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Go Farm-Hopping
The Berkshires’ long agricultural heritage spills over into
today’s farm-to-table mindset, as many area chefs craft
their signature dishes using local products. You can visit
some of the farms even in winter, sampling their treats
and buying some to take home, with Berkshire Farm & Table maps
(berkshirefarmandtable.org/taste-trails). Three taste trails (cheese,
charcuterie, and beer and cider) point the way to area cheese
farms, breweries, and other producers. In Williamstown, for example,
you can visit Cricket Creek Farm to see the cows, pigs, and
hens, and choose from several cow’s-milk cheeses. In Monterey,
family-run Rawson Brook Farm welcomes you to read informa-
tional signs, watch at milking time, and try Monterey Chevre.
Nearby, Gould Farm sells its cheddar and fresh-baked breads,
along with granola and jams. Beer enthusiasts can learn about
brewing and sample the products at Wandering Star’s micro-
brewery in Pittsfield or Big Elm Brewing in Sheffield, both open
on Saturdays.
And if you’re visiting in mid-February through early April (dates
vary based on temperatures), you’re in luck. It’s maple-sugaring
season in the Berkshires, and you can watch the whole process
from tree to syrup at Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock. While the sap
boils, taste syrup on hot blueberry pancakes, waffles, or French
toast in the cafe.
Eat Local
It’s easy to find restaurants whose chefs are passionate locavores,
and you’ll often see sources listed on the menu. Two such estab-
lishments are John Andrews in South Egremont and Allium in
Great Barrington, both serving New American cuisine. Mezze
Bistro + Bar in Williamstown makes everything from scratch,
including bacon and sausage from meats sourced at local farms.
And the chef at Nudel Restaurant in Lenox makes his own ricotta
with milk from High Lawn Farm in Lee.
Whatever you choose, you won’t want to miss an old-fashioned
New England diner breakfast, and the place to go is Joe’s Diner
in Lee. It was a local favorite even before Norman Rockwell made
it famous as the setting for The Runaway. You’ll recognize the
same counter and feel as if you’ve stepped right into a Rockwell
illustration. ■
Barbara Radcliffe Rogers is the author of several books about New
England, and is a regular contributor to Global Traveler, Destinations, and
a number of websites. When she’s not traveling, she’s likely to be skiing
or kayaking in the White Mountains or the Berkshires.
IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD ■ Fall 2015 55
New England Escape
Make an exchange or buy a Getaway at
Getaway price is valid December 1, 2015, through February 29, 2016.
It would be a shame to be two hours
from Boston and not spend at least a
day enjoying its historic attractions
or visiting its museums. Walk the
Freedom Trail to follow the events
and personalities of the American
Revolution. It’s also a good way to
see Boston’s highlights, including
the shops and pushcarts of Faneuil
Hall Marketplace (right) and the
colorful Italian neighborhood in the
North End, where you’ll find The Paul
Revere House and restaurants for all
budgets. Traveling with kids? Take
them to the New England Aquarium
and Museum of Science, and to see
the mummies at the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston.
Beantown Bound
Randy M. Ury/CORBIS/Glow Images; Radius/SuperStock