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 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.
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. The general stores in Williamsburg and Huntington will make you feel like you’ ve stepped back in time, but you can also nab a kombucha with a side of local gossip.
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, or to the arched railroad bridges in Middlefield. And if you’ re food driven, you’ ll find everything from fresh-baked bread to overstuffed lobster rolls to elegant dining. Then you can jump on the bike path and put those calories to good use. Take the Connecticut River Scenic Byway for photographic views from South Hadley to points north.
Lilac Land Pelham
20 the other side of massachusetts