Tucked away on a woodsy road bordering Beartown State Forest, this house provides a great base to enjoy and explore all that the Berkshires have to offer. For us that included visits to Tanglewood, Shakespeare and Company, Jacob's Pillow, and The Mount (Edith Wharton's estate) as well as leisurely afternoons walking around Great Barrington and Lenox. The house's three bedrooms have comfortable beds, lovely views, and ample closet space. When we invited friends for a few nights, the layout worked well, as there is a full bathroom on each floor and good visual privacy. Furnishings are tasteful and unfussy. The cushy sofa in the living room was big enough for all of us to converse easily while gazing into the woods through the floor-to-ceiling sliders, which are nice on rainy days, too. We felt close to nature here; one morning a mama bear lumbered by a slider not far from the table where we sat sipping coffee. The owners stocked the house with all the equipment and supplies we needed to prepare good meals and live in comfort. Everything was clean and in good working order. Fans in each room made the inside air tolerable even on hot, sticky days, and it always cooled off enough at night for comfortable sleeping. In addition to leaving us stacks of brochures about local attractions, the owners went out of their way to help us navigate the area and enjoy less touristy activities, including trips to nearby dog-friendly parks and trails as well as the lovely lakeside beach (no dogs allowed) a short drive away. Don't miss the goat farm on the road to New Marlborough! For us city slickers, it took awhile to get used to planning ahead for grocery shopping; it's a ten-mile drive to the nearest supermarket. However, there is a cute General Store close by in Monterey where you can pick up a few basics as well as gourmet specialties -- or sit outside by the stream and enjoy a sandwich.