Birchwood Inn » Recreation

Do Bears….?

innkeeper — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:31:51 +0000

Says Quinn: Yes, they surely do! I’ve lived in the Berkshires at Birchwood Inn for more than 11 years and I learn something new everyday. For instance…
There is ice in Ice Glen (Stockbridge) for 9 months a year although it is possible that ice can be found there in July, August, or September.
Nathaniel Hawthorne called Ice Glen “the most curious fissure in all the Berkshires.” It certainly is unusual. The streams run south to north instead of north to south, and the fissure itself — a long-dried-up glacial pool — runs east to west rather than west to east.
Ice Glen is canopied by trees at least 170 years old, which ensures that the rocky terrain is in shade most of the year, a cool spot on even the hottest days. The floor of the glen is dotted with boulders that form caves throughout the gorge, making Ice Glen a great place to explore!

And there are bears in Beartown State Forest (in the towns of Lee and Monterey). This area is “bear aware” country. Do not feed or provoke the bears.
Bears have acute hearing — seven times more acute than a dog! — and can smell food more than a mile away. They are curious, resourceful, and have one of the best memories of all animals. They can run up to 35 mph and climb a tree faster than some primates.
If you encounter a bear, don’t startle it; make noise, and give the bear plenty of room.
I know about bears from personal experience! We have had bears visit every once in a while. The first time I met up with a bear, I thought it was a big dog and wagged my magnificent tail. I think I should have barked!

Bear Aware

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here Do Bears….?.

A Memorable Day on Mount Greylock

innkeeper — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 04:11:58 +0000

Meandering through Greylock's forests

Quinn reports: Janice (Ellen’s great friend since 2nd Grade), Ellen and I were on our way to Williamstown the other day to celebrate Ellen’s birthday and to take Janice to the Clark Art Institute‘s Pissarro’s People exhibit. It was a beautiful Indian Summer day, so we left Birchwood Inn and took the scenic route via Mount Greylock.

Greylock, at 3491 feet, is the highest point in MA. But it is also so much more! 12,500 acres. Mountains. Forests. Valleys. Streams. 70 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, back country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. At the summit you can find Bascom Lodge and the Veterans War Memorial.

A view from the summit

But that doesn’t begin to describe the Greylock experience. In fall, the air is crisp, the foliage vibrant, the light streaming through the trees inspiring, the tranquility soothing, the only sounds are of trickling streams and inhaling the fresh tree-scented air. In the spring experience nature bursting and awakening from the long winter. In summer savor the leafy shade. And the views are awesome year-round. From the summit you can see up to 135 miles in the distance and 5 different states — MA, CT, NY, VT, and NH.

Of course we weren’t the first nor the last to savor the experience. Native Americans hunted and traveled through the Greylock area. The Machicans’ travels created a traditional footpath through Greylock, now known as the Mohawk Trail.

Standing at an Appalachian Trail marker

Another historic footpath runs through the Greylock area, the 2100-mile Appalachian Trail, which follows the Appalachian chain of mountains and hills from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katuhdin in Maine. 11.5 miles of the trail wend their way through the tranquil wilderness.

Greylock has been a Siren, luring hundreds of those seeking to savor the experience, including Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Cullen Bryant, Thoreau and Melville.

Where the only sounds you hear are trickling streams

Melville could see Greylock from his writing desk at Arrowhead in neighboring Pittsfield, and it is said that the fall snow on Greylock inspired his description of the white whale breaching the waves in Moby Dick.

Even driving the newly restored roads, up to the summit from just north of Pittsfied, and down to North Adams, is a heady ooh-aah experience. We meandered around one corner and “oohed” at the view and then turned another corner and aahed.

Please note that the grass on Greylock is quite tasty!

We never did get to The Clark, but what a magic day Greylock shared with us before we headed back to our Lenox MA Bed and Breakfast.

It Was the Best of Times

innkeeper — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:19:14 +0000

Says Quinn: Despite Irene’s unwelcome end-of-summer visit, this was one of the best of my 12 summers at Birchwood Inn.

Ellen and I have created a Top Ten Best of Summer 2011 list:

# 10 -Best play we missed: “Sylvia” — about a dog of course — at the Berkshire Theatre Festival

# 9 -Best Tanglewood Concert we missed: “Porgy and Bess”

# 8 -Best book read this summer: “The Greater Journey”

# 7 -Best exhibit: Pissarro at The Clark Art Institute (until Oct. 6)

# 6 -Best new Lenox food experience: Berkshire Gelato next door to Prime

# 5 -Best new breakfast recipe: Peach Croissant French Toast Panini

# 4 -Best breakfast fruit course: Honeydew “Gazpacho” and Bircher Muesli

# 3 -Best food blog: Eight Broads in the Kitchen at Bed and Breakfast Foodies

8 Broads... and a Dog

# 2 -Best park for hiking or walking a dog: Kennedy Park

# 1 -Best summer weekend: James Taylor and the annual 4th of July Party Time at our Lenox MA Bed and Breakfast!

Dog Days? I’m Insulted

innkeeper — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:53:11 +0000

As a most fine and upstanding canine, I am not at all happy that these miserably hot days in the Northeast, with unheard of temperatures in the 90s and humidity that even curls my hair, are called Dog Days. Dogs are cool!

Here in Lenox, in the heart of the Berkshire Hills in Western Massachusetts, there are gentle breezes in the garden and on the front porch at Birchwood Inn.

The leafy hiking trails in Kennedy Park across the street are very pleasant. There is plenty of shade under the ancient oaks at Tanglewood, and fortunately the air-conditioning is working mighty fine at Shakespeare & Co., Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Barrington Stage Co., The Colonial, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. I also love taking a cool respite at The Norman Rockwell Museum, The Clark Art Institute, and MASS MoCA.

And there’s nothing more refreshing than a swim in one of the many nearby mountain lakes.

Nothing doggy about it. Why not the Cat Days of Summer?

And that’s the way I see it. Quinn

Jolly Good Time

innkeeper — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:39:42 +0000

We have been announcing: The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming! Well, they came, we saw, they conquered!

The first annual (we hope!) British Motor Car Festival at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, has been a smashing success this week. The very London-like drizzle stopped just in time for the block party on Friday night. Residents and guests strolled the village streets, enjoying the classic cars from Minis to Rolls lined up at the curbs while a band played Rolling Stones hits to set the English tone for the weekend.

Happily, more than 2,000 people were in awe of the 310 cars participating. And everyone was in a festive mood. Very civilized.

Sunny Saturday, the cars showed off at Tanglewood and competed in their categories. A number of our guests brought and showed their cars in the competition, and we are very proud to have hosted a very grand winner, Pat and Joe Marchione, from NJ. Their 1959 Lotus Elite 1096 Series took first place in their division, Concours Post WW II sports car. We were honored to have this beauty in the parking lot at Birchwood Inn!

1959 Lotus Elite

Sunny Sunday the Rolls and Bentleys competed for the best picnics.

Among the numerous classics was this awesome Austin Healy. This gem belonged to owner Nancy’s father. After he died, the car was garaged for 30 years until Nancy had the car restored in all of its glory.

Beautifully restored Austin Healy.

What a wonderful Berkshires weekend!

I LOVE NEW YORK… IN SMALL DOSES

innkeeper — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:31:04 +0000

According to Quinn.

Bloggers are supposed to blog about what they are passionate about. Ellen and I are both passionate about baseball! The game is the great equalizer — a cab driver is often found sitting next to a Fortune 500 CEO.

Last week we savored the joys of New York. It was so exciting to be among crowds of people after the tranquil Berkshires! The noise. The traffic. The energy. We love them all!

One of the New York pleasures is Yankee Stadium, unless you are an old Brooklyn Dodger fan! The Yankees were playing Ellen’s old favorite team (she used to go to 32 games a year when she lived in Toronto), the Blue Jays. The new stadium is missing some of the tradition of the old stadium, but it’s great nonetheless.

The New Yankee Stadium

We just HAD to take advantage of the photo op. Unknown to us, at the same time we were being filmed by NBC News for the following day’s 6:00 pm show on the high cost of tickets for sporting events!

Quinn and Ellen at Yankee Stadium.

Yankee Stadium, by the way, has the greatest popcorn. I know because I got to eat all of the popcorn Ellen spilled … accidentally on purpose.

Did someone order popcorn?

Ellen was elated for 8 1/2 innings as the Jays were winning. Alas, as frequently happens, the Jays broke her heart in the bottom of the ninth, but it was a great game! Personally, growing up in Massachusetts, I’m a Red Sox fan, so when I had to wear a Yankee cap, I wasn’t too happy.

Quinn loves NY but not the NY Yankees!

The following day I romped in Central Park with hordes of other very well-behaved dogs, rolling in the cool grass. Then onwards to lunch with old friends of Ellen’s from early childhood and then Broadway. My friend Sutton Foster lit up the stage in “Anything Goes.”

The next day we returned to the Berkshires, where we could unwind from our New York adventures. We realized once again how peaceful and refreshing our hills are. There’s no place like home when you live in the Berkshires!

On a Roll

innkeeper — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:11:39 +0000

Quinn says: Woof! Yay!First snowfall of the season, and Piper and I have already been rolling in it! Ellen may finally get to use her snowshoes (the price tag is still on them)!

Our Inn in Lenox, MA offers 12 accommodations enjoy Berkshires, Bed & Breakfast,Inn in Lenox MA featuring private baths, cozy fireplaces and more. You can read the original blog post here On a Roll.

Flying High in the Berkshires

innkeeper — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:15:58 +0000

There are many ways to see the Berkshires [My personal favorite way is hiking. Quinn]. Sightseeing by car, boat, or train are the most common. But floating through the air adds a totally unique perspective.

A couple of years ago, several very special guests and Ellen climbed aboard a hot air balloon from Worthington Ballooning and sailed above Lenox, like floating on a cloud. It was phenomenal to see Lenox from the air and realize that we are really in the mountains! Soaring above local shops, restaurants, and inns was like visiting old friends and seeing them again for the first time. It was especially fun to float over Birchwood Inn and wave to staff! I have always considered Lenox to be beautiful but by balloon Lenox took my breath away!

And now you can fly through the forest canopy from tree to tree while the sounds and sights of nature rush past you! Zoar Outdoor opens in Charlemont in June, the first zip line canopy tour in southern New England. The three-hour long 11 zip line adventure offers an exhilarating trip through the top of a mixed hardwood forest as well as broad views of the Deerfield River valley and its surrounding peaks.

The zip line trend continues to gain in popularity. Berkshire East ski area will open a zip line course this summer. And Catamont Adventure Park in Egremont has opened the country’s largest self-guided rope advenutre course with a handful of zip lines.

If you are tired of same old, same old, take to the air!