When catching up with friends this summer, the question of, “How was your vacation?” is usually a topic for discussion. Undeterred by COVID, so many people headed across this country or across the Atlantic; flying, cruising, riding the rails or taking road trips.

Often, however, their anticipatory excitement evolved into frustration and fatigue. Friends shared stories of winding up stuck in airports after missing connecting flights, wondering if they’d ever reach their destination. Those who finally made it arrived exhausted, sometimes losing precious vacation days in transit. Others arrived to a less than welcoming Europe, where floods of tourists fueled resentment among the locals.

Climate change has thwarted those who prefer to travel within North America. Sweltering temperatures and humidity, as far north as the top of Vermont, coastal Maine, and Quebec City confined some friends to afternoons in air-conditioned accommodations, curled up with a good book, foregoing sight-seeing, beaches and picnics.

Wildfires in the West, disastrous storms, and record-breaking temperatures everywhere foiled the plans of many travelers. And let’s not forget summer traffic jams, where construction and travelers on their way to their Saturday rentals doubled and tripled ordinary driving times.

And then there’s COVID …

A friend summed it up recently over breakfast. “My wife and I are done with summer vacationing. From now on, it’s staycations!” Another friend mentioned the environmental costs of long-distance travel.

The World Travel and Tourism Council reported in 2022 that 8-10% of global CO2 emissions are caused by the travel and tourism sector. That includes not just the big jets my friends took to Europe. Think about hotel air conditioners, tour buses, and Ubers shuttling tourists from place to place. The list of culprits that contribute to wildfires and wild weather is endless.

My husband and I love traveling. Retirement has allowed us to visit spots all over the world. Yet, when people ask me, “What is your favorite travel destination,” without hesitation I reply, “the Berkshires.” Each summer, we load up the car, traveling on scenic roads with little traffic, to enjoy the natural beauty, arts, and recreational opportunities, all within an hour of home.

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The proximity of the Berkshires makes the area a destination for Tanglewood concerts and visits to Mass MoCA. Some drive to the Lee Outlets to shop for bargains. Still, except for a handful of friends with second homes in the Berkshires, I have yet to find a western Mass. resident who intentionally chooses to vacation there.

This summer I spent time in Vermont, Toronto and New York City, but couldn’t stop talking about my week in the Berkshires. Hotter than normal temperatures, plus rain, did not deter us from filling our days with activities. On a rainy Monday, we visited the Clark Art Institute, where we viewed the first large-scale exhibition of the work of an 18th-century Caribbean artist, born of an enslaved Black woman and her white enslaver.

Afterward, we headed to The Mount, the former estate of writer Edith Wharton, where we sat under a giant tent in pelting rain, to hear a lively talk by Jonathan Eig, recent Pulitzer Prize recipient for his 2024 biography of Martin Luther King Jr. We spent another rainy afternoon at Shakespeare and Company, watching a riveting play titled “The Islanders,” followed by a trip to Jacob’s Pillow, where an outdoor performance by an Italian dance troupe was moved inside. What I called our “day of culture” was followed by a violin, cello and piano concert at Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall.

Always on the lookout to try new Berkshire restaurants, the unique Italian dishes at Sibaritas in Pittsfield did not disappoint, nor did our almost daily trips for takeout food from Guidos, located around the corner from our hotel. A six-minute drive from Sibaritas took us to Pittsfield’s acclaimed Barrington Stage to see “Forgiveness,” a play inspired by stories of formerly incarcerated people seeking forgiveness from the Minnesota Board of Pardons. It’s a poignant story, with much food for thought. Interested? It’s around until Aug. 25.

My husband and I are avid cyclists, taking our bicycles on all our domestic trips. Whether you want the challenge of pedaling up Mount Greylock, Massachusetts’ tallest mountain, or a ride on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, cycling opportunities in the Berkshires abound for all levels and ages.

On a rain-free, gorgeous ride from Lenox to Stockbridge to Lee, we cycled past ponds, farms, manicured mansions, pausing for a much-awaited ice cream stop at beautiful High Lawn Farm, where I happily ate my refreshing scoop of blackberry-chocolate chip ice cream while enjoying the scenic views of hills and cows.

As I said earlier, I can’t stop talking about the Berkshires. There is so much more to experience than I’ve described, including lots of free stuff too! Accommodations abound. Berkshire vacations don’t end in late August, when Tanglewood closes. Each season brings special outdoor and indoor opportunities.

A couple of years ago, I checked myself into a hotel for a solo writing retreat, with time for walks and cycling, of course! Vacationing at this world-class destination is good for the Berkshires’ local economies, the planet and your wallet, and good for the soul!

Sara Weinberger lives in Easthampton.