Where’s the nearest?

For those who are looking for the nearest pharmacy, grocery store, etc., you may wish to use our “Where’s the nearest?” Google map. Two museums and a well-stocked market are available just a short walk from campus, and more options for dining, shopping, outdoor recreation and cultural activities are just a short distance away!

Need help getting around? Ask a local!

About Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts is a lively college town (although it gets quieter in the summer!) located in the beautiful Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. The area offers many cultural and recreational amenities for visitors — many just a short walk or bus ride from campus!

Outdoor Activities

Maybe it’s the long winters, but New Englanders love to be outdoors in the summer! If you do too, check out some of the recommendations below — or ask a local for their favorite places to hike, bike, boat, or observe nature!

  • Walking and hiking trails are available right off campus. Starting from the Sweet Alice Conservation Area, right across the road from campus, you can access a network of more than 30 miles of trails in the Holyoke Range State Park that range from easy to rugged and include a 7-mile ridgeline trail. If you have a car and want to venture farther, check out this list of recommended hikes from UMass, or even visit the western Mass section of the Appalachian Trail!

  • Nature: Amherst has many conservation areas, some quite close to campus (map). In addition to the town and state conservation areas, the Amherst College Wildlife Sanctuary includes 500 acres of diverse habitat.

  • Bicycling: there are many cyclist routes and dedicated rail trails available nearby. Starting with the Amherst loop right off campus, you can get to the Mass Central Rail Trail and ride all the way to Northampton, on the other side of the Connecticut River. The trail goes through wetlands, swamps, farms, and across the Connecticut River on a repurposed rail bridge. You can also enjoy a ride on our local roads. Drivers in western Mass are very used to sharing the road with cyclists. Those looking for a longer ride can follow the river roads north along the Connecticut River. Bridges in Northampton, South Deerfield and Greenfield offer the opportunity for 25-mile and 50-mile loops.

  • Swimming: the Robert Crown Center at Hampshire College (where the dojo is located) has an indoor swimming pool that we have access to. If you’d rather do your swimming in nature, Puffer’s Pond in North Amherst is a popular local swimming hole. Make sure to check the website before going to make sure that the water quality allows swimming. No lifeguard is present, so swim cautiously.

  • Adventure sports: if you have a car and want to venture farther, Charlemont MA is home to whitewater outfitters Crab Apple Whitewater and Zoar Outdoor, who offer rafting and sit-on-top kayak trips from Class IV whitewater down to easy float trips. Zoar also offers kayak instruction. Just across the river, Berkshire East Mountain Resort has many fun summer activities, including downhill mountain biking, ziplines, a mountain coaster and an aerial adventure park just for young visitors.

Culture and Entertainment

The Amherst area is home to many museums, galleries and performance spaces.

Food and Drink

Close to campus, you can find Mexican food at Mission Cantina, Salvadorean and Mexican food at El Comalito, and ice cream at Flayvors of Cook Farm, a working dairy farm.

Amherst has many restaurants — too many to list them all here! Below are some suggestions. Looking for something different? Ask a local!

  • Protocol (New American, $20-30): Slightly more upscale than the average college-town restaurant. Lively without being raucous, fun menu, inventive cocktails.

  • Antonio’s (pizza, $5-10): Popular pizzeria with dozens of options.

  • Lao Hu Tong (Chinese, $20-30): Restaurant with small but impressive menu of traditional dishes.

  • Miss Saigon (Vietnamese, $10-20): Phở, banh mi, bún and more.

  • Amherst Oyster Bar (seafood, $25-35): Highly regarded seafood restaurant specializing in oysters and other shellfish.

  • MoMo (Tibetan, $10-20): Traditional Tibetan restaurant with a lovely atmosphere and many vegetarian options.

  • Pita Pockets (Middle Eastern, $10-20): Casual restaurant selling pockets and plates. Includes vegan options.

  • Fresh Side (Asian fusion, $10-20): Tea rolls, noodle soups, rice plates. Extensive gluten-free menu.

  • Lili’s (Chinese, $10-20): Low-key restaurant serving a small menu of Xi’an dishes including hand-pulled noodles.

  • 30 Boltwood (New American, $20-50): Upscale restaurant with a creative menu, serving brunch, lunch and dinner.

Shopping

Groceries

  • Atkins Farm Country Market: located a short walk from campus (see map at the bottom of this page). A large market with fresh produce, a large bakery, fabulous deli, meat counter, snacks, groceries of all sorts, and a good selection of beer and wine.

  • Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have locations close to campus on Route 9 in Hadley. Big Y is a chain supermarket with pharmacy, also on Route 9 in Hadley

Beer, Wine, Cider and Spirits

Provisions in North Amherst has a good selection of wine, beer, and some hard ciders. On Route 9, Liquors 44 has a large selection of beer, wine and spirits at a lower price point. Whole Foods and Big Y also sell wine, beer and spirits.

Pharmacy, copy services, and more can be found on the “Where’s the nearest?” Google map.

Culture and Entertainment

The Amherst area is home to many museums, galleries and performance spaces.

Walking map to Atkins Farm