Friendly and luxurious Great Barrington hotels complete the adventure that this hilly town nestled in the Southern Berkshire Mountains offers.

Tourists who have visited Great Barrington, Massachusetts and live in Great Barrington hotels, are often awe-struck at the sheer natural beauty that adorns this small town. It’s a historical town with versatile options: A serene colorful landscape in the summer; and an exciting ski locale in the winter.

The beautiful Great Barrington town has been built in the valley of the Housatonic River. It houses a population of under 8,000 people; making Great Barrington hotels the perfect place to be for people seeking a relaxing holiday in a friendly, pollution-free town.

Great Barrington hotels are occasionally frequented by hikers, as this town lies on the popular Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail passes by the southwest of Great Barrington, and due to this many popular Great Barrington hotels, country clubs and fairgrounds are located there.

One unique feature of Great Barrington is that it has its own currency called the Berkshires. Tourists to Great Barrington are fascinated with this fact. Over 370 businesses including some Great Barrington hotels, accept Berkshires as a valid form of payment.

Though it’s a small town, Great Barrington is a thriving tourist center. It offers a variety of options; and no matter how much time you have in Great Barrington, you could never run out of things to do.

The primary winter attraction in Great Barrington is for the skiers. Ski Butternut Area is the most popular ski resort and attracts lots of skiers every year. Located on the Warner mountain and operational since 1936, the Ski Butternut Area offers fun and exciting trails to skiers. Whether you are a champion skier or just a hobbyist, the Ski Butternut Area has something delightful for you. There are 22 different ski trails, 10 ski lifts, 2 terrain parks, a tubing area, and even a PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) affiliated ski school. There are some luxurious Great Barrington hotels with Suites & Jacuzzi in the Ski Butternut Area, such as the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Great Barrington. It is prudent to book in advance, considering the popularity of the region during ski season.

Other popular ski resorts in Great Barrington are the Catamount Ski Area and the Bousquet Ski Area.

In summer, the landscape transforms. The white snow gives way to colorful flowers which bloom all over the hills. The beautiful non-treacherous trails make Great Barrington a great summer resort as well. Apart from the Appalachian Trail, there are numerous hiking trails available around Great Barrington. These trails provide hiking fun to tourists who stay in Great Barrington hotels for a short time such as the weekends, or for a longer period of time such as weeks altogether. Beautiful rivers, waterfalls, brooks and natural sceneries are available on the hiking trails in Great Barrington.

There are some great historical and cultural retreats available to tourists staying in Great Barrington hotels. The most popular is the Berkshire Arts Festival which happens in the Ski Butternut Area during off-seasons. There are many rock concerts and music festivals happening throughout summer as well. The Aston Magna festival is a great crowd puller. It is also of cultural interest to visit the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center which has music and cultural events all round the year. There are 55 restaurants in the area offering various cuisines while tourists savor the experience of being in Great Barrington.

Great Barrington is celebrating its 250th anniversary in July 2011. This will be a time of great festivities and a great summer vacation.

So if you are planning a holiday, make sure you consider Great Barrington. Vibrant and full of opportunities to have fun, and with luxurious Great Barrington hotels to live in, this small town rivals any other as a great tourist destination.