Location: Lenox
Top Things to do in Lenox
What to do and see in Lenox, United States: The Best Places and Tips
It seems like every time of year is "in season" in Lenox, a small Berkshire town that has been a popular retreat since the 19th century. In summer, picnic on the lawn at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home. In fall, when foliage peaks, take to the hiking and biking paths of the Pleasant Valley Sanctuary to immerse yourself in the vibrant colors of the mountains. Winter visitors enjoy skiing at a number of resorts and cross-country trails, and in spring, hikers and golfers practice their pastimes in splendid settings. Rejuvenating treatments and pampering, at the well-known Cranwell Spa, are favored all year long.
Restaurants in Lenox
1. Tanglewood
Overall Ratings
5 based on 933 reviews
The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra features performances by world-renowned conductors, soloists and musicians.
Reviewed By chas1954 - home
For those who have never been to tanglewood I highly recommend it. This is one of the few places that is absolutely incredible...I have seen many concerts here from the BSO as well as individual artists. It is a great place for family or romantic or even individuals. You can do your own thing at your own pace..A MUST VISIT...
2. The Mount
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 705 reviews
A day at The Mount is an opportunity to experience the beauty and splendor of Edith Wharton’s beloved country estate. We offer guided tours of the house and gardens, a Backstairs Tour, and our popular Ghost Tour. There are no velvet ropes and stanchions, instead we invite our visitors to sit and interact with the rooms. Interpretive exhibits throughout the house explore Wharton’s life, her humanitarian efforts, literary legacy, and lives of the servants. In addition to being a house with a story to tell, we are also a cultural center, presenting lectures, dramatic readings, theater, music, storytelling, workshops, outdoor sculpture, films, and literary panels.
Reviewed By Francine H - Bigfork, Montana
Our two couples visited this attraction with no knowledge of its significance - we knew nothing of Edith Wharton or her writings (much to our embarrassment.) Our experience there encouraged us to learn more and delve into her literary works, especially Age of Innocence. The admission price was moderate and well worth the information we gained. This attraction may not be to everyone's liking, but it is well worth exploring for most.
3. Pleasant Valley Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
This 1,100-acre wildlife sanctuary, along the slopes of Lenox Mountain, features 7 miles of hiking trails and offers nature programs for adults and children throughout the year.
Reviewed By Allen P - Andover, Massachusetts
We saw no wildlife, except for a few catfish. Trails were fairly well marked. Outbound and inbound directions were especially helpful. The short, one hour, tour was clearly mapped out by the admissions person. Far longer and more difficult hikes are available for more healthy folks with more time.
4. Shakespeare & Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Located in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the country, founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. The organization attracts more than 60,000 patrons annually, with a core of over 150 artists and more than 30 full-time staff. The Company develops and performs Shakespeare, classics, contemporary, and new plays of social and political significance, generating opportunities for collaboration between actors, directors and designers of all races, nationalities and backgrounds. Shakespeare & Company embraces the core values of Shakespeare's work: collaboration, commitment to language, visceral experience and classical ideals, expressed with physical prowess and an embodied contemporary voice. The Company offers one of the most extensive actor training programs by a regional theatre in the country, where professionals from all over the world come to train with the Organization known for its original, in-depth, classical training and performance methods. Shakespeare & Company is also home to an award-winning and nationally recognized theatre-in-education program, one of the largest the Northeast; it reaches more than 45,000 students annually with innovative performances, workshops and residencies.
Reviewed By ecclectic-eccentric - Dover, Ohio
While vacationing near Lenox, my husband and I attended a Wednesday evening performance of The Tempest in the Roman garden, outdoor theatre. It was an absolute delight! The actors were outstanding; the sets and costumes, while minimalist, where skillfully done; and the outdoor setting was really unique.
We are not scholars of the Bard, so I prepared ahead by reading the play in a format which presented first the original text, then a modern interpretation. I would recommend that anyone who is not familiar with the play they are attending would do the same, as I'm certain that it helped me to more fully enjoy the poetry and wordplay. The actors did a fantastic job of communicating the story, even to those who may not have caught every word though. I truly wish that there were a company like this nearer to where we live.
5. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By jen10583 - Scarsdale, New York
This museum/historic home is undertaking the enormous task of renovation. They are well on their way to making this a first class activity. The pros: open year-round, walking distance from Lenox town center, gorgeous property, interesting history/tour, fun special events, available for private parties. The cons: a little pricey, still feels incomplete, grounds sorely need landscaping, events are too few and far between. Still definitely worth a visit--especially good to do in the winter, when many other Berkshire attractions/historic homes are closed.
6. Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Art, architecture, gardens, lifestyle on 46 acres in the heart of Lenox. Opening JUNE 21 for hourly guided tours, Thursday-Sunday, 10-3. Group tours available May 1-Oct 31 for 12 or more by advance registration only.
Reviewed By chez2p - Stephentown, New York
The Art Deco home of George Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen filled with period furniture and abstract art. Parking 1/3 mile from house; walking path/road through forest to house. Golf cart available for patrons with mobility issues but house is not handicap accessible: narrow door; stairs; tight spaces. considered shocking to New England sensibilities at the time it was built but reflected the couples interest in modern and abstract art. Straight lines; white stucco, glass block entrance; Morris outdoor fresco echos art within; Bauhaus style studio with saw toothed roof and skylights. Booties required and supplied for house tour. entrance hall features curved staircase upstairs with frescoed wall and glass block above. Shorter curved staircase down to living room. Built in bar at base of stairs; leather floor, frescoes on each side of fireplace with bank of windows opposite. Dining room has dark blue frescoes around the room. Art featured in house includes Picasso, Leger, Arp. Suzy's room has some trompe l'oeil to look like an ancient villa perhaps. George's room features some early figural art and also a later abstract version of the painting which is an earlier version of the outside fresco. Interesting comparison. As luck would have it, Suzy's nephew was there and finished the in depth tour in George's bedroom and into the studio where we took up pads and charcoal for an art lesson. Lovely rolling grounds, some perennial gardens, pond and some sculpture. Not a great design for the NE as weather takes it's toll on the property and restoration is ongoing.
7. Kennedy Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By tuftsgrad - Boston, MA
Love this park. Great trails for a "hike" with young kids. Easy parking at the Arcadian Shop, benches scattered throughout, and well-marked trails (so little ones can help navigate). Hike to one of the vernal ponds to see minnows, tadpoles, and more!
8. First Lenox Library
Overall Ratings
5 based on 38 reviews
This 1815 library is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Reviewed By miamimimi2018 - Miami Beach, Florida
This is a wonderful library in a historic building. The building is surrounded by small well tended garden.
Their reading rooms are comfortable, cozy and relaxing, good places place to peruse the daily daily newspapers and magazines available.
The staff of the library is helpful and pleasant.
If you are staying in Lenox for 1 week+ you can take out a temporary membership which entitles you to borrow books and others materials, use their computers and obtain free passesto some attractions when available.
They are closed Sunday and Monday.
9. Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Travel in restored 1920's passenger cars staffed by our friendly volunteer train crew. Serving the historic western Massachusetts villages of Lenox, Lee, and Stockbridge.
Reviewed By Tanya L - North Adams, Massachusetts
If you already saw all Berkshire's museums, gardens and beautiful state parks, take a scenic tour with the Berkshire scenic railway. It's a different and interesting experience. You will have a fun!
10. Lenox Mountain
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Located in the Pleasant Valley Sanctuary, this 2,126-foot mountain offers hiking, biking and viewing wildlife.
Reviewed By MahrtianWanderer - Boston, MA
Mass Audubon provides access to Lenox Mountain as part of its Pleasant Valley facility. The trails include walks around several ponds inhabited by beavers. Everything is very well maintained and marked, sutiable for visitors of all ages and abilities. Proceeding uphill, one begins the climb up about 800 feet vertical to the top of Lenox Mountain. The trail is very manageable, but certainly not trivial. Much of the Overbrook trail follows the course of a stream, which makes it very pleasant to hike along. It took us about an hour to get to the top, from which there are fine views looking west and north.
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