Best things to do in Amherst

The Emily Dickinson Museum is a historic house museum consisting of two houses: the Dickinson Homestead (also known as Emily Dickinson Home or Emily Dickinson House) and the Evergreens. The Dickinson Homestead was the birthplace and home from 1855 to 1886 of 19th-century American poet Emily Dickinson (1830–1886), whose poems were discovered in her bedroom there after her death. The house next door, called the Evergreens, was built by the poet's father, Edward Dickinson, in 1856 as a wedding present for her brother Austin. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, the houses are preserved as a single museum and are open to the public on guided tours.
The Emily Dickinson Home is a US National Historic Landmark, and properties contribute to the Dickinson Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is a museum devoted to the art of the picture book and especially the children's book. It is a member of Museums10 and is adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Carle was founded by Eric and Barbara Carle, and designed by Juster Pope Frazier Architects.

The Yiddish Book Center Yiddish: ייִדישער ביכער־צענטער, romanized: Yidisher Bikher-Tsenter (formerly the National Yiddish Book Center), located on the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States, is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation of books in the Yiddish language, as well as the culture and history those books represent. It is one of ten western Massachusetts museums constituting the Museums10 consortium.

A lovely, southwest-inspired spa with State-of-the-art Hot Tubs in beautiful private rooms, indoors or outdoors. Experienced, intuitive, professional licensed massage therapists who offer a range of modalities for individuals and couples ~ Swedish, therapeutic, sports, hot stones. Elements Hot Tub Spa was founded in 2007 by veteran business people and hot-tub lovers, Diana and Jeff Krauth. Their experience includes 30 years of study and dedication to wellness and complementary health care.

Amherst College ( (listen) AM-ərst) is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zephaniah Swift Moore, Amherst is the third oldest institution of higher education in Massachusetts. The institution was named after the town, which in turn had been named after Jeffery, Lord Amherst, Commander-in-Chief of British forces of North America during the French and Indian War. Originally established as a men's college, Amherst became coeducational in 1975.
Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution; 1,971 students were enrolled in fall 2021. Admissions is highly selective, and it frequently ranks at or near the top in most rankings of liberal arts schools. Students choose courses from 41 major programs in an open curriculum and are not required to study a core curriculum or fulfill any distribution requirements; students may also design their own interdisciplinary major. Amherst competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Amherst has historically had close relationships and rivalries with Williams College and Wesleyan University, which form the Little Three colleges. The college is also a member of the Five College Consortium, which allows its students to attend classes at four other Pioneer Valley institutions: Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Among its alumni and affiliates are six Nobel Prize laureates (with its five alumni giving it one of the highest proportions of Nobel laureates among graduates out of any undergraduate institution worldwide), 20 Rhodes Scholars, numerous Pulitzer Prize recipients, MacArthur Fellows, winners of the Academy, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Awards, a President of the United States (Coolidge), a Chief Justice of the United States (Stone), three Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives, and notable writers, academics, politicians, entertainers, businesspeople, and activists.

Mead Art Museum houses the fine art collection of Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Opened in 1949, the building is named after architect William Rutherford Mead (class of 1867), of the prestigious architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. His wife, Olga Kilyeni Mead, left her entire estate to Amherst College. The museum, a member of Museums10, is free and open to the public.

The oldest of the Six Flags properties, Six Flags New England combines a theme park and water park. This spot got its start as a park in the 19th century and began introducing amusements in the early 20th century. However, its modern reputation is for its thrilling roller coasters, many of which are named after popular characters or films, such as Batman: The Ride. Costumed characters roam the avenues between the rides.

Experience what rural New England life was like from the 1790s through the 1830s at Old Sturbridge Village. The largest living museum in New England, it spans more than 80 hectares (200 acres) and encompasses more than 40 original buildings. Explore homes, meetinghouses, shops, a school, and a bank. The working farm features animals that would have been found here almost 200 years ago, such as chicken, sheep, oxen, and pigs. Throughout the village, staff in period costumes make crafts, garden, and demonstrate cooking techniques throughout the day. Don't miss the village's collection of Early American antiques, including firearms and glass. Choose from plenty of dining options or bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Wear comfortable shoes.

Home to a large collection of Fresh Impressionist paintings, The Clark Art Institute is especially noted for housing over 30 paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Established by prominent art collectors Robert Sterling and Francine Clark to house their vast private collection of European works, the museum now serves as both a gallery and a research center, offering numerous public lectures throughout the year. In addition to masterpieces by some of the biggest names of Impressionism, the museum also features paintings by great American artists including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Mary Cassatt. Pick up a multimedia guide at the admissions desk, or download the museum's free mobile app to help you find your way around this vast collection.

The Springfield Museums, located in the heart of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, is comprised of five world-class museums covering art, history, and science, plus the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and National Memorial Sculpture Garden. #atthemuseums #SeussinSpringfield