Berkshires & Pioneer Valley (Winter)

The Berkshires are primarily thought of as a summer destination, well known for their many summer arts festivals such as Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. While the region is less active in winter, tourists still come to take advantage of several small ski areas that offer a less crowded alternative to the bigger mountains in Vermont, and are particularly well-suited for families. The mountains are never more beautiful than when they are covered in snow, and cross-country skiers and snowshoers have several backcountry trail systems from which to admire them. To the east, the Pioneer Valley is very much a ...

The Berkshires are primarily thought of as a summer destination, well known for their many summer arts festivals such as Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. While the region is less active in winter, tourists still come to take advantage of several small ski areas that offer a less crowded alternative to the bigger mountains in Vermont, and are particularly well-suited for families. The mountains are never more beautiful than when they are covered in snow, and cross-country skiers and snowshoers have several backcountry trail systems from which to admire them. To the east, the Pioneer Valley is very much a year-round destination, anchored in winter by the lively student life of the five colleges (UMass, Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, and Hampshire.) In both regions, several top-quality art museums and the always-popular Basketball Hall of Fame provide a warm and engaging escape from the weather.

About the Expert

Michael Blanding is coauthor of Moon New England, Moon Vermont and Moon Rhode Island, and editor of New England Travel magazine.