Lenox

With stately mansions, five-star hotels, intriguing literary history and illustrious art venues, the town of Lenox stands out from its more modest Berkshires counterparts. Marvel at the grand summer homes of the elite and attend one of the music concerts held in the town.

Enjoy a picnic on the lawn while listening to a live classical concert at Tanglewood, the famous summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The annual music festival has made Lenox an extremely popular destination in summer, so book your trip well ahead and expect high prices. The Jacob’s Pillow summer dance festival is also just a half-hour drive away in Becket.

Glimpse lives of the super-rich who owned mansions in the area at the turn of the last century. Ventfort Hall was the summer "cottage" of Sarah Morgan, the sister of financier J.P. Morgan. Today, tour the lavish rooms and arrange to have a Victorian high tea on the grounds. Don’t miss the exhibits at the adjoining museum, showcasing the Berkshires as seen in that era, an exclusive mountain hideaway.

The Blantyre offers a taste of turn-of-the-century glamor. Modeled after a Scottish castle, this former private mansion features eye-catching turrets and towers. It now functions as a luxury hotel. Visit the Italian garden or take a ghost tour at The Mount, the Lenox estate where Edith Wharton wrote The House of Mirth. Find many additional impressive homes downtown and along the beautiful winding country roads leading out of town.

Enjoy the surrounding countryside at the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, just a 10-minute drive from Lenox. From here start the hike up the green slopes of the 2,112-foot (644-meter) Lenox Mountain.

Find one-of-a-kind shops, cafés and restaurants contained within the few blocks of colonial buildings in the center of Lenox. You’ll need a car to reach the area and to explore the surroundings, but once here, the small town center is easily walkable. It’s also easy to get to Tanglewood on foot.