Hancock Shaker Village is an immersive complex with family-friendly exposure into Shaker living. It’s got a self-guided tour, organic gardens, historic buildings (swing by the round barn while you’re there), lush trails, sustainable water turbines, delicious food, farm life, and live demonstrations. The open season typically begins in May and wraps up when the cold weather creeps back around. For children, the baby animals are a hit. For adults, it’s activities like goat yoga and exploring the property that drive repeat visits. For those who are into history, the village has an impressive display of tools, reenactments of Shaker living, and authentic hand-made furniture. 

Shakers were really self-sufficient and technologically advanced for their time period. In their prime, there were close to 20 practicing villages. Don’t skip out on the scheduled demonstrations to learn about it. They provide insight into historical artifacts, music, food, animals, and agriculture. The cafe also serves local food and the grounds are a great place for a picnic. The Hancock Shaker Village experience is essentially a portal into the past. 

If you’re up for indulging in some more history-rich locations in the Berkshires, the Berkshire Museum is seven miles up the road in downtown Pittsfield. It’s packed with some pretty neat exhibits, educational events, and a museum store filled with funky trinkets.