They aren’t far apart, so you can pick one and do day trips to the other. I’d probably stay in Great Barrington. I love the local market there (Guido’s) and there are so many great little local spots to grab a bite to eat.

PP’s comment about Hudson is spot on - three blocks of gentrification surrounded by a run-down, high-poverty former mill town. A similar dynamic exists in a lot of the trendy towns in the Catskills.

Anonymous wrote:Berkshires and Pioneer Valley are great.

I enjoy Lenox, Great Barrington, Amherst, Northampton, Williamstown. Lots of great museums and hiking in the area as well as Tanglewood.

+2

Anonymous wrote:Berkshires because of the cooking, ie, you could rent a place far from restaurants. Plan ahead where you’ll shop. Go to Tanglewood. I’d also consider situating yourself closer to Northampton for restaurants. I enjoyed visiting Deerfield.

Hudson Valley has some interesting history/art, but in the towns (Hudson for example) the vibe seems squarely Brooklyn couples coming up for expensive weekend getaways on the train. Fancy artisanal hotels/restaurants. For whatever reason it has always seemed to me very expensive for what lt is and at the same time a little crummy.

Accurate, from one half of a Brooklyn couple, although we drive.

We did go to the Berkshires once, in the fall, and loved it.

Berkshires and Pioneer Valley are great.

I enjoy Lenox, Great Barrington, Amherst, Northampton, Williamstown. Lots of great museums and hiking in the area as well as Tanglewood.

Consider the area around Saratoga Springs too. Or Catskills.

Berkshires because of the cooking, ie, you could rent a place far from restaurants. Plan ahead where you’ll shop. Go to Tanglewood. I’d also consider situating yourself closer to Northampton for restaurants. I enjoyed visiting Deerfield.

Hudson Valley has some interesting history/art, but in the towns (Hudson for example) the vibe seems squarely Brooklyn couples coming up for expensive weekend getaways on the train. Fancy artisanal hotels/restaurants. For whatever reason it has always seemed to me very expensive for what lt is and at the same time a little crummy.

Like others have been posting lately, we’re trying to keep our summer travels to a drive from DC.

We’re deciding between these two locations for spouse, me, hs/college aged kids, and dog.

We like nature, pretty views, hiking and walking, history and good food (although part of our fun on vacation is to cook - spouse and I love to do it and never have time at home - so I guess good food shops and farmers markets are more important than restaurants 😊). Being on or near water is a nice bonus.

Which would you recommend? What areas/towns do you like?