Bershires

We spent an idyllic weekend in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts in September.
We drove up on Saturday and went directly to Stockbridge and visited the Norman Rockwell Museum. The kids loved the museum. It is a great one for kids as Norman Rockwell was a big kid himself. He really looked for humor in every situation and the kids laughed out loud at a lot of the displays. I highly recommend it!

The museum even encourages the kids to climb all over the different statues outside. (Created by one of  Norman Rockwell's sons.)

We drove around picturesque little towns for the rest of the afternoon went on a hike, and went to our hotel.

 

   
The next morning we headed to Hancock Shaker Village. It is the oldest continuously operating Shaker farms.It is in a beautiful little valley and has well preserved buildings throughout. We learned a lot about Shaker life and decided that it wasn't half bad.

The Shakers were very industrious. The gardens were huge, and they had a fair number of animals around

 

We must have been visiting past peak season, because the kids had the run of the place. They helped employees feed the livestock, did some weaving, rode in a horse-drawn buggy, chased an Australian Sheepdog, picked apples off the trees, and Keaton even watered the fields in the way that only little boys can.

   
Jason got to help the local beekeeper harvest some of his honey and was as starry-eyed as the little boys. Guess we are getting bees next spring!