When to Go: Every Season Is Beautiful

Lenox Massachusetts

When To Go: Every season is beautiful

How To Get There:

Driving: Massachusetts Turnpike; Lenox can be reached from the Boston area in about 2 1/2 hours, and from the New York metropolitan area in about 3 hours.

Two close-by airports offer scheduled service on major airlines: the Albany, New York airport is less than an hour away; the Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut is about 1 1/2 hours away.

Information: The Lenox Chamber of Commerce: 5 Walker Street (413) 637-3646, www.lenox.org. Berkshires Information: http://www.berkshires.com/

Where to Stay: My favorites in alphabetical order. Check out www.lenox.org for more.

Blantyre: P.O. Box 995 Lenox. (413)637-3556, www.blantyre.com. A Tudor-style Relais & Chatea^ux mansion built in 1902 and restored to pristine condition.

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires: 165 Kemble Street (413)637-4100, www.canyonranch.com. An award winning health resort and spa.

Cornell Inn: 203 Main Street (413)637-0562, www.cornellinn.com. In the heart of the village, the inn has 31 unique bedrooms.

Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club: 55 Lee Road (800-272-6935, www.cranwell.com. If you want it all - spa, golf course and luxurious accommodations, this is the place to go.

Garden Gables Inn: 135 Main Street (413)637-0193, www.lenoxinn.com. Charming 18 room Inn close to town.

Wheatleigh: Hawthorne Road. (413)637-0610, www.wheatleigh.com. A magnificent Italianate villa, originally built in 1893 and lovingly restored in 2001. This is my first choice of where to stay.

Fun Shops: Aspinwell: 55 Lenox Road, Route 7, (413)637-5640, www.aspinwell.com. An outdoor shopping mall.

Casablanca: 27 Housatonic Street (413)637-2680. Upscale clothing.

Marcy Cohen Past & Future: 63 Church Street (413)637-2225. Collectibles and Antiques. Shooz: 44B Housatonic Street (413)637-1118. Great selection of shoes and jewelry from Joane Cornell.

Weaver’s Fancy: 65 Church Street (413)637-2013. Hand crafted clothing.

Art Galleries Not to Miss:

Church Street Art Gallery: 34 Church Street (www.churchstreetart.com) Folk art.

Cose d’Argilla: (413)637-8886. Wonderful contemporary works

Hoadley Gallery: 21 Church Street, (413)637-2814, www.hoadleygallery.com. Pottery, crafts, jewelry and clothing. Voted one of the top 100 Craft Galleries in the Country.

The Wit Gallery:27 Church Street (www.thewitgallery.com)

Great Eats: Bistro Zinc: 56 Church Street (413)637-8800, www.bistrozinc.com. The go-to-bar with super bistro food. Have the steak frites.

Blantyre Restaurant: (413)637-3556, www.blantyre.com. Voted one of the top hotel restaurants in the 2006 Zagat Survey. Jacket and tie required.

Chocolate Springs Café: (413)637-9820, www.chocolatesprings.com. If chocolate is your poison come here. Also prepares pastry baskets.

La Terrazza Bar & Restaurant: (413) 637-2532, At the Gateways Inn with elegant or casual dining.

Spigalina Restaurant: 80 Main Street, (413)637-4455, www.spigalina.com. Award winning Mediterranean Cuisine with outdoor dining in the summer.

Trattoria Il Vesuvio: 242 Pittsfield Road (413)637-4904 Casual Italian dining for the family.

Wheatleigh: Hawthorne Road, (413)637-0610, www.wheatleigh.com. Open seven days a week year-round. The dining room offers a prix-fixe dinner.

Cultural Places and Events

Tanglewood :297 West Street(413) 637-1600 - (617) 266-1494 www.bso.org, www.tanglewood.org Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home. The Tanglewood Music Festival features symphonic, chamber, popular artist and jazz performances throughout the season. For the brochure: http://www.tanglewood.org/images/tanglewood/Twd_Brochure_2007.pdf Mount Estate and Gardens of Edith Wharton: 2 Plunkett Street (413)637-1899 www.edithwharton.org. Formal gardens and 1902 mansion designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton.

Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio: 92 Hawthorne Street (413)637-0166 www.frelinghuysen.org. Hourly tours offered of this American Cubist’s home, art collection and studio on 46 acres next to Tanglewood.

Ventfort Hall and The Museum of the Gilded Age: 104 Walker Street: 104 Walker Street. (413) 637-3206 www.gildedage.org See how the glamorous used to live.

Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum: Willow Creek Road (413)637-2210 www.berkshirescenicrailroad.org. Take the two ½ hour diesel hauled train to Stockbridge.