Things to Do in the Amherst Area

Transportation

Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) Bus Lines
PVTA runs several bus lines on-campus and in the Amherst and Northampton areas. The Transit App is very useful in navigating bus stops and routes around the area.

Zipcar Car Share
There are six Zipcar car share locations on UMass Amherst’s campus, making it the most convenient way of renting a car for a couple hours or for the weekend.

ValleyBike Share
ValleyBike runs a bike-share program in Amherst and the surrounding areas. These E-bikes can be rented and returned at a number of stations that you can find on the website. (Please be aware that ValleyBike is closed for the winter, but will re-open in time for the Institute this summer.)

Ceramics/Pottery

Many potters and ceramicists are active in the area around Amherst and Northampton, and it is often possible to visit their studios/shops. There are too many to list, but here is a small sample:

There are several pottery events that take place in the area every year. Unfortunately, none will coincide with the time of the Institute, but you will find information about other potters in the area following these links: Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, and Hilltown 6 Pottery Tour.

Cinemas and Theaters

Amherst Cinema
Amherst Cinema is a non-profit movie theater with screenings that will please any film buff, from indie flicks to classic blockbusters. Refreshments include popcorn, candies, Italian sodas, and wine selections.

Cinemark (Hampshire Mall)
You’ll find a Cinemark theater in Hampshire Mall in Hadley. Hampshire Mall is accessible from UMass Amherst by bus (PVTA B43).

Academy of Music (Northampton)
The Academy of Music is an independent, non-profit organization in Northampton that is well known for the variety of entertainment options it offers, including performances by local artists, musical theater, and musical tributes. The Academy of Music is accessible from UMass Amherst by bus (PVTA B43).

Live Music

Northampton hosts a variety of live music events. Find a calendar of upcoming shows on Northampton Live. Read more about the vibrant music scene in Western Massachusetts in the article below from the Boston Globe.

In Western Mass., a vibrant music scene gets a makeover – The Boston GlobeDownload Article Here

The Drake
The Drake is a live performance and music venue in downtown Amherst, bringing local, national, and global artists to Amherst’s stage. The Drake is accessible by bus (PVTA 30, 31, 33, 38, B43).

Flywheel Arts Collective
Flywheel is a non-profit, volunteer-run booking collective run by artists that offers live music, art exhibits, film and video screening, poetry and spoken word, theater and performance art, games, and more.

The Parlor Room
The Parlor Room is a listening room and performance space in Northampton. They are closely connected to Signature Sounds, a folk/indie/rock record label, and primarily host music events. You can see upcoming shows and purchase tickets in advance on their website. The Parlor Room is accessible by bus (PVTA B43).

10 Forward Arts Venue & Bar
Located in downtown Greenfield, 10 Forward is both a performance venue and a bar. They host a number of events, from music to dance parties. You can see upcoming events here. 10 Forward is a 30 minute drive from UMass.

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity
BOMBYX is a performing arts venue in Florence, with a rich history of activism and community work. Performances cover a variety of music genres. You can see upcoming events and purchase tickets in advance here. BOMBYX is a 25 minute drive from UMass and is also accessible by bus (PVTA B43 ? R42).

The Pines Theatre at Look Park
The Pines Theatre at Look Park in Northampton hosts live music concerts in the summer. Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket are headlining a festival-style event on June 17th, 2023. Two other concerts will take place during the Institute.

Abandoned Building Brewery
This beer brewery that set up shop in an abandoned building in Easthampton hosts a number of events including Trivia nights, Food Truck Fridays, and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. The June schedule isn’t filled in yet, but check the link above to get an idea of the type of events that will be offered this summer.

Libraries

UMass Libraries (W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Science and Engineering Library)

Amherst College Libraries (Robert Frost Library, Keefe Science Library, Vincent Morgan Music Library, Center for Russian College)

Harold F. Johnson Library (Hampshire College)

Smith College Libraries (Neilson Library, Hillyer Art Library, Josten Performing Arts Library)

Jones Public Library (Amherst)

Forbes Public Library (Northampton)

Museums

University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMass Amherst)
The University Museum of Contemporary Art is home to an art collection over over 2,800 pieces, and is committed to an interdisciplinary and international curatorial practice. The museum is located in the Fine Arts Center.

Smith College Museum of Art
The Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is home to over 27,000 objects. Its diverse collection ranges across time and space, with a wide array of material composition and historical context. During the time of the institute, the Ancient World Gallery, “Arts of Africa, c. 1825-1960”, “Colonial Entanglements: Native American Artwork from the SCMA Collection”, and “Brought to Life: Painted Wood Sculpture from Europe, 1300-1700” will be exhibited at the museum. SCMA is accessible by bus (PVTA B43).

The Botanic Garden of Smith College
The Botanic Garden of Smith College is celebrating its 125th anniversary, and features living plants from both local and international ecosystems. Its greenhouses and outdoor gardens will be open to the public. The Botanic Garden is accessible by bus (PVTA B43).

Beneski Museum of Natural History (Amherst College)
Amherst College’s Beneski Museum is open year round and admission is free of charge. It has a collection of over 1,700 specimens, some of which are touchable! The Beneski Museum is accessible via bus (PVTA B43, 31, 38, R29).

Amherst College Mead Art Museum
The Mead Art Museum is located in the center of Amherst College’s campus, and has a collection that spans over 5,000 years of history. Exhibitions during the time of the institute will include “Architectural Ghosts”, “Untitled” (Blue Placebo), “God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin”, and “Black Art Matters”. The Mead Art Museum is accessible via bus (PVTA B43, 31, 38, R29).

Emily Dickinson Museum
The Emily Dickinson Museum is home to the Homestead, which was where Emily Dickinson lived and wrote, and the Evergreens, which was where Dickinson’s brother Austin lived with Susan, his wife. The museum offers an immersive and interactive tour that walks visitors through the life of the famed poet. Tickets are timed and may be purchased in advance here. The museum is accessible via bus (PVTA 30).

Mount Holyoke College Art Museum
The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum (MHCAM) is home to over 24,000 works of art, a collection comprising a variety of materials, histories, and geographies. The museum is committed to engage with the history and persistence of colonialism, as well as the land on which it is situated. MHCAM is accessible via bus (PVTA 38).

The Joseph Allen Skinner Museum (Mount Holyoke College)
The Skinner Museum, reopened in Spring 2023, is home to almost 7,000 objects collected by Joseph Allen Skinner, who, in his will, gave the museum to Mount Holyoke after his death in 1946. The collection encompasses a vast array of objects, from farm instruments to a 115-pound meteorite from Arizona. the Skinner Museum is accessible via bus (PVTA 38).

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (near Hampshire College)
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, located in Amherst, is home to a vast collection of picture books, especially those geared towards children. Eric and Barbara Carle, who founded the museum, authored and illustrated over seventy children’s books, most notably The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969). The museum is open to people of all ages, and will be exhibiting “Eric Carle Loves Japan” and “Claire A. Nivola: Artist & Storyteller” during the time of the institute, along with a collection of local children’s books. The Carle Museum is accessible via bus (PVTA 38).

The Yiddish Book Center (near Hampshire College)
The Yiddish Book Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to Yiddish and modern Jewish literature. As the world’s first Yiddish museum, the center is home to a number of permanent and visiting exhibits, including “Lost Synagogues of Europe”, “Unquiet Pages”, The Lee & Alfred Hutt Discovery Gallery, The Nancy B. Weinstein Kinder-vinkl Children’s Corner, the Schepps Family Yiddish Print Shop, and “Famous Long Ago”, which will be on during the time of the institute. The center also hosts a number of programs and initiatives, which you can read more about on their website. The Yiddish Book Center is accessible via bus (PVTA 38).

Those are just a sampling of the wide array of museums in the area most accessible by bus. Other museums and historical sites that are slightly further away include Magic Wings: Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, Mass MoCA, The Clark Museum, Hancock Shaker Village, Old Sturbridge Village, Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Bennington Museum, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, and the Williams College Museum of Art. These museums are all under 1.5 hour drives away from UMass’s campus.

Old Sturbridge Village

Bookstores

Montague Book Mill
The Montague Book Mill is a second-hand bookstore located in a former gristmill north of Amherst. It also has a café that overlooks the beautiful Sawmill River.

Raven Used Books
Raven Used Books is a popular used bookstore in Northampton that sells a wide variety of books, from philosophy, history, and scholarly work to cookbooks and art books. You can always call ahead if there is a specific work you are looking for! Raven Used Books is accessible by bus (PVTA B43).

Amherst Books
Amherst Books is a locally owned, independent bookstore in Amherst. They sell both new and used books, and hold a wide range of genres, including textbooks! Amherst Books is accessible via bus (PVTA 30, 31, 38, B43).

Broadside Bookshop
Broadside Bookshop is a cozy, independent bookstore in Northampton that strives to create a mutually beneficial relationship with the community in which it is situated. In addition to its multi-genre collection, including works from local authors, it also has an extensive collection of stationery and puzzles. Broadside Bookshop is accessible by bus (PVTA B43).

Wellness & Indoor Activities

Elements Spa Amherst
Elements Hot Tub Spa is an independently owned spa in Amherst. They offer expert massage and spa services (with both Individual and Couples Massages), skincare services (including personalized facials), personalized waxing services, and tub rooms and saunas. They also offer a variety of package deals.

Euphoria Float Spa
A spa in Northampton offering massage and flotation therapy.

Central Rock Gym (Hadley)
The Central Rock Gym in Hadley is a world-class indoor rock climbing and fitness gym. The gym offers day passes for all ages as well as fitness classes and yoga.

UMass Campus Recreation Center
The recreation center is located on the southwest corner of campus. Non-UMass guests can purchase membership for $55 dollars for summer admission (May 23-August 26, 2023), or pay $10 for one-day access. More information about membership can be found here. General information about the recreation center and its facilities can be found here.

Ice Skating at the Mullins Center
The ice rink at the Mullins Center is located on the southwest side of campus. The rink is open to the public at certain times during the day. All ages are welcome and the rink offers skate rentals. Keep an eye on the schedule as public skating times change.

The Quarters (Hadley)
The Quarters in Hadley is a Barcade featuring classic video games, pub food (Tetris fries!), beer and other drinks (Bloody Mario!). There is also outdoor seating along the bike path in Hadley.

Interskate 91 (Hampshire Mall, Hadley)
Interskate 91 is an indoor rollerskating/rollerblading rink inside Hampshire Mall in Hadley. This skate and fun center also offers Laser Tag. Hampshire Mall is accessible from UMass by bus (PVTA B43).

PINZ Bowling (Hampshire Mall, Hadley)
PINZ Bowling is an indoor bowling alley inside Hampshire Mall in Hadley. They also have an arcade, axe throwing, and plenty of dining options! Hampshire Mall is accessible from UMass by bus (PVTA B43).

Prodigy (Easthampton)
Prodigy has both mini-golf and thousands of arcade games, with a number of retro options. They also host a “Smash Tournament Friday” every week, which you can register for in advance here.

Outdoor Activities – Biking, Hiking, Picnicking

Pioneer Valley and the Amherst area has a lot of parks and option for spending time out of doors and in nature. Whether you want to bike, hike, picnic, or just enjoy a walk in nature, there’s no lack of options.

Bike rentals in the area include ValleyBike share and Northampton Bicycles. You can find good bike trails on the Friends of Northampton Trails website and the Northampton Rail Trail system.

You’ll find hiking trails all over. Check out your options on the Friends of Northampton Trails website and find trails in Amherst here.

The Quabbin Reservoir

There are numerous parks to visit in the area. Puffers Pond, Amherst Mill River Recreation Area, and Mount Sugarloaf are all accessible by bus. A bit farther out you’ll find Look Park, Skinner State Park, Mount Holyoke Range State Park, Mount Toby State Forest, the Quabbin Reservoir, Mount Greylock, and the DAR State Forest.

Ice Cream

Locals are very proud of the amazing ice-cream in the area. Herrell’s ice-cream in Northampton is famous! But there are many more options. Here is a sample:

There is even a month dedicated to ice-cream: June! It’s when the Dairy Month Crawl takes place. If you want to learn more about the local ice-cream scene, below is an article from the local paper, The Hampshire Gazette.

Best Bites_ Destination_ ice creamDownload Article Here

Breweries

Pioneer Valley boasts quite a few breweries. The local cider is especially good. Here is a sample of breweries in the area. Of special note is the Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton, which hosts Trivia nights, Food Truck Fridays, and live music events.

Bars

The Hangar Pub & Grill (Amherst)
Also the home of Amherst Brewing, the Hangar is a sports bar. Watch the game or play some arcade games as you enjoy their wings and locally crafted beer.

Amherst Coffee & Bar (Amherst)
A coffee shop by day, after 4pm Amherst Coffee pulls out their beers, ciders, cocktails, and a list of natural wines.

The Dirty Truth (Northampton)
A restaurant and beer hall on Main Street in Northampton.

Ye Ol’ Watering Hole (Northampton)
A friendly, local dive with a quieter atmosphere, you’ll find pool tables, dart boards and fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit drinks at Ye Ol’ Watering Hole.

Majestic (Northampton)
An LGBTQ++ friendly local dive on Main Street in Northampton.

Gigantic Bar (Easthampton)
A Tiki-themed neighborhood cocktail bar in Easthampton.

Vintage/Second-Hand Stores

The Amherst area boasts a number of vintage, second-hand, consignment, and thrift stores. The following is only a sampling of the numerous options in the area!

In Amherst:

In Northampton:

Restaurants
Looking for a place to eat out? You’ll find our recommendations for restaurants in Amherst and Northampton on our Guide to Amherst (coming soon).