I’m back home again after my repeat pet/housesit in Northampton to share some favorites from this year’s stay. I repeated a couple of spots from 2025, but made an effort to expand my horizons and tried some new things in addition to revisiting some places. There’s a lot to do in the Northampton area, so take notes.
This year, the temperatures were actually a little cooler than when I last visited, but I was still all about getting to some water. I returned to Ashfield Lake, this time with my paddle board. Launching was a wee bit irritating in that I couldn’t simply get on the water near the beach. Instead, I walked my board along the lake’s edge for about a quarter mile until I reached the official launch. Not a huge deal but I wouldn’t want to carry the inflated board much further than that distance.
While I appreciated the access to Ashfield Lake, I ultimately found myself preferring the larger lake in the DAR Forest in Goshen. It wasn’t free ($8 for MA residents, $30 for others), but it was beautiful with plenty of parking and a 3 minute walk from car to launch. I went twice to this state forest and very much enjoyed my time there. The water was warm, yet refreshing and the tranquility I found there was worth the price of admission. Bonus that I had another bald eagle sighting!
I made my first visit to the Smith College Art Museum and was completely taken with the Alma Thomas exhibit which had recently opened. Her work was mesmerizing and her choice of colors and technique delighted me. It was almost as if she was creating mosaics from paint and I loved the work. I checked out some of the other museum galleries and very much appreciated the collection, which was dominated by art created by female artists.
Despite the Calvin Theater and Pearl Street still being shuttered, these was plenty of live music to be found in town – and much of it was free. Summer on Strong, a series of bands and musicians playing on Strong Avenue amongst outdoor dining areas for the restaurants lining the street. One could grab a glass of wine from the bar truck and get comfortable or avail one’s self of the seating offered by one of 5 different restaurants in the immediate area. I caught two excellent jazz bands and a pair of guitar players performing originals and covers. It was very much my happy place.
I ate some really good food. Homestead didn’t live up to my memories of my experiences dining there last year, but their crudo special of striped bass was fabulous, as was their focaccia service. I had good pastry from Tart and Woodstar and what may have been the messiest falafel wrap of my life from Shah’s Halal.
I indulged myself with a hot fudge sundae from Herrell’s which was worth every calories, pizza topped with wonderful spicy meats from Joe’s and a perfect peach crumb pie which I brought home from The Pie Bar in nearby Florence. On my way out of town, I popped into Toasted for a well prepared omelette with a side of gravlax, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
My time in the Pioneer Valley was primarily solitary, but I did some socializing while I was there, enjoying a dinner with a friend and an afternoon hanging out with some folks whom I haven’t had an opportunity to visit with in many years. There was a funny moment on Main Street when a man stopped me to admire my shirt and then realized that he had taken a photo of me in June (at Solid Sound) wearing the same shirt – small world. 😊
In addition to the friendly people I chatted with as I made my way around town and the area, I also noted the same high incidence of unhoused folks on Main Street as I had observed last year. Everyone I encountered was polite and appreciative of any offering I made, but I wish I lived in a country that cared more about helping people to live than it did for killing people. Sigh.
Although this is not my usual M.O., I did actually go to a bonafide tourist attraction in nearby South Deerfield, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. Honestly, I thought this little pit stop on my way to Ashfield was going to set me back $10, but it was twice that price at $20, which seemed a bit expensive. After spending an hour there, though, checking out the reptiles, birds and butterflies, I realized it was well worth the price to support a place that is fostering these species. It was really cool!
In 2025 I availed myself of an introductory offer to practice yoga at Shiva Shakti Power Yoga, which I enjoyed despite the faster flow pace than my usual studio. This time around, I caught a couple of 75-minute morning classes at Sanctuary studio.
Let’s pause right here for a moment to reflect upon how great it is to be able to walk to multiple yoga studios!
Sanctuary is on the third floor of the Thornes Marketplace and is a really warm and supportive environment for yoga that leans towards the gentle side. I worked with two different instructors and feel like my personal practice was improved by their cues and flows. My first class was free, my second was $22, a more than fair price for a drop in.
While I can’t begin to imagine where I might be next summer, I’d be more than happy to find my way back to Northampton. It’s an awesome town with lots to do and see and I’d happily return should things once again line up.
Have you visited Northampton and the Pioneer Valley? Do you have any tips to share?
DelSo 