Situated in a lovely valley at the base of the Berkshire Mountains, North Adams is an ideal place to spend a short weekend trip. It is the smallest city of the state and the least populated place that offers all the amenities, facilities and events that you can expect from a big and lively city. There are a number of concerts and events happening in the city all-round the year. Also, there are a variety of things to do in the city including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Berkshire Food Festival, GreylockHillclimb Time Trial race and much more.
North Adams’s downtown storefronts are jam-packed with studios and art galleries that feature Haitian art, installations, sculpture, and work by students at the nearby Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. You can get a copy of the handy North Adams Art Map. Once you have explored the museum and downtown spots, move to the clustered quartet of old mills featuring galleries of paintings, pottery, fiber arts, and more. Take a trip to tony Williamstown which offers Clark museum that houses impressive collections of 19th-century art as well as the modern Stone Hill Center galleries. The place to enjoy your dinner is Gramercy Bistro and Taylor’s which is famous as a steak and seafood spot. Relishan outdoor cocktail at the Golden Eagle restaurant.
Distance: Three hours, 30 minutes by car
Destination type: city
Attractions: MASS MoCA, Natural Bridge State Park, Windsor Lake, Cascade Waterfall, Sanford Blackinton Mansion, North Adams Public Library, Western Gateway Heritage State Park, North Adams Museum of History & Science, Appalachian Trail
Activities:the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Berkshire Food Festival, GreylockHillclimb Time Trial race and much more
Restaurants:The Hub, Renee’s, Grazie, Bounti-Fare Restaurant,Gramercy Bistro, Taylor’s, Jack’s Hot Dog Stand, Gramercy Bistro at MASS MoCA, Brewhaha and Lickety Split at Mass MoCA.
Shopping: Berkshire Art Museum, Studio 21 South,
Mass MOCA is the town’s primary attraction and if you are visiting it for the first time then it is a must-see place. Opened in 1999, it sprawls across a 13-acre complex of former factory buildings and features some of the largest exhibition spaces in the country. Unconventional works can be seen here and they definitely catch your eyes. The museum also features the world’s largest collection of wall paintings by Sol LeWitt—100 in all.
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is also located in town and the students here draw beautiful works of art. The school also maintains two adjoining gallery spaces: MCLA Gallery 51 and PRESS. MCLA Gallery 51 features works from a wide range of contemporary artists from across the world; the latter exhibits letterpress as an art medium.
Make sure to visit all the major attractions while you are in the town and indulge in a range of adventure activities. When tired just go for scrumptious meal and get some massage! Your weekend trip will be magical.
