The best city hikes and walks in Franklin County

The Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail is an 11-mile paved, multi-use trail that runs from Northampton, through Hadley and Amherst, to Belchertown, Massachusetts. This particular section of the trail runs from Look Memorial Park to downtown North Hampton. This is a pleasant trail that is popular with cyclists, walkers, and joggers.

The Emily Dickinson House and Museum is a unique museum that consists of two historic houses—the Homestead, where the renowned poet was born and lived, and the Evergreens, an adjacent house which was gift to her brother from their father. Dickinson lived in Homestead for the majority of her life, becoming increasingly unwilling, or unable, to leave the house. In the 1850s she became even more secluded in the house, interacting with most visitors through closed doors. The museum offers guided and self-guided tours of her home to teach you about both the poet's life, work, and family, and life in Amherst in the 19th century. The Homestead is a US National Historic Landmark, and both houses are part of the Dickinson Historic District, making it a must-visit destination for history and literature enthusiasts. For information on admission and hours please visit: emilydickinsonmuseum.org/hours-admission

The Evergreens is a part of the Emily Dickinson Museum and was where the famous poet's brother, Austin Dickinson, lived with his wife Susan and their three children. This house is considered one of the earliest and best-preserved examples of the Italianate architectural style and was designed by renowned architect William Fenno Pratt. All of the rooms in the house contain the original, authentic Dickinson family furniture and decor from the 19th century and outside of the home are the carefully landscaped grounds.

The historic downtown of Amherst is just north of Amherst College and south of UMass Amherst, and has been the heart of this area since the 18th century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are plenty of unique shopping boutiques, great restaurants and coffee shops, and historic buildings to explore. This is a great place to check out when visiting the area.

Amherst College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1821 and is the third oldest institution of higher education in Massachusetts. Amherst was originally an all-boys school until 1974 and is an exclusively undergraduate institution. This small, highly-selective school only has about 2,000 students has many notable alumni including: Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States; Harlan F. Stone, the 12th Chief Justice of the United States; novelist David Foster Wallace; and the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta. The Main Quadrangle is the heart of the college campus. Academic and residential buildings surround the green lawn, which is the traditional setting for the commencement ceremony. Although you are allowed to walk through campus, please be respectful of students and faculty attending this historic college.

The Emily Dickinson House and Museum is a unique museum that consists of two historic houses—the Homestead, where the renowned poet was born and lived, and the Evergreens, an adjacent house which was gift to her brother from their father. Dickinson lived in Homestead for the majority of her life, becoming increasingly unwilling, or unable, to leave the house. In the 1850s she became even more secluded in the house, interacting with most visitors through closed doors. The museum offers guided and self-guided tours of her home to teach you about both the poet's life, work, and family, and life in Amherst in the 19th century. The Homestead is a US National Historic Landmark, and both houses are part of the Dickinson Historic District, making it a must-visit destination for history and literature enthusiasts. For information on admission and hours please visit: https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/hours-admission/

The Evergreens is a part of the Emily Dickinson Museum and was where the famous poet's brother, Austin Dickinson, lived with his wife Susan and their three children. This house is considered one of the earliest and best-preserved examples Italianate architectural and was designed by renowned architect William Fenno Pratt. All of the rooms in the house contain the original, authentic Dickinson family furniture and decor from the 19th century and outside of the home are the carefully landscaped grounds.

The Strong House is one of Amherst's oldest surviving houses and currently houses the Amherst History Museum. Built in 1744, it survived a large fire that wiped out much of downtown Amherst in the 1838. It is considered a great example of mid-18th century Connecticut River Valley architecture was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The Amherst History Museum takes visitors of all ages through nearly 300 years of Amherst's history. Explore a diverse collection including decorative arts, paintings, household items, and agricultural tools that offer a glimpse into everyday life. There are new rotating exhibits each season ,and educational tours and events so be sure to visit their website before planning a visit: https://amhersthistory.org/