A Cozy Fall Getaway at The Hideaway Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts
My mom and I were long overdue for a mother-daughter trip, and we couldn't have picked a better destination than the Berkshires in Massachusetts during the fall. We were excited to spend a couple of days catching up, exploring beautiful little New England towns, and soaking in all that gorgeous fall foliage.
We were arriving just before peak foliage, and the closer we got to Lenox, the prettier everything became. Winding roads, historic homes, and trees bursting with color. It was exactly the kind of New England fall getaway I had been hoping for.
And while we had plenty of places on our list to explore, one of the biggest surprises of the trip ended up being where we stayed: The Hideaway Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Before checking into the inn, we made a stop at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. If you love New England history, art, or a little nostalgia, this museum is absolutely worth visiting.
Seeing Rockwell's work in person was incredible. His paintings capture so much of everyday American life, and I loved getting to see them up close.
After spending time at the museum, we headed toward our accommodations and were thrilled to realize that The Hideaway Inn was only about 10 minutes away!
Little did I know, that would become a theme of our entire trip.
I'll admit, I hadn't done a ton of research on The Hideaway Inn before our stay. I knew it looked charming, but I had no idea just how perfect the location was or how much I would love the property itself.
First of all, it's within walking distance of downtown Lenox! I'm talking adorable shops, restaurants, and cafés, all just a short stroll away.
But what really won me over was the inn itself.
I have always loved staying in older homes, especially ones that have maintained the character and charm they were originally built with. The Hideaway Inn is exactly that.
From the antique furniture to the beautiful decor and cozy gathering spaces, I felt like I had stepped back in time. It has that wonderful historic New England feel that you just can't recreate in a modern hotel.
The entire place was warm, inviting, and full of personality.
And the check-in process? Couldn't have been easier! The inn offers self-check-in, and each guest room has its own key code, making coming and going incredibly convenient.
One of my favorite things about The Hideaway Inn was all the shared spaces available for guests to enjoy.
There was a gorgeous sitting room filled with books, games, a record player, and even a piano. I could have happily spent an entire rainy afternoon in there with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Then there was another room with a beautiful bar, ping pong, and foosball!
The bar area was absolutely gorgeous, and I loved that it was self-serve. You could make yourself right at home, play bartender, and spend the evening hanging out with friends or family.
It felt less like staying at a hotel and more like having access to a beautiful historic home for the weekend.
They even had a dedicated kids' playroom!
I didn't have my kids with me on this trip, but I immediately thought about how much they would have loved it. It's such a nice touch for families traveling with little ones.
My mom and I stayed in a room with two queen beds and our own private bathroom.
The room was beautifully decorated, with the same historic charm that carried throughout the inn. It had everything we needed, including a desk, refrigerator, television, and mini-split heating and cooling so we could control the temperature ourselves.
And those beds were so comfortable!
After checking in, we settled in for a little bit, put Netflix on the TV, and relaxed before heading out to explore.
Sometimes the best part of a getaway is simply having nowhere you need to be for a little while.
That evening, we walked into downtown Lenox, and I immediately fell in love.
If you've ever wanted to feel like you're walking through the set of a Hallmark movie, this is your town.
Historic buildings, beautiful storefronts, charming restaurants, and little shops all within walking distance of one another. It was everything I love about exploring small New England towns.
We ended up at The Olde Heritage Tavern, which was completely my vibe. I love an old tavern with character, and this place fit right in with the historic charm of Lenox.
Afterward, we wandered around downtown, popping into shops and taking in the atmosphere.
The best part? We didn't have to worry about driving back to the hotel. We could simply walk back to The Hideaway Inn, climb into our comfortable beds, and rest up for another full day of exploring.
The next morning, we started our day at a café within walking distance of the inn.
Being able to wake up and walk into town for coffee is one of my favorite things when traveling. It makes you feel like you're actually living in the town rather than just visiting it.
After breakfast, I headed to a beautiful shop called Honey Church to do a feature for New England Scuttlebutt.
What a gorgeous shop! I'll be sharing more about Honey Church in its own blog post soon, so stay tuned for that.
Then it was time for another historic stop.
Our next destination was The Mount, the former home of author Edith Wharton.
And once again, it was only about 10 minutes from The Hideaway Inn!
If you've followed New England Scuttlebutt for a while, you probably know that I'm a huge history buff. I absolutely love visiting historic homes, learning about the people who lived in them, and imagining what life must have been like during their time.
The Mount was incredible.
The architecture, the grounds, the rooms, and the history behind the estate were fascinating. Edith Wharton was such an impressive woman, and after visiting her home, I left wanting to read every one of her books.
I love when a historic property can transport you to another era, and The Mount did exactly that.
It was easily one of my favorite stops of the trip.
After exploring The Mount, we headed back to Stockbridge for lunch at the famous Red Lion Inn.
And yes, Stockbridge is another town that looks like it belongs in a Hallmark movie.
Honestly, the Berkshires might have some of the most picturesque little towns in all of New England.
The Red Lion Inn is a historic staple of Stockbridge, and I couldn't imagine visiting the area without stopping in.
I love places that have been welcoming guests for generations, and the Red Lion Inn is full of that old New England character.
After lunch and a little more exploring, we headed back to The Hideaway Inn to relax before our evening adventure.
Having such a centrally located place to stay made it incredibly easy to break up our days. We could go out, explore, come back and recharge, and then head out again without spending hours in the car.
Our final big adventure was visiting Naumkeag in Stockbridge for its annual Pumpkin Show.
And WOW.
I had heard wonderful things about this event, but it completely exceeded my expectations.
The entire property was transformed into a spectacular fall display, with carved pumpkins, glowing installations, and Halloween decorations everywhere you looked.
It just kept going and going!
There were pumpkins carved into just about every character you could imagine, the historic mansion was decorated for Halloween, and the surrounding landscape was absolutely stunning.
There were even cozy beverages and a campfire to enjoy.
We went around 6:15 p.m., which ended up being the perfect time. We got to enjoy the scenery as daylight faded and then watch the entire property come alive with glowing pumpkins.
If you're planning a fall trip to the Berkshires, I cannot recommend the Naumkeag Pumpkin Show enough.
I already can't wait to bring my kids back next year!
By the end of our trip, I couldn't stop talking about how perfect The Hideaway Inn's location had been.
We were able to experience so many of the Berkshires' best attractions without spending much time driving.
Not only was the location ideal, but the inn itself was somewhere I genuinely looked forward to returning to at the end of each day.
The historic charm, cozy bedrooms, beautiful gathering spaces, and thoughtful amenities made it feel so much more personal than a typical hotel.
Whether you're planning a romantic weekend, a girls' getaway, a mother-daughter trip, or even a family adventure, I think The Hideaway Inn is such a wonderful option.
Our couple of days in the Berkshires were exactly what my mom and I needed.
It had been far too long since we'd gotten away together, and having time to catch up while exploring some of the most beautiful places in Massachusetts made the trip even more special.
We visited historic estates, wandered through charming downtowns, shopped at beautiful local businesses, enjoyed delicious meals, and experienced some truly spectacular fall scenery.
And through it all, The Hideaway Inn was the perfect home base for our adventures.
I went into this trip not knowing much about the inn, and I left knowing it's exactly the kind of place I'd love to return to.
If you're planning a trip to Lenox or the Berkshires, especially during foliage season, definitely put The Hideaway Inn on your list.
And if you've never experienced the Berkshires in the fall, add that to your New England bucket list, too.
I already can't wait to go back!
Follow along with New England Scuttlebutt for more unique stays, historic destinations, charming small towns, and adventures throughout New England.
Have you visited the Berkshires? I'd love to know your favorite places to explore!
-Kate
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