Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Although it is certainly not a city, Great Barrington is the largest town in the southern Berkshire Hills, a major crossroads and commercial center. Supplies and services that you might not find in Stockbridge or Lenox you'll find here.
Searles Castle, now the John
Dewey Academy, a private school, in Great
Barrington MA.
Great Barrington (population 7500) is famous for its plethora of antique shops. If you like looking at, and perhaps buying, old stuff, you'll want to spend some time here and in nearby South Egremont.
The dining is also good in Great Barrington, with more and varied restaurants than you would imagine for a town its size. Nearby inns are also good places for fine dining.
Great Barrington has the largest concentration of hotels and motels in the southern Berkshires. More...
The Berkshire Fringe and other innovative theater performances are held at Bard College at Simon's Rock in summer in Great Barrington. More...
Besides these urban pleasures, Great Barrington is good for outdoor activities. More...
In the 19th century Mr and Mrs Edward Searles became the town's benefactors, establishing many public buildings and constructing for themselves Searles Castle, an immense mansion in a 100-acre (40-hectare) park which nudges right into the center of town. The Searles property is now a private school (John Dewey Academy) and unfortunately not open to visitors.
Great Barrington was an important town even before the American Revolution. The citizenry, angered at Britain's denial of the colonials' rights, prevented the king's judges from convening in the courthouse here in 1774.
Transportation
The easiest way to reach Great Barrington is by car via the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90; Exit 1, West Stockbridge to MA Route 41 South, or Exit 2, Lee/US Route 20 to US Route 7 South).
There is Bonanza Bus intercity bus service to Lee and Lenox, and Amtrak train service to Pittsfield. See the Transportation pages for those towns for details on using these public transportation options.
Local buses run by the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority connect Berkshire County towns and resorts with one another.
Distances from Great Barrington:
Boston MA: 137 miles (220 km) E, 2.5 hours
Lee MA: 11 miles (18 km) NE, 20 minutes
Lenox MA: 13 miles (21 km) N, 25 minutes
Salisbury CT: 17 miles (27 km) S, 30 minutes
South Egremont MA: 4 miles (6.5 km) SW, 7 minutes
Stockbridge MA: 8 miles (11 km) N, 15 minutes
Williamstown MA: 46 miles (74 km) N, 70 minutes
What to See & Do
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
The historic Mahaiwe Theater built in 1905 for vaudeville acts, converted to a cinema in 1930, is going strong after more than a century. It is now Great Barrington's drama, film and concert venue, right in the town center, offering a wonderful historic space as well as a full program of varied arts entertainments. More...
Monument Mountain
If mountain hiking is more to your taste than shopping, head north out of Great Barrington on US 7, and after 4.5 miles (7 km) you'll see signs for Monument Mountain, on the right-hand (west) side of the highway.
There are two trails to the summit, one easier but slightly longer than the other. The hike to the top, a rest, and back down will take between 2 and 3 hours. The view from the summit is very fine. More...
Bartholomew's Cobble
Follow US 7 south from Great Barrington for about 10 miles, and turn onto MA 7A for Ashley Falls. Your destination, a mile from Ashley Falls along Rannpo and Weatogue roads, is Bartholomew's Cobble, bordering the Housatonic River.
A "cobble" in this case is a high knoll of limestone, marble, or quartzite, 500 million years old, and covered with a rich and varied collection of native flora: trees, ferns, mosses, wildflowers.
The nature reservation, open year round, is owned by the Trustees of Reservations (tel 413-229-8600), and has 6 miles (10 km) of hiking trails.
A naturalist is on duty from mid-April to mid-October, daily except Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 5 pm, to answer your questions and point out natural highlights. More...
Bash Bish Falls
Another pretty nature nook, good for a picnic, is Bash Bish Falls, 12 miles (19 km) southwest of South Egremont, right on the New York state line in Bash Bish Falls State Park.
Follow MA 41 south out of town, and turn right onto Mount Washington Road (look for signs for Catamount ski area). Follow signs to Bash Bish Falls, taking East Street, then West Street, and finally Bash Bish Falls Road, deep in the Mount Washington State Forest.
You'll plunge into the valley carved by the Bash Bish Creek, and finally come to a parking area from which a steep trail leads to the falls in 1/3 mile (530 meters).
Stay on the road a bit farther and you'll come to another parking place, and an easier—but longer—trail (2/3 mile; 1 km). Stay on the road any longer and you'll end up on NY Route 344 in New York's Taconic State Park.
At the end of the trails, deep in the forest, is the 80-foot (24-meter) Bash Bish Falls, cascading into a chilly pool. A half hour's relaxation here on a hot summer's day is pretty close to Nirvana. More...
Other State Parks & Forests
The southern Berkshires is rich in nature preserves. Here are the best. More...
Where to Stay
The hotel right in the center of Great Barrington, across US Route 7 from Searles Castle and right next door to the Visitor Center is the 2-star, 62-room Berkshire Days Inn.
Otherwise, most motels are north of the center on US Route 7, among them the 17-room Monument Mountain Motel, with an outdoor swimming pool.
The 3-star, 69-room Comfort Inn & Suites Great Barrington, aptly named as it offers a large indoor heated swimming pool, a hot tub, fitness center, game room, business center, and all rooms are equipped with microwave oven, refrigeratos, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board. Some rooms also have whirlpool bathtubs and fireplaces. More...
The 2-star, 59-room Holiday Inn Express Great Barrington, the most northerly of the hotels north of the town center, is a popular choice as well with its indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and laundry facilities.
On MA Route 183 east of the center is the fine 2-star, 17-room Mountain View Motel Great Barrington—a thrifty choice.
More Information
There's a little information office in the center of town, by the Days Inn, across Main Street from Searles Castle.
The information office is operated by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, 362 Main Street, Great Barrington MA 01230.
They can help you find a room for the night if you need one. Donations are accepted to defray expenses.
Southern Berkshire Chamber of
Commerce
Visitor Center
362 Main Street
Great Barrington MA
01230
info@southernberkshirechamber.com
Tel: 413-528-1510, 800-269-4825
Fax: 413-528-6062
Business Office
P O Box 810
40 Railroad Street, Suite 2
Great Barrington MA
01230
ed@southernberkshirechamber.com
Tel:
413-528-4248
Fax: 413-528-2200