Amherst, MA, 01002 When the kids are a bit older and don't run off too easily, it's great for some exercise with. Robinson State Park is a popular recreational area in the Springfield region. Williamstown, nicknamed "The Village Beautiful," is a scenic community surrounded by mountains, farms, and forests. Additionally, there are numerous old residences, gardens, and even living history museums that revive the past for visitors. The primary coordinates for Pioneer Valley Academy places it within the MA 01531 ZIP Code delivery area. Please note: your donation is to the Pioneer Valley History Network, not a member organization. Pioneer Valley (Springfield), Massachusetts Activities center Springfield, MA, 01103 Springfield is also served eastwest by Amtrak's "Lake Shore Limited" from Chicago to Boston and vice versa. Phone: 413-263-6800, Lower Lake Road 24.4%. Rail service via Amtrak is available to Springfield as well as Amherst via the Vermonter. Although the system is extensive for such a decentralized area, buses are somewhat infrequent and not all route run nights and weekends, especially outside of the school year (September - May). It has drawn tourists from Boston, New York City, and other big cities who are looking for an escape from the chaos. It is the perfect location to enjoy the peace of mountains and parks, enjoy listening to and watching musical performances, and learn about the region's history through its museums and libraries. 25+ things to do in CT this Fourth of July weekend, June 30-July 4, 2023: Geno Auriemma center of attention as UConn coaches' camaraderie on display: 'It's pretty unique', Major West Hartford intersection overhaul to cost $5.6 million, High likelihood hundreds of CT state police troopers falsified thousands of traffic tickets, auditor says, Haar: Electric rates in CT coming down but not sharply, CT state police under investigation amid false ticket scandal, Report: Bristol-based ESPN to cut 20 on-air jobs, UConn legend Breanna Stewart WNBA All-Star captain: 'Honor', Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Pioneer Valley - Wikivoyage - The free worldwide travel guide that What It Costs City. Find a large variety of ancient and contemporary art in the art museums and galleries of the Berkshires After browsing the Montague Bookmill, stop into the Lady Killigrew Cafe for a rice bowl and a cider. -. Visitors to October Mountain can camp, hike, and enjoy the outdoors and have near access to Tanglewood. Further west the hill towns merge seamlessly into the Berkshires, although tourism and second home development spreading out from the New York City metropolis have impacted the hill towns less than Berkshire County. This is the western part of the three counties, beyond the Connecticut River Valley. It is Beartown State Forest is open year-round. Please dress appropriately for the weather (water bottle, hat, rain jacket, etc.) What to do in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts - Working to See the The Emily Dickinson House in Amherst - America's most famous female poet lived her entire life in this beautiful house. Travel Guide to Massachusetts State and Local Parks in Berkshires and Pioneer Valley. The three counties of the Pioneer Valley from north to south are Franklin County, Hampshire County and Hampden County. More Mount Holyoke College is the main reason Today this region is known as the Knowledge Corridor because of its numerous, prestigious universities and colleges. The Montague Bookmill is another great spot to enjoy all day long. To register for the first workshop, Multi-Lingualism in Museums, on April 22nd, please fill out and submit the form at this link: https://forms.gle/ETd3NQfHD1BsQ7fp7, Beginning in the summer of 2021, the Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) and the UMass Public History Program collaborated on a research project to document the lives of people of color in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Mapcarta, the open map. Swimming permitted in the designated area. Hands-on science exhibits and activities for children. Camp in a rustic setting at various sites in any season, or just stay the day and enjoy a picnic by the streambed, watching the fishermen hunt for trout. Just shy of the Vermont border, the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts has all the ingredients for an easy summer getaway. The town, which is situated in Western Massachusetts' picturesque Pioneer Valley, has developed a reputation among locals, communities nearby, and visitors from all over the country for its rich culture, history, good eating, and music. The whimsical Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst is a must for anyone who loves a good kids book. This is especially true in the LGBT mecca of Northampton, and in Springfield's entertainment district, which features many establishments catering to LGBT consumers. -. Franklin remains a quiet rural area, full of farms and small villages with a handful of larger towns that grew up around the mills the river could drive. Phone: 413-586-8706, 570 Burnett Road The leaves in Autumn - particularly concentrations of maples around old farmsteads where 'sugar bushes' were maintained for sugaring and on relatively moist upland sites. Please bring some cash in case we go to a restaurant. The term "Pioneer Valley" is approximately coterminous with Metropolitan Springfield, as Springfield, Massachusetts, is the region's urban center. Fares are $1.35, with a free "transfer" if one uses another PVTA vehicle within an hour of purchasing the original pass. Smith College, which boasts a lovely botanical garden and an art museum, is where most of the action takes place. Along the river in Franklin County, which comprises the upper Pioneer Valley, sit the towns of Deerfield, Greenfield, Shelburne Falls and Montague. Steps away, Amanouz Cafe is well-known for its excellent North African food, from simmering tagines to couscous plates and kabobs. Valley is A Day in Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley - Visit New England Blog Or, head to Hadley. To the north, the Montague Bookmill is located in a converted 1842 gristmill, and is a book lovers dream. April 6, 2019 We're not going to lie, the Drama Club has been glued to the television for the month of March. West of Worcester and Quabbin Reservoir, east of the Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley is marked by Greenfield to the north and Springfield to the south, connected by the valley thoroughfare of Interstate 91 ( map ). People From Pioneer Valley Are Hard To Label Pioneer Valley's three counties-Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden-all have their own unique character. [2] It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. 2.48. The group will host events such as conversations, tours, presentations, and action days. The campground offers 51 wooded campsites with showers and a private beach. Start on Cottage Street, work your way through the shops, grab an ice cream from Mt. Caught in this pocket are two very special regions: the very scenic Mohawk Trail stretch of Route 2 to the west of Greenfield, and the Hilltowns, to the west of Northampton. More than 16,000 works; collections range from antiquity to present; portraits by Gilbert Stuart, Italian Renaissance paintings, Japanese woodblock prints, Mediterranean antiquities, and pre-Columbian ceramics. Its These are the most endearing tiny towns in Massachusetts, with locations ranging from those with Puritan roots to sites that were Revolutionary War battlegrounds to one known for witch hunts. The town holds a Theatre Festival during the steamy evenings of mid-June through August, which frequently draws Broadway and Hollywood actors. Theres also the whimsy and wonderful outdoor seating at Familiars Coffee & Tea in Northampton. The marvelous Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute commonly known as the Clark, in Williamstown harbors a rich collection of French Impressionist and Academic paintings, British oil sketches, drawings, and silver, and the work of American artists Winslow Homer, George Inness, and John Singer Sargent. -, This 6,000-acre state forest is steeped in scenic history. Ruggles Pond, the day-use area, has a restroom, picnic sites, and a swimming beach. Read More, Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. Phone: 413-269-6002, Route 112 Tom and Mt. New York The population was 3,684 at the 2010 census. Read More, St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! Westfield, MA, 01085 Typically, the summer months start in June and last until the end of August or the long Labor Day weekend. Phone: 413-538-2245. Everyone will like the variety of recreational activities this state forest offers, including camping, picnicking, swimming at the beach, and fishing. Monterey, MA, 01245 Explore the area on a quarter-mile walkway above and through the chasm, and a half-mile wooded walking trail. Good for handicap-accessible recreation, fishing, walking & hiking. The imposing 1950s building was enlarged in a 2014 expansion, designed by the prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. Bash Bish Falls is located next to Mount Washington State Forest, with 30 miles of trails, including the South Taconic Trail and wilderness camping. In general, the Pioneer Valley is a very safe and accepting travel destination featuring an eclectic mix of urban, college town, and suburban settings - all of them relatively safe. Something went wrong. The farms have been encroached on by urban and suburban development, but many remain. Chicopee State Park, previously called the Cooley Brook Reservoir, has a 25-acre pond for swimming and fishing. Some restaurants are cash-only. All are committed to keeping history alive and relevant for future generations. Be aware of bears. Pioneer Valley is divided into three counties; from north to south, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden. -, This public forest includes Upper and Lower Highland Lakes, with a swimming beach, picnic area, and group picnic pavilion. Heres a recommended itinerary. boasting Bring your own grill. *We also have an older Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongtownspioneervalleyma), and we are trying to consolidate by using this Meetup page as the main page while keeping the Facebook page. After the tour is over, we will have a conversation session either outdoors if the weather allows or at a restaurant such as La Isla (formerly Fernandez Restaurant) on High St. Sandisfield, MA, 01255 South Hadley, MA, 01075 Rhode Island NE Outdoors The Berkshires have a long history of serving as a summertime retreat for cultured travelers. Large or small, old or new, these organizations care for the objects and stories of the regions past. Excellent tour. Oaks -- predominating on dryer, rockier sites -- are less spectacular. Amherst has about 37,800 residents. now a library, in Amherst MA. Whatever the occasion, the region offers an incredible food scene to complement your travels. 42.159 or 42 9 . Celebrating Local History in Western Massachusetts. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is home to more than 300 inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Phone: 413-542-2335, 208 Middle Street Docent-led tours available with advance notice. Phone: 413-229-8212, 30 Rockwell Road Springfield, the Pioneer Valley's largest city, in 2000 ranked as high as 18th in the annual U.S. "City Crime Rankings". It was first known as Swampfield, a name which is now honored by Swampfield Road, but the name was . Strong Towns Pioneer Valley MA (STPVM) is a bottom-up local group that got started by people who follow Strong Towns.