Worthington has it made. With a population of just 1200, the Hampshire County town (bordering Berkshire County) has the distinction of being equidistant from Northampton and Pittsfield (23 miles from each). Combine this proximity to major cultural destinations like Noho, Lenox, Lee and Stockbridge with beautiful, rich farmland and bucolic winding roads, and you've got what I consider to be a perfect location.

Obviously, Worthington's residents agree with me. Ensconced in white clapboard farmhouses and renovated barns all over town are potters, painters, lawyers, farmers, video producers, herbalists, soapmakers and at least one classical composer, all of whom have chosen to savor the delights of country living. Simply put, if you want to get away from it all, Worthington is the place for you. The town center, Worthington Corners, with its traditional country store, museum and library, is postcard-worthy, but hardly bustling. In the summer, you can buy produce from local farmers, but you'll need to go out of town for any substantial groceries. Or for any other shopping, for that matter. But that suits Worthington residents just fine. They're fiercely protective of their small community lifestyle.

But that doesn't mean they don't welcome visitors. Though it's not a tourist destination, per se, Worthington is ideal for a vacation stopover or weekend getaway. There are (at last count) four bed and breakfasts in town, each of them unique. To me, the most intriguing is the Hill Gallery, an artist owned and designed contemporary home tucked into the Hampshire Hills, where guests can relax in front of the livingroom's floor to ceiling fieldstone fireplace or wander outside to commune with the resident bass in the property's ponds. The Haytree House, along with five guest rooms, a common room with fireplace and an outdoor hot tub, also houses one of the town's few eateries, the cozy Red Fox Pub. Haytree also has a formal dining room, which it opens for special events and functions. The Worthington Inn, built in 1780, but restored in 1942 by Historic Deerfield restorer William Gass, features wide pine floorboards, five fireplaces and a mix of English and American antiques. And last but by no means least, the Old North Road B & B, offers comfortable accommodations in a house set on a hill overlooking fields and rolling hills, abutting a series of spring-fed beaver ponds.

Worthington is truly a town for all seasons. In the winter, there's cross-country skiing at the Hickory Hill Touring Center. In spring, summer and early fall, you can hike, take a balloon ride or play a round at the Worthington Golf Club. And in July and August, you can savor the town's most celebrated attraction, the Sevenar's Concerts. Considered by Time Magazine as one of six "best small music festivals in the USA," the concert series was established in 1968 by celebrated pianists Robert and Rolande Schrade and their family, and is a draw for music lovers through the Northeast. This summer's schedule includes performances by the Schrades, Jerry Noble and Bob Sparkman (a fabulous piano and clarinet duo), the Colorado String Quartet and The New England Winds. With consistently high quality performances and modest ticket prices, it's well worth the trip.

I was impressed with Worthington (can't you tell?). If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Routes 112 and 143, stop by and check it out. I think you'll find something of interest there, too.


For more information:
http://www.haytreehouse.com
http://www.hamphillsbandb.com/hillgallery
http://www.hamphillsbandb.com/oldnorthrd
http://www.hamphillsbandb.com/worthington
http://www.justameretreefarm.com
http://www.hidden-hills.com/worthingtonballooning/
http://www.hidden-hills.com/sevenars/
http://xcskimass.com/HickoryHill

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