'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: If you need to travel by air to Massachusetts, then try getting a flight to Hartford, Connecticut (Bradley International Airport) which brings you about a 15 minute drive from the Massachusetts border on the south, central to the state. From there you can easily reach Boston and Cape Cod to the East, and Berkshire County to the West. Interstate 90 runs east/west in Mass, and can be picked up from I-91 from Bradley Airport.
Because of the small size of the state and it's relatively dense population, driving is probably the best way to go once you're there, but remember to turn off onto 'side roads' rather than traverse the somewhat boring interstates.
My main focus on this page is Western Massachusetts since I can't profess to be well-versed in any other area. Rt 7 is the main access road through Berkshire county, running North/South. You must expect it to be slow-going though, as it goes through many small New England towns, including the town of Stockbridge which is wonderful for those that love typical New England villages, expensive Inns (Red Lion) and many Bed and Breakfasts. The Norman Rockwell museum is a must-see as his art appeals to everyone. He is part of the culture here and once made his home on main street.
Rt 7 also takes you through Great Barrington, as I've described and further south through Sheffield and Ashley Falls, all dotted with many antique shops. We call it 'Antique Alley' although I'm sure the shopowners would prefer a more classy name. To really appreciate the small towns of the area though, one must turn off Rt 7 and explore the smaller roads. A local map is helpful, however, because getting lost is easy. Ask a villager for directions and you'll often get a puzzled look. That is because so many of the roads here simply fork or 'blend' into other roads, without defined intersections, etc.
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on Jan 30, 2003
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