Lee, Massachusetts

Another small town worth visiting, Lee is located right next door to the southeast and makes for a perfect day trip!

Dating back to the 1760s, Lee was founded and named in honor of General Charles Lee, a patriot during the American Revolution. Often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Berkshires’, the town is commonly seen as being much more laid back than some of the region’s more well-known locales. This is due in part to the extensive modernization and revitalization projects that the town has been investing in over the last several years.

Today, you’ll find an abundance of dining, shopping, and entertainment options in the concentrated downtown area, with new businesses popping up on a regular basis. And while not as preserved as neighboring Stockbridge, Lee still has a lot of beautiful architecture to see, with exquisite Victorian homes scattered all over town.

Some additional sites worth seeing include the Civil War Memorial Hall, the Lee Library, and the Lee Congregational Church (with its very own Seth Thomas Clock!).

And speaking of modernization, Lee is also home to the Berkshire’s only outlet mall. Located right off of Route 20, the Lee Premium Outlets are home to 60 stores, so you’ll have absolutely no problem getting your shopping fix!

Once you’ve shopped to your heart’s content and taken in all of the sites downtown, we encourage you to head to the northern edge of town and relax at Laurel Lake for a while. The small lake is surrounded by the picturesque nature of the Berkshires and is perfect for boating and lake recreation, complete with a couple of sandy beaches on the north and south shores.

As mentioned before, you’ll likely come to the conclusion that Lee is not quite like some of the other towns in the region, but that just makes it all the more worth visiting during your time in the Berkshires.

Shopping, history, culture, nature, you’ll find all of it and more right in Lee. What more could you ask for from your trip!