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The Berkshire Hills
A popular weekend destination from Boston are the Berkshire Hills, dotted with small New England towns, lush green hillsides and country shops in the summer, the Berkshires are a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours in the Fall and in the winter months the snow covered peaks and cross-country tracks lure skiers from around the area. The hillsides are dotted with grand country estates and Victorian mansions that were once the summer residences for wealthy families from Boston and New York and today have become inns or museums. Many have converted their grounds to outdoor venues for summertime music, theatre and dance performances that attract thousands of visitors every summer, particularly the Boston Symphony Orchestra that performs at the Tanglewood Estate in Lenox. These performances as well as several museums and art institutions have turned the region into the summer culture capital of New England. Further north it is easy to escape the crowds, especially along the scenic route known as the Mohawk Trail that was used by the Native Americans to travel between valleys, and there are beautiful views and vistas as it winds through miles of state parks and forests.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The two hundred home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra is situated on the Tanglewood Estate and attracts more that three hundred thousand visitors in the summer and boasts a series of concerts performed with world-famous conductors, soloists and musicians in a mixture of musical styles and forms. Concerts include a variety of musical categories from James Taylor to Yo-Yo Ma and take place at several venues around the estate, but the focus of most performances is the classical repertoire of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is one of the most highly regarded music festivals in the world. Visitors can reserve seats in the acoustic Music Shed or enjoy the music while picnicking on the expansive lawns.
