User:ButteBag/Rural Berkshires

The Rural Berkshires are in The Berkshires. This collection of towns and villages is both achingly picturesque and sparsely populated. The (relatively) high travel times between these communities serve to keep the crowds at bay. But intrepid travelers with time to spare are sure to discover quality antiquing, connections to nature, and scores of compelling shops, bakeries, and other hidden gems.

Becket Population: 1,779; Elevation:
Home of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

Dalton Population: 6,756; Elevation:
The Appalachian Trail runs right through the center of Dalton, and many hikers can be seen staying in the home and camping on the lawn of local resident Tom Levardi on Depot St where hikers are welcomed. Dalton is also the home of Crane and Co. which has made the US currency and security papers for more than two centuries. There's a saying about the town that "the buck starts here". The Housatonic River winds south through Dalton and then through many other towns in Berkshire County on its 139-mile journey to the Long Island Sound. Dalton's surrounding mountains well exemplifies the many rolling hills for which the county is noted. One well-known and often visited location east of town off of Route 9 is Wahconah Falls State Park. Water flows from the reservoir above down in a beautifully tiered fashion alongside a scenic hiking trail, culminating in a spectacular 40 ft (12 m) descent into a deep pool. Legend has it that a love-sick Indian maiden named Wahconah jumped to her death there. However, upon further investigation, and contrary to this local lore, an article on web paints a decidedly happier tale of the Indian maiden's fate. This version of the story reflects a more endearing twist in which an English soldier wins the heart and hand of young Wahconah.

Lee Population: 5,943; Elevation:
a 1-mile stretch of road reveals and stunning downtown where you can discover more than 7 nationalities represented in restaurants! Enjoy antiquing, bakeries, and many other interesting shops/stores/hidden gems. Lee is found at exit 2 of Interstate 90, the downtown is about 1 mile west on Route 20.



Monterey Population: 961; Elevation:
Home of the Beartown State Forest, a small downtown strip with an old-timey General Store. Cool. Off the beated path. From Great Barrington, follow Route 23 east for 5.3 miles to Monterey.

===New Marlborough Population: 1,509; Elevation:  === A small village outside of Great Barrington. Cute and petite downtown with a library, General Store, and Fire Station.

Peru Population: 847; Elevation:
===Sandisfield Population: 915; Elevation:  ===

Itineraries

 * Appalachian Trail &mdash; Hike a quick 3,000 miles.

Go next
Check out Springfield, home of basketball.