When you’re looking for a new home to buy in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley, there’s a whole host of criteria against which to evaluate a property.
Does the home have the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you require? Is the property located in your desired area? Is it in your price range? Does it have the exterior and interior features you want?
The features and amenities of homes you’re considering rank high in importance when you look for homes for sale in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley. And they well should be, as buying a home is typically one of the largest purchases we make.
But another type of real estate amenity concerns the location and surroundings of the home.
We’re talking about community services and amenities that add to the appeal of a home in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley.
Of course, you’ll want to know where services and amenities like grocery stores, pharmacies, and health care facilities are located.
In a region as beautiful as the Berkshires and the Upper Hudson Valley, you’ll also want to know about opportunities for outdoor recreation. You might also be interested in what the area has to offer in terms of culture and the arts.
Thanks to the abundance of outdoor recreation and cultural destinations in our region, you don’t have to choose between the outdoors and the arts when you buy a Berkshires or Upper Hudson Valley home. You can get both the benefits of art and nature in our region.
Outdoor Recreation in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley
Berkshire County, MA, and Columbia County, NY, offer year-round opportunities for getting outdoors.
Hiking
Many hiking trails in Berkshire County are centered in the middle of the county, with trailheads leading to the Appalachian Trail and to state forests and preserves.
In Columbia County, NY, hiking trails are concentrated in the northern part of the county. Many are located in conservation areas and state parks.
Golf
Berkshire County is home to more than 10 golf courses that are spread throughout the county from Williamstown to Lenox.
Columbia County golf courses are located in Kinderhook, Valatie, Ghent, Claverack, and Craryville.
Biking
Biking enthusiasts looking for homes in Berkshire County can choose mountain bike trails in October Mountain State Forest, Pittsfield State Forest, and Kennedy Park, among many others. For a paved biking experience, there’s the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail that runs for 12 miles through Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams.
Columbia County has mountain bike trails in Beebe Hill State Forest, Greenport Conservation Area, and Taghkanic State Park. This map from Bike Coco lists a baker’s dozen of road loops from Kinderhook to Ancramdale.
Skiing
Skiers in New England know that the Berkshires is the leading destination for downhill skiing in Massachusetts. Ski resorts in the Berkshires include Butternut, Berkshire East, Jiminy Peak, Bousquet, and Otis Ridge.
Art and Culture in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley
Berkshire County, MA, and Columbia County, NY are home to a wide range of art and cultural institutions.
Just a sampling includes the following:
For music lovers, there’s Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, where the Boston Symphony has made its summer home since 1937.
Theater buffs thrill to performances at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA, and the Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, NY.
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA, presents live music, dance, comedy, and theater performances year-round.
Art lovers flock to Art Omi in Ghent, NY, the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA, and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, and MASS MoCA in North Adams.
Find Your Ideal Home with Stone House Properties
Homes for sale Berkshire County, MA, and homes for sale in Columbia County, NY offer buyers a setting that abounds in both outdoor recreation and cultural amenities. Contact us today to start your home search. Our brokers can help you find your ideal home, whether it’s a primary residence or a second home retreat.
