshires
- 5. MAPLE TERRACE MOTEL
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Berkshires Lenox
- 7. Cornell Inn Lenox
- 8. Yankee Inn
- 9. The Black Swan Inn Lee - Lenox, Ascend Hotel Collection
- 10. Seven Hills Inn
The 7 Best Art Museums in Berkshires, Berkshires
The Berkshires are home to an impressive collection of cultural and historic sights. Get your fill of music, art and theater at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony's summer home, MASS MoCA, the country's largest contemporary art center, the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Recreational opportunities also abound, including snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, rafting, kayaking, fishing and golf. The Berkshires are an easy drive, just two and a half hours from Boston and New York.
Restaurants in Berkshires
1. The Clark Art Institute
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,378 reviews
The Clark Art Institute is best known for its French Impressionist paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, and especially Pierre-Auguste Renoir, with more than thirty paintings by the artist. The collection is also rich in American paintings by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, George Inness, Frederic Remington, and Mary Cassatt; Italian and Northern Renaissance masterpieces; portraits and landscapes by European masters; and an extraordinary collection of silver, porcelain, and furniture. An active program of special exhibitions brings great works of art from around the world to the museum. Designed by renowned Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando, the recently opened Clark Center is the centerpiece of the Clark's campus. The center includes special exhibition galleries as well as retail and dining spaces. It overlooks a dramatic three-tiered reflecting pool, integrating indoor and outdoor spaces and creating a stunning visual connection to the woodland surroundings and other buildings located on the campus. This sweeping new landscape design transforms the Clark's 140-acre campus and underscores new sustainability initiatives. In 1950 the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute was founded as a permanent home for the private art collection of Sterling and Francine Clark. In 1955 Sterling-who was an avid horseman with strong family ties to Williamstown and Cooperstown, New York-and his wife Francine presided at the official opening of the museum, sharing their magnificent yet little-known collection with the world for the first time. Since the founding, the museum has gained international stature for the quality of its collection, innovative special exhibitions, and Research and Academic Program.
Reviewed By ogerkan - New York City, United States
The Clark is a pretty special place. The building itself and the grounds are amazing. The story of the Clark's and their passion for collecting fine art is inspiring. The Renoirs (20 or so) are amazing and are mostly presented superbly in a large hall. There are Monets, Pissaros, a Van Gogh, Degas and Rodins scattered around as well. Nice cafe and gift shop on the premises round it out.
2. Lauren Clark Fine Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
All aspects of the gallery, curated by Lauren Clark, features fine art and contemporary craft by regional and internationally recognized artists in all media. These offerings include paintings, fine art prints, indoor and outdoor sculpture, gold and silver jewelry, blown glass, and ceramics.
3. Williams College Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
WCMA is temporarily closed for the spring as we help try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. WCMA sparks new ways of thinking about art and the visual world through its innovative exhibitions, programs, publications and projects. At the heart of the Williams College campus the museum draws on the collaborative and multidisciplinary ethos of the surrounding college to enliven the more than 14,000 works in its growing collection. The museum and its collection is a catalyst for student learning and community engagement. Situated in the rich cultural landscape of the Berkshires, WCMA is free and open to all.
Reviewed By JoeDiner27 - North Adams, United States
Lots of varied things to see here, as they run shows and share with other museums quite frequently. WPA depression drawings are very interesting, as are the Persian antiquities, since this college is among the oldest in the country, from the late 1700’s...amazing.
4. Norman Rockwell Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,422 reviews
Founded in 1969, this museum has the world's largest and most significant collection of Rockwell drawings and paintings. *The Museum now requires the purchase of timed-tickets in advance of your arrival. Reserve your tickets on our website (nrm.org).
Reviewed By NotesOnNashville - Nashville, United States
It’s no wonder that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are collectors of Rockwell. He’s more than a painter; he’s a storyteller. A passing glance is not enough to gain the richness of his creations. Notice the details in the paintings; there are clues that enrich the stories. The museum is is a mixture of original paintings, sketches, high-quality prints, photos, notes and brief videos. I’ll only hit the most striking parts to me. A guide pointed out some “hidden in plain view” details in his painting "Moving Day" that intrigued me. Look closely. You’ll see three different types of baseball gloves held by the children with Rockwell hinting they might someday be on the same team. The children are perhaps a bit uncertain as the racial lines come down. The black girl holds a white cat; the white kids have a black dog. It’s only the animals who seem to have a problem with each other. Another revelation was the painter’s friendship with noted psychotherapist Erik Eriksen (the man who introduced the term “identity crisis.”) It’s suggested that Eriksen affirmed Rockwell’s recurring theme of tolerance. In addition to the museum, a short walk takes you to his studio which was formerly in downtown Stockbridge. Here again, a wonderful guide told fascinating stories that led to a greater appreciation of his work. The view from the light-filled studio is stunning.
5. MASS MoCA
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 921 reviews
Housed on a restored 19th century factory campus, MASS MoCA is the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country. Open year round with full schedule of live events, changing exhibitions and Sol LeWitt Wall Drawing Retrospective.
Reviewed By I3787BHstephaniel - Huntington, United States
Conceptual and interactive art is exhibited in a series of old mill buildings.We have seen things ranging from a wonderful 150 ft dragon made of car parts that looked as light as a darning needle to Nick Cave's room filling anti violence creation.. Videos, textile art, holograms, interactive sound producing devices. Never boring in Mass Moca. We visit about once a year, sometimes more.It is a huge series of interconnected buildings and easy to get lost in but still user friendly.Kids space is great. This is a museum to introduce children to modern art.Good cafe as well
6. AniMagic
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Museum of Animation, Special Effects and Art. Animation and Special Effects for movies - - 2001 Space Odyssey - Chicken Run - The Matrix - X-Men - Lord of the Rings - Predator - Wallace and Gromit - Zelig made by Berkshire People. Come to see how this movies are made. See Academy Award. Make your own Animation movie in one hour. Admission by donation. Workshop $20 pp.Ages 5-95.
Reviewed By Markoberjo - Worcester, United States
My kids and I enjoyed Mr.Mamut’s fun tour of the place , he is sharp and funny. The kids loved making the short animation. I loved how he made the process easy even for a 5 year old to follow and fun for the older kids to enjoy. The little shop had interesting toys as well. You should call for an appointment before you go.
7. Berkshire Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
The Berkshire Art Museum’s mission is to showcase engaging contemporary art through rotating exhibitions as well as to preserve and examine five decades of artwork by Eric Rudd in the museum’s permanent collection. Rescuing two historic former churches, the Berkshire Art Museum exemplifies the adaptive reuse of architectural space for cultural purposes. By establishing and maintaining this unique art destination, the Berkshire Art Museum aims to contribute to the cultural economy of North Adams. Art exhibitions fill 25,000 SF of space; handicapped accessible. Open Summer Wed-Sun 12-5; Fall Sat-Sun 12-5.
