Lots of Fun Things to Do in the Berkshires with Kids
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There are lots of things to do in the Berkshires with kids. This region of far western Massachusetts has many amazing activities for kids and families to enjoy during every season and in all kinds of weather.
No matter when you visit, there are great family-friendly things to do in the Berkshires with kids of all ages.
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Related Post: Winter Fun for Families in the Berkshires
Pittsfield
Berkshire Museum
The Berkshire Museum is a non-profit art, history, and natural science museum in Pittsfield. The museum has a small but growing collection of original artworks and artifacts, which are on display in the galleries, as well as traveling exhibits.
Most of their permanent collections focus on natural history such as birds, mammals, butterflies, native wildlife, Native-American baskets, and beadwork.
Some popular exhibits are The Berkshire Backyard, the rocks and minerals gallery, and several species of fish, insects, snakes, and amphibians in the Berkshire Museum aquarium.
Hancock Shaker Village
Hancock Shaker Village is a living museum where you can get a peek into what the lives of the Shakers were like. You can explore beautiful gardens, homes, businesses, and meetinghouses of the time.
The museum offers a variety of events throughout the year with special events during the fall foliage season. You can even stay overnight in a Shaker-style cottage.
Herman Melville’s Arrowhead Museum
Located in Pittsfield, Arrowhead is also known as the Herman Melville House. It was the home of the Moby Dick author from 1850–1863, which were his most productive years as a writer.
The home has been preserved to look as it did when Herman Melville lived there. It is still filled with many of his personal possessions.
This historic site offers a glimpse into an important time in American literary history.
Bousquet Ski Area
The Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield has fantastic tubing facilities and a ski school to help you and your children learn to ski or sharpen their skills. Choose from several programs at Bousquet based on your skill level.
They offer recreational programs for beginner skiers, as well as intermediate and advanced skiers.
A family program also offers private lessons and group lessons for everyone in your family, including your little ones.
Onota Lake
Onota Lake is located in the City of Pittsfield, MA. This lake has various activities and programs available for children of all ages on-site, so you can spend an entire day there without ever having to leave.
Onota Lake also offers education programs that teach children about the lake and nature, including fishing, bird watching, swim lessons, canoeing, art classes, and many other fun outdoor activities.
Their one-day camps are a great option if you are in the area for a short vacation but want the kids to have a day filled with fun activities. They offer various camps depending on the season, so check out their website for more information.
Pittsfield State Forest
The Pittsfield State Forest spreads over 11,000 acres. It offers various activities, including hiking, camping, mountain biking, paved trails for bike riding, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and more.
Restrooms and picnic areas with grills are available so you can spend the day in the Pittsfield State Forest.
Stockbridge
Berkshire Botanical Garden
Berkshire Botanic Gardens is 24 acres filled with dozens of unique garden spaces such as an herb garden, a pond garden, vegetable gardens, a children’s discovery garden, and more.
The gardens are open year-round, but the annual spring and summer plant collections attract the crowds. There are also numerous special events throughout the season to engage visitors.
Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon with the whole family. The museum has more than 5,000 original works from one of America’s most famous artists.
Rockwell was born and raised in New England and found inspiration in his surroundings. Many pieces of his artwork are inspired by what he saw around him.
The museum offers a tour of the grounds, and they also have regular special events that will bring up some great family memories.
Naumkeag House and Gardens
The Naumkeag House and Gardens is a public garden and historic home in Stockbridge, MA., and is a great location for some nature exploration.
You can tour the historic Gilded Age mansion and the grounds, which contain 48 acres of beautiful gardens. The museum offers outdoor classes and events as well.
Lanesborough
Mount Greylock
At 3491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts and is a great destination for families who love the outdoors. At Mount Greylock, your family will enjoy hiking, Cross-country skiing, Mountain biking, Snowmobiling, camping, and more.
Mount Greylock has things to do in all seasons, but a trip in the fall is not to be missed with fall foliage driving routes to see New England in all of its autumn splendor.
There are plenty of things to do for summer and winter fun on the mountain. It is open year-round and has hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a campground, and restrooms.
Renting a room in the lodge is also an option for overnight stays in the area.
Ramblewild Adventure Park
Ramblewild Adventure Park is located in Lanesborough, MA. This natural tree-to-tree aerial adventure park that the whole family can enjoy.
In addition to the aerial adventure park, they also offer hiking trails for all hiking levels and snowshoeing in the winter.
Ramblewild Adventure Park offers an experience that will be remembered for years.
Hancock
Jiminy Peak
Jiminy Peak is a year-round resort with lots of fun activities for families. In addition to skiing and hiking, Jiminy Peak has a mountain coaster, alpine slide, rock climbing wall, giant swing, and more to do in the summer.
In the winter, you can go snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding on one of their 45 trails. They even have ski and snowboard lessons for kids.
Ioka Valley Farm
The Ioka Valley Farm is a great location to bring your kids in any season.
- During the spring, visit the sugarhouse to see how maple syrup is made.
- In the summer, play on the playground and enjoy the animals.
- Pick pumpkins and gourds in the fall, and enjoy the foliage.
- In the winter, you can cut down your own Christmas tree.
There is always something fun to do at Ioka Farm, no matter when you can visit.
Charlemont
Berkshire East Mountain Resort
Berkshire East Mountain Resort is the perfect location to enjoy a relaxing day of family fun. They offer several different activities for everyone in your family.
They offer zip lines, a mountain coaster, an aerial adventure park, and whitewater rafting in the summer. They also have cycling trails ranging from easy to challenging and also hiking trails.
In the winter you can ski or go snow tubing. There is something to do for everyone with your adventurous family all year round.
Zoar Outdoor
Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont, Massachusetts, offers a family adventure where parents can also participate in the fun.
This center offers many programs for kids and teens, including canoeing, kayaking, inner tubing, a zip line, rock climbing classes, and more. There are classes to teach first-time rafters how to operate a boat and classes that keep your adventurous teen busy and happy.
Great Barrington
Ski Butternut
Ski Butternut is perfect for families who enjoy outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.
With 24 trails for all levels ranging from beginner to advanced, there is something here for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Monument Mountain
Monument Mountain stands at about 1,255 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest points in Massachusetts. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the fall foliage because it has an elevation that lets you experience all of New England’s different landscapes within one location.
The mountain is located on about 760 acres of meadows, fields, wooded areas, ponds, and wetlands. It’s the perfect location to enjoy the outdoors.
The mountain offers hiking, picnicking, sculpture tours, seasonal guided hikes, yoga for kids, and sightseeing, making it a popular location for bringing the kids.
North Adams
MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) combines world-class art with unique architecture and interactive presentations to create a one-of-a-kind museum experience.
The museum is housed in a converted 19th-century mill that has been renovated to house three floors of galleries, studios, restaurants, and shops, including a hands-on studio for kids.
MASS MoCA often adds to its collection of interactive exhibits and is open to all ages.
Natural Bridge State Park
Natural Bridge State Park, located just 20 minutes from downtown North Adams, MA. is a great destination for the entire family.
Natural Bridge State Park has many things to explore and discover, including North America’s only natural white marble arch.
Go hiking and fishing with all of the necessary amenities. There are restroom facilities and picnic areas with grills, so pack some food and spend the day in nature.
Lenox
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
If you’re looking for something fun to do on a weekend, the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is a fun option. The museum invites visitors of all ages to climb aboard one of their historic passenger trains and experience what life in the Berkshires used to be like.
Lenox Station Museum
At the Lenox Station Museum, you can take a guided tour of the museum. You will see a Block Station replica and learn about this type of station and the workers from that period.
Kids will also enjoy taking a small train ride from one end of the museum to another on the Lenox Jitney.
Hoosac Valley Train Ride
This is an adventure for the whole family. The Hoosac Valley train ride takes you along a scenic route and through 10 trestles. It lasts about 90 minutes and covers seven miles round trip.
Trains leave North Adams and operate on Saturdays in July and August and every weekend in September and October, providing rides to people of all ages. Ride times are 11:00 am 1:30 pm & 3:30 pm.
Tanglewood
This venue is perfect for an evening picnic with the family. The grounds are open year-round, but most summer events occur between July and August.
If you attend a concert at Tanglewood, you can bring a picnic to the lawn and enjoy the live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
You can also tour the grounds and check out the many sculptures. This is an all-American venue that many of New England’s talented musicians use to showcase their talent.
Lee
High Lawn Farm
High Lawn Farm in Lee, Massachusetts, is great for a family outing. The farm is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the summer when many animals are out and about.
Visit the creamery for a fresh and delicious homemade ice cream cone. You can also buy milk, cream, fresh cheese, butter, and ice cream to bring home.
Mount Washington
Bash Bish Falls
Bash Bish Falls is the largest cascading waterfall in Mount Washington, Massachusetts. It’s a great place to bring the kids for a fun day of hiking, mountain biking, or snowshoeing in the winter.
Walk along the short hiking trail as it winds through wooded areas that will lead you up to the waterfall. Many trails branch off from the riverwalk leading you to various sights and areas to explore.
South Egremont
Catamount Aerial Adventure Park
Located in South Egremont, MA, the Catamount Aerial Adventure Park offers an exciting adventure that everyone will love.
Nine aerial trails with over 150 elements and varying difficulty levels make this a fun experience for adventurers aged seven and above.
This park has something for everyone and provides an exciting adventure in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine, making this a fun place to enjoy with the entire family!
Appalachian Trail Hike
On this section of the Appalachian Trail, you can see gorgeous views of mountains, highlands, and rivers.
The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and runs through the Berkshires. This trail is great for hiking, running, mountain biking, or snowshoeing. There are trails suitable for all hiking levels.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is a great way to spend an afternoon in the Berkshires with kids. Several stables within a short drive from Lee, Massachusetts, offer horseback riding lessons, hayrides, pony rides, campouts, and trails for the more adventurous horseback rider.
You can learn to ride or just enjoy a leisurely day out with your favorite equine friend. Your kids will love spending time with horses up close and personal, making this an enjoyable family experience.
When Should You Go to the Berkshires?
The Berkshires is a beautiful area in every season that offers a variety of fun things to do and see no matter what time of year you plan your visit.
The weather in this area can vary greatly, so make sure to plan accordingly. If you are interested in hiking or other outdoor activities, the best time to visit is during either late Spring or early Fall.
While the Berkshires are often cooler than lower elevation areas in Massachusetts, the summers can still be very hot and humid, perfect for a day on the lake or touring some of the many museums in the area.
The bottom line is, that any time of year is a great time to go to the Berkshires.
Where are the Berkshires?
The Berkshires are located in far Western Massachusetts, approximately two hours west of Boston, an hour east of Albany, and two hours Northwest of Hartford.
Less than an hour to the north in southern Vermont is the town of Bennington, which also has plenty of fun, family-friendly things to do.
How Long Should You Spend in the Berkshires?
There are plenty of family-friendly things to do in the Berkshires. You could easily have a jam-packed weekend getaway or a leisurely week-long vacation.
Make sure to drive through some local towns if you have time. If your kids are interested in history or architecture, many beautiful buildings from the Colonial era offer great photo opportunities.
If your kids love nature, there are plenty of places to hike and enjoy the outdoors. There are also museums and many activities that children of any age will enjoy.
You could easily spend one day or even a whole week in the Berkshires and not run out of things to do!
How Much Does a Family Vacation to the Berkshires Cost?
The Berkshires are fairly inexpensive when compared to other tourist destinations in Massachusetts.
Keep your eyes open for activities that offer discounts for children and family members, including entrance fees at museums, parks, and attractions.
The Berkshires are a beautiful area that offers many fun things to do and see with kids. The Berkshires make for an excellent family vacation spot.
Final Thoughts
The Berkshires offer many fun activities for children and families if you want to have a fun New England vacation with kids. If you feel active, you can spend one day or a week exploring these exciting sites and enjoying outdoor adventures like hiking or fishing.
We hope this list has helped narrow down where should go on your next family adventure in western Massachusetts‘ beautiful Berkshires.
