We’ve nearly reached the halfway point of summer 2022, but whether you’re reading this article this year or in the future, mid-summer break is a great time of year to vacation in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Whether you’ve already scheduled your stay or are considering spending your mid-summer break here at Elsewhere in the Berkshires, we’ve decided to put together a pretty extensive list of some of our favorite activities in which to participate right here in Great Barrington and the surrounding area. Check them out and enjoy your vacation!

Summer Specific Activities

We wanted to start things off by highlighting some of our favorite things to do during the warmer months of the year. For example, going for a day hike probably won’t be quite as enjoyable during the winter.

• Kayaking or canoeing

  • If you enjoy the serenity of kayaking or canoeing on a lake, there are all kinds of locations throughout the Berkshires to visit. Check out the Upper and Lower Goose Pond areas in Lee, it’s one of our favorites.

• Swimming Holes

  • There are all kinds of swimming holes throughout the berkshires, including one about a mile west of Great Barrington on Route 23. This offers a refreshing activity during the summer months that’s a little different than your ordinary day of swimming.

• Live Entertainment

  • You can find all kinds of live music - a lot of it year round - but during the summer months live performances really ramp up throughout the Berkshires. This includes things like the Jacob’s Pillow Festival of dance that runs through the summer months, the popular artist concert series at the Tanglewood, and weekly concerts at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

  • In addition to live music and dance, you can enjoy live theater in the Berkshires as well throughout the summer. For example, Shakespeare & Company in Lenox will be performing a host of different productions throughout the season, while the Berkshire Theatre Group and Williamstown Theatre Festival will continue to showcase all manner of artists.

Visit a Museum

There are several world-class museums located throughout the Berkshires, so you’ll definitely want to visit at least one during your stay.

• The Clark Art Institute; Williamstown, MA

  • Although it will be a bit of a drive, any fan of art will find the trek well worth it to visit the Clark. While the galleries are filled with fantastic paintings all year round, there are plenty of summer events to check out as well.

• Hancock Shaker Village; Pittsfield, MA

  • This living history museum will take you back in time to show you what Shaker life was like in the 18th to 20th century.

• Norman Rockwell Museum; Stockbridge, MA

  • One of the most popular museums in the Berkshires, the Norman Rockwell Museum features all manner of displays showcasing the illustrator’s work.

• Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art; North Adams, MA

  • This is another one that is relatively far away, but in addition to the aforementioned live entertainment, MASS MoCA is a distinct museum highlighting a ton of contemporary artwork.

To be completely honest, even with all of these fun activities and places to check out, we’ve still only scratched the surface of everything you can do in the Berkshires. Be sure to reach out to us if you have any questions about Elsewhere in the Berkshires, we can’t wait for you to enjoy your stay!