Blog / Culture
Celebrate the Season on The Other Side of Massachusetts
Arcadia Mass Audubon’s Winter Solstice & Forest Luminaria Walk
Lynne Graves Photography
Celebrate "the most wonderful time of the year" at one of our festive events.
How do you like them apples?
Park Hill Orchard, Easthampton
Photo by Lynne Graves
Hold up! Before you reach for that pumpkin spice latte, can we take a minute to spread some apple-love? Here in Western Massachusetts, we boast about the heirloom varieties under cultivation by our region’s orchardists. The u-pick scene is sweet (or tangy and crisp, depending on your choice), local ciders are brewing, and as if picking your own peck with a mountain view wasn’t enticing enough, we’re sharing our favorite unexpected Western Applechusetts adventures -- just in…
Toast the Good Life
Black Birch Vineyard Wine Tasting
Photo by Lynne Graves
The good life is especially worth toasting in Western Massachusetts during the summer. Here’s our top 10 list (in no particular order).
How to Enjoy Western MA Maple Season from Near and Far
Red Bucket Sugar Shack, Worthington | Photo by Lynne Graves
Here in Western Massachusetts, maple sugaring season is one of the first signs of our annual agricultural awakening. As soon as we start to see the maple buckets on trees and sugaring steam rising in the distance, we know spring can't be far off. Whether you plan to be near or far from Western Massachusetts, there are ways to enjoy the best that a Massachusetts maple season has to offer.
3 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ this Valentine’s Day in Western MA
Amherst Cinema, Bistro Les Gras, & Luthier's Co-op | Photos by Lynne Graves
Looking for things to do on or for Valentine’s Day in Western Massachusetts? Hampshire County’s got you covered—from romance and relaxation to good laughs and good eats!
5 Outdoor Reasons to Love Winter in Western Massachusetts
Photo by Lynne Graves
Anyone who truly loves a New England winter knows that some of the best things about this unruly season involve going outside. Since we are already having quite a snowy winter, this is the perfect year to discover some outdoor reasons to love winter in Western Massachusetts.
4 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Western Massachusetts
First Night Northampton | Photo by Lynne Graves
Now that December's arrived, it's time to start thinking about how to celebrate the start of a New Year! These are our tops picks for things to do in Western Massachusetts on New Year's Eve no matter if you're looking to hang with the crowds or have a more intimate gathering at home.
4 Ways to Get Spooky in Western MA for Halloween
Amherst Cinema | Photo by Lynne Graves
With Halloween right around the corner, we figured some of you might want to get out there and have a little spooky fun in Western Massachusetts. And if spooks and horror aren't for you, everyone loves to have fun dressing up with a good party to attend. Haunted hayrides, ghost tours, costume parties and more this Halloween in Western Massachusetts.
22 New Things to Check Out in Western Massachusetts
Hitchcock Center for the Environment | Photo by Jessica Schultz
With the return of the school year and the changing of seasons among us, we’re heading into one of the best times of the year in Western Massachusetts. As you plan your fall visits to Hampshire County, be sure to consider adding some of these new places to eat, learn, shop and explore as well as events to your itinerary!
How to Spend a Weekend in the Hilltowns of Western MA
William Cullen Bryant Homestead, Cummington | Photo by the Trustees of Reservations
When you visit Hampshire County of Western Massachusetts, the bustling downtown destinations only make up half the equation. There’s so much to discover beyond our city lines, particularly in the Hilltowns of western Hampshire County—Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Planfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington. This part of Hampshire County is home to Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program and countless other artists finding inspiration…