Make your vacation complete with a visit to Berkshires attractions

Part of the charm of Berkshires is its small town heritage combined with modern amenities. Berkshires attractions offer a myriad of things to see and do, whether you're looking to fill an hour or a day. With choices as varied as museums, theaters, and historical sites, you'll never have a dull moment during your visit to Berkshires. So let us show you some of our favorite places to play.

Berkshire Horseback Adventures
Berkshire Horseback Adventures, located in Aspinwall Adult Equestrian Center, offers a unique way to experience the Berkshires' natural beauty and wildlife. Explore the trails of Kennedy Park and Lenox Mountain on horseback for an hour ($50), a half-day ($130), or even overnight ($200). Berkshire Horseback Adventures can accommodate beginner and advanced participants, but it has a height requirement of 44 inches. It is open seven days a week from mid-May to October. Visit Berkshire Horseback Adventures at 293 Main St. or call (413) 637-9090.

Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum
The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, located on Willow Creek Road in Lenox, offers scenic train rides in order to educate guests about western Massachusetts's railroading history. Every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (except 12:30 p.m.) on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, diesel locomotives depart from Lenox Station with sightseers aboard. The train travels to Stockbridge and back, taking about 90 minutes. The locomotive features a uniformed conductor, and it is open from May 24 to October. Admission to the museum is free, but the train rides cost money. Call the museum at (413) 637-2210 for train ticket prices and museum information.

Berkshire Sightseeing and Back Road Tours
Tourists may opt for an informative tour of prominent western Massachusetts towns via the Berkshire Sightseeing and Back Road Tours. The trip - narrated by a historical guide - travels to the mansions in Lenox and Stockbridge, the vaudeville houses in Pittsfield, and the ore mines in Richmond. The tours, which are available June 22 through October on weekends, cost $28 per person. Tours depart at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact Berkshire Sightseeing and Back Road Tours at (413) 442-1249 for departure location and information. It is located at 46 Elmview Terrace in Pittsfield.

First Lenox Library
First Lenox Library, built in 1815, is listed on the National Register of Historic places. Not only is the building historic, but it also has a comfortable main reading room and an outdoor "reading park." It is an excellent sightseeing or rainy-day activity while touring Lenox. For many visitors, the library is within walking distance of their accommodations. The library is located at 18 Main St., and can be reached at (413) 637-0197.

Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio
The Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio is located at 92 Hawthorne St., near Tanglewood. The home, situated on 46 acres, was once the residence of abstract artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen. Visitors can take a guided tour of the home and see the couple's paintings, frescoes, sculptures, and collection of cubist art. The studio is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, from June 27 to Columbus Day. Tours leave hourly, with the last one starting at 3 p.m. Call the museum at (413) 637-0166 for fall hours and additional information.

Kennedy Park
This town-owned park is great for hiking, picnicking, and cross-country skiing. It spans 180 acres and has seven trails. Trails are well-marked and have varying degrees of difficulty. Kennedy Park is located on Main Street. Visit the Lenox Chamber of Commerce to get a map of the park. The maps indicate the locations of the park's multiple entrances. The Lenox Chamber of Commerce is located at the Curtis on Walker Street.

The Mount
Tour the historic home and gardens of Edith Wharton, famous American writer, with a visit to The Mount. Wharton designed the home and gardens personally, and it is one of the few historic landmarks dedicated to a woman. It is located on 2 Plunkett St. The Mount is open from May 3 to Nov. 2. Guests can take a guided or self-guided tour through the house, and a lecture series is also available. Admission rates are $16 for adults, $25 for a season's pass, $8 for students with I.D., and free for children under 12. Call The Mount at (413) 637-1899 for more information.

Pleasant Valley Sanctuary
Pleasant Valley Sanctuary features Lenox Mountain and seven miles of varied terrain for hiking and biking. Hardwood forest, meadows, and wetlands cover the sanctuary. A large beaver population lives within the 1,500-acre sanctuary, and spotting them is a popular pastime for sightseers. Spring salamander migrations are also an interesting spectacle. Guided canoe trips on the Housatonic and surrounding lakes are offered mid-May through early October. The trails are open from dawn until dusk on the days the visitor center is open. Call the visitor center, located at 472 W. Mountain Road, at (413) 637-0320 for hours. Admission to the Pleasant Valley Sanctuary costs $4 for non-member adults and $3 for non-member children (3 to 12) and seniors.

Shakespeare & Company
Become inspired by the excellent performances given by Shakespeare & Company. The company features 150-plus artists and three different performance venues: the Rose Footprint Theatre, Spring Lawn Theatre, and Founders' Theatre. The tented, outdoor Rose Footprint Theatre is a historically accurate re-creation of an original Shakespearean theatre. Up to 466 people can sit in the two-level Founders' Theatre, which surrounds the acting space. Spring Lawn Theatre seats 99 people in the drawing room of a 1904 Berkshire cottage. Shakespeare & Company, located in 70 Kemble St., can be reached at (413) 637-3353 for information about its variable ticket prices.

Tanglewood
The Boston Symphony Orchestra has spent 60-plus summers at Tanglewood, and it draws tourists to Lenox in droves. The symphony is world-renowned for its talented conductors and musicians. A performance in the venue couples incomparable music with fantastic natural scenery. Tanglewood's summer season lasts from June 24 to Aug. 31. Tickets go on sale in late March. Buy a Tanglewood Lawn Pass Book in advance for $150, good for 11 shows, and receive 15 percent off the standard price. Tanglewood is located at 297 West St., and parking is free. Call (413) 637-1600 for more details.