Local Notes for Amherst MA
Nature nearby
Turn right out of the house and walk two blocks. Great swimming but no lifeguards, trails around the pond. The beach on State Street is no-dogs, the beach across the pond which is accessed from Sand Hill Road allows dogs. Free, no smoking or alcohol or BBQs.
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Puffers Pond
Turn right out of the house and walk two blocks. Great swimming but no lifeguards, trails around the pond. The beach on State Street is no-dogs, the beach across the pond which is accessed from Sand Hill Road allows dogs. Free, no smoking or alcohol or BBQs.
State managed swimming with lifeguards. Not much shade but still pleasant.
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Lake Wyola
State managed swimming with lifeguards. Not much shade but still pleasant.
Long, lovely trail that goes near the house. Wide enough you can walk side by side, which is nice. Runs near the house by Puffers Pond. A great guide is available at: https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/610/Robert-Frost-Trail-Guide
Robert Frost Trail
Robert Frost TrailLong, lovely trail that goes near the house. Wide enough you can walk side by side, which is nice. Runs near the house by Puffers Pond. A great guide is available at: https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/610/Robert-Frost-Trail-Guide
Kids will like
Public pool, play equipment, tennis courts (free), ball fields, grills and picnic tables!
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Mill River Recreation Area
95 Montague RdPublic pool, play equipment, tennis courts (free), ball fields, grills and picnic tables!
An art museum just for kids! Interactive, beautiful. Atkins Farm store is nearby -- try the cider doughnuts, buy local produce.
Eric Carle Museum station
An art museum just for kids! Interactive, beautiful. Atkins Farm store is nearby -- try the cider doughnuts, buy local produce.
Beneski Museum of Natural History -- famous for its Mammoth skeleton. Opens again in the fall.
Amherst College station
Beneski Museum of Natural History -- famous for its Mammoth skeleton. Opens again in the fall.
Food scene
Walking distance, good sushi and korean food. Closed on Saturdays, though!
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House of Teriyaki
1177 N Pleasant StWalking distance, good sushi and korean food. Closed on Saturdays, though!
Amherst House Of Pizza
17 Montague RdBasic pizza, walking distance with good, quick delivery.
Wonderful breakfast and lunch, great coffee, local scene.
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Cushman Market & Cafe
491 Pine StWonderful breakfast and lunch, great coffee, local scene.
The Harp Irish Pub
163 Sunderland RdIrish-ish pub, good food, nice seating outdoors. Fine for kids and families.
This is some of the best pizza in the country, in my humble! Best to go there to see all the different varieties, plus the menu changes regularly. Sadly, delivery is less good, but still better than most.
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Antonio's Pizza
31 N Pleasant StThis is some of the best pizza in the country, in my humble! Best to go there to see all the different varieties, plus the menu changes regularly. Sadly, delivery is less good, but still better than most.
Books you don't need in a place you can't find! Seriously, that's their motto. With nice food options including a lunch cafe and a very nice dinner restaurant.
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The Montague Bookmill
440 Greenfield RdBooks you don't need in a place you can't find! Seriously, that's their motto. With nice food options including a lunch cafe and a very nice dinner restaurant.
City/town information
Artsy, lots of pubs with live jazz and good food, fun to walk down the main street. Ice cream!
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Easthampton
Artsy, lots of pubs with live jazz and good food, fun to walk down the main street. Ice cream!
Lively downtown, lots of restaurants and coffee shops, local shopping. Smith College is there, with its art museum and pleasant architecture.
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Northampton
Lively downtown, lots of restaurants and coffee shops, local shopping. Smith College is there, with its art museum and pleasant architecture.
Route 9 through Hadley is where all the grocery and other big-box stores are. Not lovely but useful.
Hadley
Route 9 through Hadley is where all the grocery and other big-box stores are. Not lovely but useful.
Sightseeing
Nine towns were flooded to give Boston water -- the Quabbin Reservoir. Walking, history, biking, lots of choices. But no swimming or boating!
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Quabbin Reservoir
100 Winsor Dam RdNine towns were flooded to give Boston water -- the Quabbin Reservoir. Walking, history, biking, lots of choices. But no swimming or boating!
Public 9-hole golf course, walking distance. Great x-c skiing in the winter with groomed trails.
Cherry Hill Golf Course
323 Montague RdPublic 9-hole golf course, walking distance. Great x-c skiing in the winter with groomed trails.
This is where poet Emily D lived and wrote. Museum is closed for renovation, but you can still walk by and see the house.
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Emily Dickinson Museum
280 Main StThis is where poet Emily D lived and wrote. Museum is closed for renovation, but you can still walk by and see the house.
Entertainment
Amherst Cinema Arts Center
28 Amity StArt cinema!
There are often performances of one sort or another, many for low cost. Try the theater dept website: https://www.umass.edu/theater/
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University of Massachusetts Amherst
There are often performances of one sort or another, many for low cost. Try the theater dept website: https://www.umass.edu/theater/
Pariri dwar il-belt
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Bus & bike
The local bus is free, but doesn't run often in the summer -- check the PVTA website -- http://www.pvta.com/. A really fun way to get around are e-bikes, available to rent at stands all over Amherst, Northampton, and Easthampton. The closest one is on Pleasant Street -- see https://www.valleybike.org/
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Miles and miles of hiking, x-c and mountain biking trails!
All Trails app will show you many places nearby. Pleasant hiking or mountain biking, good for dogs off leash: Houston and Gage Trail in Sunderland -- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/massachusetts/houston-and-gage-trail-loop. There are lots of trails back there, tons of conserved land.
Beautiful waterfall, big rocks, caves -- Roaring Falls, Sunderland. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/massachusetts/roaring-falls
Holyoke Range to the south has hiking for all different skill levels, great views, often can see hawks soaring on the cliff.
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Day Trips
I love Mass MOCA in North Adams -- huge modern art museum, often has interesting performances. Book a time for the James Turrell exhibits!
Tanglewood Performance space is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and has lovely inexpensive lawn seating about an hour drive west from here. Bring your picnic and wine! That area has lots to see, like the Edith Wharton home and much more. Lenox or Stockbridge are towns that are part of that culture center area.
Shelburne Falls is a cute town with a lovely 'Bridge of Flowers' and little shops, good walking near there.
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Some other restaurants!
Here are some restaurants I really like that AirBnB can't seem to find:
Lili's Noodles, Amherst -- handmade noodles, cheap and fresh. $
Johnnie's Tavern, Amherst -- excellent cocktails, good food. $$
India House, Northampton. Tasty, interesting finds. $$
Homestead Restaurant, Northampton -- finer dining, delish. $$$
Galaxy Restaurant, Easthampton -- local food really well prepared. $$$