Looking for something to see and do on a late spring weekend? Consider visiting southwestern New England. While Boston, Cape Cod and the lakes and mountains of New England are favorite destinations of vacationers, western Massachusetts, and the northwestern Connecticut regions have the benefit of stunning scenery and fewer crowds.

As you plan out your Memorial Day weekend consider these three destinations in this corner of New England…

Smith College’s Botanic Garden

At Smith College in Northampton in western Massachusetts, you can visit for free, a collection of greenhouses knows as the Lyman Conservatory. The greenhouses include an array of tropical plants, including tree ferns, Orchids, bromeliads, water lilies, and many plants native to the Mediterranean and Central America areas.

You’ll also find in the grounds formal European and Japanese Gardens, and a number of historic trees over 100 years old.

The garden is open 8:30pm to 4:00pm daily, and you can call 413-585-2740 for more information.

Berkshire Scenic Railway

From Memorial Day through Columbus Day you can take a 2 and ½ hours round trip railroad ride along the scenic Housatonic River from Lenox to Stockbridge. The restored Berkshire Railway in western Massachusetts offers a glimpse into an area popular with the wealthy in the Gilded Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The completely restored Lenox station also houses a museum with exhibits depicting the history of the railway in this region, and at the Stockbridge terminus you can depart for a few hours and stroll the village streets full of shops, restaurants, and galleries. Museums in town include the Norman Rockwell Museum, which commemorates the artist who was a long-time resident of Stockbridge.

Trains run from 10:00am to 4:00pm weekends and holidays. Tickets cost $15 – Adults, $8 – Kids (4-14).

Connecticut’s Lime Rock Race Track

For a change of pace and excitement visit Lime Rock in the rolling Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, and just south of the Berkshires. It’s a strange place to find a motor racing track, and for the story of how it got here you can read it at my web site. But suffice to say it’s considered by many of the past car racing giants one of the most scenic motor racing parks in the world.

When you visit, take a blanket and picnic as there are no grandstands, and the only asphalt visible is on the track itself.

Racing begins Memorial Day weekend with the Rolex GT Series Challenge. Buying a ticket at Lime Rock gets you into the garage and paddock area to see the drivers and check out the cars. Remember to take your earplugs, as these beasts rumble loud!

For more ideas for a spring weekend in this beautiful region of New England, check out my Massachusetts vacations page here, and my Northwest Connecticut vacations page here.

More trips and ideas next week,

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Destination Guide

Related posts:

1. The Three County Fair, Northampton, Massachusetts is a Labor Day Weekend Treat for All
2. 5 Things to Do On a Winter Weekend in Massachusetts
3. 6 Day History and Museum Tour of Southern New England
4. 10 Favorite Things to Do in a New England Fall – Part I
5. 10 Favorite Things to Do in a New England Fall – Part II