The Maisterra Family

The extended Maisterra family enjoys a walk through the woods //© Belinda Maisterra

Our family took a trip from our home in Culver City, Calif., to Williamstown, Mass., during our winter break. Traveling between Christmas and New Year’s Day was tricky, but it was our window of opportunity, so we did it. However, what should have taken just a few hours, took us 21 hours because of delays at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

As is usually the case, we had a budget. Visiting family enabled us to bypass lodging costs. Besides, these are some of our favorite cousins, and spending time with them was even more important than seeing the sights. Luckily, we did a bit of both.

My cousin, John Stomberg, is the curator at Williams College, and he made a great guide for us while visiting his gallery and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), a world-renowned museum located in nearby North Adams. It’s worth a visit for its unique setting as well as its great art collection.

It was an especially exciting trip for my son, Joe (age 11), and daughter, Emma (age 9), who had never really experienced an East Coast winter. They saw their first snow fall, got to do some snowboarding and sledding on the front lawn and donned their newly purchased thermal underwear, puffy winter jackets and ski caps!

Other highlights included watching the kids hike up Mount Greylock, the highest point in the state; seeing Joe and Emma taste falling snow for the first time; and attending a New Year’s Eve party with family and friends — most of whom hopped into an outdoor hot tub, despite the ice-cold temperatures. My personal favorite was the quiet drive, without the kids, to Vermont’s Bennington Pottery. We decided to add a pottery piece or two to our collection every time we are in town.

All in all, Williamstown has been our favorite family travel destination. We enjoyed the Berkshire’s history, small-town New England charm and friendly vibe, and most importantly, visiting family. — Belinda Maisterra