Northshore Magazine

ne The Berkshires Clockwise from top, The Red Lion Inn dining room is choice; Cheshire Lake is an inspiration; Norman Rockwell Museum showcases regional scenes; and the Kemble Inn provides respite. Travel a charming and intimate dining area. The Kemble Inn has retained the soul of its bones as a historic inn while adding modern touches and technology to create a genteel and gracious vibe. 2 Kemble St., Lenox, 413-637-4113, kembleinn.com Eat Bliss in the Berkshires Head west to enjoy a harvest of charm, culture, and beauty. even before ski season starts, it's a Kemble Inn, you are in for a treat. The great time to jump in the car, turn on some road-trip tunes, and head west to the Berkshires. The days of leaf peeping may be a memory, but there's still an abundance of bucolic beauty to behold in the more than 30 towns that comprise the region proper. The area offers a plethora of highly enjoyable late fall activities—whether you want to meander through a farmers' market, hear live music, attend a film festival, go antiques shopping, or hike, bike, or stroll down a country road. Here, the hills are alive with music, art, nature, and those little pleasures that inspired Norman Rockwell, among others. 125-year-old Gilded Age mansion has been lovingly and fashionably restored with modern upgrades while paying homage to its historic architecture. What's not to love about settling into a bed outfitted with Ralph Lauren linens, slipping out of a Jacuzzi onto a heated bathroom floor, and delighting in a homemade mid-afternoon treat? When you finally decide to leave the comfort of your stylish suite, be sure to check out the common spaces and waltz down the grand original staircase. It may be a bit chilly to relax on the covered veranda, but you can still peer out the windows to the panoramic view of the mountains, toast to good times in the lobby during cocktail hour, and enjoy a bountiful country breakfast in the original kitchen, which has been converted into Stay If you're lucky enough to book one of the 13 rooms in the recently renovated See Enjoy a wine tasting, a hike through an apple orchard, or a full-moon trek and bonfire at Hilltop Orchards. The glorious grounds offer great outdoor family fun like apple picking and a hilltop hayride. 508 Canaan Rd., Richmond, 413-698-6274, hilltoporchards.com. Nothing tops an 80-minute signature facial featuring luxurious organic products applied with gentle precision by the experts at Spa at Cranwell. 55 Lee Rd., Lenox, 413-637-1364, cranwell.com. A visit to the Berkshires would not be complete without a stop at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Marvel at the collection of over 700 paintings, drawings, and studies. Reflect on the artist's unique ability to capture the American spirit. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge, 413-298-4100, nrm.org —Stacey Marcus Photograph by Kevin Sprague (Kemble Inn); photograph courtesy of Berkshire Visitors Bureau (Cheshire Lake) photograph courtesy of Norman Rockwell Museum destination Executive chef Ron Reda brings his culinary talent, formerly enjoyed at the White House during President Clinton's tenure, to the Kemble Inn's Table Six. Locally inspired dishes showcase the region's best. Whether you begin your day with buttermilk pancakes, select small plates for lunch, or order a prix fixe dinner, you won't be disappointed. 2 Kemble St., Lenox, 413-637-4113, tablesixlenox.com. If the 200 teapots showcased in the dining room at the Red Lion Inn could talk, they would probably have quite a lot to say about the thousands of people who have dined in the inn over the last two centuries. Executive chef Brian Alberg pairs farm-totable cuisine with an award-winning wine selection. Cap the evening with a hot toddy on the famous front porch. 30 Main St., Stockbridge, 413-298-5545, redlioninn.com. Chocolate lovers unite for a slice of heaven that includes some serious hot chocolate at Chocolate Springs. 55 Pittsfield Lenox Rd., Lenox, 413-637-9820, chocolatesprings.com 72 nshoremag.com November 2013 Nov13 TravelStory.indd 72 9/18/13 11:40 AM

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