My husband and I are older parents of a teen girl with autism. We love to travel as a family, creating trips that are that are both sensory-friendly and fun for our daughter G. Our posts are relevant for any family traveling with children, but go a little bit further, giving details about potential sensory issues at popular destinations so that you can steer clear of triggers and focus on having fun.
Every autumn, we plan a weekend away in the Berkshires. This western area of Massachusetts, bordering New York and Vermont, offers spectacular fall foliage, arts and culture, and great outdoor adventures. Peak colors are usually in the first two weeks of October!
It’s close enough to Boston or New York to do as a quick overnight trip, but you’ll get a lot more out of it if you can stay over on either Friday or Sunday. In this next series of posts, you can learn about the best things to do in several Berkshire County towns.
In This Post
A Little Bit About North Adams
North Adams is a former mill town, reinvigorated as a tourist destination for foodies, live music fans, and modern art enthusiasts. Its gritty, industrial vibe contrasts perfectly with the upscale, rural community of Williamstown, giving visitors to the Berkshires a chance at truly diverse experiences in a single weekend.
Right in the city center, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) occupies 17 acres of buildings that once housed the Sprague Electric Company. Other former factories and warehouses are now home to restaurants, artist studios, small business incubator spaces, and a craft brewery.
The small downtown area is extremely walkable with interesting antique shops and thrift stores to look around in, as well as some really good restaurants and coffee shops.
The Fall Foliage Train
A ride in a vintage train is always exciting for kids, especially if you’re in a Budd Rail Diesel Speedliner! A rail trip through the Berkshire hills is the perfect family activity during peak foliage season. The 10 mile Hoosac scenic train ride lasts about an hour - long enough to have fun, and just right for kids who don’t like to sit still for very long at a time.
Your adventure begins at the Adams train station, and follows the Hoosac River. You’ll see trees in every possible shade of red, orange and yellow, historic farms, and old brick mills.
To keep the ride interesting, volunteer tour guides share local stories about where you are and what you’re seeing. The views are a little bit better on the left hand side of the train than on the right.
The train is a bidirectional train, with an engine at both the front and the back. When the train gets to the end of the line, it doesn’t turn around. Instead, the engineer shuts down the train, walks to the back engine, and starts it up again. The train crew flips all of the seats to face in the other direction, so no one has to ride backwards - and voila - you’re on the way back to the station. Very cool!
Sensory-seeking kids will especially love this trip. The train moves slowly on flat terrain at about 15 miles per hour, with a soft rhythmic clacking noise from the wheels on the rails, and slight vibration in the seats from the motion of the train. There’s lots to look at, and no pressure to do anything but it back and enjoy.
The train runs weekends only in summer and fall, and frequently sells out during foliage season. The last two weekends in October, when the foliage is starting to fade, there are Pumpkin Patch and Halloween themed rides to keep the excitement going. Buy your tickets on-line, in advance, to avoid disappointment.
A Visit to Mass MoCA
The Sol LeWitt gallery is an enormous 27,000 square foot maze, three stories high.
Mass MoCA is the largest contemporary art museum in the US, with over 300,000 square feet of industrial space spread over 26 buildings. Most of the art here is so big that it couldn’t fit in a traditional museum.
You can play the oversized instruments in the Gunnar Schonbeck Gallery
From a kid’s point of view, the Mass MoCA complex is a refreshing change from a traditional art museum. There is a seemingly infinite number of colorful rooms to explore, things that are unusual or unexpected in an interesting way, and no old fashioned pictures of people you never heard of. If you’re looking for some hands-on fun, go to the KidSpace and make some art, or check out some performance art.
The Cosmic Latte Gallery feels magical
The various buildings are connected by perfectly maintained, rustic brick lined corridors, tunnels, and metal staircases with fitted pipe railings. The metal stairs are loud, and can be intimidating to anyone who has issues with depth perception. Don’t let that hold you back - the entire complex is accessible by elevator.
Mass MoCA hosts a regular series of both indoor and outdoor concerts every weekend. Performances may include folk music, indie bands, jazz and experimental artists. Events are listed here at the MassMoCA calendar.
Where to Dine in North Adams
The dining area at Lickety Split in Mass MoCA
State and federal urban investment and redevelopment programs have drawn many small businesses to the area, including several excellent restaurants. No matter where you choose to dine in North Adams, you can expect a casual environment where families are welcome.
Directly within the Mass MoCA complex, Lickety Split serves breakfast, lunch, and ice cream. They have a solid children’s menu for picky eaters. In the courtyard, the Bright Ideas Brewing Company partners with Bigg Daddy’s Philly Cheese Steak Company. Indoor dining is at the brewery, and outdoor at Bigg Daddy’s. If you brought your dog, he’s welcome both indoors and out at these establishments.
Nearby, Public has an upscale menu in a down to earth setting. Come on the early side for a quieter, more family friendly experience. The Trail House Kitchen and Bar has an extensive gluten free menu.
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Where to Stay in North Adams
North Adams and nearby Williamstown have plenty of lodging options, including 1950’s strip motels where you can park your car right in front of your door, small boutique hotels, time share rentals and full service, luxury hotels. A chance to swim at some point in the day makes almost any trip better for almost any kid - so those are the hotels that our family tries to stay in.
Hotel Downstreet is about 2 blocks from Mass MoCA at the edge of the downtown shopping area. This former Holiday Inn has large rooms, accepts pets, and is relatively easy on the budget. The pool is big, in a brightly lit basement area, but no natural light. The water is wet, so it gets the job done.
The Porches is an upscale boutique inn behind Mass MoCA with lovely mountain views. In a former life, the inn was a set of row houses occupied by factory workers. The property is both homey and luxurious, with an outdoor pool heated enough to be used all year round.
The Marriott Fairfield Inn in nearby Williamstown has a very small indoor pool and great mountain views behind the hotel. There’s a wonderful outdoor patio with firepits and outdoor dining tables, so this place is perfect for families with kids who do better with take out than fancy restaurants in the evening.