north adams

Once an industrial epicenter of Massachusetts, the small town of North Adams is best known for two things: Mount Greylock, the highest mountain Massachusetts – and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, aka MASS MoCA. Tucked away in the Berkshire Mountains, this weekend escape is equidistant from NYC and Boston, about 175 miles or a three hour drive. Since MASS MoCA’s opening in 1999, the museum’s presence has helped to put this former mill town back on the map. At 13 acres and housing 250,000 square feet of gallery space, it is the largest contemporary art museum in the United States. Its brick factory building campus once churned out textiles and machine parts; now, it's the cornerstone of this burgeoning arts community, where many new businesses of all kinds call home. Read on for our guide to North Adams, Massachusetts, including the best places to stay, eat, drink, hike, shop, and more.