Moving to Leeds (near Northampton) (Boston, Amherst: appointed, sales, lease)

[nanciegord]

My husband and I are moving to Leeds this summer, from So. Florida. We are doing it to be close to my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. We just signed a lease on a townhouse in Leeds,(close to Look Park) ,and are excited about the move. What can you tell me about this area? This is what I am assuming ~ that most people go into Northampton for restaurants and shopping. I know Leeds has a nice library, but would love to hear other positives about the area, or even about Northampton. We are moving from South Florida and yes, we know the weather will be a huge difference. But we both love cold weather and most that comes with it. We are excited to experience the four seasons. We will be buying a new car soon after we arrive ~ one that is conducive to the northern weather. Any suggestions on that would be great too. Thanks for any help you'll give.

[I Like Taxes]

I don't know Leeds, MA that well, but I spent quite a few years in Western, MA and lived in Northampton. Western, MA could almost be another state--people pronounce their "R's" out there and you run into more Yankee fans.

Northampton is a great place and I personally think the gem of Western, MA. It is very diverse and liberal place though, so depending on how socially conservative you are, you may or may not like it. You will see same sex couples holding hands in public. You have Amherst nextdoor, home to UMass and there are quite a few of other colleges in the area. You will find many friendly and educated people in the area and if you like to be socially active, there are plenty of grassroot organizations to participate in, which is a great way to meet new people.

The amenities are wonderful. There is plenty of nature, lakes, and bike paths in the area. There is also a high activity of music, theater, ballet, comedy, and other performances that will capture the tastes of almost anyone. There is a wonderful variety of restuarants all over the place.

It is one of the few places in MA that I didn't need a car, but living in Leeds you will. Subaru's are very popular in the area since they have AWD. If you are looking for a car, then I would look into Subaru's, if not then almost any SUV will be a good choice to get you through the winters.

Good luck with the move.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Look Park is near Florence and Northampton and also Haydenville and Williamsburg. You'll probably go out most of the time in Northampton. It's a small, quaint little town. Lots of nice little restaurants, coffee shops, and places to shop. Take a walk through Thornes market, a little closed in market place where you can go to read books, eat, shop, or enjoy a cup of soup. Because it is a small town, you'll get to know people quickly. Everyone has a dog it seems. You may want to get a kayak or a bike to cycle down the bike path (rails to trails, they call it) which goes from Northampton to Amherst on the other side of the river. Plenty of places to go for long hikes into the woods. I was driving through Northampton a few days ago and a black bear walked in front of my car. You won't see this too often, but it happens. Before the summer is over, be sure to go to Tanglewood in Lenox to watch an outdoor concert. In the autumn, the leaves change color and the Valley turns beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red. You will buy local apples from road stands, then you will see the pumpkins, and before you know it, the first snowfall will take your breath away.

[nanciegord]

I Like Taxes and Woof Woof Woof! Thanks for the information. We are sure we'll like the area, too. And we do already have tickets for two Tanglewood Concerts - Diana Krall on the 4th of July and James Taylor at the end of Aug., both of which we are really excited about.
Anyone know of any great restaurants in the area?
Yes, we have heard the Suburus are the most popular car in the area. Does anyone have any other suggestions of comparable cars that we could check out also? The only thing I'm fearing about our move at all is driving in heavy snow and on ice, since I haven't done that before. So we need a car that will handle that as easily as possible.
Any other information regarding the area would be greatly appreciated, too.
Thanks~

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by nanciegord

I Like Taxes and Woof Woof Woof! Thanks for the information. We are sure we'll like the area, too. And we do already have tickets for two Tanglewood Concerts - Diana Krall on the 4th of July and James Taylor at the end of Aug., both of which we are really excited about.
Anyone know of any great restaurants in the area?
Yes, we have heard the Suburus are the most popular car in the area. Does anyone have any other suggestions of comparable cars that we could check out also? The only thing I'm fearing about our move at all is driving in heavy snow and on ice, since I haven't done that before. So we need a car that will handle that as easily as possible.
Any other information regarding the area would be greatly appreciated, too.
Thanks~

Nancie,

You don't have to get a Subaru. Any front-wheel drive vehicle will do. I see all kinds of cars on the road. I don't really recommend BMWs or other rear wheel drives because they are dangerous on slippery roads. What's more, in the winter, they salt they roads and it can get dirty, so don't spend a lot of money on a vehicle. A used Honda Accord will do the trick.

They do plow the roads here, so you don't need to worry too much about actually driving in the snow. In the event of a big storm, they close down schools and you simply stay home from work. It is no big deal, seriously.

In terms of restaurants, I think you're best to simply walk down Main Street in Northampton and see what catches your eye. Contrary to popular thought, I think the restaurants here are just so-so. But the nice thing is that you are not too far from Boston, so you can take a day trip anytime.

What is most wonderful about living in New England is that you become much more in tune with the seasons and eat accordingly. When the maple sugar runs in early spring, people line up at the Sugar Shacks for pancakes and syrup. It's late April now, so soon the Hadley asparagus will be out, next fiddle heads and rhubarb. June is strawberry season! Wild blueberries in Maine (the tiny ones) make for a wonderful open-faced pie. When the weather gets really warm, we have lots and lots of tomatoes and then the corn, everywhere. Peaches in August. And in the fall, so much squash and kale and apples.

Woof x3

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Nancie,

I want to add, in the wintertime, do not scrimp on warm clothes. Get yourself some warm jackets from L.L. Bean. Some type of waterproof boot is a must. I love the L.L. Bean duck boots. They are great. Same goes with gloves. Buy lots of them. Waterproof ones for shoveling snow. Leather ones with cashmere lining for driving in the car. Cashmere scarves and hats. Silk long underwear. I personally love the cold weather. Nothing is more beautiful then waking up to a world covered in new fallen snow. It will take your breath away. Get out and walk in it. You're body will adjust to the cold and after a while, you feel brisk and wonderful. Just remember to dress warm.

W.

[I Like Taxes]

You get used to driving in snow. Granted, there will be times when you want to stay in and wait until they plow and salt the roads.

Just use a little caution when slowing down and going around corners and you will be just fine. You want to apply your brakes a little sooner and smoothly, not quickly. Just leave a little extra room between you and the car in front of you, since slamming on your breaks quickly may result in loss of control under snowy/icy conditions.

If you google "how to drive in the snow", you will find some informative links.

[theh]

Leeds is technically a neighborhood within Northampton. It's not a separate town.

Northampton is a cute, quaint little town. There are lots of little local shops, most of them very unique and artsy. It's really a great place if you like to shop. There are a ton of good restaurants. There is so much to explore. I am constantly discovering new things in Northampton. Look Park is a nice park with peddle boats, mini golf, a small zoo, picnicking, and concerts. There are also places to go hiking and biking all over the area. It's a really beautiful area with lots to do.

You don't need a special car to drive in the snow. Just drive slow and be careful. If you get studded snow tires, you'll have little to worry about even if you aren't used to driving in the snow. However, I drive a tiny little yaris with the cheapest, crappiest tires with zero grip and I get by just fine in the snow. You'll learn how to drive in the snow with time.

[nanciegord]

Thanks again for all the information. It is just what I was looking for!
I had no idea that Leeds wasn't a separate town from Northampton. Our mailing address will be Leeds, so I just assumed it was a small town. Thanks for letting me know.
We have a Honda Accord now, and a Saturn. We will be giving the Saturn to my daughter and her husband, and buying a new car for our second car. It's nice to know the Accord will be okay in the snow, because I like ours, and we usually keep our cars for a long time. We will definitely research the AWDs.
We've always been "Lands End" people instead of LL Bean, and have been stocking up on their end of winter sales for next autumn and winter. I knit, so I've been working on scarves for everyone for the past six months, and have plenty of yarn left to carry on.
Woof! I really appreciate your descriptions ~ thanks everybody for your replies.

[Browsing Duo]

Go to Chowhound.com then do a separate search for Northampton then Amherst restaurants to see what locals and newbies think about the area's restaurants.

I'm moving up that way, too, and I was disappointed to read on Chowhound that many newcomers found local restaurants to both expensive and not wonderful if they came from parts of the country that had much better food (Seattle, West Coast, overseas). Several people griped that too few owners owned too many of the restaurants and that the service was bad in general. Guess I'll be cooking at home a lot.