More Reasons to Love Winter in Western Massachusetts

Everyone knows a New England winter brings ice and snow, but here we say “winter is coming” is best followed by an exclamation point and feel that adding an extra layer of cozy to brave it for an amazing outdoor experience is always worth it. The winter’s wind seems milder this year, just one more excuse to discover even more outdoor reasons to love winter in Western Massachusetts.

Nordic Skiing and Snowshoeing

Being located in the Connecticut River Valley, our wooded terrain with its slight uphills and downhills is ideal for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Notchview, a property just minutes past Cummington, is maintained by the Trustees of Reservations.

Enter here to win ski passes and rentals.

Hadley’s Mount Warner, another property maintained by the Trustees welcomes cross-country skiing on its newly groomed trails. Saturday, January 19, 2019 is Winter Trails Day at Notchview, when the fees are half-price and rentals are complimentary. Check out the list of state properties where you can also cross-country ski here.

Okay, so maybe you want the thrill of downhill skiing. We admit, we don’t have the mountains for it but if you want to head west to the Berkshires or north to Vermont, we’re just a quick drive away. The closest ski destinations to us are Blanford Ski Area just a little ways west of Southampton and Berkshire East just about an hour northwest of our county line. So bundle up if you’re going out, but don’t forget about all the great ways to warm up inside.

Outdoor Experiences Around Every Corner

The cold and snow certainly don’t stop us from having a great time outside. We boast not one but three winter festivals in Hampshire County that that place throughout the winter months. Look Park in Northampton hosts its second Winter Carnival (February 23, 2019) featuring carnival games, an ice rink, and Christmas tree burn. Winterfest Amherst (February 2-9, 2019) packs the days with winter activities from a chili cookoff to the Cardboard Classic Sled Race. Easthampton’s WinterFest (February 9, 2019) celebrates the city's seasonal beauty, cultural diversity, and Nashawannuck Pond's rich ice harvesting industry heritage. This year, an Ice Bar at the Brass Cat makes for another fun outdoor escape to add to your outing.

Coinciding with February's Arts Night Out in Northampton is the 9th Annual Northampton Ice Art Festival. Beginning early on Friday, February 9, artists will get to work on transforming a block of ice into a work of art just in time for Art's Night Out to begin at 5 p.m

Spots to Cozy Up

When you’ve spent the day in the great outdoors it can be easy to forget that half of the fun is still waiting after the sun sets. That’s where the cozy comes in! Whether it’s cuddling up to boo at the latest art flick at Amherst Cinema, warming up with a latte and pastry from Woodstar Café, or visiting one of our many craft breweries–there’s plenty of places to thaw out after your next outdoor adventure in Western Mass.

Follow our latest photo contest on Instagram showcasing our cozy side #OthersideMACozyUp.