Anyone stay at Stonegate, Barrinton Berskshires?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I'm going to Stonegate in June and wanted to know from any who know the area or the resort what they suggest to do for fun with 2 seniors. I'll be there a week. It seems that we are a few weeks too early for the symphony & music festivals.
Looking for other low impact things to do.
Thanks for any suggestions.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

We've been to the Berkshires, but not at Stonegate. There's the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Berkshires Museum. People talk about the Red Lion Inn--I think it's supposed to be a pleasant, elegant restaurant. There's an outlet center in Lee. Also a Six Flags in Agawam if you feel more high-impact!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

The towns of Lenox and Stockbridge are cute (Red Lion Inn is in Stockbridge), some nice galleries, shops and restaurants. Great Barrington is another nice town. For nature, check out BishBash falls, but there is some moderate hiking/walking for that.

Further north, in North Adams, there is Mass MOCA (I think that's the name), modern art museum.

There are a few nice lakes you can rent rowboats, kayaks - maybe the seniors can picnic ashore while you do that? And the grounds at Tanglewood are beautiful, even if the season hasn't begun yet.

If anyone is spiritually or yoga-ly inclined, you can check out the Kripalu Institute. For upscale spa services there's the Cranwell, and if you want to drop an absolute fortune on a very elegant dinner there's the Wheatleigh...

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Wow looks like I'll have plenty to do. We are staying in Barrington and it looks like there's a few things to do there. THanks.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Wow looks like I'll have plenty to do. We are staying in Barrington and it looks like there's a few things to do there. THanks.

Great Barrington is nice, and the furthest south of the towns mentioned. Also closest to BishBash Falls. The whole area will be quiet at that time, but very pretty. And I forgot to mention antiquing, plenty of that so if you're interested you should pick up an antiquing map/brochure.

[10AC-TYM Member Find all posts View Profile Close 10AC-TYM]

Thanks for the information. We will be staying there July 31 - Aug.7. We have tickets for five plays and now have ideas for other activities.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

We stayed at Stonegate about 8 years ago. It is an old Victorian looking building, and the theme is maintained throughout. The furniture is Victorian and if you like this kind of charm you will love this place. The 2 BR unit we had was quite large and well-equipped, and we liked that it was different from any timeshare we'd stayed in previously, or since for that matter. It was more like being in someone's large home. If you are looking for a modern timeshare, this is not it and you will be disappointed. I don't recall any elevators, but this was some time ago. I also don't recall any resort activities. The location is wonderful. We totally enjoyed the Norman Rockwell museum.
Have a great time!
Connie

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Don't forget about Tanglewood - the summer concert home of the Boston Symphny Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
For Antiquing head south on route 7 and you will find 30 or more shops before you get to the Connecticut border.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

We stayed at Stonegate about 8 years ago. It is an old Victorian looking building, and the theme is maintained throughout. The furniture is Victorian and if you like this kind of charm you will love this place. The 2 BR unit we had was quite large and well-equipped, and we liked that it was different from any timeshare we'd stayed in previously, or since for that matter. It was more like being in someone's large home. If you are looking for a modern timeshare, this is not it and you will be disappointed. I don't recall any elevators, but this was some time ago. I also don't recall any resort activities. The location is wonderful. We totally enjoyed the Norman Rockwell museum.
Have a great time!
Connie

Connie,
Thanks for the info. And yes the reason why I booked this is because I have not seen a timeshare quite like it except for maybe Nob Hill in San Fran. I thought it would be nice to stay in a bed n breakfast kind of place without the price of a b &b. It's nice to have a kitchen and be in a historic area. I like off the beaten path places and figured this one fit the bill nicely. I already checked on the unit and it is on the first floor since I'm going with senior relatives didn't want them climbing too many stairs. I'm sure we'll have a great time.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

We've been to the Berkshires, but not at Stonegate. There's the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Berkshires Museum. People talk about the Red Lion Inn--I think it's supposed to be a pleasant, elegant restaurant. There's an outlet center in Lee. Also a Six Flags in Agawam if you feel more high-impact!

Thanks for the recommendations. We did go to the Norman Rockwell Museum, what a beautiful piece of land with an awesome view, no wonder he loved the area. And Stockbridge is such a quaint town. We did go to the Red Lion Inn and had dinner in the main dining room. Very elegant and had very traditional early American dinner (turkey & pork chops). I am skiipping the Outlet center because I already need another suitcase as it is to take home my finds and if I buy anything else I'm going to have to drive back to Florida instead of fly if I keep it up. I think we are going to skip Six Flags too as my 83 year old Aunt is just not able to do theme parks. Thanks again.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

The towns of Lenox and Stockbridge are cute (Red Lion Inn is in Stockbridge), some nice galleries, shops and restaurants. Great Barrington is another nice town. For nature, check out BishBash falls, but there is some moderate hiking/walking for that.

Further north, in North Adams, there is Mass MOCA (I think that's the name), modern art museum.

There are a few nice lakes you can rent rowboats, kayaks - maybe the seniors can picnic ashore while you do that? And the grounds at Tanglewood are beautiful, even if the season hasn't begun yet.

If anyone is spiritually or yoga-ly inclined, you can check out the Kripalu Institute. For upscale spa services there's the Cranwell, and if you want to drop an absolute fortune on a very elegant dinner there's the Wheatleigh...

It's raining today so I'm thinking of hitting the MOCA. We loved Great Barrington. What a nice town. We even got to go to the Bach Society's choral concert. Very nice.

We did the Stockbridge town yesterday and ate at the Red Lion Inn. Very nice place with a great porch for people watching. Foods not bad either.
Definetely see why Rockwell liked the area so much. THanks for the recommendations.

[bmiller18 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bmiller18]

Stonegate-DO NOT go there!!

Stonegate should not be called luxury or a resort by any means. We have been RCI owners for over 25 years and Stonegate was the worst vacation experience ever.
There is no central air, just window units not capable of cooling the entire unit. We were confirmed to unit 1103 on floor one, which has direct access to the front porch, eight months in advance of my arrival. Upon arrival, Emma, the resort caretaker and receptionist reassigned us to the third floor attic because she rented our confirmed unit to someone else. If she rents a unit on floors 1 or 2, an RCI member is given an attic unit since no renter would want to go up three narrow staircases to stay in a unit with slanted walls. It was a basic bait and switch. Her hospitality and demeanor leave much to be desired.

Be aware that Stonegate has been getting away with charging an extra $35.00 so-called energy surcharge (she insisted CASH ONLY!). RCI members already pay substantial maintenance fees and should not be forced to pay this. Since the building has eight units, that amounts to approximately $12,000 extra cash a year to them for no valid reason. The “resort” has no activities, or any amenities of any kind and during the summer, the mosquitoes around the building are numerous and ferocious.
The RCI info sheet states all the BR’s have a queen bed, but there was only a small double bed because a queen would not fit into our attic unit.
Our unit, 1302 did not even have a tub in the bath; only a small shaky shower stall that would not accommodate someone over 6 ft. without hitting your head.
Also, she refused to give us a second key to the unit. Also, the exterior is in need of painting.

We would not have even stayed there, but had already purchased tickets to events in the area for the week so decided to stay anyway. However, we left before the end of the week when one night bats entered our unit and were flying all around buzzing our heads. We managed to get them out of the bedroom and shut that door and confine them to the other areas so we could try to sleep for the night. We immediately left the next morning.
Stonegate was a vacation in Hell, complete with bats.

[bmiller18 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bmiller18]

Stonegate-DO NOT go there!!

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