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AREA
ATTRACTIONS
Amherst
Amherst College Museum
of Natural History
Amherst College, Amherst MA 01002
413-542-2165
www.amherst.edu/museums/naturalhistory/
The Museum's collections reflect the historical journey of scientific inquiry
at Amherst College. They are derived from expeditions, donations and exchanges,
and have been acquired throughout the past 180 years of Amherst College.
Emily Dickinson Museum
289 Main St., Amherst MA 01002
413-542-8161
www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/
The Museum consists of two historic houses in the center of Amherst, closely
associated with the poet Emily Dickinson and members of her family during
the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture
Book Art
125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002
413-658-1100
www.picturebookart.org/Home
The Museum’s 40,000 square-foot building houses three galleries dedicated
to rotating exhibitions of picture book art from around the world.
Mead Art Museum
Amhert College, Amherst MA 01002
413-542-2000
www.amherst.edu/museums/mead/
The Mead Art Museum holds the art collection of Amherst College, a collection
of over 16,000 objects. The Museum features regularly changing installations
and special exhibitions spanning a wide range of historical periods, national
schools, and artistic media.
National Yiddish Book Center
1021 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002
413-256-4900
www.yiddishbookcenter.org/
The National Yiddish Book Center is a non-profit organization working to
rescue Yiddish and other modern Jewish books, and celebrate the culture they
contain.
Natural History Collections
University of Massachusetts
Room 146 Morrill 2, 611 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, 01003
413-577-2303
bcrc.bio.umass.edu/ummnh/index.htm
The Natural History Collections include more than 300,000 specimens of
mammals, birds, plants, fishes, reptiles and amphibians, with an especially
strong representation of local flora and fauna.
Ashley Falls
The Colonel John Ashley
House
Ashley Falls, MA
Cooper Hill Road Off Route 7A
413-298-3239
www.berkshireweb.com/trustees/ashley.html
The Ashley House was the center of social, economic, and
political life in Western Massachusetts in the eighteenth century. The famous
Sheffield Resolves, a petition against British tyranny and a manifesto for
individual rights, was drafted in the upstairs study of the house and published
in 1773. The cause for abolishing slavery in America was strengthened in the
celebrated 1781 Massachusetts state court battle that freed the Ashleys' slave,
Elizabeth Freeman, under the new state constitution.
Chester
Chester-Blandford State
Forest
Rte. 20, Chester, MA 01011
(413) 354-6347 (summer)
(413) 269-6002 (winter)
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/chbl.htm
Chester-Blandford State Forest offers a rustic park experience. Explore
trails and places with names like Mica Mine Road and Gold Mine Brook that
recall the days when the hills of Chester were pitted with small mines producing
mica, emery and corundum. Camping (first-come, first served) is available
on 12 wooded sites.
The Keystone Arches Bridges Trail
keystonearches.org/
The majestic Keystone Arches are a collection of five dry-laid stone masonry
railroad bridges and one bridge ruin. The Keystone Arch Bridges Trail offers
a moderate 5-mile round trip walk for all ages. There are some extreme drop-offs,
and the ancillary trails down to the river at each bridge can add some mileage.
Sanderson Brook Falls
www.hidden-hills.com/sandersonbrookfalls/
Probably the most dramatic natural feature in the 2,308 acre Chester -
Blandford State Forest, Sanderson Brook Falls plunges nearly 75 feet into
a deep pool. A 20-minute road walk leads to the falls, with a slight climb
at the end.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield Gorge
River Road, West Chesterfield, MA
413-684-0148
www.thetrustees.org/pages/291_chesterfield_gorge.cfm
Visitors to Chesterfield Gorge will enjoy a half-mile trail along cliff
tops that offer views of the seventy-foot-high walls of the gorge, the Westfield
River, and the surrounding forest, home to bears, bobcats, and turkeys. Stone
abutments of a ca.1770 bridge that spanned the river are all that remain of
former post road between Boston and Albany, NY. Chesterfield Gorge is also
the entrance to an extensive natural recreation area along the Westfield River
that features catch-and-release fly-fishing and access to a mountain bike
corridor.
Cummington
William Cullen Bryant
Homestead
207 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA 01026
413-634-2244
www.berkshireweb.com/trustees/bryant.html
The boyhood home of one of America's foremost 19th-century poets. The Bryant Homestead overflows with
family furnishings and memorabilia of William Cullen Bryant's life as a poet,
traveler, and editor of the New York Evening Post.
Deerfield
Deerfield Village/Historic
Deerfield
80 Old Main St., Deerfield, MA 01342
413-775-7214
www.historic-deerfield.org/
Historic Deerfield, Inc., is dedicated to the heritage and preservation
of Deerfield, Massachusetts and the Connecticut River Valley. Its museums
and programs provide today’s audiences with experiences that create an understanding
and appreciation of New England’s historic villages and countryside.
Memorial Hall Museum/Pocumtuck
Valley Memorial Association/Deerfield Children's Museum
8 Memorial Street, Deerfield, MA 01342
413-7743768
http://www.deerfield-ma.org/
Memorial Hall's extraordinary collection of furnishings, paintings, textiles
and Indian artifacts is the finest collection of local antiquities in New
England and one of America's oldest museums.
East Windsor
Connecticut Trolley Museum
58 North Road, East Windsor, CT 06088
860-627-6540
http://www.ceraonline.org/
The museum's mission is to provide a historically accurate educational
experience of the trolley era, through the interpretation, preservation,
restoration and operation of an electric railway.
Easthampton
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary
127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA 01027
413-584-3009
800-710-4550
http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Arcadia/
Search for wildlife and explore 5 miles of walking trails. The sanctuary’s
forest, meadows, marsh, and wetlands are great places to explore at any time
of year.
Goshen
DAR State Forest
78 Cape Street, Rte. 112, Goshen, MA 01032
413-268-7098
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/darf.htm
Located in the eastern foothills of the Berkshires, with 15 miles of mixed-use
trails through northern hardwood-conifer forest. The campground offers 51
wooded campsites featuring modern comfort stations with showers and a private
beach. Summer activities include non-motorized boating, hiking, fishing, horseback
riding (bring your horse), and mountain biking. In winter, ice fishing, skating,
cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are popular.
Great Barrington
The Berkshire Fringe
84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 320-4175
http://www.berkshirefringe.org/
A summer performing arts festival dedicated to presenting affordable, cross-disciplinary
new works of theatre and dance by emerging artists from across the United
States.
Monument Mountain
Route 7, Great Barrington MA
413-298-3239
http://www.berkshireweb.com/trustees/monument.html
Three miles of trails, some steep, lead hikers up and over the 1,735 foot
top of Squaw Peak, looking out over southern Berkshire County. Sheer cliff
faces drop over 100 feet to a talus slope full of pale quartzite blocks
and scree.
Hancock
Hancock Shaker Village
34 Lebanon Mountain Rd., Hancock, MA 01237
(800) 817-1137
http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/
This beautifully restored village, set among acres of farm, woodland and
pasture, is home to the premier collection of Shaker buildings and artifacts.
Graceful Shaker furniture, craft and household items are exhibited in 20 historic
buildings, each an architectural gem. The Round Stone Barn, most famous of
all Shaker buildings, is a testament to Shaker efficiency, innovation and
design.
Holyoke
Holyoke Children's Museum
444 Dwight Street, Holyoke MA 01040
413-536-KIDS
http://www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org/
The Children's Museum at Holyoke provides a unique setting in which children
and adults learn together about art, science and the world around them. Through
hands-on exhibits, children challenge themselves, discover how the world works,
explore new roles for themselves, and learn by doing.
Wisteriahurst Museum
238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
413-322-5660
http://www.wistariahurst.org/
Wistariahurst Museum was originally the home of prominent silk manufacturer
William Skinner and his family. The museum features original leather wall
coverings, columns, elaborate woodwork, and a permanent collection of decorative
arts, paintings and prints, textiles and a rich manuscript collection of
family and local papers.
Huntington
C.M. Gardner State Park
Rte. 112, Huntington MA 01050
(413) 354-6347
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/gdsp.htm
C. M. Gardner State Park is located in the rolling Berkshire foothills
along a scenic section of the Westfield River East Branch. In summer the
sunlit mountain river is a delightful spot to relax. A wooded picnic area
is available on the banks of the river. Camping is available nearby at Chester-Blandford
State Forest.
Stevens Hiking Trail
Pisgah Road, Huntington MA 01050
http://www.hilltown-land-trust.org/
1.2-mile walking trail winding through a wooded landscape studded with
hundreds of large boulders covered in mosses, ferns and lichens. The trail
passes a very early cellar hole and maple sugarhouse ruin, climbs up and
down steep slopes, and crosses a moist stream valley in three places. Expect
lots of early spring wildflowers and a great variety of ferns, and look for
signs of moose, deer, bear, coyote, and porcupine.
Lenox
The Mount
2 Plunkett Street, Lenox MA 01240
413-551-5111
http://www.edithwharton.org/
The Mount was the home of Pulitzer-prize winning author Edith Wharton,
who designed the house and gardens with the same intelligence and sensitivity
that distinguishes her writing. Wharton created her gardens as architectural
compositions, divided into rooms, and planned in concert with the house and
surrounding natural landscape.
Shakespeare & Company
70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA 01240
413-637-1199
http://www.shakespeare.org/
Launching its 31st season in the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western
Massachusetts in Lenox, Shakespeare & Company aspires to create a theatre
of unprecedented excellence rooted in the classical ideals of inquiry, balance,
and harmony. With a core of over 150 artists, the company performs Shakespeare,
generating opportunities for collaboration between actors, directors, and
designers of all races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
Tanglewood
297 West Street, Lenox, MA 01240
413) 637-1600
http://www.bso.org/bso/
The Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts, is the summer home
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the setting for a wide variety
of musical performances each year.
Mt. Washington
Bash Bish Falls
Falls Rd., Mt. Washington
(413) 528-0330
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/bash.htm
One of the most fantastic natural features in Massachusetts. Bash Bish
Brook tumbles in a series of falls through a steep gorge whose walls tower
in some places well over 100 feet. The final cascade drops 80 feet into a
crystal clear pool. These falls freeze into a wonderful icy blue flows with
the water thundering down behind.
Mount Washington State Park
RD 3 East St., Mt. Washington, MA 01258
(413) 528-0330
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/mwas.htm
Amidst the re-grown red oak-northern hardwood forest, the 4,169 acre Mount
Washington State Forest offers 30 miles of trails over rugged terrain and
wilderness camping. Hike the South Taconic Trail to the 2,250 ft. elev. summit
of Alander Mountain for amazing views. Or follow the Appalachian Trail as
it winds its way along the ridgeline and through Sage's Ravine. Springtime
features include blooming mountain laurel and azalea; and in summer, a carpet
of ferns.
North Adams
MASS MoCA (Massachusetts
Museum of Contemporary Arts)
87 Marshall Street, North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 662-2111
http://www.massmoca.org/
MASS MoCA exhibits work by many of the most important artists of today--both
well known, and emerging--focusing on large-scale and complex installations
that are impossible to realize in conventional museums. Broad, soaring galleries
with 110,000 square feet of open, flexible space for both exhibitions and
performances.
Northampton
The Botanic Garden at
Smith College
College Lane, Northampton MA 01063
(413) 585-2740
http://www.smith.edu/garden/
The Botanic Garden includes thousands of plants, grown under glass in the
Lyman Conservatory and in outdoor gardens. A collection of dried plants comprising
some 60,000 pressed specimens is available for research in the Herbarium.
Botanic Garden activities and collections include not only plants but also
books and other resource materials, an international seed exchange, research
and conservation, and diverse events.
Norwottuck Rail Trail
Damon Rd., Northampton MA 01063
413 586-8706
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/nwrt.htm
The Norwottock Rail Trail is an 11-mile path linking Northampton, Hadley,
and Amherst along the former Boston & Main Railroad right-of-way. The
path's level terrain provides safe passage for pedestrians, wheelchairs, joggers,
skaters, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers of all ages and abilities.
Smith College Museum of Art
Elm Street at Bedford Terrace Northampton, MA 01063
413-585-2760
http://www.smith.edu/artmuseum/
Extensive collections include paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs,
Asian art objects, and much more.
Words & Pictures Museum
Northampton MA 01063
http://www.wordsandpictures.org/index.cfm
The Words and Pictures Museum, a private non-profit organization, is dedicated
to the collection, preservation, study, interpretation and presentation of
fine graphic narrative and fantasy illustration.
Pittsfield
Berkshire Museum
39 South Street (Route 7), Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 443-7171
http://www.berkshiremuseum.org/
The Berkshire Museum offers a unique blend of exhibitions, galleries, and
attractions for families of all ages. Exhibitions, fine art, and sculpture
from around the world.
Herman Melville’s Arrowhead
780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield MA 01201
(413) 442-1793
http://www.mobydick.org/
Home of Herman Melville from 1850-1863. It was at Arrowhead that Melville
wrote his most famous work, Moby-Dick, along with three other novels, a
collection of short stories, all of his magazine stories, and some of his
poetry. Arrowhead is now a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville
family in the Berkshires.
Sheffield
Bartholomew's Cobble
Ashley Falls, Sheffield, MA
413-229-8600
http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/277_bartholomew_s_cobble.cfm
Bartholomew's Cobble is home to one of North America's greatest diversities
of fern species and their allies, as well as abundant woodland wildflowers.
The Reservation is named for its two rocky knolls that rise above the Housatonic
River. These cobbles consist mostly of limestone and marble, whose alkaline
soil supports an unusual array of flora. Away from the cobbles, the landscape
changes to open fields dotted with red cedars and then to forest. Freshwater
marshes and beaver ponds are home to many types of plants and animals.
Sheffield Historical Society
159-161 Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257
413-229-2694
http://www.sheffieldhistory.org/
The Society's collection is housed in seven historic structures, and includes
period furniture, accessories, textiles, ceramics, tools, toys, ephemera and
an extensive collection of primary and secondary research sources.
South Deerfield
Magic Wings Butterfly
Conservatory and Gardens
281 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield MA 01373
413-665-2085
http://www.magicwings.com/
An 18,400-sq. ft. facility that includes a 8,000-sq. ft. glass conservatory
filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation.
Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation
Rte. 116, South Deerfield MA
413 545-5993
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/msug.htm
Mt. Sugarloaf offers a commanding view of the Connecticut River, the Pioneer
Valley, and the Pelham and Berkshire Hills. Consisting of two peaks, North
and South Sugarloaf, the Reservation offers picnicking, scenic viewing and
hiking. An auto road winds to the summit, making South Sugarloaf Mountain
accessible by private automobiles.
Springfield
Connecticut Valley Historical
Museum
21 Edwards St., Springfield MA 01103
800-625-7738
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/ct_valley_history/
The history and traditions of Springfield and the Connecticut River Valley
since 1636 are told in exhibits of handcrafted furniture and silver by local
craftsmen, motorcycles and antique autos made in Springfield, industrial objects
from the region's factories, and historical firearms from the area's gun
industry, including selected revolvers from a premier Smith & Wesson collection.
The museum celebrates many of the area's famous people, including Springfield
native Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel.
D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts
21 Edwards St., Springfield MA 01103
800-625-7738
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/fine_arts/
The Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts was erected in response
to a bequest from Mr. & Mrs. James Philip Gray, who left their entire
estate for the “selection, purchase, preservation, and exhibition of the most
valuable, meritorious, artistic, and high class oil paintings obtainable.”
Exhibits include American and European paintings, works on paper, sculpture
and more.
GWV Smith Museum
21 Edwards St., Springfield MA 01103
800-625-7738
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/gwv_smith_art/
The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is one of the two Springfield
Museums dedicated to fine and decorative arts. It represents the personal
taste and Victorian aesthetic of the collector whose name it bears. Exhibits
include Japanese arms and armor, Asian decorative arts, Middle Eastern textiles
and more.
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 West Columbus Ave, Springfield MA 01105
413-781-6500
http://www.hoophall.com/
At the Basketball Hall of Fame, all levels of the game are represented
under one roof. From Dr. James Naismith's invention of basketball in 1891
to the modern game, the mission of the Basketball Hall of Fame is to provide
visitors with with the finest experience possible.
Springfield Armory
38 Federal Street, Springfield, MA 01105
(413)734-8551
http://www.nps.gov/spar/
Overlooking the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, Springfield
Armory National Historic Site offers the story of the Nation’s first armory.
Springfield Science Museum
21 Edwards St., Springfield MA 01103
800-625-7738
http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/the_museums/science/
Exhibits include the Dinosaur Hall, Solutia Live Animal Center, Seymour
Planetarium, and more.
The Zoo in Forest Park
302 Sumner Ave., Springfield MA 01138
http://www.forestparkzoo.org/
The mission of the Forest Park Zoological Society is to promote public
awareness and appreciation for indigenous and exotic animals, and to provide
educational programming for all ages that encourages understanding and respect
for the natural environment. The animal collections and gardens enhance perception
of the natural world, and emphasize the importance of bio-diversity.
Stockbridge
Berkshire Botanical Garden
Intersection Routes 102 & 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-3926
http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/
Nestled in the scenic Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the Berkshire
Botanical Garden offers visitors a peaceful refuge of natural beauty, stunning
display gardens, exciting community events, and informative classes for all
ages and levels of skill and knowledge.
Chesterwood
4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-3579
http://www.chesterwood.org/
Chesterwood is the country home, studio and gardens of Daniel Chester French,
sculptor of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Memorial in Washington, DC.
The buildings are furnished with American and European decorative arts and
paintings collected by the sculptor. Woodland walks featuring mountain vistas
and perennial gardens are French's own design.
The Ice Glen, Laura's Tower, and
Mary V. Flynn Trail
Stockbridge MA 01262
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Glen
Enjoy a cool summer walk in the Ice Glen among tumbled boulders, crevices,
and ferns on stone steps, where ice lingers all summer long. Then ascend to
Laura's Tower on smooth, wide trails, and enjoy fantastic views. Finally,
cap off a wonderful day on the Mary V. Flynn Trail, a paved gravel and boardwalk
stroll along the Housatonic River. Trailhead is at the parking lot at the
end of Park Street.
The Mission House
19 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
(413) 298-3239
http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/324_mission_house.cfm
This National Historic Landmark was disassembled, moved, and restored at
its present location on Main Street between 1926 and 1927. The house contains
an outstanding collection of eighteenth-century American furniture and decorative
arts. A Colonial Revival garden designed by noted landscape architect Fletcher
Steele features a dooryard garden of circular brick paths enclosed by a tidewater
cypress fence, and a kitchen garden divided by graveled walkways.
Naumkeag
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-3239
http://www.berkshireweb.com/trustees/naumkeag.html
Naumkeag, perched above the village of Stockbridge, was the summer estate
of the Choate family. Designed by McKim, Mead & White in 1885, this 44-room,
shingle-style house is filled with original furniture, ceramics, and artwork
collected from America, Europe, and the Far East. Eight acres of terraced
gardens and landscaped grounds are surrounded by forty acres of woodland,
meadow, and pasture that stretch to the Housatonic River Valley.
Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Glendale Road, Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-4100
http://www.nrm.org/
The Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to education and art appreciation
inspired by the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The museum preserves, studies
and communicates with a worldwide audience the life, art and spirit of Norman
Rockwell in the field of illustration.
Tyringham
Tyringham Cobble
Jerusalem Road. Tyringham, MA 01264
413-298-3239
http://www.berkshireweb.com/trustees/cobble.html
A two-mile loop trail runs to the summit of Cobble Hill, 400 feet above
the valley floor. Several rock outcrops offer sweeping views of Tyringham
Valley with Hop Brook and the village below. The cobble features wildflowers
and other woodland life.
Santarella
75 Main Road, Tyringham, MA 01264
(413) 243-2819
http://www.berkshireweb.com/santarella/
Santarella Estate is the historic home and studio of the sculptor, Sir
Henry Hudson Kitson. Kitson's studio, affectionately known as the "Gingerbread
House", gets its name from the storybook-style architecture and incredible
"rolling" roof. The design and construction of this building was the last
major project of Kitson's life, and continued for over 20 years.
Westfield
Amelia Park Children’s
Museum
29 S. Broad Street, Westfield, MA 01086
(413) 572-4014
http://www.ameliaparkmuseum.org/
Amelia Park Children’s Museum in Westfield, MA, is a learning place where
hands-on exhibits invite children to experiment, create and play through activities.
Jasper Rand Art Museum
6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085
413-568-7833
http://www.westath.org/events/art_museum.htm
A spacious gallery designed to showcase the works of local artists and
craftspeople, with exhibits in all types of media shown on a monthly basis.
Stanley Park
Western Avenue, Westfield, MA
(413) 568-9312
http://www.stanleypark.org/
Established in 1949 by Frank Stanley Beveridge, founder of Stanley Home
Products of Westfield, Stanley Park features nearly 300 acres of formal gardens,
as well as a carillon tower, trails, sports fields and a substantial nature
area.
Williamstown
Sterling and Francine
Clark Art Institute
225 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267
(413) 458-954
http://www.clarkart.edu/
In 1950 Sterling and Francine Clark chartered the Sterling and Francine
Clark Art Institute as a home for their extensive art collection. Opened
to public in 1955, the Institute has built upon this extraordinary group
of works to become one of the most beloved and respected art museums in the
world, known for its intimate galleries and stunning natural environment.
Williams College Museum of Art
15 Lawrence Hall Drive, Williamstown, MA 01267
413-597-2429
http://www.wcma.org/
One of the finest college art museums in the country, the Williams College
Museum of Art houses 13,000 works that span the history of art. The
collection emphasizes modern and contemporary art, American art from the late
18th century to the present, and the art of world cultures.
Williamstown Theatre Festival
Center for Theatre and Dance of Williams College, 1000 Main St.,Williamstown
MA 02167
413) 458-3200
http://www.wtfestival.org/
Nestled in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the Williamstown
Theatre Festival brings together a vast array of artists and offers audiences
varied cultural experiences. Every summer, WTF presents classic and new plays
on its Main, Nikos and Center Stages, Free Theatre, Late-Night Cabaret, and
readings, workshops, and other special events.
Windsor
Ski Notchview
Windsor, MA
413-684-0148
http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/1401_ski_notchview_.cfm
Notchview Reservation, a 3,100- acre property of The Trustees of Reservations,
offers spectacular cross-country skiing on 27 km of forested trails. Located
2,100 feet above sea level, Notchview is well known for its early snow and
extended season. The wooded trails protect skiers from the harsh winds normally
experienced by high-elevation skiers in the Berkshire Hills.
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