Whatever your Taste, Northampton is the Place

With music, art, theatre, shopping and great restaurants, Northampton, Massachusetts is an artsy town right around the corner.

For thousands of years, Northampton was originally inhabited by Native Americans and was called Norwottuck, or Nonotuck, meaning: "the midst of the river." It is now a popular destination for tourists who are attracted to the city’s arts and culture. The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, by John Villani named Northampton the number one small town for arts in the country. Northampton is a special place with small-town quaintness and big-city liveliness. It is full of activities, eclectic shops, busy europeanesque sidewalk cafes, and youthful nightlife.
Northampton is also the perfect gem for either a romantic dinner or a night out on the town. Grab a beer with friends at the Northampton Brewery, a slice of Joe’s famous pizzas, or bring a date to see a show at Calvin Theatre or a concert at the Iron Horse Music Hall.

Being home of many Iron Horse Entertainment Group live music venues, Northampton is well-known for its music scene. The venues include the Iron Horse Music Hall 20 Center Street, which has a scheduled filled with live rock and blues acts. The Pearl Street Nightclub host mostly rock performers. Also located in Northampton is The Elevens, which has live acts encompassing "independent, local, regional, national and underground performers" playing blues, jazz, rock of various categories.

Visit during Northampton's Art's Night Out and check out the city's 23 open galleries and studios the 2nd Friday of Every Month. Walk around the streets and drink refreshments while gazing work of local artists. Artists create jewelry, American craft, handmade wearables, Chinese antique furniture, photography, landscape expressions and more.

Northampton has a lot of outdoor beauty to take advantage of when visiting. Look Park is a one hundred & fifty acre park in Northampton located on the Berkshire Trail. This is another venue for concerts and several special events. The Old State Mental Hospital grounds, where “Cider House Rules” was filmed, once overgrown is now being developed. Residents and visitors walk around the beautiful area that takes you through the farm fields and woods of Northampton. Take a bike ride on the Norwottock Rail Trail is an 8.5 mile path linking Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst along the former Boston & Main Railroad. It is pathway created for wheelchairs, joggers, skaters, bicyclists, and cross-country skier of all ages.