Vacation Catch Up and Much, Much More
Lisa and I spent the first week of November in Western Massachusetts in area called the Berkshires. My employer has a resort in Hancock, MA that we were able to get in for a steal. So we jumped on a plane and headed up north. We met up with our good friends Cameron and Lisette (from Seattle) for most of the week. That part of the country is absolutely beautiful. Totally different than the flat, palm tree-filled terrain that we have become accustom to down in Florida. But at the same time, it was freaking cold a couple of days and because of that - We chose Florida! It's amazing that in 16 months we have become the biggest cold weather wimps. One day we actually had to scrape the windows.
I have documented below some of the highlights from our adventure. Neither of us had been to the Berkshires before, so it was fun to explore a new place. It was also great to hang out with Cameron and Lisette. I highly suggest the trip, especially if you like museums and learning stuff while you are on vacation. Things Lisa and I really enjoy doing while we are on vacation.
Day One - Hancock Shaker Village (Hancock, MA)
The centerpiece of the compound - the Round Stone Barn, built in 1826.
Cameron and Lisette
When in Hancock . . . milk the life-size plastic cow that "produces" water.
A possible preview of the photo that will be featured in our Christmas Letter.
While the Shaker Village was interactive, it wasn't that "interactive." In the Shaker faith, there are specific rules about the roles and actions of men and women and how they were to interact with each other. They are not allowed to eat next to each other, worship next to each other. They also believed in celibacy, as it distracts one from thier relationship with God. Cameron seemed to relish the role of "uncomfortable male Shaker, being touched by advancing female Shaker."
I have documented below some of the highlights from our adventure. Neither of us had been to the Berkshires before, so it was fun to explore a new place. It was also great to hang out with Cameron and Lisette. I highly suggest the trip, especially if you like museums and learning stuff while you are on vacation. Things Lisa and I really enjoy doing while we are on vacation.
Day One - Hancock Shaker Village (Hancock, MA)
The centerpiece of the compound - the Round Stone Barn, built in 1826.
Cameron and Lisette
When in Hancock . . . milk the life-size plastic cow that "produces" water.
A possible preview of the photo that will be featured in our Christmas Letter.
While the Shaker Village was interactive, it wasn't that "interactive." In the Shaker faith, there are specific rules about the roles and actions of men and women and how they were to interact with each other. They are not allowed to eat next to each other, worship next to each other. They also believed in celibacy, as it distracts one from thier relationship with God. Cameron seemed to relish the role of "uncomfortable male Shaker, being touched by advancing female Shaker."
Day Two - Brigham Young Birthplace (Whittingham, VT). After spending the morning with the North Adams Branch, we headed a bit north into Vermont.
As we were heading back to Hancock, we decided to stop in Bennington and tour the Bennington Potters factory store. We did not know about this when we were there. Had we been aware of the potential for paranormal activity we would have stayed and explored a bit longer.
As we were heading back to Hancock, we decided to stop in Bennington and tour the Bennington Potters factory store. We did not know about this when we were there. Had we been aware of the potential for paranormal activity we would have stayed and explored a bit longer.
Day Three - Williamstown and North Adams, MA. On Monday, Cameron and Lisette took off to Boston for the day and Lisa and I decided to become cultured, by visiting a couple of museums in the area. Please note that if you are planning to visit The Clark art museum in Williamstown, MA on a Monday - it is closed and the guards will think you are an idiot becuase it clearly says on the door - Closed Monday. Instead, you should do what we did, walk around the town and visit Williams College, the home of the mighty Purple Cows (no joke) . . .
. . . and grab some hot chocolate at Pappa's Charlie's Deli in downtown Williamstown. While you are at it, grab some veggie-chili and a sandwich. You will not regret it.
The Mass MoCA is located in North Adams, MA. On a side note, we drove through this town at least 15 times during the week. For those not clicking on the link - the Mass MoCA is the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Northeast loves their "interactive" art. From the Mass MoCA' website, "continuing this nod to Earth art are Vaughn Bell’s Personal Biospheres which give gallery visitors their own miniature landscapes to experience by popping their head into Plexiglas domes filled with small working ecosystems. Bell’s new custom biospheres for Badlands will be based on the landscape of North Adams."
A Biosphere built for two.
Anselm Kiefer
More Anselm Keifer
The Miss Rockaway Armada - click the link. It's pretty interesting.
After the Mass MOCA, we headed back to Williamstown for lunch. By this time, the sun had come out and it made the stroll around campus much more enjoyable. Plus, it changed the light - so another round of photos.
. . . and grab some hot chocolate at Pappa's Charlie's Deli in downtown Williamstown. While you are at it, grab some veggie-chili and a sandwich. You will not regret it.
The Mass MoCA is located in North Adams, MA. On a side note, we drove through this town at least 15 times during the week. For those not clicking on the link - the Mass MoCA is the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Northeast loves their "interactive" art. From the Mass MoCA' website, "continuing this nod to Earth art are Vaughn Bell’s Personal Biospheres which give gallery visitors their own miniature landscapes to experience by popping their head into Plexiglas domes filled with small working ecosystems. Bell’s new custom biospheres for Badlands will be based on the landscape of North Adams."
A Biosphere built for two.
Anselm Kiefer
More Anselm Keifer
The Miss Rockaway Armada - click the link. It's pretty interesting.
After the Mass MOCA, we headed back to Williamstown for lunch. By this time, the sun had come out and it made the stroll around campus much more enjoyable. Plus, it changed the light - so another round of photos.
Day 4 - The Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge, MA). When I was a kid, my parents had this Norman Rockwell print hanging up in our house called Spring Love. Because of that, I have always been fascinated by his work. So when we were planning this trip, we had to go to the museum.
After his death, they relocated his studio to this location. The red building in the rear of this photo is his studio. Because we were there in the off season, it was closed. The statue in the front of the photo is by his son Peter. Peter has several pieces out on display around the museum grounds.
Downtown Great Barrington, MA.
Fun with Timed Exposure. 
Back to North Adams - Natural Bridge State Park.
Downtown Pittsfield, MA - Berskshires Museum.
There was this little cemetary not too far from where we were staying. The gravestones dated back to the 1700's.
After his death, they relocated his studio to this location. The red building in the rear of this photo is his studio. Because we were there in the off season, it was closed. The statue in the front of the photo is by his son Peter. Peter has several pieces out on display around the museum grounds.
Downtown Great Barrington, MA.
Fun with Timed Exposure. 
Back to North Adams - Natural Bridge State Park.
Downtown Pittsfield, MA - Berskshires Museum.
There was this little cemetary not too far from where we were staying. The gravestones dated back to the 1700's.
Our last day in the Berkshires was spent in Amherst, MA. Which, technically, is not in the Berkshires. Our targeted destination was the Eric Carle Museum of Storybook Art. Eric Carle is most famous for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This museum is fantastic, especially for kids. It is totally designed for younger visitors. Unfortunately not all of the galleries were open on the day we were there. The museum also features illustrations by other famous artists, like Maurice Sendak, one of my favorites. Amherst is also home to several universities and colleges. As much as Lisa and I love to go to museums, I think we like visiting college campuses just as much. We went to UMass, Amherst College, and Hamsphire College.
posted by jacob at 8:55 PM
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