A month away from our move to Northampton area (Springfield: home, theatre)

[nanciegord]

We're a mid-50's couple moving to Leeds from South Florida at the end of June. We'd appreciate any tips you can give us on long distance moving, great things to do in the Northampton area, restaurants that are worthwhile, etc., where to shop, etc. We will be living close to Look Park. Also, I have heard that Leeds is not a town or city, but part of Northampton. Is that true? I know our new mailing address is Leeds and not Northampton, and has a different zip code than Northampton. We're very happy to be moving to this area, and want to take advantage of what it has to offer.

[arigold1975]

Walking around Northampton makes for a fun afternoon. There are plenty of golf courses in western mass. Lots of places to go hiking and be outdoors. Many good restaurants to try. It might be helpful if you stated what some of your interests and hobbies are.

[DreamworksSKG]

Check out Historic Deerfield
Historic Deerfield

Basketball hall of fame
in Springfield
Official Website of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Zoar outdoor has white-water rafting and other outdoor activities
White Water Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Zip Line Canopy Tours, Fly Fishing – MA, CT, VT | Zoar Outdoor - Zoar Outdoor

Northfield Mountain Rec area has canoeing - a riverboat cruise
26 miles of hiking trails etc.
About Northfield - FirstLight Power Resources

Brunelle's marina and dockside restaurant has riverboat tours of the Connecticut river
Brunelle's Marina and Dockside Restaurant
in South Hadley

There's a bunch of wine vineyards you can visit near the Springfield-Northhampton Area. just over the border in Connecticut
CONNECTICUT WINE TRAIL - WINERY TOURS - Connecticut wine tasting, vacations, CT Wine Trail

Magic Wings Butterfly garden is spectacular
http://www.magicwings.com/
in South Deerfield

There's the Songline Emu Farm in Gill MA
All Natural Emu Stock, Retail and Wholesale Products from Songline Emu Farm

there's the Yankee candle company candlemaking museum and headquarters
in South Deerfield
The Yankee Candle Company - Home

Warm Colors Apiary
South Deerfield
Welcome to Warm Colors Apiary!

New England Air Museum
Windsor Lockes CT
New England Air Museum Home Page

old sturbridge Village in Sturbridge MA
Old Sturbridge Village

Atkins Farms Country Market
Amherst MA
Atkins Farms: Country Market (http://www.atkinsfarms.com/ordereze/default.aspx - broken link)

Bright Lights at Forest Park Spriongfield (November)
Bright Nights

Springfield's Big Balloons parade
November
Spirit of Springfield - Big Balloon Parade

Worlds Largest pancake breakfast- springfield
MAY
Spirit of Springfield - The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

Local area restaurants
Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau - Dining & Nightlife

also check http://www.yelp.com

Arts and culture:
Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau - Arts & Culture

The Big "E" Exposition -
Sept-October
The Big E

The great new england airshow (coming again in 2012)
http://www.greatnewenglandairshow.com/

Mount holyoke range state park -
Amherst
Mount Holyoke Range State Park

Mt Tom State reservation
Holyoke
Mount Tom State Reservation

Connecticut River greenway state park
Connecticut Greenway State Park

Robinson State park
AGAWAM
Robinson State Park

Skinner state park
Department of Conservation and Recreation - It's Your Nature

Red fire farm stand
Granby
Welcome to Red Fire Farm!


Poets Seat Tower Park
a 1912 sandstone lookout tower, was named after a long tradition of poets being drawn to the spot. Poets have long been inspired by the beautifule views throughout the Pioneer Valley from this vantage point. Subsuquently, Francis Goddard Tuckerman, a Greenfield port of some repute --and colleague of Thoreau--composed several poems at this site.
(GREENFIELD MA)

Greenfield Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge,
on Eunice Williams Drive, is a 95-foot structure spanning the Green River in an area called the "Pumping Station." It was built in 1972 to replace a 100-year old covered bridge that was burned by vandals. The area is a popular spot for swimming and fishing. The bridge is accessible from the east by Leyden Road and from the west by Colrain Road.
(Greenfield MA)

Greenfield MA
Pioneer Valley Symphony and Chorus
was founded in 1939 and is among the oldest symphony orchestras in the country. In addition to presenting symphonic and choral music, the PVS provides local musicians, both choral and orchestral, the opportunity to play under professional direction. Concerts are presented at Greenfield High School. Call 413-773-3664 for further information.
Pioneer Valley Symphony- Celebrating our 70th Anniversary!

[mommytotwo]

Chef Wayne's Big Mamou restaurant. They've got one in downtown Springfield and opened one up in Florence. i haven't been to the one in florence yet but they make great food. (Cajun)

There is also a great ice cream shop in Northampton that I love, they make their own chocolate sprinkles. I am not generally a fan of chocolate sprinkles but theirs are great.

You will find so much to do around Northampton, and so many places to eat.
Good luck with your move.

[DreamworksSKG]

Check out Mulino's Italian Restaurant in downtown Northhampton

Their Fusili was "Da bomb"
(wickid pissah)(wickid good)

Mulinos - Northampton, MA
Mulino's Restaurant

[nanciegord]

Thanks for the suggestions ~ I will definitely check them out when we get up there in a few weeks. It's great to get recommendations when you don't know an area. Keep 'm coming~ Thanks again
Nancie

[teachertype]

Poets Seat Tower Park
a 1912 sandstone lookout tower, was named after a long tradition of poets being drawn to the spot. Poets have long been inspired by the beautifule views throughout the Pioneer Valley from this vantage point. Subsuquently, Francis Goddard Tuckerman, a Greenfield port of some repute --and colleague of Thoreau--composed several poems at this site.
(GREENFIELD MA)

Greenfield Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge,
on Eunice Williams Drive, is a 95-foot structure spanning the Green River in an area called the "Pumping Station." It was built in 1972 to replace a 100-year old covered bridge that was burned by vandals. The area is a popular spot for swimming and fishing. The bridge is accessible from the east by Leyden Road and from the west by Colrain Road.
(Greenfield MA)


The year before last someone painted more than 22 Nazi Swastikas and other Nazi SS symbols all over Poet's Seat, some of them as much as three feet across.

That was during a time of numerous racial and anti-Semitic incidents being reported in Greenfield, in the Gfld schools, and in Franklin County - including racially motivated assaults, race hatred graffiti, and racially directed threats in the schools with one threat letter naming specific Hispanic students.


That covered bridge area on Eunice Williams...I always wondered why they call it the "pumping station." I know a lot of young couples used to go there at night, but there's nothing like pumps or a station there, just woods. Any idea why they call it the "pumping station" when there's no pumps, just woods? LOL

[abramsltr]

Big Mamou is in Springfield and Williamsburg (not Florence)

[abramsltr]

Leeds is a part of Northampton, just as is Florence, although they all have separate zip codes. Leeds is more rural, Northampton proper is more city-like, although there are outlying sections that are more country; Florence is small and more town-like. The City of Northampton governs all. There are artists of every sort, including fabulous bread artisans; there's theatre both traditional and experimental with several resident companies (check out New Century Theatre this summer); there's opera, music everywhere of all genres; many, many entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and locally-owned businesses that have been in the same family for generations.