The Dickenson family estate is located in downtown Amherst. Tours are available for a small charge unless you have a student ID.Emily Dickenson House
280 Main Street, Amherst, MA
Telephone: 413-542-8161The birthplace and home of Emily Dickenson. Tours are offered. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.
A well known outdoor park on rt 9 just beyond Florence. They have a working train which all the little kids ride for a nominal fee.
Catch a panaramic view of the Conneticut River Valley from the Top of Mt. Sugarloaf- (don’t laugh when you see it. It’s not really a mtn.
Yes its a book store, but a most unsusual one. If you are someone who escapes reality in just the local mall bookstore- YOU HAVE to Check this OUT! It’s a two story shop with books from a wide range of dealers and centuries. Be warned - be careful of the bindings- some of the books are $$$$$$$. It is located on Rt . 5 at the Whately-Hatfield line.
A little smaltz in South Hadley. Excellent for small children. Yes, there are real dinosaur tracks. You won’t spend long there, but you can let the kids run around the woods looking for more tracks, wear them down, and then take them for icecream at Barts or Atkins Farm.http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MASOUnash.html
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/news/970821MASOU.html
Steve and I had a great time at this small but very interestsing winery. To our surprise we found some very interesting dry fruit wines here. The winery does daily wine tasting and offers tours during the summer. They are about 40 minutes a way via country roads and have a delightful selection of chardonnay like pear, apple, and berry wines, also Hard cider and mead.
A little pub and restaurant just up the road from the North River winery. Yes, they really have beer made with maple syrup. Downtown Wilmington offers a quaint little mainstreet with shops run by local artisans. Wilmington is the largest of the villages supporting the Mt. Snow ski and recreation area. It has a population of over 2,000. If I ever have the money to buy a weekend get away ski condo I will be shopping in Wilmington. :)
An neighborhood of colonial houses which have been preserved and restored. There are a collection of homes with guides as well as some that you can browse through at your own pace. If you like architecture and antiques you may fill most of the day here. It is easy to get to as it is just off of route 5 and is well marked. You can get there the long way by following rt 5 (King street) out of Noho, or You can take 116 to 5, or I-91 to exit 24 and follow route 5 several miles up the road until you see a sign for Historic Deerfield Museum directing you to the left. You can buy tickets for just a tour or a day pass to the whole museum.
1.5 mile hike to settler's cave. Hike is described as rigorous, so dress appropriately and bring water. Erving is a very remote undeveloped district and this should prove to be a lovely nature walk.
The Vermont State Park site http://www.visitvermont.com/ongoing/windex.html has a great map outlining various state parks and camp grounds, and quick links to the latest weather conditions.Summer Recreation via Mount Snow Resort
During the summer the ski resort provides trails and services for mountain biking, hiking, etc.
http://www.mountsnow.com/summer00/adventure%20center/adv.cntr_fs.html
Sturbridge village is about an hours drive east on the Mass Pike. It is worth going to if you are interested in colonial New England. It is a living museum with blacksmiths, a mill, a school master, sheep, etc. A nice day outting if the weather is good.
A beautiful drive into the Birkshire mountains to get there, but very worth the trip. The exhibits change frequently, but you can plan ahead by looking at there website.
A working farm which offers family entertainment, sleigh rides in the winter and tractor tows in the summer, exhibits, goat milking experiences, exploration of Bear Caves, and quilt exhibits. Children under 3 are free. Call to see if reservations are required.
The home of one of the most famous poets in U.S. history. Open seasonally.
There is an admission fee.