Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 @ 09:58 AM
Kayla Hebler
There is always something to do in the Berkshires, whether it is to ski or simply enjoy the winter weather activities. My idea of having fun on a mini vacation is being active while shopping, and finding that one thing to remember a special place by.
In Lee, Massachusetts we have the Prime Outlets, with great stores that you would usually pay top dollar at but are fullof bargains 
and great deals. Including Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Nike Factory Outlet, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Michael Kors and many more great stores to explore.
The outlets in Lee are all outdoors, but if you are looking for something warm and inviting there is also The Berkshire Mall in Lanesboro, which is just a ten to fifteen minute drive from The Yankee Inn. Although it is a smaller mall there is a variety of stores from Macys to Target and everything in between.
Those are just the basic places for clothing, if you really want to experience unique shopping in small original stores, then downtown Lenox is the place to go. There are local shops like, The Purple Plume, Dry Goods, Casablanca and a great shoe store called SHOOZ. What girl doesn’t like a fabulous pair of shoes? And of course who could forget about the kids! The Gifted Child in Lenox is one of the best children’s shops that I’ve ever been to! It’s small and cozy packed with not so ordinary toys and gifts for children. You should take a break from your normal life and visit the beauties of the Berkshires, skiing, shopping and everything in between!
** While you're staying with us, dont forget to ask about our voucher for a Prime Outlet Coupon Book, it can save you even more money!
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 @ 09:35 AM
Adventures with Gram: The Vermont Voyage
Mick Huska
This past Sunday my grandmother and I decided to trek to Vermont. Why? Well, when visiting Vermont you never need a reason. There’s always something fun to do. Anyhow a few days prior I had spotted something about a general store in the town of Pittsfield, VT. The drive was two hours and we said what the heck. We decided we’d maybe do shopping in Rutland on our way then head over to Pittsfield. On the way back we’d stop for dinner in Bennington. Sounded like a good plan.
So we headed out around 9 AM on Sunday. Around 11 AM we arrived in Rutland. Rutland to me is like a jello dessert: good in theory, but always disappointing. It’s pretty commercialized with strip malls and doesn’t really have that quaint charm that one associates with Vermont. After not bothering to stop we followed the GPS past Killington and into Pittsfield.
Unlike Pittsfield, MA this Pittsfield is a town of about 450 people. When we initially arrived we could still see some damage from hurricane Irene. Many temporary bridges, washed out embankments and even a few condemned houses off their foundations were seen. Fortunately, the The General Store was spared. The general store was everything you think of when you imagine a typical New England general store. There were lots of handmade, local goods ranging from canned food, to crafts and even dog treats. They also had a nice little restaurant in there. The sandwiches we bought we were reasonably priced, delicious and not overly filling. We also purchased some locally made canned beets and pickles. We also had to pick up some treats for the dogs as well.
Eventually we had to wave goodbye to Pittsfield and head back home. Much to our chagrin, both the restaurant at which we wanted to eat and the bakery we wanted to visit was closed on Sundays. If you are staying at the Yankee Inn and want to take a day trip to Bennington, I recommend paying a visit to Lil' Britain Fish And Chips for some authentic British style fish and chips. Finally (if you’re not too stuffed), I recommend taking a walk to Crazy Russian Girls Bakery for some tasty chocolates and pastries. Bennington is an hour ride from the Berkshires and worth the visit. Take the ride up route 7 and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery of The Berkshires on your way to Vermont after your stay with us.
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Mon, Feb 20, 2012 @ 11:41 AM
Shawn Leary
Almost every shift I work, I go on www.tripadvisor.com to see if we have any new reviews. It always interests me to see what guests have to say about us. With only 6 reviews since the turn of the New Year, I wonder why there aren’t more, and I decided to write my blog about it. For those that don’t know what Trip Advisor is, it’s a site that people can go on to rate hotels, restaurants, and local area attractions. As a locally owned hotel, there is often uncertainty to what you should expect before you arrive. Trip advisor helps clear some of that up by providing pictures, and firsthand accounts of our hotel and accommodations.
If you post a review, it not only helps other people make a decision about our hotel, but helps us improve what we can.We also like the praise we get, and it motivates us to do better. I personally enjoy seeing reviews from guests that I remember connecting on a personal level, be it a friendly political debate in the Bar and Lounge, meeting someone who’s daughter has met some of the Boston Bruins, or those interesting/ semi awkward conversations that seem to arise when it’s time to close the pool. Seeing those people leave good reviews on Trip Advisor, or any other reveiw site, makes me feel like I did my job well and encourages me to try even harder. If you're trying to make a decision on where to stay in the Berkshires, let our past guests speak for us! If you've stayed with us in the past and enjoyed your experiences, please leave us a review, we love hearing from you!
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Fri, Feb 17, 2012 @ 09:30 AM
Scenic Hiking near the Yankee Inn
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Sean W.
Experiencing nature in the Berkshire’s is a main reason why so many people are attracted to the area, and when staying at the Yankee Inn, you won’t have to go very far to do so. Just about 10 minutes from the Yankee Inn is the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. With seven miles of trails, a Nature Center and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife, the sanctuary is something worth stopping by during your stay in the area. “When you walk along Yokun Brook, take note of the beaver “lodges” of tree branches and mud, where these nocturnal creatures spend their days. Salamander migrations are a major spring event along West Mountain Road.”
Happy Hiking!
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 @ 09:21 AM
Shawn Leary
I often find myself craving different foods while sitting at the front desk. The only way to satisfy those cravings are to: Bring my own lunch, order from Pizza Works, or run over to Subway. Being tight on money typically ends up meaning that there’s only one logical thing to do, and that’s bring my lunch to work. Today my craving happens to be for the toasted goodness loaded with corned beef, pastrami, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, known only as the Reuben. I was thinking about where I wanted it from. There are a lot of places in the Pittsfield area to get a Reuben, but no location can one up the glorious taste that comes from The Lantern on North Street. My friend first introduced me to the lantern a couple of months ago for that reason alone. I was a little tight on cash, and he dragged me down there, said he’d pay for it if I didn’t like it. I ended up paying. So if you’re as weird as I am, and get mid-day cravings for a great sandwich, look toward The Lantern to serve you up your next one.
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Another Great place for a Reuben in the Berkshires is Jonathan's Bistro, just 3 miles down the road from us. Book our ski, dine and stay package with Bousquet or Jiminy, and you'll receive a dining certificate to try theirs out. We also recommend their Mac & Cheese!
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 10:20 AM
Finger-pickin’ Good
Mick Huska
For those of us who didn’t watch the Super Bowl, Sunday had the potential to be a very productive day. As I mentioned in a previous blog I am a guitarist so for me Super Bowl Sunday meant spending some quality time with my acoustic. I’ve been working hard to improve my finger-picking in recent months and have taken to listening to a man named Pat Donohue who is one of the world’s most premier finger-picking guitarists. His 2003 album American Guitar is an absolute masterpiece. I find it to be a wonderful window into the world of Americana music. He finds a way to blend his own compositions while putting his spin on traditional American songs without ruining what makes the song special. I highly recommend picking up American Guitar, especially if you’re a fan of folk, country, bluegrass and/or blues.
However, if you want to see Pat Donohue in action then I recommend coming to The Berkshires on June 30th. You see, Pat has been the house band guitarist for A Prairie Home Companion since the early 1990’s and has even been one of their featured artists. A Prairie Home Companion will be playing their annual concert at the famous Tanglewood concert venue in Lenox on June 30th. The only thing better than hearing Pat Donohue through your stereo is hearing him in person!
So make sure to pick up your Tanglewood tickets ASAP. They’re a hot commodity and sell out very fast. After you pick up your tickets, make sure to book a room with us. We’re taking reservations for the summer and the weekends are filling up quickly! Make sure to call us directly or book your room online so you have a wonderful place to stay after an evening of great music at Tanglewood.
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Thu, Feb 09, 2012 @ 12:54 PM
Sean W.
Visiting the Yankee Inn this February Vacation? Well you picked a great time to explore the area. From the 16th to the 26th of this month downtown Pittsfield will be hosting “10X10 on North,” a winter contemporary arts festival. All throughout the week, various locations on North Street will be hosting art shows and performances of all kinds, including plays, poetry, film, singer-songwriters, visual art and dance. If you’re looking for a way to spend some time in between your skiing or sight seeing, this is the way to do it. Besides all the great Berkshire based artists’ work, many local businesses will be offering discounts and specials during this week. Just a quick ride up route 7 from The Yankee Inn, there’s no excuse not to check it out! Be sure to take a look at http://discoverpittsfield.com/10x10/ for the full schedule of events.
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Wed, Feb 08, 2012 @ 10:42 AM
The Berkshire Museum “Taking Flight: Audubon and the World of Birds”
Sean W.
Through June 17th, the Berkshire Museum is hosting an exhibit featuring the work of John James Audubon, and bringing his passion for bird’s right here to the Berkshires. “Taking Flight” promises to be a wonderful experience for all ages, in which viewers can better understand the science of flight, bird intelligence and behavior, and view a wide variety of photography, video, eggs, nest and other specimens. If you’re a bird lover and staying with us at the Yankee Inn, you can easily get to the Berkshire Museum, which is just about a 5 minute drive up route 7. For more information check out the Berkshire Museum website!
Posted by Reservations Yankee Inn on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 10:45 AM
What’s A Musician To Do In The Berkshires?
Mick Huska
Music and the Berkshires are synonymous. As many of you already know, Tanglewood in Lenox is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra but more recently have seen contemporary and classic artists play there in recent years. Since 2008 we’ve been fortunate to see such names as Herbie Hancock, Crosby Stills and Nash, Steely Dan, Train and Wilco (one of my favorite concerts ever) grace the stage of Tanglewood.
However, in my observations at the hotel, we have a lot of guests who are musicians. If you’re a musician and anything like me, you like to bring your instrument of choice (guitar for me) on vacation with you. However my biggest concern when traveling with my guitar is something going wrong with it. Breaking strings and not having packed any is a nightmare. Then I have to end up scrambling around to find a place to buy strings and other accessories.
So where do you go in the Berkshires if you’re having instrument troubles? Well, that’s where I’m here to help! My favorite place is Wood Bros Music located at the Allendale Shopping Center in Pittsfield. They have quick repairs and does only
the highest quality work on your instrument. Even if you’re not having troubles, Wood Bros is still an excellent place to check out. They have a great selection of Fender guitars (my favorite), amps and bass guitars. If you’re a drummer, they have a wide variety of drums, cymbals and other assorted percussion accessories. If you’re a pianist, they’ve got you covered there too! Aside from the wide assortment of instruments their staff is friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the instruments they sell and repair. I’ve been a customer at Wood Bros since I was 12 years old (now 27) and rented my first clarinet from them. They also sold me my first guitar and amp at age 16 and I’ve been a loyal customer ever since.
If you’re staying at the Yankee Inn and bring your instrument and feel the urge to jam with someone, stop by the front desk and ask for me. I’ll be more than happy to jam and have fun after my shift. Or, with permission from management, I’ll be happy to jam during my shift! Don’t be shy during your stay!
Posted by Mollie Toole on Mon, Feb 06, 2012 @ 09:11 AM
Sean W.
Visiting the Berkshires? Don’t forget to check out the Norman Rockwell Museum!
The Norman Rockwell Museum located in Stockbridge Mass, is one of the Berkshires main year round attractions. With an ever changing number of exhibits throughout the year, NRM can turn any dull day into an exciting art experience. From an exhibit of the artwork from the beloved “Curious George” to the work of local high school students, this year’s showcases at the Norman Rockwell Museum will always include something that everyone can enjoy. Just a short ride down route 7 from The Yankee Inn, The Norman Rockwell Museum is a must see for travelers coming to the Berkshires any time of the year.
Check out the NRM website for rates, and information on present and upcoming exhibitions.