The Perfect Fall Getaway

When you hear the word ‘Fall’, the first things that come to mind are likely sweeping views of brilliant fall foliage in every shade imaginable, bounties of fresh apples and pears, beautiful cool and crisp weather, and an abundance of warm and cozy scents and spices everywhere you turn.

Yes, fall is officially upon us as we bid farewell to the long sunny days of summer and welcome in the chilly days of autumn, and with that comes arguably the most incredible time of year to visit the Berkshires. In fact, the Berkshires is consistently ranked as one of the country’s best fall destinations, and after one visit to the region you’ll completely understand why! 

So, let’s look ahead a little bit and explore some of the incredible things that the fall season has to offer to start planning your picture-perfect fall getaway!

Now, we have to start with the obvious here...leaf peeping! Between the gentle rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains, the cool New England climate, and the countless hiking trails up and down the county, the Berkshires is one of the best places in the entire country to experience fall foliage at its best. From late September through the middle-end of October, the entire region bursts into an explosion of red, orange, and yellow that will simply leave you awestruck.

For the best views, we recommend making the trip up to Mt Greylock in North Adams, Olivia’s Overlook in West Stockbridge, the Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont, or Monument Mountain just outside of Great Barrington. 

But of course, in all reality every hike is going to immerse you in fall colors, so you really can’t go wrong here! So it’s no surprise that hiking is by far one of the best outdoor activities of the season here in the Berkshires, and you’ll find tons of our favorite trails with their locations and difficulty levels here.

Whatever you choose to do though, be sure to visit Bash Bish Falls during your trip; the contrast between the beautiful blue water of the cascading falls and the magnificent yellows and reds of the leaves is simply indescribable, and it’s a must see in the autumn.

Now of course, no vacation would be complete without at least a little bit of pampering now, would it? After all, hiking is a great activity, but there’s nothing quite like putting your feet up and completely unwinding after a long day out on the trails. And as luck would have it, Lenox is home to a handful of world class spas and wellness resorts, including Canyon Ranch, Miraval, and Blantyre. 

Most of these spas offer a variety of seasonal services and treatments, and better yet, you can purchase a day pass to fully take advantage of them without having to commit to a full nightly stay. Just be sure to book them well in advance as these day passes tend to be rather limited on any given day.

In addition to the breathtaking nature, fall is the season when the county really springs to life with festivals and events. Seemingly every weekend you’ll find at least something going on in most of the towns of the county, including right here in Lenox.

Most notably though is the Lenox Apple Squeeze, this year taking place on Saturday September 25th. The festival celebrates the fall season and the local apple harvest, and over the weekend the town celebrates with rides, live music, shopping, and countless food vendors highlighting all things apple! For locals and visitors alike, it’s truly one of the highlights of the year, and we’d highly recommend coming out for a visit over the weekend to experience the fall festivities!

Now, if festivals aren't really your thing, or you can’t manage to make it to the region on one of the main celebratory weekends, you should at least pay a visit to Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery down in Richmond. The orchard specializes in cider, both traditional and alcoholic, and during the fall months you’ll get to experience all things apple at its absolute freshest in their farm store! Jams and jellies, fresh cider, and the always satisfying cider donuts, a trip to the orchard makes for a picture perfect fall afternoon.

Between the magnificent fall colors, the countless events throughout the region, and the abundance of things to see, taste, and experience, fall is truly the season that the Berkshires are made for. Everywhere you look, no matter where you are in the county, you’ll be immersed in everything that makes fall such a magical time of year. 

So, where are you going to begin? What attraction or hiking trail are you going to experience first? 

Fortunately, all of our luxury apartments are located in the heart of downtown Lenox, so you’re never going to be very far away from anything. And with that being said, we think Lenox is by far the perfect location to base yourself while exploring everything that the region has to offer!

Well, what are you waiting for? The season is going to be over before you know it, so start planning and book your fall getaway today before it’s too late!