Home of the commonwealth's flagship campus, Amherst is a place where a proud history informs the vibrant and dynamic present. Stroll the same streets where Emily Dickinson redefined poetry, bike on a trail that once made way for an intercity railroad, or visit the farms that inspired the pioneering Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Then bring your focus back to the present by exploring world-class museums, galleries, and music venues. (Tip to sound like a local: the “h” in Amherst is silent.)

More than just the “asparagus capital of the world,” Hadley is one of the oldest and most scenic towns around. It is home to the Seven Sisters (a cluster of peaks in the Holyoke Mountain Range with beautiful and challenging trails), historical homes and farms (dating back to the 1700s), and the Connecticut River (popular for boating and fishing—serving also as the training grounds of the UMass Rowing team).

Just across the river from Hadley, Northampton hums with creative energy—home to artists, activists, and entrepreneurs who thrive on challenging conventions. There are bustling cafes, restaurants of every type of cuisine you can think of, small independent venues and a large theatre where you can catch performances by national and local talents, and city-wide seasonal events that offer something for everyone. Image courtesy of The Greater Northampton Chamber.

Venturing south of Northampton, you’ll find Holyoke—home of volleyball, permanent riverside footprints of Holyoke’s very own dinosaur, the Podokesaurus holyokensis, and the largest indoor mall in western Massachusetts. Students often hop on one of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority’s buses to peruse the shops, catch a movie, or jump out semester stresses at the trampoline park. Holyoke is also where UMass Amherst’s DesignBuild students install the high-performance, high-efficiency homes they work on each year to help address local housing insecurity. 

The City of Springfield is in the midst of reinventing itself, and UMass programs are a big part of that. People from our campus and the Springfield community are coming together to turn good ideas into action. The Henry M. Thomas III Center, a 26,000-square-foot UMass facility in Springfield, offers students, researchers, educators, and community members lab space, meeting areas, classrooms, and study lounges—and is home to the TEACH 180 Days in Springfield and University Without Walls Interdisciplinary Program.

Whether it’s to explore the historic hill towns to the north, roam the miles of hiking, biking, and skiing trails that cut through quiet forests to the west, or enjoy a taste of city life to the south, the Happy Valley is where you’ll find inspiration, adventure, and belonging. Many student organizations on campus participate in activities in the surrounding towns and regions, and are a good way to venture out with new friends.