About the Valley

The Pioneer Valley includes a number of towns nestled between the Holyoke Range and the Berkshires here in Westen Massachusetts.  Northampton, as well as the surrounding towns have a lot to offer the prospective resident, from a huge variety of restaurants (there are over 100 just in Northampton), to a multitude of retail shops, and galleries, to an extensive academic network centered around the Five College Consortium.  Included in this community are Smith College, Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  In addition, there are a number of community colleges which round out the extensive network of education in the valley.  With a major hospital (Cooley Dickinson Hospital), three well known music venues, and as home to the twice annual Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton is truely a destination city.  There is never a shortage of cultural activities, and the setting is picturesque.  Nestled close to many small hills and mountains, Northampton and the surrounding towns offer a variety of activities for the outdoor enthusiast including hiking and boating on the Connecticut River.  Indeed Northampton is not the only attraction to the Pioneer Valley, each of the surrounding towns has something to offer and its own appeal.  Life in the Pioneer Valley is ideal for those who want o be connected to the major cities in New England, as most of the towns within the Pioneer Valley are located only 3 hours from New York City and 2 hours from Boston and both are easily commutable via routes 91,  route 2 and the Mass Pike.    


For more information visit www.valleyvisitor.com.