A Free Weekend Getaway to the Beautiful Berkshires

Every year we are invited back to Hancock Massachusetts for a free (Yes, I said free) weekend in the beautiful Berkshires. For the past five years my wife and I have taken the two hour ride alone for a relaxing weekend without the kids. This year however something changed and the kids were coming with us. The trip wasn’t as relaxing as it had been in the past, but it ended as one of the best weekends we could have spent together as a family.

When your home, and working six days a week, family time more often than not takes a back seat to household responsibilities. So when the Vacation Village in the Berkshires called the house and asked us to attend the annual "owners meeting" we jumped on the idea. Even though they ask you to attend a 90-minute meeting, we would still have the rest of the weekend to ourselves, plus the free for attending. Who wouldn’t go?

We spent the weekend taking pictures, touring the property, and playing board games, basically just spending time together. Aside of spending quality time with the family, our kids had a great time in the indoor pool and for the first time they were able to swim on their own (with the help of a couple noodles).

For us, every trip is a memorable moment. You have to make your vacation what it is and then keep those memories with you. My Memories of the kids first trip to the Berkshires and their first time swimming will last me a lifetime.

Quick Tips:

With so much to see and do in the Berkshires my advise is the same as it would be if you were going to Mexico, or the Bahamas or even the Walt Disney World® Resort; plan, plan, plan. Spend some time researching the things you may want to do during your stay in the Berkshires, whether it be on line or with a travel professional. AAA Member will have an even greater advantage with free visitor guides, tour books and maps at their disposal.

If you are traveling with the family and looking for activities that will appeal to everyone, you can consider a day at the historic Hancock Shaker Village or check out more than 3,000 butterflies at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory.

If music and art is more your speed, you’re in luck. The Berkshires is home to the oldest music festival in the U.S., Tanglewood. There are also a plethora of art galleries and exhibits to choose from offering 18th & 19th century and contemporary paintings.

For those looking for adventure, the Berkshires offers fantastic snow skiing in the winter, and things like fishing, golf, hiking, horseback riding, Whitewater Rafting and one of my personal favorites Hot Air Ballooning.

Lastly, one of the greatest accomplishments one can hope to achieve in the Berkshires is a state of serenity. I cant think of a better place in New England to just relax and unwind.

Best Way To Get Around:

The Berkshire region extends from the northern boarder of Massachusetts and Vermont to the southern boarder of Connecticut the entire length of New York State. It’s a huge area and I wouldn’t recommend walking it. Your easiest bet is by automobile. However keep in mind that the seasonal change is drastic in the Berkshires. So if you are traveling in the winter, be certain that you have a vehicle that has four-wheel drive.

If you are visiting from outside New England, the Berkshires are easily accessible form a number of local airports. The closest would be the Albany International Airport just 45 miles away, flowed by Bradley International Airport at a mere 70 miles. Of course Boston’s Logan Airport and the New York City airports are approximately a three hours drive away.

As timeshare owners, once a year we are invited back to our home resort for a complimentary weekend stay so we may attend (what they call) an owner’s meeting. Personally, I call it a free weekend to sell me more timeshare. Even though we know this is a sales tactic, we return to Hancock Massachusetts every year for our relaxing free weekend in the Berkshires.

Snuggled in the center of the Berkshires, beautiful Hancock Massachusetts is home to Vacation Village in the Berkshires. Located just two hours from New Haven Connecticut, Vacation Village is surrounded by a myriad of activities. Everything from hiking and skiing to wine tasting and hot air balloon rides are just minutes away from the resort. Although most notably known for Tanglewood Music Festival (the oldest music festival in the United States) in the summer, the superb foliage in the autumn and the fabulous snow skiing in the winter, the Berkshires are also know to be the home of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, the Prime Outlets in Lee and the home of Herman Melville (author of Moby-Dick) in Pittsfield.

The resort itself is located on Brodie Mountain Road, just across the street from the Jiminy Peak ski area. There are still some expansion projects underway as this is still a new resort, being less than ten years old. However the construction in no way hinders thee scenic beauty offered at the resort.

Vacation Village offers one and two bedroom lock-off units. For this trip we stayed in building #5 in unit 504 A. We had asked for 504 B as well but were told it was booked, although it went unoccupied for the duration of our stay. The A side or master suite offered us all the comforts of home and then some. There was a full size kitchen, complete with modern appliances, pots, pans and cooking utensils. The dining area has a solid natural wood colored table with seating for six, plus a living room complimented by flat screen television and a fireplace. The master bedroom, as with the entire unit was decorated with hearty wood tones and earthy colors. There was a king sized bed and a much appreciated Jacuzzi bathtub. In comparison to the rest of the unit, the master bathroom was just as grand, with a standup shower that offered you bench seating and the favorable double vanity sink.

The clubhouse at the peak of the property offers guests a video game room, free high-speed internet connection, fitness equipment, a hot tub and an indoor swimming pool. During the warmer months there is also a grilling area and children’s playground available to guests.

With so much to see and do in the Berkshires, Vacation Village was a well though out decision as it offers comfortable and relaxing vacation opportunities as well as exciting and adventuresome outings. Whether you are visiting for a week or a weekend Vacation Village has something for everyone.

Please allow me to set the scene: You have just arrived in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains for your free weekend getaway. You have been driving in a small car (that was designed more for your wife than it was for you) for the past three hours and it’s dinner time. Although you have a full kitchen available to you, nothing sounds better than Italian take out. You've passed their road signs, their flyer was at the front desk, and advertised throughout your building: Pizza Plus! They must be the "don" of Italian take out in the area!

That assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth if Tony Soprano said it himself.

Aside from my culinary training, I have ordered a pizza or two throughout my years of life. Even made a few of them myself. This is why I couldn’t understand why it took Pizza Plus over 90 minutes to prepare and deliver one large cheese pizza, one chicken parmesan dinner, and a chicken sandwich with fries.

When we called the Stephentown, NY restaurant to place our order, they told us 45 minutes to an hour, an acceptable wait time on a Friday night. However, those 45 to 60 minutes came and went. So did another 45 more. At 90 minutes, we called to get an estimated arrival time and the response we received was, "It should be long, all the deliveries have left the building."

We were just about to call back when we heard a faint knock at the door, and there stood the driver holding our order.

Sadly, things did not get better from there. The pizza was ice cold, as though it were in the ice box for a couple hours. The garlic bread that came with my chicken parm was burnt and the pasta was over-cooked. On top of that, the sauce may have been spoiled, as it had a citrus-taste, leading me to think the tomatoes had spoiled. The one good thing was the buffalo chicken sandwich. Even cold, it was quite tasty.

We immediately telephoned Pizza Plus and asked to speak with a manager. We got a woman named Sue. After listening to our concerns, Sue’s excuse for the late, cold, and less than quality meal was, "It’s Friday, we’re busy."

After a week or so, with a number of return telephone calls and a few managers later, we were able to get our meal price refunded to our credit card.

Needless to say, Pizza Plus does not hold a special place in our list of favorite places to eat. However, after more than 90 minutes of waiting for cold and possibly spoiled food, Pizza Plus has topped our list of places to stay away from.