Directions from Bradley International:
Leaving Bradley Airport, get on interstate 91 North. Stay on 91 until you get to Northampton.
If your lodging is in Amherst or Hadley, you will most likely exit at exit 19 for Route 9 East which becomes Russell Street in Hadley.
Route 9 west becomes Main St., Northampton and then Locust St. in Florence.
If you are lodging in Noho, you may use exit 18 or 19 check with your hotel for the easiest route.
Directions from Logan Airport:
Universal Truth #1: There is always construction in Boston to and from the airport.If your lodging is in Amherst or Hadley, you will most likely exit at exit 19 for Route 9 East which becomes Russell Street in Hadley.From Logan Airport, take I-93 South to The Mass Pike(I-90) West ).
Once your on The Pike, RELAX that was the hard part. Have some change and small bills on hand, because The Pike is a toll road. There are one or two coin collectors in the Boston area and tickets when you get into the country. It should cost a little less than $3.50 to get to exit 4 (route I-91N).
Take exit 4 to I-91 North.
Route 9 west becomes Main St., Northampton and then Locust St.
in Florence.
If you are lodging in Noho, you may use exit 18 or 19 check
with your hotel for the easiest route.
Driving
From Boston, the Cape, and Points East:
Take the Mass Pike(I-90) WestOnce your on The Pike, RELAX that was the hard part. Have some change and small bills on hand, because The Pike is a toll road. There are one or two coin collectors in the Boston area and tickets when you get into the country. It should cost a little less than $3.50 to get to exit 4 (route I-91N).If your lodging is in Amherst or Hadley, you will most likely exit at exit 19 for Route 9 East which becomes Russell Street in Hadley.Take exit 4 to I-91 North.
Route 9 west becomes Main St., Northampton and then Locust St.
in Florence.
If you are lodging in Noho, you may use exit 18 or 19 check
with your hotel for the easiest route.
From Connecticut, New Jersey, and all other points South:
Access Interstate 91 North.
If your lodging is in Amherst or Hadley, you will most likely exit at exit 19 for Route 9 East which becomes Russell Street in Hadley.
Route 9 west becomes Main St., Northampton and then Locust St. in Florence.
If you are lodging in Noho, you may use exit 18 or 19 check with your hotel for the easiest route.
From Points North of Boston:
Take Route 2 West. Lucky you, you get to take the country road!Around Greenfield you will pick up Interstate 91 South.
To go directly to the Chapel or lodging in downtown Amherst:
Take exit 25. Following signs to 116 South, you will take a left at the base of the on ramp, followed immediately by a right at a light. You will follow this road (5 South) for a fraction of a mile past Yankee Candle. Take a Left on to Rt. 116 by the Mobil station. Follow 116 to the Junction with Rt. 9 in Hadley. Take a left onto Rt. 9. The third traffic light turn left on to North Pleasant street. You should immediately find your self at the Amherst Town Commons. There is metered parking at the commons, you might find this your best option in downtown Amherst. If this is unavailable, there will also be a CVS on your left a half a block down N. Pleasant St. Via the ally next to the CVS you can access an additional town parking lot. (the secret lot only the locals know about)
Hopefully parking will not be too complicated as it is the summer and the college students are scarce.Amherst Unitarian Universalist Society is on N. Pleasant Street across the street from CVS and on the corner of Kellogg St. and N. Pleasant. It is an old Stone Church on a corner. Across the Street is a Catholic Church, that is probably also having a wedding.
To Lodging in Northampton:
Take Exit 20. This will drop you at the base of an intersection. Go Straight through this intersection and you will be on King Street heading toward downtown Noho. After a half dozen traffic lights or so, you will see Hotel Northampton on your right and Silverscapes on your left. This intersection is as down town as it gets. This is King Street (a.k.a. Pleasant Street) and Main St. (Rt. 9)A right at this point will send you up Main street to some great restaurants and on toward Florence and Look Park.
A left will send you toward the bridge and toward Hadley and Amherst.
Going straight will send you toward the south end of Noho where the Inn at Northampton and the Best Western are located. King Street changes its name to Pleasant Street south of Main Street (Route 9).
Directions to Chapel From Noho or Hadley
Take Route 9 East toward Amherst. At intersection of Rt. 9 and 116 South (different from 116 North), turn Left on to North Pleasant Street. You should immediately find your self at the Amherst Town Commons. There is metered parking at the commons, you might find this your best option in downtown Amherst. If this is unavailable, there will also be a CVS on your left a half a block down N. Pleasant St. Via the ally next to the CVS you can access an additional town parking lot. (the secret lot only the locals know about)
Hopefully parking will not be too complicated as it is the summer and the college students are scarce.
Amherst Unitarian Universalist Society is on N. Pleasant Street across the street from CVS and on the corner of Kellogg St. and N. Pleasant. It is an old Stone Church on a corner. Across the Street is a Catholic Church, that is probably also having a wedding.
Directions from the Chapel to the Reception
Take North Pleasant Street North (away from rt. 9 intersection) If you go straight at first light (beyond the church) North Pleasant Street becomes East Pleasant Street. East Pleasant ends at a T. Take a left on to Pine Street.
Follow Pine to traffic light. Make a Right at the light and bear right at the fork immediately afterward. You will pass a little strip mall on your right with the North Amherst Post Office in it. Continue on this road for the better part of a mile.
When the houses suddenly become less dense and there is a little field on your right you should see a street on your right labeled Pulpit Hill road. Turn Right here.
100 yds down on the left is an entrance into the Amherst Community Living complex. Go Slow there is a vicious speed bump and many little kids live here.
Park along the driveway behind the Common House.
The reception is in the Common House which is the big building with the gazebo on the left in front of the garden.
Parking in Amherst
Parking in Amherst Center is a bit simpler than parking in Noho. It should not be an issue because the majority of parking problems in Amherst are caused by student- and most of them are gone for the summer!Metered lots are located around the commons and will probably be the easiest to use. It is a very short and do-able walk to the church rain or shine (assuming you bring an umbrella). Unlike California, it does rain here in the summer.
This map will help you if need be.
Parking in Noho
Parking in Noho is challenging anytime, but especially during dinner hours.
There is a plethora of bistros, reastuarants, and shops. We are
proud of our little center of commerce in the middle of this otherwise
agricultural economy. (That isn't entirely true, there is a service
market which survives entirely on price gouging students,but we don't usually
talk about that.)
The garage might be your least stressful option, but then again those of you from San Francisco will find this parking spot hunt insulting and unmathced to your skills. For the rest of us, I made a map with the most useful parking lots. I usually try the Armory St. and Masonic Street lots first.
