http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/ Luxist Comments for Calling All Estate Tour Lovers, Answer This Question http://www.luxist.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.luxist.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/
While the tour may have changed in the last couple of years at 'Ventfort Hall' (Lenox, MA) - best known as the orphanage in the 1999 movie The Cider House Rules - I just cannot recommend doing the tour. It was costly and what was visible to the public was exceedingly limited. The second floor was off-limits and what you could tour of the first floor was just a fraction of the actual space. I'm all for helping fund money via tours to save and expand but this was a bit of highway robbery for me.

A far better tour in that area is in nearby Stockbridge, MA with the magnificent 'Naumkeag' owned and operated by the Trustees of Reservations. The summer home of Amb. Joseph Hodges Choate is one of the finest shingle-style homes done by McKim, Mead & White and occupies a lovely hillside setting. The house can be fully explored and is fully furnished with the original contents. Visiting the Berkshires and skipping this tour is a bit of a crime.

For Vermont I'd add viewing 'Hildene' in Manchester which was the estate of Robert Todd Lincoln - the President's eldest son. Also for architecture tour 'Shelburne Farms' in Shelburne although the mannor house is used as an Inn and not as per say open for tours. ]]>Sep 18th 2009 10:38AMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/http://www.casaloma.org/

Casa Loma in Toronto Ontario. I have only ever been there once but it was a great place to go and walk around if your in the Toronto area.]]>Sep 18th 2009 12:02PMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/Sep 18th 2009 7:27PMhttp://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/http://www.luxist.com/2009/09/18/calling-all-estate-tour-lovers-answer-this-question/Nov 12th 2009 8:43PM