Amherst, Massachusetts: 5 Things to Love

Many former university students find it hard to leave Amherst after graduation. What are some of the things that make visiting or settling in Amherst so enticing?

Downtown Amherst

A typical college town, Amherst's downtown area boasts a collection of cafés, independent restaurants, bookstores, and boutiques. The centrally located Jones Library is great for readers of all ages, and the town common is an excellent place to sit with a good book. Many towns in Massachusetts no longer have a downtown area where families and friends go to hang out, but Amherst Center is a thriving social gathering place.

Wireless Internet

How many towns set up Wi-Fi for their entire downtown area? This is one of the things that makes Amherst so cool. Not only can you sit in a coffee shop and check your e-mail, but you can sit on the town common and browse the net as well. Kristopher J. Pacunas, Director of Information Technology, expects that you'll be able to pay town parking meters by credit card and that this wireless service has unlimited possibilities for development. Download a coverage map or read more at the official website.

Freedom from Boredom

There is always something to do in Amherst. With both the University of Massachusetts and Amherst College, you can always find a campus event or a community function to attend. Many events, especially ones offered on college campuses, are free of cost. You can watch a Russian ballet in the UMass Fine Arts Center, tap your feet to local a cappella groups, catch a hockey game at the Mullins Center, see a Korean fashion show, or apply your mind to the philosophical musings of a world famous professor without ever leaving Amherst.

International Vibe

Part of what makes living in Amherst so interesting is that you can meet people from every continent there. Scores of international students come to study in the five-college area, and many of them end up settling in Amherst post graduation. You can also sample various international cuisines in one of the town's ethnic restaurants. If you set out to eat food from a different country every night of the week, you won't face any problems.

Getting Around

PVTA offers free public transportation on a variety of routes in and around Amherst. You can go all the way from South Deerfield to Northampton, or even to Mt. Holyoke College. As buses serve students from the five-college area, you can effectively get around without paying any fares. See routes and schedules here.

There is also a scenic bike path, the Norwottuck Rail Trail, running from Northampton to Belchertown. Bike racks abound in downtown areas and at shopping centers, which makes the Amherst area accessible for those without cars.