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| Stockbridge Attractions Berkshire Botanical Garden Berkshire Theatre
Festival Chesterwood Estate
and Museum Ice Glen Mission House National Shrine
of Divine Mercy
Naumkeag Norman Rockwell
Museum
Stockbridge Bowl West Stockbridge |
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The
Berkshire Botanical Garden is situated on 15 acres of land and houses
over 2,500 kinds of plants. It is open daily, May through October, from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Berkshire Botanical frequently hosts educational and
special events. Guided tours are available by appointment. The botanical
garden is located at the intersection of Routes 102 and 183, two miles
from the center of Stockbridge. Admission fees are $7 for adults, $5 for
seniors, $5 for students, and free for children younger than 12 and members.
Call the Berkshire Botanical Garden at (413) 298-3926 for additional information.
The
Berkshire Theatre Festival (BTF) is the third-oldest theatre in the nation.
The site originally opened as a casino in 1888, but it changed faces and
became a theatre by 1928. Since then, the BTF has successfully entertained
audiences with both standard and contemporary works. The theatre also
provides numerous educational programs. Contact the Berkshire Theatre
Festival administration offices at (413) 298-5536 for more information,
or call the box office at (413) 298-5576 for tickets.
Daniel
Chester French, a sculptor, is most famous for the Lincoln in Washington
D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial. His 122-acre summer home in Stockbridge,
complete with studio and garden, is open to the public. Chesterwood, a
National Historic Landmark, is located on Williamsville Road. The estate
is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through October. Contact the estate
and museum at (413) 298-3579 for information about its rates. .jpg)
The
entrance to Ice Glen is located at the end of Park Street in Stockbridge.
Drivers should park at the end of the street, and step over the footbridge
covering the Housatonic River. Walk to trails, glacial boulders, ice crystals,
and Laura’s Tower from the bridge. Laura’s Tower gives hikers
scenic views of three states: Mt. Everett in Massachusetts, the Catskills
in New York, and the Green Mountains in Vermont. There is no fee to enter
Ice Glen. 
The
Mission House is located at 19 Main St. in Stockbridge. It was originally
built circa 1730 for Rev. John Sergeant, the first missionary to the Stockbridge
Indians. The house, restored in the early 20th century, features period
furniture and a colonial garden. Guided tours of the house are available.
The Mission House is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Day weekend
through Columbus Day. Call the Trustees of Reservations at (413) 298-3239
for admission rates and additional information. 
The
National Shrine of Divine Mercy is located on Eden Hill. It is situated
close to the site where the first Christian mission to the native people
of the Berkshires took place. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. All
are welcome, and admission is free. The National Shrine of Divine Mercy
also has a phenomenal Catholic gift shop. Call the National Shrine of
Divine Mercy at (413) 298-3931 or the gift shop toll-free at (888) 484-1112.
Naumkeag,
designed by Stanford White in 1885, was the summer home of Joseph Hodges
Choate. Today, it serves as a 26-room relic of the Gilded Age. Chinese
export porcelain, antique furniture, rugs, and tapestries can be found
within the mansion’s rooms. Parts of the gorgeous garden were designed
by landscape architect Fletcher Steele. Naumkeag is open daily from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial weekend through Columbus Day. Contact the Trustees
of Reservations at (413) 298-3239 for admission information..jpg)
Stockbridge
Bowl is a mile-wide pond located on Prospect Hill. The pond is known for
its fantastic views of fall foliage, and many artists have tried to render
it in paintings. In the summer, Stockbridge Bowl is popular for boating,
fishing, and swimming. The pond is also well known for its fireworks finales
for the Tanglewood music season. .jpg)
West
Stockbridge is a small, historic town filled with 19th-century buildings.
It is located via Route 102 west from Stockbridge. Visitors can easily
spend a day walking and shopping around West Stockbridge. The town is
noted for its fine restaurants and art galleries. It takes less than 10
minutes to drive from Stockbridge to West Stockbridge.