{"id":54116,"date":"2016-09-12T08:45:13","date_gmt":"2016-09-12T12:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=54116"},"modified":"2019-10-27T23:00:18","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T03:00:18","slug":"northampton-massachusetts-pedaling-in-the-pioneer-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/54116\/northampton-massachusetts-pedaling-in-the-pioneer-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Northampton, Massachusetts: Pedaling in The Pioneer Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nestled in the rolling hills of Western Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley offers a mix of unspoiled agricultural landscapes, artsy villages and culturally charged small cities. In the center of the valley sits Hampshire County&#8217;s compact <a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/64482\/the-best-things-to-do-in-northampton-massachusetts\/\">Northampton<\/a>, just the right size to explore without a car, with an in-town Amtrak Station to boot. Civic-minded residents and Smith College students give this town a progressive lean and laid-back vibe. Photogenic scenery is the backdrop for an art museum, a farm-to-fork dining scene and independently owned main street shops, with hardly a chain store in sight.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Get Outdoors:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-54121 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves.jpg\" alt=\"Norwottuck Rail Trail northampton\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-54121 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves.jpg\" alt=\"Norwottuck Rail Trail northampton\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Manhan-Rail-Trail-Easthampton-4-by-Lynne-Graves-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The car-free <a href=\"http:\/\/www.traillink.com\/trail\/norwottuck-rail-trail-(mass-central-section).aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Norwottuck Rail Trail<\/a> is an 11-mile path linking Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst along the former Boston &amp; Maine Railroad. Paved and pristinely maintained, there\u2019s a balance of hikers, roller bladders and bikers harmoniously sharing the flat, shady trail. Rent your wheels at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nohobike.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northampton Bicycle <\/a>and away you\u2019ll go. You\u2019ll pedal past fertile farmland, quaint towns and the occasional light dusting of suburban sprawl in the distance. It\u2019s an easy ride to charming Amherst and there\u2019s yummy sustenance along the way at Maple Valley Milk Company and Farm Store. This creamery is just off the trail and features dairy products made with fresh milk from their herd of Brown Swiss cows. They adhere to time-honored farming traditions and sell a range of fortifying products including rich ice cream and organically grown fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Eats+ Drinks:<br \/>\n<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54145 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/12345497_1666638096945168_1477683777150150030_n.jpg\" alt=\"Convino Wine Bar\" width=\"412\" height=\"274\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54145 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/12345497_1666638096945168_1477683777150150030_n.jpg\" alt=\"Convino Wine Bar\" width=\"412\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/12345497_1666638096945168_1477683777150150030_n.jpg 525w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/12345497_1666638096945168_1477683777150150030_n-350x233.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 412px) 100vw, 412px\" \/><\/noscript><\/h2>\n<p>You\u2019ll find plenty of eateries, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ConVinoNorthampton?fref=ts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ConVino<\/a> is Northampton\u2019s only wine bar. The inviting atmosphere presents a non-pressurized environment to delve into the world of wine. With some 50 wines available by the glass and over 100 bottles, there\u2019s something for every palate. The list includes reds, whites, ros\u00e9s and sparkling wines from around the globe, including vintages from up-and-coming regions such as Croatia and Sicily. A vast selection of cheeses from nearby farmhouses, creative flatbreads and heartier fare such as poutine and pulled pork assures that no one leaves hungry.<\/p>\n<p>For the best baked goods and breakfast in town, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sylvestersrestaurant.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sylvester\u2019s <\/a>earns a gold star. Located in the former home of Sylvester Graham, the inventor of the Graham cracker, everything here is made from scratch including healthy oatmeal sunflower seed bread, warm muffins and decadently rich pastries.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Stay Here:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54146 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Screen-Shot-2016-09-12-at-10.31.21-PM.png\" alt=\"hotel northampton\" width=\"407\" height=\"276\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-54146 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Screen-Shot-2016-09-12-at-10.31.21-PM.png\" alt=\"hotel northampton\" width=\"407\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Screen-Shot-2016-09-12-at-10.31.21-PM.png 722w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Screen-Shot-2016-09-12-at-10.31.21-PM-350x237.png 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px\" \/><\/noscript>The historic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hotelnorthampton.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hotel Northampton<\/a> offers 106 guestrooms, inviting public spaces and gracious hospitality in the heart of downtown. Bob Dylan, Stephen King, Leonard Nimoy, and former presidents John F. Kennedy and Franklin Roosevelt have all rested their heads on the hotel\u2019s fluffy pillows.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Insider Tips:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Stroll over to the Smith College campus, which is a designated arboretum. Soak in the gardens and catch the sunset over Paradise Pond. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.smith.edu\/artmuseum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smith College Museum of Art\u2019s<\/a> collection will surely impress, but even more distinct are the museum\u2019s public bathrooms. They blur the boundaries between form and function in a highly original way. Even if nature doesn\u2019t call, don\u2019t miss these decorative restrooms.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How to get to Northampton from NYC<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amtrak.com\/train-schedules-timetables\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amtrak\u2019s Vermonter<\/a> will get you from New York\u2019s Penn Station to the heart of Northampton in 4 hours.<\/p>\n<p><em>For additional information, go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visithampshirecounty.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.visithampshirecounty.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Photo credits: Ogden Gigli, Lynne Graves, torbakhopper and Ellen Driscoll.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nestled in the rolling hills of Western Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley offers a mix of unspoiled agricultural landscapes, artsy villages and culturally charged small cities. In the center of the valley sits Hampshire County&#8217;s compact Northampton, just the right size to explore without a car, with an in-town Amtrak Station to boot. Civic-minded residents and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":54138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[316,757,784,224,750,1913,817,756,829,1870,838,776,770,790,1267,322,1057,781,845,748,1867,751,782],"tags":[238,40,176,381,293,483,120,306,125,130,212,299,11258,18,133,449,204,473,169,58],"class_list":{"0":"post-54116","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-weekend-getaways","8":"category-activity-2","9":"category-adventure-activity-2","10":"category-arts","11":"category-bike-2","12":"category-bike-guide","13":"category-biking-adventure-activity-2","14":"category-cafe-2","15":"category-culture-2","16":"category-editors-picks-fall","17":"category-fall-foliage-culture-2","18":"category-farms-food-drink","19":"category-food-drink","20":"category-hiking-adventure-activity-2","21":"category-hiking-getaways","22":"category-massachussetts","23":"category-museums-culture-2","24":"category-outdoor-dining","25":"category-sculpture-culture-2","26":"category-train-2","27":"category-transit-type","28":"category-walk","29":"category-wine-food-drink","30":"tag-adventure","31":"tag-art","32":"tag-bed-and-breakfast","33":"tag-biking","34":"tag-budget-friendly","35":"tag-family-friendly","36":"tag-family-fun","37":"tag-farm","38":"tag-food","39":"tag-green","40":"tag-hiking","41":"tag-locally-sourced","42":"tag-massachusetts-guide","43":"tag-museum","44":"tag-outdoors","45":"tag-restaurants","46":"tag-train","47":"tag-views","48":"tag-weekend-getaway","49":"tag-wine"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":54138,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Ogden-Gigli-1-350x198.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}