Naumkeag

Naumkeag is a Gilded Age summer estate on a hillside above Stockbridge, famed for a garden that is considered a masterpiece of American landscape design. The 44-room Shingle Style house was designed by Stanford White in the 1880s for the Choate family, and over several decades the landscape architect Fletcher Steele shaped the grounds into a series of outdoor rooms. Today the property belongs to The Trustees of Reservations, which preserves the house, the gardens and the views over the Housatonic valley.The most famous feature is the Blue Steps, a cascade of curved stairs flanked by white birch trees, with fountains that spill from level to level in a vivid shade of blue. Other highlights include the Afternoon Garden, a gazebo-like terrace of colorful columns, the Chinese Garden with its moon gate, and a restored Rose Garden and Perennial Garden. The house itself is furnished with period pieces and shows how a wealthy family lived and entertained in the Berkshires.

Naumkeag is seasonal. It typically opens in late spring and runs through the fall, with the gardens at their best from June to October. The house tour and garden walk take about two hours together. Guided tours are offered at set times and explain how Steele designed each garden to be seen from a particular viewpoint. Self-guided exploration is also possible, and visitors often linger on the terrace overlooking the valley.In late fall and winter the property sometimes hosts holiday events and light displays, which draw visitors from across the region.

Check the schedule, since the dates and ticketing change from year to year. Special events such as evening garden strolls, concerts and photography sessions are popular, and tickets can sell out.The grounds include steep paths and steps, so the site is not easy for all visitors, though the Trustees can suggest accessible routes and a shuttle may be available for some parts. Wear comfortable shoes. Photography is welcome and the garden is one of the most photographed places in the Berkshires, so go early on weekends to avoid crowds.

Dogs are not usually permitted inside the gardens, so check policy if you are traveling with a pet.Naumkeag sits close to the Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood and Stockbridge Main Street. A single day can include Naumkeag in the morning, lunch in the village and an afternoon at Chesterwood. The Trustees also care for nearby Monument Mountain, an easy complement for walkers. If you love gardens, add the Berkshire Botanical Garden and the formal gardens at The Mount for a full garden trail.Take your time at the viewpoints.

The garden was designed for particular views, such as the sightline from the Afternoon Garden toward the hills and the sudden reveal of the Blue Steps from the birch walk. Pause at each, and then look back toward the house, because Steele planned the experience in both directions. Interpretive signs and guides explain his ideas about color, symmetry and surprise. If you enjoy design, bring a notebook; many visitors leave with ideas for their own gardens, from the use of paint on structures to how to plant for different seasons.