The Pioneer Valley north of Springfield is one of New England's more rewarding corners. Northampton is a lively small city with good independent restaurants and an active arts scene, about 20 minutes north. Amherst, home to Amherst College and UMass Amherst, has bookshops and cafes and is worth combining with Northampton in a single day trip. The Five Colleges area between the two towns — also including Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith — gives the whole valley a student energy that keeps it interesting year-round.
