Probably like a lot of you, being in the travel business I’m often asked my favorite destination. While generally my response is “wherever I’ve just returned from,” one area truly holds a special place in my heart.
When my wife and I lived in New York City, we often spent weekends in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. We rented a small cabin there with nothing behind the house but acres of state parkland. I used to love the idea that I can step out the back door and spend all day wandering around the woods without seeing another person. It was the perfect tonic for our busy weekday lives in the city.
Being from California, I think New England held a special fascination for me. The country roads and swimming holes, antique shops and quaint Main Streets, all seemed straight out of a postcard. I especially loved the old charming inns each with their own history some dating back to the Revolutionary War. Often a “chat” with the innkeepers turned into a marathon storytelling session that spanned generations.
Halloween was an especially great time to visit, between the crackle of autumn leaves on the ground and the spooky scarecrows suddenly visible in the recently harvested cornfields.
It’s with all this in mind that we offer this issue’s cover story, “The Inns of New England” (page 14). It’s our hope that this story will help you bring more of your West-based clients to this incredible area. The magic of the fall foliage alone is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
In addition, when you visit the cover story on TravelAgeWest.com, you’ll see we’ve included information on renting a car in New England, to help you be ready for any trip-planning request. K.S.
