Just 2.5 hours from Boston and three hours from New York, the Berkshires, in western Massachusetts, beckon visitors with their picturesque scenery, excellent hiking trails, rich history, culture, and charming inns. Writers like Edith Wharton and celebrities like Meryl Streep have made homes in this down-to-earth corner of New England, where you can spend mornings ogling contemporary art at Mass MoCA and hiking Mount Greylock in the afternoon.