

Fertile farmland surrounds this small Pioneer Valley town, where the Connecticut River offers kayaking adventures between shopping excursions. The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum provides a glimpse into colonial life, while nearby orchards invite apple-picking in autumn. Escape to Mount Holyoke Range State Park for hiking trails with valley views that explain why locals never leave. The Montague Bookmill, housed in an 1842 gristmill, tempts bibliophiles with its slogan 'Books you don't need in a place you can't find.' University campuses in neighboring Amherst add youthful energy, while farm-to-table restaurants serve produce grown in fields you just drove past. For a perfect afternoon, grab ice cream from a local dairy and watch the sunset paint those impossibly wide valley skies.

