Great Barrington is a small town with a big personality. It’s been labeled “quietly cool” by Vogue and listed as one of Smithsonian Magazine’s Best Small Towns in America. In 2018 Downtown Great Barrington was designated as a Cultural District by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. And in 2021, Travel and Leisure magazine listed The Berkshires – Great Barrington’s county – as the third best place to visit.

SO WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT GREAT BARRINGTON?

1) Restaurants. There are so many restaurants! Some are farm-to-table; all boast talented chefs. About 15 restaurants are within walking distance of Saint James Place! Some of our favorites here in GB: The Prairie Whale, Café Adam, Number 10, Bizen, STEAM Noodle Café, The Marketplace, GB Eats. Don’t fret if you can’t find a website for a restaurant – some of them like to fly under the radar but most have Facebook or Instagram pages. Rural Intelligence is a good website to learn more about restaurants here and within a 20-mile radius.

2) Culture. Remember how we mentioned that Great Barrington is designated as a cultural district? For good reason! The downtown area is home to more than 30 premier theater, dance, visual arts, historic and heritage venues (including Saint James Place!). There’s always something going on. And you don’t need to go far afield of Great Barrington to access many internationally-renowned festivals and museums: Tanglewood! Jacob’s Pillow! Norman Rockwell Museum! Mass MoCA! The Clark! The list goes on…

3) Nature. Great Barrington is in Berkshire County, which is named for its mountains – The Berkshires – and considered one of the “200 last great places” by the Nature Conservancy. Great Barrington sits at the base of Monument Mountain and Mount Everett, so the hiking, biking, swimming, lounging on lakes, and skiing are spectacular. And for you heavy-duty hikers: Great Barrington was named an Appalachian Trail community in 2009.

4) Shopping. What kind of shopping do you enjoy? Whether it’s antique-ing, browsing art galleries, or searching for special clothes and gifts, GB and its surrounding towns have it all. The Great Barrington Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday May – October – it’s a fantastic way to start your day, grab a great cold brew from No. Six Depot, a delicious egg sandwich made with local Off The Shelf eggs, farm-fresh produce, and products hand-made in The Berkshires.