To tell you the truth, I was VERY hesitant about taking three children to Naumkeag in Stockbridge. In fact, I’m very hesitant about taking children anywhere because my 6-year-old son is a maniac, especially after he ingests carbs of any kind.
He had a peanut butter and fluff sandwich before we left. The odds were already stacked against me.
But I did it. Or we did it. And it was amazing.
I’ve been to Naumkeag several times, but never with children. It always seemed too, you know, fancy, for little kids. But yesterday, I discovered the key. First, admission to Naumkeag is free if you have valid driver’s license from the Berks. So that saved us about $30. Secondly, you can spend a whole day in the gardens alone. This is exactly what we did. There was no shortage of amazement as the kids roamed (or ran) the grounds of Choate’s “cottage,” marveling at the many hidden vignettes and statues and pathways lined with evergreens and lindens. Not only does Naumkeag provide a wealth of natural and stately beauty, all well-balanced against distant sweeps of farmland and cows, it also inspires A LOT of questions at every turn. It is truly a place to learn and explore without pressure. All you need is a little one page map and a very fierce imagination.
I almost brought them into the cottage itself, but just as we were about to enter (and try to sneak into the tour that was already going on) my son banged on the giant gong outside the door.
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