small towns in western massachusetts

Lenox is also home to Shakespeare & Company (so it goes without saying that you’re going to see a play) as well as Tanglewood, the summer headquarters of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Think your town is small? All its appeal certainly isn’t in the past. You don't have to travel all that far beyond the Boston region to encounter some of the nation's most beautiful and picturesque small towns. The Lake Wyola State Park sits along the shores of the lake, boasting a boat ramp, picnicking, grilling and hiking trails. Some terrific journalism here by the Valley Advocate, an independent paper in Western Massachusetts. Located 50 minutes from Boston, this coastal gem has a long history dating back to the Revolutionary War. (Oh well, there’s always next time.) Lenox is a vibrant small town nestled in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. The American painter spent the last 25 years of his life deriving inspiration from Stockbridge. Pittsfield is the largest city in the Berkshires and has gone through a lot of iterations over time. Concord is undeniably one of the prettiest small towns in New England and perhaps best known as the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Previously an uninhabited area of Cape Ann, Rockport gradually began forming in the 1800s due to the exportation of granite and the establishment of stone quarries. HomeSnacks is reader-supported. This pretty-as-a-picture town oozes charm and history with the backdrop of rolling hills. Lenox is a small town in Berkshire County, and is a popular summer destination. You’ll probably be able to recognize some of the lovely scenes from Rockwell paintings! When we think of adorable small towns in Massachusetts, Newburyport instantly springs to mind. We all have those days: you're wearing your grimiest t-shirt, your hair looks like a rodent's nest, and you're just trying to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible. Lenox is a vibrant small town nestled in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. It became a summer holiday destination once a famous poet, Richard Dana, moved there in the mid-1800s. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on Trulia. You’ll definitely want to carve out some time to visit the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, the Atwood Museum, the Shark Center and the Chatham Lighthouse. An analysis of hundreds of pages of . Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks December 29, 2020. Discover small towns and villages in western Massachusetts featuring country markets, scenic drives, farm stands and historic sites. The town itself boasts 8 buildings and two historic attractions on the National Register of Historic Places – make sure to explore Provincetown Historic District and Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District! Rowe is a small town (less than 400 people!) PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Never created a password? When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. An enchanting town on Cape Ann, Manchester-by-the-Sea lives up to its name with its scenic beaches and viewpoints. You are reading "25 Best Day Trips & Small Towns in Massachusetts" Back to Top or More must do for couples, what to do near me, places to visit this weekend. Rowe. On the other side of Massachusetts, in Hampshire County, local is a way of life. Check out our list of the best small towns to visit in Massachusetts: Stockbridge is a town located in Berkshire County. But coastal towns like Rockport and Newburyport certainly get top billing. The town center is right where the confluence of the Sudbury and Assabet rivers forms the Concord River, and is one of the scenes of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first conflict of the American Revolutionary War! Don’t forget the sunblock before you hit the beach! NEWBURYPORT, MA. Besides outdoorsy enticements such as Pleasant Valley Sanctuary, it’s brimming with fine dining restaurants (Table Six, The Portico by Jeffrey Thompson and Cafe Boulud receive rave reviews from patrons) and interesting attractions like The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home (pictured above). Even after this demand subsided, an artist’s colony continued to thrive to morph Rockport into a vacation destination. On the other side of Massachusetts, in Hampshire County, local is a way of life. It was abandoned and then resettled with the establishment of cotton and paper mills. These towns are the places that offer the perfect escapes for . Walk out to Pocomtuck Ridge and hike up to appreciate the views. Take a spin at the year-round ice skating rink, and down along the waterfront and boardwalk. These towns are the places that offer the perfect escapes for . Stop in for an out of the way, quiet destination. This legendary escape off the coast of Cape Cod attracts well-heeled holiday goers with its wind-swept dunes, cedar-shingled houses that belong on the cover of Architectural Digest and perfectly preppy atmosphere. Please visit individual businesses' websites for COVID-19 updates.

Located in Middlesex County, Concord is part of the Greater Boston area. AreaVibes, which claims to help people find the best place to live, says it's the following 25.According to the website, their livability . First up on your history crawl? Located 50 minutes from Boston, this coastal gem has a long history dating back to the Revolutionary War. By Meaghan Agnew. As any student of American history already knows, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was one of the O.G. When we think of adorable small towns in Massachusetts, Newburyport instantly springs to mind. The renowned summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, known as Tanglewood, the cultural town also features Edith Wharton's restored mansion, the Shakespeare and Company international campus, and the Berkshire Scenic Railway. Odds are it has more people in it than these 50 towns combined. Boxford. Take in the views at Ocean Park Gazebo and soak in that ocean breeze. The western part of Western Massachusetts includes the . Discover small towns and villages in western Massachusetts featuring country markets, scenic drives, farm stands and historic sites. Even though the Pilgrims later settled across the bay, Provincetown continues to draw people here to this day with its historical importance and appealing beaches. Flickr/Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel. You don't have to travel all that far beyond the Boston region to encounter some of the nation's most beautiful and picturesque small towns. . Because it means more space to sprawl out on Crane Beach, fewer tourists at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, shorter waits at restaurants and the chance to explore Sandy Point State Reservation sans crowds. Hampshire County welcomes you. Few small cities in the state can rival the number of restaurants, art galleries and (especially) live music venues in Northampton. Updated on 9/10/2019 at 5:00 PM. Remember that fun is the only priority and Oak Bluffs will make achieving this easy for you. You are reading "25 Best Day Trips & Small Towns in Massachusetts" Back to Top or More must do for couples, what to do near me, places to visit this weekend. (For the sake of clarity, it’s worth mentioning that both the town and island share a name.) This historic town also has as prominent literary history, with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott all having been residents here at some point. Visit Halibut Point State Park to see an old granite quartz, Babson Farm, before heading to Bearskin Neck, converted fisherman shacks that are now popular restaurants and galleries. Once the railroad found the town in the 1800s, tourists were soon to follow. Please visit individual businesses' websites for COVID-19 updates. Small-town SWAT teams proliferate in Western Massachusetts. How we determined the worst small towns to live in Massachusetts for 2020 We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. These are the least . Sign up for PureWow to get more daily discoveries sent straight to your inbox. Snap some photos or maybe pick up those paintbrushes again and memorialize your trip! They established a mission for Native Americans who had earned this township as a reward for their support of the British during the French and Indian Wars. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search, More data: Zip Codes, Counties, Businesses, Houses, Weather Forecasts, Recent home sales, price trends, and home value evaluator powered by Onboard Informatics, Massachusetts Very Small Towns and Villages (fewer than 1000 residents), Map of Radon Zones in Massachusetts based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, Cities in Massachusetts with more than 6000 residents, Cities, towns, and villages in Massachusetts between 1000 and 6000 residents. Wander through and stop in at Old Deerfield Country Store, or the Memorial Hall Museum. Montague is a small town out in Western Massachusetts that has charm to spare. Not just a place to spend Halloween and learn about America’s most famous witch hunt, this coastal city that feels a lot like a town on the north coast of Massachusetts has a lot going for it that no one really talks about. Here's a list of the 10 richest towns in the Old Colony State of Massachusetts. (Sorry, that was just wicked easy.) Located in Hampshire County, Hadley is small but popular with visitors because of its ideal location along Route 9. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Berkshires? AreaVibes, which claims to help people find the best place to live, says it's the following 25.According to the website, their livability . But because you live in a small town, you bump into your high school biology teacher, your creepy co-worker, AND your long-lost . An artist’s colony and subsequent vacation destination for alternative lifestyle tourists, Provincetown has long promoted gay tourism. The Pilgrims actually established the first colony there at Plymouth, and a neighboring town, Salem, held the infamous witch trials. Afterward, abolitionism gained popularity and it became an important stopping point on the Underground Railroad. Palmer Town residents pay a median price of $197,000 for homes and earn a median income of $64,651. To some, it may be the sound of birds chirping in the morning, or owls hooting at night. We used science and data to determine which small towns in Massachusetts are the best of the best. A resort area perfect for any season, this artsy, picturesque town was first settled by missionaries in 1734. A funky, crunchy, bohemian haven with tons of culture and strong left leanings, Northampton is a stomping ground for artists, authors, musicians, activists, students and academics. Concord was even the first community to ban the use of single serving plastic bottles.

Great Barrington. Stop in at Rowe and walk to the Village Green and Mill Pond, you’ll see Adams Mountain painting a lovely backdrop to the tranquil scene. Nowadays, sailing and boats still bring in a lot of income for the city, but more from the boats docked there recreationally. Previously an industrial town, it thrived as an art colony in the 1800s - Catharine Sedgwick lived here as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Hike around the Upper Bear Swamp Reservoir or Pelham Lake, or visit Monroe State Forest. Lenox, Massachusetts. Have a nap on Inkwell Beach or take a paddle board out onto the waves. Forget being a small town - Rowe is more like a micro-town. Stroll through scenic downtown or spend a few hours at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens before browsing the local art galleries or taking a yoga class at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. With Ocean Park, Circuit Avenue and Joseph Sylvia State Beach—a two-mile stretch of soft sand and shallow water that served as a filming location for the 1975 flick Jaws—plus the oldest operating platform carousel in the country, you may never even make it to Edgartown. Are you sure you want to remove this item from your Recipe Box? Don’t forget Lenox in winter, either, because there are many ski resorts in the area. Lake Wyola is a small lake that sits in the Massachusetts town of Shutesbury. states to join the union way back in 1788. If you’re interested in getting out on the river for fishing, stock up on supplies at Maynard Outdoor Store. A Guide to the Small Towns of Western Massachusetts. . Whale watching tours speak to its maritime roots. Due to its location in western Massachusetts, Northampton is often overlooked, however it is a center of cultural activity and rich history that rivals any of its eastern counterparts. There are restroom facilities with showers, playgrounds and picnic areas with grilling stations. That's why, on any weeknight, you'll find the small, crescent-shaped Main Street full of visitors from Connecticut and every surrounding small town, enjoying the shops, the cafes, and live music in many . That gives Palmer Town the best ratio of home price to income in Massachusetts. Pittsfield, like many cities in Western Massachusetts, fell into economic decline at the end of the manufacturing era. By Meaghan Agnew. 6. Previously an industrial town, it thrived as an art colony in the 1800s - Catharine Sedgwick lived here as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne. While this mill ultimately went bankrupt, it has been preserved by the town and is now a commercial center. One of the original 13 colonies, Massachusetts is now also the most populous state in New England. Another small town that’s nestled in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Lenox is a low-key cultural dynamo that’s surrounded by winsome scenery. Besides being a popular summer destination for the outdoorsmen, Lenox also lovely in the autumn to hike or take your bike out on the paths around Pleasant Valley Sanctuary to see the vibrant colors of the foliage. If you want to venture outside of town, head to the railroad bridge that crosses the Deerfield River and enjoy the peace that nature offers. You can always burn calories to save room for Richardson’s Candy Kitchen once you return to town! Rowe is off the beaten path, literally: there are no state highways running through it. The Western Massachusetts destination is a fixture on “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Though we can’t imagine anyone affiliated with this rural region wishes to be associated with the unseemly antics that go down at Dorinda's estate. Whether you're an outdoors enthusiast, a history fiend, or an arts aficionado, there's a town for you Don’t forget to check out the downtown area, especially the Town Hall. The Pilgrims first anchored here in the harbor in 1620, where they then wrote and signed the Mayflower Compact. A town with a long US history, it was first settled in 1659 by Puritans. A state steeped in history, Massachusetts is home to an abundance of fascinating small towns, both on the picturesque seashore and well inland. Cobblestoned streets, upmarket boutiques, seafood eateries and historic churches are also part of the package. First established in a push to populate the colonial frontier, the settlement was considered too remote despite offering good agricultural lands and abundant fishing. One highlight of this community is the Montague Book Mill, one of the most unique bookshops in the country. Photo: Geoffrey Coelho. During the war, almost all buildings here were burned by the Native Americans. 2010 Day Blvd., Boston, MA 02127, Phone: 617-727-5290. Now a bustling suburban sprawl town, quality of life is high and the population is happy, something you’ll immediately notice during your visit. Nowadays, Deerfield has preserved its past in Historic Deerfield. Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks December 29, 2020. It boasts some of the most gorgeous coastal spots in all of Cape Cod (and that’s saying something), plus a quaint downtown. That's why, on any weeknight, you'll find the small, crescent-shaped Main Street full of visitors from Connecticut and every surrounding small town, enjoying the shops, the cafes, and live music in many . Named for the oak groves overlooking Nantucket sound, Oak Bluffs seems planned precisely for your visit! The idyllic town of Oak Bluffs earns our vote as *the* place to stay on Martha’s Vineyard. A big part of the appeal at Stockbridge is the art colony that traditionally formed a part of the town. . Hampshire County welcomes you. An area where Native Americans fished and foraged prior to the arrival of the Europeans, it was then used as a fort to guard settlers against raids. And with a median rent of $962, Palmer Town is also one of the cheapest places to rent in the state, taken as a proportion of income. See if you recognize any of the locations from Ted 2 – it was filmed here! Plan your island getaway here to the town of cute gingerbread cottages and 19th century buildings. Which small Massachusetts towns are the best to live in? . The 10 Best Small Towns In Massachusetts For 2021. Massachusetts is teeming with small towns steeped in hundreds of years of history. Although it might seem far away today, it won't be too long before the weather warms up and the signs of spring reappear. Flickr/Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel. Home » Travel Guides » United States » Massachusetts (MA) » 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in Massachusetts. 10. This beloved summer getaway (which, we should mention, also wows in the fall, winter and spring) offers a blend of cute touristy and local stuff. The 12 Most Charming Small Towns in Massachusetts, 9 Fresh-Air Activities to Enjoy in Vermont. No matter what the season, you can always book yourself some treatments at the Cranwell Spa for some instant relaxation. From places with Puritan roots and locales that served as battlefields during the Revolutionary War to a destination famous for witch hunts, these are the most charming small towns in Massachusetts. Visit this historic town to see the first station built for the Coast Guard, the Cushing House Museum and Garden, and the Newburyport Superior courthouse, the oldest continuously active courthouse in Massachusetts. From March to Memorial Day, the iconic towns, villages and cities in Western Massachusetts are brimming with vivid scenery, entertaining festivals, and culinary delights. Book yourself a few nights in the historic Oak Bluffs Inn and enjoy a view and delicious food at Nancy’s Restaurant.

All rights reserved. Norfolk, a suburban, rural community in Norfolk County, is nestled in a valley along the Charles River.

Walk down to the harbor to see the a red fishing shack, Motif Number 1, that has been the subject of hundreds of paintings and photographs and is still visited by aspiring painters. Minuteman National Historic Park to hike, glimpse the North Bridge (pictured above) and enjoy a picnic lunch. If you make it to Groton in the autumn, check out the hidden gem Autumn Hills Orchard.

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