Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts, UMass Amherst offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers.
On-Campus Fitness and Wellness
Offers a range of educational programs, individual and institutional advocacy, interfaith dialogue, and other bridge-building activities designed to foster an informed, caring, and supportive campus community for members of all backgrounds and beliefs. Includes a listing of local houses of worship.
Off-Campus Leisure
Museums, festivals, dining, skiing, water sports, shopping, theme parks, nightlife, fishing, and more are abundant in the Pioneer Valley. Below is a sampling of the local greatest hits.
Year-round Activities, Museums, and Family Fun
- Basketball Hall of Fame
- Beneski Museum of Natural History
- Chesterfield Gorge
- Dr. Seuss Museum
- Emily Dickinson Museum
- Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
- Forest Park and Zoo
- Great Falls Discovery Center
- Hitchcock Center for the Environment
- Historic Deerfield
- Holyoke Children’s Museum
- International Volleyball Hall of Fame
- Look Memorial Park
- Lyman Conservatory & Botanic Garden
- Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory
- Maple Sugar Shacks
- MASS MoCA
- Montague Book Mill
- Nash Dinosaur Track Site
- New England Falconry
- New England Air Museum
- New England Peace Pagoda
- Old Sturbridge Village
- Springfield Museums
Dining, Farmers Markets, Recreation, and more in Hampshire County and Franklin County.
Recreation and Attractions
Outdoor recreation opportunities: White water rafting, zip-line canopy tours, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, hiking, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, theme parks, fishing, golf, corn maze, and swimming in a quiet local pond.
Indoor recreation also abounds: Rock climbing, Circus studio, bowling, pilates, martial arts, roller skating and laser tag, ice skating, indoor racing, and a trampoline park!
Area Arts and Culture
Opportunities abound in Pioneer Valley, here is a sample of local venues and events: Academy of Music, Amherst Cinema, Arcadia Players, Bridge of Flowers, Green River Festival, Ko Festival of Performance, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Mutton and Mead Medieval Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Snow Farm Crafts, Tanglewood, National Yiddish Book Center, Normal Rockwell Museum, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Wistariahurst Museum.