Falling for the Arts 2020
Columbus Day Weekend of Culture in the Berkshires
October 9 – 12, 2020
Get ready for a weekend of leaf-peeping, art-full explorations and fall foliage picnics in the Berkshires (with some stops in the Hudson Valley as well), all while bonding with fellow art-full women! Think beautiful fall colors, picturesque New England towns, lots of farm stands, gorgeous museums and girl-bonding, time all-in-one.
We will be driving together from midtown Manhattan and will have an entire waterfront estate all to ourselves - right in the heart of downtown Stockbridge, MA and within walking distance of shops, cafes, galleries and the famous Red Lion Inn. Once a bed & breakfast, each of the 6 rooms has its own bathroom, and there is plenty of space to spread out and keep physically distanced when indoors.
We will start the weekend on Friday with a riverside lunch in Kingston, NY before a 2-hour sightseeing ride along the Hudson River. Then, we settle into our estate and head to dinner in the beautiful town of Lenox, MA.
Saturday will bring tours at both the Norman Rockwell Museum and Ventfort Hall, with a picnic lunch and afternoon tea. Dinner will be held at a beautiful farmhouse tucked away in a bucolic setting.
On Sunday, we will have a guided tour and picnic lunch at the fabulous Clark Art Museum*, then we’ll have time to explore MassMOCA on our own, with dinner at the Red Lion Inn to follow.
On our last day, we will slowly make our way back to the city, with stops in Great Barrington, at Greig Farms for apples & pumpkins, and at the Walkway over the Hudson for some stunning views!
It it sure to be a memorable weekend of art, community & connection, so I hope you will join us!
If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, you must fill out the form here in order to be invited to book, in order to make sure the experience is a good fit for you.
All spots in the house are currently sold out, but you can sign up for the waiting list my emailing me at alex@womenofculture.org indicating your interest
A note about COVID-19:
As of the middle of August, there are no travel restrictions or quarantine requirements for those traveling between New York and Massachusetts. If that changes, the trip will be immediately canceled and all will be refunded.
**In order to maintain the health & safety of all attendees, EVERYONE WILL BE EXPECTED TO WEAR MASKS IN THE HOUSE & CAR - AT ANY TIME WHEN NOT EATING OR DRINKING (OR SLEEPING).**
Many of our activities will be outdoors, weather permitting, and the house has plenty of space so that we can physically distance when indoors.
Refunds will be provided ONLY in the case that the infection numbers increase in either state to the point where a 2-week quarantine is being enforced on either end, and the entire trip has to be cancelled. Otherwise, all payments are FINAL, and no refunds can be granted on an individual basis.
If you feel sick or learn you have been exposed to the virus within 14 days of the date of travel, please inform me immediately, and I will do my best to work with you to find someone to fill your spot, but I can’t guarantee a full refund.
Tentative Schedule:
(admission price for all items with a star are free, or included in trip price)
Friday Oct 9th
9:45am: Meet at Sixt Rental car for 10am departure
(20 Morris Ave St. at West St. )
12pm: Riverside Lunch in Kingston, NY
2:30-4:30pm: Hudson River Cruise*
8pm: Dinner at Alta in Lenox
*
Saturday Oct 10th
Breakfast at the house*
11am-2pm | Self-guided tour & picnic lunch at the Norman Rockwell Museum*
2-4pm | Guided tour of Ventfort Hall tour*
4-5pm | Lenox shops & galleries explore*
7:30pm | Dinner at John Andrews Farmhouse
*
Sunday Oct 11th
Breakfast at the house*
11am-2pm | Self-guided tour & picnic lunch at the Clark Art Museum*
3-6pm | Self-guided tour of MassMOCA* & North Adams
8pm | Dinner at the Red Lion Inn
*
Monday Oct 12th
Check-out by 11am
11:30am | Brunch at Pleasant & Main
12:30pm | Free time to explore the Great Barrington Riverwalk and village shops*
2:30pm | Depart, option to stop at Greig Farm for snacks, apples & pumpkins*
4:30-5pm | Walkway over the Hudson*
7pm | Approx. arrival in midtown
*
The schedule is subject to change at the leader's discretion and also according to the weather. It has been designed to address the varied needs and interests of the group while also giving all the optimal amount of time to enjoy a mix of the activities available, though it’s not set in stone and all activities are optional (though no refunds will be provided for any included activities that aren’t attended).
Car services are now available in the Berkshires, so there will be opportunity to deviate from the itinerary if desired, though individuals will be responsible for paying for any taxi/uber fees incurred by not staying with the group. If you have any issues with the schedule or prefer to deviate from the itinerary, please kindly inform the trip leader in advance.
More about our accommodation at the ‘Taggart House’:
The Taggart House is an grand estate in the heart of The Berkshires. The property is a 5-minute walk to the center of Stockbridge, yet quietly situated on 3 manicured acres along the Housatonic River. The Taggart House was constructed in 1850 by noted Stockbridge resident Henry Dwight Sedgwick. Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Taggart House combines fine 19th century architecture with luxurious comfort and modern amenities.
6 bedrooms, each with their own full bathroom, plus 2 half baths
5 min walk to the center of Stockbridge, 10 min drive to Lenox & Lee, 20 min drive to Great Barrington
All rooms and bathrooms were newly renovated and redecorated in Spring 2014
Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places
River views on 3 acres
Reviews from VRBO:
“Old world style with every modern convenience. The grounds of the estate are beautiful and every window opens onto a perfect vista. We walked most places (which is saying a lot since I was on crutches!)…”
“The house was immaculately clean, which is especially reassuring with the risk of coronavirus exposure, but it went far beyond sanitation – in this tremendous house filled with antiques and fireplaces and books, there was incredibly not even a speck of dust. The abundance of bedrooms and bathrooms and sitting areas meant everyone had space to share as well as to be alone.”
“Taggart House is a beautiful, comfortable, nicely equipped, well located place for a large group. In addition to the large bedrooms, there are multiple large common areas to gather. The grounds are spectacular, including charming fountains and a walk down to the river.”
Tickets & Cost
This amazing experience is only open to 8 women, and you must fill out the short questionnaire here to make sure the group and trip are a good fit before booking.
All options include the selected accommodation at the beautiful Taggart house, breakfast items like yogurt & cereal, and the following activities: Hudson River Boat tour, Admission to the Clark Museum, MassMOCA, Norman Rockwell Museum and guided tour at Ventfort Hall, AND box lunch at the Clark & Norman Rockwell museums (approx. $200 value).
Transport tickets include a spot in the rental car from NYC (approx. $150 value).
All meals, aside from breakfast at the house and the picnic lunches at the Clark and the Norman Rockwell museum, are separate and must be paid on-site.
If you prefer to arrange your own accommodation at the Red Lion Inn or elsewhere, please email me at alex@womenofculture.org directly for pricing.
Room Options
All prices are per person, based on early bird rates through 9/9 at midnight, and include the starred activities & meals above
Master bedroom (SOLD OUT)
private king bedroom & en suite bathroom
$1000 with transport/$850 without
King Bedroom #1 (SOLD OUT)
private king bedroom & en suite bathroom
$950 with transport/$800 without
King Bedroom #2 (SOLD OUT)
private king bedroom & en suite bathroom
$900 with transport/$750 without
Queen Bedroom (SOLD OUT)
private queen bed & en suite bathroom
$850 with transport/$700 without
Double Bedroom (SOLD OUT)
2 double beds & en suite bathroom
$700 each with transport/$550 without
Twin Bedroom (SOLD OUT)
2 twin beds & en suite bathroom
$600 each with transport/$450 without
(can also be booked as a single room for $1000 with transport/$850 without)
Please note that all payments are FINAL and non-refundable, unless the entire trip has to be cancelled due to the health crisis. You MUST cancel if you feel sick or learn you have been exposed to the virus within 14 days of the departure date. You may transfer your ticket to someone else but the substitute must be approved by trip leader.
If the room option you would like is sold out, you can book a room at the Red Lion Inn, just down the street,
and send $200 for activities only or $350 for activities + transport via the paypal link here.
If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, please fill out the questionnaire here before booking.
FAQ's
1. Can I arrange my own travel?
Yes, there is one Peter Pan bus per day that goes to/from Port Authority to Stockbridge, walking distance to the house. It leaves at 5pm on Friday, arriving in Stockbridge at 8:40pm and and costs $46. Unfortunately, there is no bus scheduled for Monday the 12th, so this is probably only a good option if you need to come up later in the day on Friday. Please contact me directly for pricing if you prefer this option.
Or, let me know if you will be driving your own car and might be willing to take people with you!
2. What is NOT included in the cost of the trip?
All meals, aside from breakfast at the house and the picnic lunches at the Clark and the Norman Rockwell museum, as well as any additional activities or ride services, are separate and must be paid individually. You should estimate at least $50+ per day to spend on food/drinks.
3. What if I don’t know anyone — do I need to come with a friend?
No! Most women attend out Weekend of Culture trips on their own, and the idea is that we will all get to know one another over the course of the weekend. However, please do let me know if you are coming with a friend with whom you would like to share a room.
4. Do I have to stay with the group/attend all pre-planned activities on the itinerary?
No, you are welcome to pick and choose though there will be no refunds for included activities that weren’t attended, and you will have to arrange your own transport/taxi if you would like to go somewhere separately from the group that involves driving.
5. I’ve already been on another Weekend of Culture trip, how can I purchase?
Great, can’t wait to have you join us again! Please go ahead and reserve your spot here, or paypal me the amount of the room you would like (as long as it shows as being available on the checkout page) using this link, and I will send you a confirmation upon receipt.