In My Footsteps: Stockbridge, Massachusetts

     Nestled in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts is Stockbridge. It combines the feel of a quaint mountain town with amazing scenery loads of history and spectacular attractions into one of the gems of New England.

     Initially called Indian Town when first settled in 1737 it was incorporated in 1739 and named Stockbridge after a town in Hampshire, England. As of 2015 the population of Stockbridge was only 1,846 laid out over 23-square miles. This mixed in with the rolling hills makes this every bit a small town. Yet it is a hugely popular destination especially in summer.

     Despite being surrounded and engulfed by the Berkshire Hills one cannot begin a visit to Stockbridge without going to the Norman Rockwell Museum. The famed 20^th century artists used the town as an inspiration for his illustrations. Though he was born in New York City in 1894 Rockwell moved to Stockbridge in 1953 and lived out his remaining years there. The museum which bares his name was founded in 1969 and includes more than 100,000 items of which 998 are original paintings and drawings. Rockwell’s studio was also moved to the site and is open from May to October while the museum is the most popular year-round attraction in town.

     To enjoy scenery and solitude there are a pair of attractions located close to each other. The Naumkeag Mansion is the centerpiece of an estate once owned by New York City lawyer Joseph Choate. The 44-room mansion is part of a 48-acre property with panoramic views and was built in 1884. It is open except for January, February, and March. Located less than half a mile from Naumkeag is The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy. The Roman Catholic shrine resides on 350-acres and was first opened in 1960. It welcomes tens of thousands of people annually whether worshipers or those who simply wish to take in the beautiful scenery.

The scenery at Eden Hill, National Shrine of the Divine Mercy

     When looking for shopping, dining, and lodging options one only needs to venture down to Stockbridge’s famed Main Street. One destination must be The Red Lion Inn. Today it is an 82-room iconic hotel that has been in operation in one form or another since 1773. From Presidents Cleveland, McKinley, Coolidge, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, to celebrities like John Wayne and Bob Dylan, it is a place to say one stayed as much as it is a place to stay.  

The Red Lion Inn

     A stroll along Main Street allows you to pass by longtime shops like Williams & Sons Country Store, established in the 1790’s, Main Street Cafe, and Stockbridge General Store. Or stroll down the alley next to the General Store to visit Theresa’s Stockbridge Cafe, formerly known as Alice’s Restaurant, made famous by the Arlo Guthrie song in 1967.

     Located 130 miles from Boston, 70 miles from Hartford, and 140 miles from New York City Stockbridge is an escape that is not far away. Beautiful in the winter snow or the blooming spring flowers it is never a bad time to check out this quaint town in the Berkshire Hills immortalized by Norman Rockwell’s art.

Check out a video of some of Stockbridge’s attractions here:

If You Go:

• Norman Rockwell Museum – 9 Glendale Road (https://www.nrm.org/ )
• Naumkeag Mansion – 5 Prospect Hill Road (https://naumkeag.thetrustees.org/ )
• National Shrine of the Divine Mercy (https://www.shrineofdivinemercy.org/ )
• Red Lion Inn – 30 Main Street (https://www.redlioninn.com/ )
• Theresa’s Stockbridge Cafe – 40 Main Street

Visit my website: Christopher Setterlund.com

Road Trip: Day 1 - Into the Wild

     

     The first day of an epic travel journey began before 9am.
Luckily it was sunny although cold, only got up to about 35 at best during the day.  Although I wanted to stop and shoot photos and see as many sites as possible, I also wanted to get far enough away from home to feel like this was an adventure.  I drove more than 3 hours to the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts out in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.   

At the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge

     I thought it might be a quick stop over to get my feet wet but it ended up being a few hours which is not a bad thing.  I highly recommend the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.  It is a religious spot, but even if you are not religious it is filled with beautiful photo ops which is what I focused on.  The people who run it are so friendly and make you feel welcomed even if you're not there to attend mass with them.  

     If time allows, and you should make it, take in the Norman Rockwell Museum which showcases his illustrations.  It also is home to his studio and the amazing view of the mountains which lay outside of it for inspiration.  Before leaving I took a walk down the quaint Main Street of Stockbridge.  It has the classic feel of a mountain town and makes you want to stick around a while.

     I continued west into Upstate New York and the town of Hudson, routinely considered one of the best small towns to visit in the United States.  Wanting to stretch my legs after so much driving I took in a pair of parks, Promenade Hill Park and neighboring Henry Hudson Riverfront Park.  It was at the latter that I spotted the Hudson Athens Lighthouse out on the river.  Wanting a closeup photo I ran down the railroad tracks and found the perfect spot.  Luckily the train that was coming passed while I was a safe distance away.

     If beautiful homes are your thing definitely stop at the Olana State Historic Site just west in Greenport, New York.  It was the home of noted landscape painter Frederic Church and holds incredible views of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River from high up on a hill.  By this time it was unfortunately closing in on sunset just after 4pm.  I decided to drive the back roads rather than the highway in order to find a perfect sunset spot.  

Sunset on the porch of Olana with the Catskills and Hudson River in the background.

     By sheer dumb luck I saw a sign for Saugerties Lighthouse in the town of the same name.  I hustled down to the Hudson River to get a shot not realizing that it is more than a 1/2 mile walk to get out to it.  It was after sunset now but the colors and solitude at the lighthouse were worth the cold and increasing darkness.  The lighthouse is also a Bed and Breakfast but I had no intention of staying.  I wandered back along the path in the dark and cold, surprisingly when I returned to the parking lot there was another couple just getting ready to trek out to see the lighthouse.  I did not feel as crazy.
  
     My end for the day was Scranton, PA.  Home of The Office. I have been a huge fan of the show since it originally came out so getting to see some spots mentioned in the show was a no-brainer.  Just an odd side note.  While driving south through New York I saw lots of deer everywhere, running, eating along the side of the road, just like squirrels.  Once I crossed into Pennsylvania I still saw lots of deer, only now they were all roadkill.  

     I got to Scranton after 7pm and after checking into my hotel headed right back out.  I had intentionally not eaten all day so I could have pizza at Alfredo's, the 'good pizza' from The Office for fans of the show.  It was worth it, though I burned my mouth on it.  The place was packed as it was a Saturday night but I sat at the bar and got to people watch, and listen, especially to a pair of ladies sitting next to me that could have been a reality show on its own.

     After Alfredo's I stopped for a beer at Poor Richard's Pub, a frequently mentioned spot on The Office.  It's actually a smaller part of a bowling alley but they definitely embrace their Office connection.  I outed myself as a fan when I bought a souvenir cup which prompted the friendly bartender to bring over their own Dundie award to show me.  That was the perfect cap to a long day, over 400 miles of driving and so many fun places I saw for the first time.

The Dundie award at Poor Richard's Pub

    
     Day two starts by finishing off my time in Scranton, and then heading south! Stay tuned!