My husband and our small dog and I had a restful and restorative week at Jaclyn’s house. The cottage is old-fashioned and charming — think grandma’s house, not the Four Seasons. Bathrooms are smallish, there’s no dishwasher and the freestanding a/c units did their best in the July heatwave (one bedroom stayed very cool while the one with the king sized bed and the lakefront view was warmer). The other big issue is that the lake, while pretty, is too shallow and muddy for swimming and you can kayak end to end in five minutes. We took a lot of pretty picture and loved sitting on the dock and meeting the ducks!
What this property has going for it is its location. You won’t see neighbors or hear anything but birds and frogs and the wind in the trees. It was peaceful and private while also a short drive from Tanglewood, the Stockbridge Bowl (which is great for swimming and kayaking) and all the great hiking and cute small towns that make the Berkshires so appealing. The beds were comfy, the grounds were pretty, and if you’re not expecting modern resort luxury, you’ll be very happy on Longbow Lake.