Vacationing in the Berkshires - Part 2

Sunday. Rain clouds threatened. No matter. We traveled up to Lenox to visit The Mount, the one time abode of Edith Wharton.

The immense continues to be lovingly restored. The first floor has been completed with the crowning glory of acquiring her books from her days in France and installing them in the library.

I also liked the dining room, complete with pillows for her dogs as well as the butler's pantry.

The upstairs still requires restoration as well as furnishings, but the various states of repair made for an intriguing look at the work involved in bringing an old mansion back for public view.

We were also enchanted by the gardens and grounds. A good mix of the formal and informal.

We journeyed to the town of lenox for lunch and stopped by Bistro Zinc for delicious Steak Frites and a glass of Sawbuck Cabernet. While dining, Lenox charmed us with an antique fire truck parade.

For the afternoon we took a ride on the Berkshire Scenic Railway. A meandering rail jaunt from Lenox Station to Stockbridge Station. Scenic in some areas, industrial in others. Still a relaxing ride to view scenery and the crossing of the Housatonic River three different times.

On the way back we stopped at Windy Hill Farm to admire the Autumn decor and pick up fresh-pressed apple cider.

We returned to our apartment in time to see the Washinton Redskins defeat the Dallas Cowboys. Yeah! And then we walked into Great Barrington to dine at Napa on Main Street.

We began with soup - I had the Butternut Squash with Ginger and Black Mission Fig Cream. My husband had the Tuscan White Bean with Veal and Tomato. Both very yummy. We then shared a Napa Caesar Salad with Feta, Raisins, and Pistachios. I loved how the feta interplayed with the slightly sweet dressing and the fresh greens. We then shared the Baked Garganelli with Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil. This was some of the best pasta we had eaten in quite a while. We finished with a basic Creme Brulee. The host and waitress both were engaging and friendly. The only shortcoming was the lack of a wide variety of Napa or even California wines, thus creating slight confusion with the restaurant's nomenclature.