The Great Indoors
WARMING UP TO THE WINTER SEASON WITH SOME INDOOR ACTIVITIES By Taylor Staubach
I N D O O R
SPORTS
Boot , scoot , and shuffle your way through winter with Line Dancing with Tina in Dalton .
HERE IN THE BERKSHIRES , the winter season is highly anticipated amongst sports enthusiasts and snow-lovers alike . The stunning scenery beckons young and old to bundle up and take pleasure in the great outdoors , and when it comes time to warm up to some indoor recreational fun , the offerings are equally plentiful .
Take , for instance , the first time I joined the ranks of track walkers at the recently renovated Berkshire Family YMCA in Pittsfield . From my vantage point on the fourth floor overlooking North Street , I could see the faded storefront of the Jim ’ s House of Shoes . A wave of nostalgia washed over me , bringing me right back to the mall madness of the ’ 90s , a time when both kids and adults passed the winter months pacing out laps at the Berkshire Mall . Indoor malling is a thing of the past in the Berkshires , but the question remains : Where does one get those steps indoors ?
Mall , schmall ! There are other fantastic indoor recreation options in the Berkshires . The Pittsfield YMCA is a vibrant community hub that caters to a range of activities , keeping everyone moving even on the coldest days . Their friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect place to socialize and stay active . Take a lap ( or two ) on the indoor track , or warm up in the sauna . The YMCA also boasts a branch in North Adams and manages the Bennington Community Center in Vermont , offering a wide variety of opportunities to stay active , including group fitness classes , racquetball , and youth sports , making them a great family-friendly spot to shake off the winter blues all together . One membership gives you access to all three local locations , as well as the other 2,600 locations nationwide if you venture further afield !
Colder temperatures mean frozen ponds and lakes throughout the Berkshires . If the freeze hasn ’ t set in fully and you ’ re aching for time on the ice , there are indoor options . At the Boys and Girls Club in Pittsfield and the Peter W . Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink in North Adams , you can lace up those skates in the warmth of the changing room before joining the public skating . And just beyond the Berkshires is the impressive Amelia Park Ice Arena in neighboring Westfield .
If pickleball is your game , look no further than the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball Club at the Boys and Girls Club , or drop in on a weekly game at Bousquet Sport , both in Pittsfield . In south county , Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington also offers indoor pickleball , as well as pilates , an experiential fourweek course in mindfulness , and many other class options . Swimmers can dive into Berkshire South ’ s indoor pool for a range of programs like Aqua Volleyball to Aqua Thrills , an adaptive program designed for adults with special needs . Also in Great Barrington , the Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon ’ s Rock is a hub of health and wellness for its students and the greater community . It features an eight-lane indoor pool , indoor rock climbing wall , a 100-meter elevated track , as well as squash and racquetball courts .
Looking for something different to fill your indoor spare time ? Head to K & M Bowling in Pittsfield , The Cove in Great Barrington , Valley Park Lanes in North Adams , or Greylock Bowl & Golf also in North Adams , and let the good times roll ! The newest kid on the block , K & M
TINA MOLE
76 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2023