*Photo courtesy of Roey Yohai

This week is going to be a fun one — I finally get to share pictures from our amazing wedding weekend in the Berkshires.  I’ll post “stepping out” photos of what I wore and a “photo diary” that encompasses special moments from our weekend soon.  But to start us off, I wanted to share the list we compiled for our guests of some of our favorite spots around town.  From museums and hikes to restaurants and shops, we tried to cover a little of everything.  The only category that wasn’t on there was dinner and date spots, since we had the evenings pretty filled up between our rehearsal dinner and wedding.  But I’ll tell you about our favorite — we adore Old Inn on the Green, a candlelit restaurant that we fell in love with when we first went to scope out our wedding venue.  I stayed at the inn the night before I got married, and above is a quiet moment our genius photographer captured of me and my maid of honor sitting on the porch the morning of my wedding.  More of those moments to come later this week, but for now, here’s a local look at my favorite spots in the Berkshires:

Activities

• Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Glendale Road, Route 183, Stockbridge: This beautiful museum is home to the illustrator’s iconic work and his original studio
• Windy Hill Farm, 686 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington: Experience one of New England’s greatest traditions — picking pecks of apples
• Bash Bish Falls, Falls Road, Mt. Washington: On a warm, sunny day, hike down to the falls for a gorgeous view
• Monument Mountain, Route 7, Great Barrington: Another excellent hiking option for those who want to spend the day outdoors
• The Mount Estates and Gardens, 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox: Travel back in time to the gilded age of American history by spending an afternoon at Edith Wharton’s beloved summer “cottage”

Shopping/In Town

• Vault Gallery 322 Main Street, Great Barrington – Local artist Marilyn Kalish houses her haunting artwork here (we purchased these on one of our trips last summer)
• Rubiner’s Cheesemongers and Grocery, 264 Main Street, Great Barrington – delicious cheese shop that I’ve never been able to pass up
• Robin’s Candy, 288 Main Street, Great Barrington – Satisfy your inner Willy Wonka at this retro candy paradise
• Art walking tour of downtown Pittsfield – An outdoor gallery that changes each year, stroll down Pittsfield’s North Street to appreciate the city’s creative energy

Breakfast, Lunch and Brunch

• Great Barrington Bagel Company, 777 South Main Street, Great Barrington: The best bagels outside of New York City, bar none. Stock up on dozens of different types, seventeen flavours of cream cheese, and an astonishing selection of smoked fish specialties
• Baba Louie’s, 286 Main Street Great Barrington: Locals and tourists alike beeline it to this organic sour dough pizza place. A focus on farm-fresh ingredients, colossal salads, pasta, vegetarian dishes, and hand-made, wood-fired pizza slices keeps them coming back for more
• Haven Café, 8 Franklin Street, Lenox: Great soups, salads, sandwiches and specials.  Stroll around the charming town of Lenox while you’re there!