James Taylor at Tanglewood on the 4th of July has been one of my life list items for ages, and this year I finally got to experience it. It was well worth the wait.
We traveled out to Lenox, Massachusetts, the site of Tanglewood Music Center, to meet my sister and her husband for the concert. The weather was iffy; it rained on and off as we drove and was drizzly when we arrived at our hotel, the Knight’s Inn in Lenox. The Berkshires can be an expensive trip, so when I found rooms at great prices at the Knight’s Inn, I wasn’t expecting much. In reality, we were really pleasantly surprised. Our rooms were spotlessly clean, it was quiet, the staff was friendly, and the view was beautiful. It was also close to all of the major attractions of the area. I was glad we took a risk on the hotel and would totally stay there again.
Going to Tanglewood is quite the experience in itself. We had lawn seats, which meant we could bring in a picnic to enjoy during the concert. There were some serious picnic setups that included white tablecloths, candles, all sorts of food and wine, and more. We had a nice spread of our own, including Champagne and wine, sandwiches, snacks, and candles. Doors open at 5, three hours before the concert, and the beautiful grounds, plus picnics, make those hours fly by.
The views of surrounding mountains and Stockbridge Bowl are magnificent. We live in such a stunning state, with really unique features that vary from place to place. It felt amazing to be surrounded by so much green.
The concert itself was amazing. James Taylor played for about three hours, and his set list included lots of favorites. He was, as I expected, funny and charming and adorable. If you are a fan, I recommend checking out the 4th of July Tanglewood show.
The day after the concert we made a couple of stops on our way out of the Berkshires. We visited a beautiful lake, then headed to two fancy, famous resorts, Cranwell and Blantyre.
We were hoping to have tea or something at Blantyre, but that sort of thing is reserved for guests. Maybe someday. . .
A visit to the Berkshires is just one option for a beautiful Massachusetts vacation. There is so much to see and do, and I would love to visit again soon for the arts, nature, and food that makes the area so special.
