Amherst
Amherst Farmers Market
Photo by Lynne Graves
Amherst has beauty and brains. Really, it’s the entire package.
The town – the most populous in Hampshire County – is a vibrant, intellectual hub. Three prestigious colleges call Amherst home: Amherst College, Hampshire College, and UMass Amherst. Bask in the academic tradition as you stroll through the grand campuses and recite poetry (try local heroine Emily Dickinson) under a towering elm tree. Then we might suggest enjoying the more hedonistic perks of a college town – late night pizza and cookies, fancy cocktails and music at The Drake.
Amherst’s youthful, lively downtown boasts an independent movie theater, diverse restaurants, and a handful of coffee shops, museums, art galleries, and bookstores set against the backdrop of historical architecture and blooming flower gardens. Yes, it looks like a movie set for a quintessential New England town – only Amherst is the real deal.
Much like the rest of Hampshire County, Amherst is known for its bookishness, its artsyness, its local food obsession, its openness and tolerance, and its beauty. You’ll see lots of farms, farm stands, and fresh food. We hope you’ll join us at the weekly farmers market. While you’re here in Western Massachusetts, try Amherst-brewed beers and wines for a taste of local flavor.
Join an ultimate frisbee game on the town common, hop on the bike path, or stretch out with a book and a picnic spread. Travel farther afield to swim in the beloved Puffer’s Pond, or hike Amethyst Brook.
Want to sound like a local while you’re here? Drop your “h.” Welcome to Am-erst.
Visit What’s Next? Greater Amherst for a closer look at what’s happening in Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Sunderland, Leverett, Shutesbury, and Pelham.