Garden Gables Inn

The Garden Gables Inn is made up of three farmhouses with blue and green shutters and brick chimneys. The main house, Butternut Cottage, dates back to 1780. This five-acre property is set back from Main Street and surrounded by trees, including one of the original butternut trees after which the main house is named. Today the inn is owned by the Vittori family, who also operate Hilltop Orchards in nearby Richmond. The inn attracts mostly couples (no kids under 12 are allowed) as well as being frequented by several notable guests throughout the years, including John F. Kennedy Jr., Betsey Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Yo-Yo Ma, and Ted Koppel. In the warmer months, guests can relax in lounge chairs on the pretty green lawns, beside the pool, or dine on the barbecue patio. Inside, the homey setting is warm and welcoming, with afternoon cookies, candy, and coffee in a small pantry as well as fireside seating in the library and parlor. Rustic wooden furniture is set against scenic wallpaper and historic photographs adorn the walls -- the vibe is thoroughly country and a bit old school, with antique accents and plenty of floral patterns throughout. 

Tucked away on a wooded road off of Lenox's Main Street, this property is in a quiet, residential area across from a lovely church that dates back to 1870. The location is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and cafes in downtown Lenox. Tanglewood outdoor music venue, horseback riding at Kennedy Park, and Lenox Fitness Center (with discounted access for inn guests) are all within a five-minute drive. Museums -- including Edith Wharton's home, the Mount, and the Norman Rockwell Museum -- are within five to 15 minutes by car. The inn owners also operate the nearby Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery in Richmond, about a 20-minute drive from the inn, so guests can take advantage free wine tastings, apple picking, and hiking. The Berkshires are 60 to 75 minutes by car from Albany, Hartford, and Springfield, all of which have airports, though larger airports are available in Boston (two hours by car) and New York City (two-and-a-half hours by car). 

In true bed-and-breakfast fashion, rooms are pleasantly decorated in country decor, including fluffy duvets with paisley patterns, antique-style floral wallpaper, hardwood four-poster beds, exposed wood-beam ceilings, and even a bit of lace. Many rooms have seating areas with overstuffed or wicker furniture, though some rooms in the main building can feel quite compact, and some noise from neighboring rooms may be heard. Several rooms have added features like porches or decks with garden views, wood-burning fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and mini-fridges. The Furnace Brook Winery Suite and the Hilltop Orchards Suite are the most spacious rooms and can be combined to fit nine people. The Hilltop Orchards Suite has lovely home-spun details like a hand-painted landscape along one wall and a lovely living area next to a handsome fireplace. Standard features include air-conditioning, bathrobes, flat-screen TVs, DVD players and a movie library, hairdryers, and some have Keurig coffeemakers. Cottages are separate from the main building and offer a bit more privacy. Clean, basic bathrooms have small vanities and shower/tub combos, while upgraded rooms offer whirlpool tubs or clawfoot bathtubs. 

Mornings at the Garden Gables Inn begin with a made-to-order breakfast in a lovely dining room or on the patio that overlooks the gardens. The inn also has a 70-foot heated pool surrounded by lounge chairs on a wooden sundeck -- it's open seasonally. Private meals can be arranged in the library by the fireplace and summertime barbecues or Italian dinners are served on the garden patio. In addition to treats in the pantry, there are also cocktails in the sherry room. Wedding receptions of up to 60 people and private dinners for up to 50 guests can be arranged on-site. The Lenox Petit Spa, which is in the main house and consists of one treatment room, offers couples' massages and facials. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the property and a computer in the library for guests. One free outdoor parking space is provided for each room.