The Country Side
Just like choosing a favorite child , it ’ s impossible to pick a favorite Hampshire County town ( or you should never admit to it ). Each and every one of our 20 towns and villages are noticeably different , with distinct personalities and traits . What we ’ re saying is : if you ’ ve seen one town , you haven ’ t seen them all . Keep exploring .
These towns are rustic , rural , and ultra historic , yet they ’ re buzzing with modern energy and strong coffee . Hilltown residents are hardy types who are proud of the land and how they use it . Ask nicely and they might just tell you how to get to a secret swimming hole or give you a handful of strawberries from a sprawling backyard garden . Don ’ t be fooled ; not everyone ’ s a farmer . The Hilltowns host eccentric artists , holed-up writers , and Brooklyn transplants who dreamt of renovating an old Colonial .
If you ’ re a history buff , you can hike to see the ruins of the dam that caused the Mill River Flood Disaster in Williamsburg . Take a self-guided tour of the arched railroad bridges in Middlefield and stop by the Farm Museum in Hadley to see old-timey farm equipment . The general stores in Williamsburg and Huntington will make you feel like you ’ ve stepped back in time .
If you ’ re food driven , grab legendary overstuffed lobster rolls with a side of local gossip at the Williamsburg Snack Bar . Make a hole-in-one , naturally , at the Links at Worthington golf course before noshing on dinner at Velvet , a restaurant that will expand your palate ( and your view ). See if veggies taste different if they ’ re grown on the horse-powered Sawyer Farm . Sip a flight of local wine with friends at Hardwick Vineyard in Ware . Or have a truly euphoric experience at Bread Euphoria in Haydenville and then jump on the bike path and put those calories to good use . The Connecticut River Scenic Byway is the only National Scenic byway in western Massachusetts , giving you photographic views from South Hadley to points north .
Lily Pond Goshen
visithampshirecounty . com 21