What to do and see in Berkshires, Berkshires: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do

We provide whitewater and scenic rafting trips to all ages and abilities on the Deerfield River as well as other local seasonal runs. The Deerfield river offers something for everybody - Mild to Wild!

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.

Take a tour of the Crane Museum of Papermaking and learn about Crane’s ties to the American Revolution, the development of paper for banknotes, and anti-counterfeiting technologies from the 1800s to the future. Get your hands dirty (don’t worry—it washes off!) with our paper activities in the hands-on art space and take home your handmade souvenir.

Open Memorial Day to October, this authentic 1760s home in the Berkshires was the original residence of the Reverend Adonijah Bidwell, first minister of the former Township #1. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you can enjoy 18th and 19th century furnishings, 192 acres of fields and forest, a heritage vegetable garden, native flower gardens, stone walls, an early farm and garden tools exhibit, hiking trails and picnic sites. In season, you can take a guided tour of the house, on the hour beginning at 11 am each day, Thursday through Monday. The last tour begins at 3 pm. The gardens and grounds are open year round from dawn until dusk, free of charge.

Contemporary Glass with works by artists like Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra and over 40 others. This gallery is a hidden gem in the Berkshires. Hours change seasonally. Appointments required during Covid-19, schedule on www.schantzgalleries.com

Set on 1,400 acres in the mountains of Berkshire County, Ramblewild is a premier mission-driven Forest Adventure Destination created to inspire learning & conservation through fun activities. Located within a natural hardwood forest, Ramblewild has an award-winning Aerial Adventure Park, nature Trails, Low Ropes Course, Campground & a maple sugarbush. Whether you’re a fitness fan who loves an outdoor workout, a thrill-seeker looking for revitalizing fun, or someone eager to escape from the city for an outdoor adventure, we have something for everyone! Our Aerial Adventure Park, sustainably built in 10 acres of a dramatic forest setting, has 8 tree to tree trails of varying degrees of difficulty. You'll climb & traverse self-guided over a series of 150 elevated elements including ropes, ladders, zip lines, bridges & swings. Soar through the tree canopy & zip across a ravine in a kayak, on a saddle or high zip lines for an exhilarating outdoor experience. Tickets valid for 3.5 hours.

Here at Rhythms Massage & Energy work, inside Healing Rhythms Center in Lenox Massachusetts, we strive to provide nurturing and uplifting therapeutic massage and energy alignment. Jennifer offers sessions in the Signature Service which includes complementary Aromatherapy, hot steam towels and scalp massage. Other options are CBD infused pain relief, Aromatherapy infused Hot Stone, Pre- and Postnatal and Cupping massage providing deep tissue benefits. Kathi offers fully-clothed sessions in a soothing and re-harmonizing Energetic Alignment table session that works with your Aura, Chakras and meridians to heighten your mental clarity and improve your immune system and Embodied Empowerment Coaching which combines both Law of Attraction Life Coaching and Energy Medicine techniques to move your energy and achieve your goals.

The Berkshire Carousel is a functional classic wooden carousel, with hand carved and hand painted wooden horses that were built, carved and painted by hundreds of dedicated volunteers over an 11 year period of time, that is affordable enjoyable family entertainment offering Birthday parties, event bookings. Our carousel building is air conditioned and heated for use and visits. We have an on site Gift Shop and Concessions Stand that offer drinks, goodies, ice cream, and popcorn, as well as an off street parking lot for visitors to park in. A typical ride lasts between 2 - 3 1/2 minutes and you can choose to ride one of 32 horses, 1 donkey, a rocking chariot, an ADA Handicap Chariot, and an old fashioned spinning tub. All of our horses have names, histories, and stories. Stop by our carousel and Come Along for The Ride!