Guidebook for The Bancroft House in The Heart of The Berkshires
Sightseeing
Mountains, Hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, skiing and site seeing. What's not to like?
The Berkshires
Mountains, Hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, skiing and site seeing. What's not to like?
Hancock Shaker Village
1843 W Housatonic StGreat tours of grounds and history of the Shakers.
Great Barrington
Great antique stores and restaurants.
Lenox
Great little shops and restaurants near Tanglewood.
Stockbridge
Quaint little village town.
Lee
Small New England town and only 20 min from home.
Arts & Culture
Best dance companies from around the world perform here each summer. Only 10 minutes from the house... a must see.
257 locals recommend
Jacob's Pillow
358 George Carter RdBest dance companies from around the world perform here each summer. Only 10 minutes from the house... a must see.
Boston Symphony and Boston Pops summer home! Other concerts and attractions.
398 locals recommend
Tanglewood
Boston Symphony and Boston Pops summer home! Other concerts and attractions.
Great plays with amazing famous actors adorn this summer stock theater group at prestigious Williams College.
70 locals recommend
Williamstown Theatre Festival
1000 Main StGreat plays with amazing famous actors adorn this summer stock theater group at prestigious Williams College.
Great museum and grounds of the late great Americana painter Norman Rockwell. Go to Red Lion Inn for lunch before or after along with the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. All within 5 minutes.
344 locals recommend
Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale RdGreat museum and grounds of the late great Americana painter Norman Rockwell. Go to Red Lion Inn for lunch before or after along with the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. All within 5 minutes.
Shakespeare & Company
70 Kemble StGreat local theater.
A gem and interesting to all, not just art enthusiast! Check out Williams College & Williamstown Theatre Festival while you're in the area.
329 locals recommend
The Clark Art Institute
225 South StA gem and interesting to all, not just art enthusiast! Check out Williams College & Williamstown Theatre Festival while you're in the area.
An hour drive, but a must see. To break up the trip, do an hour hike at Mount Greylock on the way. Mass MoCa is one of the best in the country and is housed in huge old manufacturing plants. Also, check out the beer brewery where they have decent lunch items next door to the museum.
49 locals recommend
Mass MoCA Way
Mass MoCA WayAn hour drive, but a must see. To break up the trip, do an hour hike at Mount Greylock on the way. Mass MoCa is one of the best in the country and is housed in huge old manufacturing plants. Also, check out the beer brewery where they have decent lunch items next door to the museum.
Barrington Stage Company
30 Union StMahaiwe Performing Arts Center
14 Castle StLive shows including Broadway productions.
Food Scene
Unique. Food and fun. We recommend for dinner as only 10 minutes from the house. They have live music starting around 8:30PM most nights. Must make reservation early as very popular. Tell Daniel (owner and usually makes reservations and is host) that David & Kirk sent you.
51 locals recommend
Dream Away
1342 County RdUnique. Food and fun. We recommend for dinner as only 10 minutes from the house. They have live music starting around 8:30PM most nights. Must make reservation early as very popular. Tell Daniel (owner and usually makes reservations and is host) that David & Kirk sent you.
Great Tapas restaurant and good before or after Tanglewood concert (and late night dining). Our favorite restaurant and you must try the shrimp dishes (both of them)! They don't take reservations and small place so go early. They also are one of the few that serve dinner late night until 1AM.
50 locals recommend
Brava
65 Church StGreat Tapas restaurant and good before or after Tanglewood concert (and late night dining). Our favorite restaurant and you must try the shrimp dishes (both of them)! They don't take reservations and small place so go early. They also are one of the few that serve dinner late night until 1AM.
Have lunch in the back of this historic hotel and restaurant. Norman Rockwell bellied up to the bar every evening after painting.
117 locals recommend
The Red Lion Inn
30 Main StHave lunch in the back of this historic hotel and restaurant. Norman Rockwell bellied up to the bar every evening after painting.
51 Park Restaurant & Tavern
51 Park StGood, American cuisine.
Great for breakfast and only 15 minutes from The Bancroft House. Only open until 1:45PM.
9 locals recommend
Farmington River Diner
119 S Main RdGreat for breakfast and only 15 minutes from The Bancroft House. Only open until 1:45PM.
Run by a local couple, good for unique dishes from cajun to comfort food. Can accommodate larger groups easily with no reservation. Bar/Pizza/Karaoke across the street.
11 locals recommend
Chester Common Table
30 Main StRun by a local couple, good for unique dishes from cajun to comfort food. Can accommodate larger groups easily with no reservation. Bar/Pizza/Karaoke across the street.
Looking for some ethnic food in The Berkshires. Try MINT, a lakeside Indian Restaurant on the water. Connected to the Black Swan Inn between Lee and Lenox.
24 locals recommend
MINT - Lakeside Indian Dining & Bar
435 Laurel StLooking for some ethnic food in The Berkshires. Try MINT, a lakeside Indian Restaurant on the water. Connected to the Black Swan Inn between Lee and Lenox.
If you're looking for healthy, good food, try Starving Artist for not only the breakfast, soups, sandwiches, coffee, etc. but look at some local artist work. Who knows, you might buy a new work of art!
40 locals recommend
Starving Artist Creperie and Cafe
40 Main StIf you're looking for healthy, good food, try Starving Artist for not only the breakfast, soups, sandwiches, coffee, etc. but look at some local artist work. Who knows, you might buy a new work of art!
Chez Nous Bistro
150 Main StFrench food in The Berkshires!
The restaurant is good for a quick bite. Dine in or carry out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Open until 8PM (7:45PM last order) and same hours for the small grocery store behind it.
6 locals recommend
The Becket General Store
3235 Main StThe restaurant is good for a quick bite. Dine in or carry out for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Open until 8PM (7:45PM last order) and same hours for the small grocery store behind it.
Hole in the wall bar food restaurant and local drinking establishment.
8 locals recommend
Classic Pizza
29 Main StHole in the wall bar food restaurant and local drinking establishment.
Want Asian/American fusion food at a trendy place you might think is in NYC or Boston, check this place out!
32 locals recommend
Methuselah
391 North StreetWant Asian/American fusion food at a trendy place you might think is in NYC or Boston, check this place out!
Ok food but on main street in Pittsfield near Beacon movies and also Barrington Stage Co..
6 locals recommend
Panchos Mexican Restaurant
154 North StOk food but on main street in Pittsfield near Beacon movies and also Barrington Stage Co..
Roasted Garlic
483 W Housatonic StGood food and near Hancock Shaker Village.
Closest place to house besides The Becket General Store for breakfast/lunch/early dinner.
15 locals recommend
Sherwood Shoppe
437 Wells RdClosest place to house besides The Becket General Store for breakfast/lunch/early dinner.
Put this in here as they are the official restaurant at Jacob's Pillow in the summers along with the other location year-round. If you are looking for a brunch or dinner in the summers, make reservations ahead of time and only 12 minutes from the house on George Carter Road. You sit under a tent on the beautiful grounds of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Summer hours are usually 5-8pm Wed-Sat and 11am-2pm weekends for brunch.
72 locals recommend
The Old Inn On The Green
Put this in here as they are the official restaurant at Jacob's Pillow in the summers along with the other location year-round. If you are looking for a brunch or dinner in the summers, make reservations ahead of time and only 12 minutes from the house on George Carter Road. You sit under a tent on the beautiful grounds of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Summer hours are usually 5-8pm Wed-Sat and 11am-2pm weekends for brunch.
Essentials
Lv. BMC (Medical Arts) station
Closest hospital.
Big Y World Class Market
10 Pleasant StBiggest closest grocery store.
Biggest grocery store closest to house with other big box stores like Staples, Home Depot and Walmart.
19 locals recommend
Market32
555 Hubbard AveBiggest grocery store closest to house with other big box stores like Staples, Home Depot and Walmart.
Have grocery essentials but very small place behind the restaurant (which we recommend for breakfast, lunch & dinner, for a quick decent bite).
6 locals recommend
The Becket General Store
3235 Main StHave grocery essentials but very small place behind the restaurant (which we recommend for breakfast, lunch & dinner, for a quick decent bite).
Good breakfast and place to get last minute grocery items including ice.
15 locals recommend
Sherwood Shoppe
437 Wells RdGood breakfast and place to get last minute grocery items including ice.
Everything Else
Becket Post Office
623 Main StPost office.
Parks & Nature
Great local plants & flowers. Check it out before or after lunch at the Red Lion Inn or visiting Norman Rockwell museum.
118 locals recommend
Berkshire Botanical Garden
5 W Stockbridge RdGreat local plants & flowers. Check it out before or after lunch at the Red Lion Inn or visiting Norman Rockwell museum.
Best skiing and tubing in the area. Close to a lot of antique stores and restaurants in Great Barrington.
218 locals recommend
Ski Butternut
380 State RdBest skiing and tubing in the area. Close to a lot of antique stores and restaurants in Great Barrington.
Great skiing within 35 minutes of the house. Good for beginners through advanced skiers and one of the best in the area.
115 locals recommend
Bousquet Ski Area
101 Dan Fox DrGreat skiing within 35 minutes of the house. Good for beginners through advanced skiers and one of the best in the area.
Amazing old historic arches with a peaceful, shaded, hiking trail that is perfect for a two hour hike near The Bancroft House.
7 locals recommend
Keystone Arch Bridges Trail
Amazing old historic arches with a peaceful, shaded, hiking trail that is perfect for a two hour hike near The Bancroft House.
Short and long trails awaits you at the highest peak in Mass.. Only thirty minutes from the house and on the way to Mass MoCa. Stop by the visitors center as they are helpful in telling you which trail is best for you based on time and your skill level of hiking. Good for all ages.
213 locals recommend
Mount Greylock
Short and long trails awaits you at the highest peak in Mass.. Only thirty minutes from the house and on the way to Mass MoCa. Stop by the visitors center as they are helpful in telling you which trail is best for you based on time and your skill level of hiking. Good for all ages.
Jiminy Peak
Snow boarding & skiing and summer park.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Rail Trail12 miles of great scenery by bike, jogging, or walking.
Only about a 10 minute drive to catch this part of the 1300+ mile trail that goes from Georgia to Main.
17 locals recommend
Appalachian Trail
Appalachian National Scenic TrailOnly about a 10 minute drive to catch this part of the 1300+ mile trail that goes from Georgia to Main.
Shopping
Lee Premium Outlets
17 Premium Outlet BoulevardGreat outlets for mainly clothing stores.