North Adams, MA Road Trips

1 Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), 87 Marshall Street, ☏ +1 413 664-4481. varies seasonally; see website for details. Six old factory buildings made into more than 250,000 square feet of galleries, studios, performance venues, shops and cafés. $. 2 Natural Bridge State Park, McAuley Road (off Rt. 8), ☏ +1 413-663-6392, +1 413-663-8469 (off-season). Daily 9AM-4:30PM, Memorial Day through Columbus Day. This 48 acre park features a natural arch of bedrock marble that was carved by glacial meltwater. A quarter-mile walkway runs above and through the 60 ft gorge which the bridge spans and there is a half-mile wooded trail. Interpreters are available in summer to explain the geologic processes. Picnic tables and grills (carry out your trash), restrooms, pets OK on leash. No swimming, rock climbing or alcohol. Parking $5 (MA resident) or $10 (non-MA resident). (updated Oct 2016) 3 Western Gateway Heritage State Park, 115 State Street, ☏ +1 413-663-6312. 10AM-5PM daily. The Hoosac Tunnel is a 4.75-mile-long (7.64 km) railroad tunnel through the Hoosac Mountains. Built 1851-1875 to link Massachusetts to Albany, NY, it cost 195 workers their lives. At the Visitor's Museum exhibits depict the effect of the tunnel. Children and adults can experiment with a vintage floor scale that was used for weighing loads up to half a ton. A 30-minute documentary provides a concise, yet detailed, history of the Hoosac Tunnel. The facilities are also used for concerts, lectures, freight yard walking tours and gallery for temporary exhibits.

Appalachian Trail MCLA Performing Arts, ☏ +1 413 664-8718, +1 413 662-5204 (for tickets). MCLA brings to North Adams and the MCLA campus some of the world's finest performers in music, dance, theatre, and spoken word.From large musical festivals held in the school gym and on the grounds, to intimate one-person theatrical events and evenings of poetry held in the college's art galleries downtown, MCLA Presents! shares a unique performance series with the Northern Berkshire community.In addition to showcasing world renowned artists, MCLA is committed to showcasing the talent of its own community as well as the work of MCLA students. DownStreet Art Festival, Downtown North Adams. The DownStreet Art Festival every Thursday evening from June to October, when empty storefronts are converted into art galleries featuring local and national talent. The event draws crowds from all over the region. This is public art project of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Berkshire Cultural Resource Center designed to revitalize downtown North Adams, harnessing existing arts organizations and events, and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations. It also offers the opportunity to talk with the artists, curators and others connected with the exhibits at the ongoing DownStreet art exhibits and at the art openings.

Gramercy Bistro, 10 Water St, Williamstown, ☏ +1 413-458-6222. 1 Public Eat+Drink, 34 Holden Street, ☏ +1 413-664-4444. (updated Oct 2016) Jack's Hot Dogs, 12 Eagle St, ☏ +1 413-664-9006. M-Sa 10AM-7PM. Serving hot dogs since 1917. (updated Oct 2016)

The Porches Inn, 231 River Street, ☏ +1 413-664-0400. New hotel. Hotel Downstreet, 40 Main St, ☏ +1 413-663-6500. (updated Oct 2022)