Unique Activities in the Pioneer Valley

The Montague Bookmill

440 Greenfield Rd, Montague, MA 01351

“Books you don’t need in a place you can’t find,” is the mantra of the Montague Bookmill. This facility serves as a hybrid café, art cooperative emporium, bookstore, outdoor seating area, record/cassette shop, and restaurant all in one. Order a warm brown rice salad bowl or an egg sandwich while completing homework, or you can grab a seat outside as the weather warms up to read! The Bookmill opens and closes at varying times of the year, but makes the perfect place to meet up with friends or go alone and lounge for as long as desired. In addition, the mill is also placed conveniently next to the Sawmill River, overlooking a beautiful waterfall and forest. The community built around the venue is friendly, consisting of anyone from former students to longtime residents.

Cushman Market

491 Pine St, Amherst, MA 01002

Cushman Market is a staple for students, residents, and faculty alike. The building is essentially a hybrid market/café/gift shop, supporting many local businesses throughout the area within its market. The café has some really great breakfast sandwiches, on top of serving coffees, chais, etc. Cushman is an eclectic place to meet up with friends or simply visit to get work done, located fairly close to campus and on the Pioneer Valley Transportation Association’s bus route.

Skinner State Park

10 Skinner State Park Rd, Hadley, MA 01035

Skinner State Park is a relatively small hiking area about 25 minutes from campus, in Hadley, Massachusetts. At the top of the peak, visitors can see the edges of Connecticut, Springfield, Holyoke Center, Amherst College, and UMass. It’s a scenic place to go for a short hike, either in the woods or on a paved path up to the (small) peak. During the autumn season, from the top you can see the foliage and the changing leaves across the valley! Skinner also is a local spot for hikers, but more importantly, people with dogs as pets who are very friendly about letting guests pet them.

Mass Moca

1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247

Mass Moca is the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, having rotating exhibits that change throughout the year. Because it serves as a multi-faceted center for the arts, there are many attractions from music and concert performances, to dance routines and painting exhibitions. The Museum houses a café, restaurant, ice cream parlor, and even a microbrewery inside (only for the students 21 and up…). In addition, the year-round performances also vary from music and dance parties, to silent films, to contemporary performances. Not only this, but there’s a student fare for undergraduates and graduate students!

Shelburne Falls

Shelburne Falls is a swimming hole located in a small New England town about 35 minutes from Amherst. During the early fall and late spring months, Shelburne Falls is the perfect place to go and cool off and spend the day swimming and hanging out around friends and families. It’s the perfect spot to relax at the start of the year, or celebrate the end of finals once the spring term is over.

Central Rock Gym

165 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035

Located in Hadley, about 10 minutes away from UMass, the Central Rock Gym is a gravity gym with many different programs. For bouldering and belaying, the gym houses many different spaces for fitness/recreational programs with applicable student discounts. In addition, the UMass Outing Club, as well as the Climbing Club, will set up group trips to practice bouldering and climbing throughout the year! With 120 stations, the Central Rock Gym always has students and members of the community alike coming back to practice their climbing skills!