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Care for some art with your quiet forest scenery? Maybe a little hiking or fishing before you tackle restaurants and shopping? Take a drive to western Massachusetts and see what the Berkshire hills have to offer for relaxation and fun.

Get a little preview by looking for the videos at the Berkshires Official Travel Planner - http://www.berkshires.org/ - especially the collection labelled "Outdoors" with samples of white water rafting and hiking, and "Culture."

Then, look for their "Visiting" section to find itinerary suggestions grouped by subjects ranging from shopping (antiques and Shaker crafts to modern sculpture and crafts) to hiking and horseback tours, plus ideas for tours with restless kids. If those ideas don't fill your time, look under "Things to Do" for a menu where you can search for camps, canoe rentals, golf courses, galleries and gardens and historic sites such as Hancock Shaker Village - http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/. Pick up some more ideas from the Web site's bloggers, who have a lot of opinions on places to eat and things for the whole family to do.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra appreciates good surroundings. Its summer home is Tanglewood - http://tinyurl.com/2am9z5 - in Lenox. August performances include an All-Beethoven Program on the 22nd, and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival at the end of the month.

Stockbridge is the home of the Norman Rockwell Museum - http://www.normanrockwellmuseum.org/ - celebrating the illustrator whose works symbolize mid-20th century Americana.

Stockbridge also is the base of the Berkshire Theatre Festival - http://www.berkshiretheatre.org/ - with "Waiting for Godot" running through Aug. 23, and "Oliver" coming up in September. Shakespeare & Company - http://www.shakespeare.org/ - is located just a few kilometres away.

In the northern Berkshires, take time for Natural Bridge State Park - http://tinyurl.com/63m4nw - and the Mohawk Trail - http://www.mohawktrail.com/ - a scenic drive through countryside and small towns leading eastward out of the hills.

If you do try the Mohawk trail, the state's Office of Travel & Tourism has a guide to more things to see and do in Western Massachusetts - http://www.massvacation.com/westernMass/ - including Franklin County with the historic city of Deerfield, and the Greater Springfield Area with theme parks, museums and plenty of outdoor activities.

Consider adding to your appreciation of the local history and outdoor scenery with a stay in one of the Berkshires' many bed -and-breakfast inns. About.com has a directory - http://tinyurl.com/5hdg7w - listing places such as the 1767 Birchwood Inn or the 1780 Garden Gables Inn. You can also go back to the Berkshires Official Travel Planner and click on "Stay" to search for more.

Prefer the outdoors? Look up the directory of campgrounds at Hidden-Hills - http://www.hidden-hills.com/ - along with lists of antique shops and other businesses.