Childhood Memories in Western Massachusetts That UMass Helped Me Rediscover
By Leila Metres
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When people from UMass Amherst find out I’m from Ohio, their first question is often: “How did you end up in Massachusetts?” Admittedly, I wanted to live somewhere new after living in the same place my whole life. I also looked at colleges all over the Midwest, South, and New England, to find my best fit as a track athlete. But the larger reason is that my family brought me here.
My aunt, who used to work at UMass, encouraged me to look at the school, even taking me on her own unofficial tour. But before that, I had been traveling to Western Massachusetts since I was five years old to visit my grandparents. My mom’s parents lived in a house in Chesterfield for 13 years, just over 30 minutes away from UMass. When I was a kid, I had no idea I would end up back here for college.
But since I started going to UMass, I’ve been able to rediscover some of my childhood joys through a new lens.
There’s so much to do here that can’t be covered in this short article, but here’s a snapshot of some things I loved as a kid in Western Mass that I continue to enjoy today.
Emily Dickinson, and Her House
Massachusetts was home to many renowned early writers, like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Robert Frost. But as a poet inspired by Emily Dickinson, she has a special place in my heart. I like to believe I’m descended directly from Emily’s brilliance.
My dad and I recently went to visit Emily’s house just down the street from downtown Amherst, and memories of my early childhood flooded back. The first time I went to her house, I was only five years old.
I had no idea how much influence she would have on my writing as I grew up.
If you are a poetry fan, I highly recommend visiting Emily’s house (and watching Dickinson on Apple TV, so you can see how well they recreated her house for the show!). Admission is free with a Five College Student ID and all the tour guides are incredible at answering questions. They can even tell you about the Dickinson family’s connections to UMass Amherst! Austin and Sue (her brother and sister-in-law) had a house next door that has recently been opened for tours as well, so I’ll be back to check that out soon.
The Norwottuck Rail Trail
Biking on the Norwottuck Rail Trail has been a welcome escape for me at UMass. The UMass Bikeway Connector near the Southwest Residential Area takes you to a trailhead within two miles and fully immerses you in the natural world. Turning left when entering the bike path takes you past the wetlands. Turning right takes you on the bridge over the Connecticut River.
There’s no wrong way to go—breathtaking mountain and farmland views surround the path.
I have fond memories of biking here with my cousins when I was young. I remember riding in a row sandwiched between aunts and uncles and stopping for ice cream along the way. Little did I know it would be something I looked forward to as a college student years later!
If you don’t have a bike, or if you’re going with a visitor, it’s easy to use the ValleyBikes e-bikeshare stationed at the intersection of Mass Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. near the UMass Bikeway Connector. The rate is only $0.25 per minute with a $1 unlock fee. My dad loved using it when he visited me!
Northampton
There is so much fun to be had in Northampton. I love walking around Thornes (shoutout to Booklink Booksellers, my favorite bookstore in Western Mass) and visiting all the cute and unique shops. There’s a number of great places to eat as well, such as Pita Pockets—one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. There’s also a nice, affordable place to go bowling called Spare Time Northampton not far from Northampton center. I also used to love the toy store A2Z when I was a kid.
Throughout my childhood, we often celebrated New Year’s with my cousins at First Night, the December 31st celebration in Northampton. It includes over 100 performances all over the town center, along with a fireworks show and a ball-raising ceremony at midnight. I always had a great time watching various bands, dancers, circuses, and comedians.
If you happen to be near UMass for New Year’s, Northampton is the place to be. The PVTA buses also always run to Northampton, making for a great weekend trip even if you aren’t around for First Night.
Mountains and Hiking
Something I often marvel at is walking around on campus and seeing mountains in the distance. I always lived in a pretty flat area in Northeast Ohio, so I don’t take these views for granted.
When I first got to campus, I felt like I was constantly pinching myself, asking: do I really live here?
From my grandparents’ house in Chesterfield, there was a clear view of Mount Tom. My grandma wasn’t able to leave the house much, so we would often talk to her about the landscape and wildlife outside her window. We hiked Mount Tom with my grandpa and frequented Puffer’s Pond as well. Seeing the mountains reminds me of some of these great memories.
I’m looking forward to hiking more at UMass—it’s been a little bit challenging without a car to get to the trails, but I’ve had a few opportunities. If you’re looking for places to hike, refer to The Best of Western Mass: Hikes in and Around UMass Amherst!.
Hampshire Mall
Located next door to UMass in Hadley, Hampshire Mall has some great attractions, including a movie theater, a roller skating rink, and FunHub, an indoor adventure and trampoline park. Since coming to UMass, I’ve enjoyed going to FunHub and bowling (unfortunately, the bowling place has since closed). I also recently went to see the movie Anora at Cinemark with a friend.
As we walked into the movie theater, I remembered I had been there before. When I was a kid, my cousins and I watched many movies in this theater. (Unfortunately, this time, I wasn’t allowed to buy a kid’s ticket.) I think movie theaters are going out of style a bit because of streaming, but going to a theater every once in a while is always extra special.
The Cinemark shows more mainstream movies than the theater in Amherst, so it’s a great place to go if you want to see the newest popular flick. There are buses that take you straight there from UMass, so it’s easy to access for students as well.
I love going to UMass for so many reasons, but unearthing fond childhood memories has been one of my biggest gifts.
Western Massachusetts is truly a special place with so much to offer, and experiencing its quirks and natural beauty has been a lot of fun. I hope you can find and form your own great memories during your time here, just like I did as a young kid and continue to do as an adult.
Featuring
Leila Metres
Leila Metres is a communications assistant in Commonwealth Honors College.
