Searching for Summer plans? Need a break from the World Cup chaos? Look no further than the nearby fields of Western Massachusetts for a farm to table food getaway. Only 100 miles from Boston and 160 miles from New York, Western Mass is within reach for an easy Summer getaway.
Visit the Pioneer Valley’s many small farms, which produce all kinds of delicious foods and agricultural products. You’ll find exceptional orchards with apples, pears and peaches; plentiful greens and vegetables, you-pick berries of all types, and fields of flowers. Enjoy a local farm to table dinner, kick back in the sun at a brewery, or relax at a vineyard wine tasting. Visit a farm store to take home some locally made products and you might even meet a farmer.
Summer is full of agricultural activities and festivals in the towns along the Connecticut River. The North Hadley Asparagus Festival is a celebration of famous “Hadley grass,” followed by local strawberry festivals, the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival and Cider Days in Franklin County. Many people visit the Valley for music and arts events like the Paradise City Arts Festival, the Green River Festival, Montague World Music Mini Fest and Watermelon Wednesdays. Mark the calendar with your favorite Summer festival.
Bring your bike or take a hike to really enjoy the landscape and build an appetite for that great local food. There is a variety of terrain from simple rail trail paths (Norwottuck, Manhan, Ashuwillticook) to rigorous hikes across the 7 Sisters of the Holyoke Range, the Pioneer Valley has something for everyone. While best known for cycling on its quiet scenic roads like the Franklin County Bikeway, there are also renowned gravel and mountain bike trails. When Summer heats up, there are plenty of opportunities for cool water sports like swimming, kayaking, tubing and fishing with some excellent outdoor adventure companies to hire.
Don’t miss the outstanding ice cream at our dairy farms and ice cream parlors, made with fresh local milk and cream.
Make it a day trip or stay a bit longer. Western Mass has a variety of lodging options for you to pick the perfect place. Choose from charming inns (Centennial House B&B, Old Mill Inn), spacious nature retreats (Hintara Retreat) and classic center city options like Hotel Northampton and the Inn on Boltwood.
Want to ditch your car? Stay downtown and walk to restaurants, cafes, live music, bars, breweries and cabarets. You can even arrive by train from Washington, New York or Vermont.
With a laid back atmosphere and still plenty to do, Western Massachusetts awaits for your next relaxing getaway.