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Fall is upon us, and while Summer may be coming to a close, your vacation season doesn’t have to! Picture this; you’re sitting outside enjoying your morning coffee tucked into an Adirondack chair on a big wrap-around porch; the air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and the wildlife is shuttling by, busy preparing for winter.
There’s perhaps no better way to enjoy a fall vacation in New England than by booking one of the many lake rentals in the Berkshires. Regardless of your chosen property, you can rest assured that activities like fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking are just around the corner.
The wide variety of rental properties ensures that everyone, whether on a romantic retreat, family vacation, or a solitary journey, can find the perfect vacation home to enjoy the lakeside fully. And in today’s post, we’ll discover some absolute stunners, perfect for a weekend New England leaf-peeping getaway.
Picking The Perfect Lake Rental in The Berkshires
The Different Types of Lake Rentals in Berkshires
Rustic Cabin Lake Rentals in The Berkshires
There’s nothing quite like returning to your log cabin to the smell of fall’s first indoor woodstove on a brisk autumn day. If your idea of the perfect fall getaway includes A-frames, foliage, and woodstoves, you’ll find abundant choices in the Berkshires during the cooler months.
The cabins and cottages here typically feature 1-2 bedrooms, a fully functional kitchen, and an outdoor area, often with a private dock onto the lake, and are the perfect option for those seeing an intimate, rustic experience with a modest to mid-range budget.
Fancy-Pants Luxury Cabins in The Berkshires
If you’re looking for something a little more five-star, there are also many luxury rentals in the area. These properties often have multiple bedrooms, gourmet kitchens, expansive living spaces, and private lakefront view decks. Additional amenities may include private pools, hot tubs, game rooms, and large landscaped yards.
As expected, these upscale rentals command higher rates but offer unparalleled comfort and access to various recreational activities and may be best for larger families or those wanting to splurge. If you really want to go all-out, you can even consider hiring a private chef to make you and your party dinner one night.
Choosing the Right Lake Rental For Your Interests
Once you know what type of experience you’re after, you’ll want to take some time to think through what you want out of your experience. As I’ve mentioned, the Berkshires are a huge stretch of land running from the top western part of MA into Connecticut, and no two towns are quite the same.
Do you fancy a calm, isolated spot deep in the woods, or are you looking to be closer to the art galleries, museums, and activities? No matter your preference, you’ll find a lake rental in the Berkshires to fit everyone once they know what they’re looking for.
Photo by alicetricky on Unsplash
Picking The Right Lake Rentals in The Berkshires For Your Family
Ok, yall. I’m super excited about this one. I have six killer lake rentals in the Berkshires to show you today that I know you’ll love, no matter your budget. Let’s dive in!
Budget-Friendly Lake Rentals in The Berkshires
As someone who grew up in the wilds of Maine, when I think about my family’s perfect vacation spots for fall and winter, it’s all about the log cabins: leaves, cabins, crisp air, fireplaces, and flannels.
And our first stop, which I’m now affectionately calling “the camp,” brings me back to those times in spades, but it’s not the only gem on this list.
The Camp, Otis, MA –
Can you believe this? Set right at the water’s edge; The Camp is everything I knew and loved about lake-side summers as a young child.
This 3 bedroom 1 bathroom home can sleep up to seven and offers a huge wrap-around deck, gorgeous water views, and amenities like a washer and dryer, outdoor grill, patio furniture, screened-in water-facing porch, and a wood-burning fireplace.
The knotty pine interior brings that street credibility that this is indeed a camp, not just someone’s cookie-cutter home that they rent out, and while the galley kitchen is small, the home’s open concept layout and multiple dining areas are perfect for any weather.
The Camp boasts a 4.9 out of 5 stars review.
The Island of Otis
If you’re looking for lake rentals in the Berkshires with a truly unique perspective on the landscape, go no further than “The Island of Otis.”
Like the first option, this home is located in Otis, MA. It’s a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home with a mix of rustic pine finishings and more upscale furnishings. But what makes this home stand out isn’t its interior; it sits atop a private small island in the middle of a reservoir, giving inhabitants almost 360-degree views.
While smaller than the other options on this list, “The Island of Otis” does offer a kitchen, dryer, somewhat large deck, and furnished outdoor space for those visitors that like a lot of privacy and seclusion. There’s also a boat house and some kayaks, and if you have kids, you can’t really get closer to the water than this.
This location has a 5 out of 5 stars!
The Sophisticated A-Frame Lake Rental in The Berkshires
Our final stop on the budget lake rentals in the Berkshire guide is what I like to call “the sophisticated a-frame.” Located in Great Barrington, this place has it all: camp-y feel, great views, plenty of space, an open layout, a nice sized kitchen, and a fireplace that I envy.
This 4 bedroom, 2 bath home is new to the market this season, but it holds a ton of promise as the hosts figure things out for the long haul.
It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a family-style dinner at the big table after a long day on the lake or out on one of the many hiking trails and a cozy respite on cooler evenings.
Amenities include a washer, dryer, full kitchen, grill, fire pit, and a well-maintained deck with outdoor furniture with direct and unobstructed lake views that make it perfect for fall leaf peeping.
The Sophisticated A-Frame has a 3.7 out of 5 review at this time. There’s no way to please everyone when considering lake rentals in the Berkshires or anywhere. This home has a big mix of low and high reviews, but it’s also their first year in business, so if you book after the 2023 season, maybe check out what recent guests have said.
Luxury Lake Rentals in The Berkshires
Sometimes we need the finer things in life, am I right? While I love the nostalgia of rustic camps in summer and early fall, as the weather starts to turn colder here, I find myself aching for more comfortable surroundings that include fireplaces, warm blankets, and big windows where I can catch the last rays of sunset while my body prepares for the darkness of winter.
The Mid-Century Modern A-Frame
Located in Beckett, MA, this mid-century modern A-Frame is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom retreat located in Beckett, MA. The home is well appointed with a recently re-modeled and full kitchen, sumptuous linens, a gas fireplace, multiple seating areas in an open-concept space, and my family’s idea of the perfect chalet getaway.
While the home is still on a lake, it’s marshy and weedy, so if swimming is your family’s top priority, then this probably isn’t the home for you. However, you’ll still find incredible views from the more than ample deck and large living room windows.
Enjoy dinner on the deck before settling in for the night on the oversized couch with a roaring gas fireplace to keep you warm.
The Mid-Century Modern A-Frame currently boasts 5 out of 5 stars from guests.
The Gourmond’s Paradise
Getting back to Otis, our next contender is a home with a modern-industrial style feel that features a kitchen to die for: The Gourmond’s Paradise.
This gorgeous home features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a chef’s kitchen with all new modern appliances, and a large family-style farm table that can comfortably seat six.
The home features an open concept layout, a washer and dryer, a substantial and well-furnished outside deck with a lovely view in the warmer months of the lake, and additional baby gear/pack and plays upon request.
With a view like this, it’s not hard to understand why “The Gourmond’s Paradise” has a 5 out of 5-star rating for lake rentals in the Berkshires.
I hope you’re enjoying this review of lake rentals in the Berkshires, but like all good stories, we’re saving the best for last – or at least the weirdest.
The Most Extreme Of The Lake Rentals in The Berkshires
Ok, we’ve covered budget-friendly lake rentals in the Berkshires. We’ve covered some luxury lake rentals in the Berkshires. Now we will cover an over-the-top lake rental in the Berkshires that will surely keep you, your family and your friends talking about it for years after you left…
This 6-bedroom, 5-bathroom home in Lee, MA, is the creme de la creme of luxury lake rentals in the Berkshires and an experience you and your family won’t soon forget. At 7,000 square feet, this is our largest lake rental in the Berkshires, with plenty of space for everyone to get a little lost on your next vacation.
Part of the Vanderbilt estate, this property’s amenities include a gym, an in-house yoga studio, two kitchens, a media screening room, custom high-end art, and unparalleled access to the region’s local attractions like Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, Premium Outlet Shopping, and more.
Go big or go home; if you’re ever looking for a once-in-a-lifetime lake rental in the Berkshires, this is the one for you; and you…. and you? Whatever sized party you have, this home will accommodate you comfortably, but maybe watch the younger ones on that above landing?
Lake Rentals in The Berkshires Conclusion
Whatever your budget and wherever your preferred destination is for your next Berkshires, MA, vacation, I hope you’ve seen there’s a little something for every taste, itinerary, and personal need here. This location is a wonderful area filled with eclectic towns and town-specific activities, and no matter when you decide to visit, there’s always a little something going on to enjoy.
Until next time!