Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts
- by aliciak
- -
- October 09, 2008
Smith College is a small liberal-arts school tucked into the scenic hills of Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts. Founded by a woman and with stand-out alumnae like Gloria Steinem, Julia Child, Nancy Reagan, Betty Friedan and Sylvia Plath, it's brimming with forward-thinking, intellectual females.
Traveling to Smith
The closest airport to Smith is actually across state lines—in Connecticut! Approximately 45 minutes by car, Bradley is a very small airport easily accessed by Route 91, the highway that runs North to South from Northampton to Windsor Locks.
If you’re searching for flights, the airport code is BDL.
The closest airport to Smith is actually across state lines—in Connecticut! Approximately 45 minutes by car, Bradley is a very small airport easily accessed by Route 91, the highway that runs North to South from Northampton to Windsor Locks.
If you’re searching for flights, the airport code is BDL.
Smith College from the air!
Breathtaking, much? Western Massachusetts is something to see, especially in the fall when the trees are teeming with vibrant colors. But even when the snow blankets the ground for months and months, it still has that scenic New England thing going on.
Vermont Transit Lines
1 Roundhouse Plz, Northampton, MA 01060
This is the site of the bus station! It’s small, but conveniently located in downtown Northampton and about a 10-minute walk from Smith’s campus.
This is the site of the bus station! It’s small, but conveniently located in downtown Northampton and about a 10-minute walk from Smith’s campus.
Hotel Options
Hotels in this part of Western Massachusetts range from quaint bed-and-breakfast to garden-variety chain lodging to high-class New England grandeur to bare-bones motel. The following are just a few of your options, depending on your preferences and pocketbook.
The Hotel Northampton
36 King Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Features
Quality Inn & Suites Northampton
117 Conz Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Features
The Saltbox
153 Elm Street Northampton, MA 01060
Autumn Inn
259 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Features
Travel and Lodging
Campus Highlights!
The Main Library
In addition to Neilson Library (where I worked for 3 years), there are individual libraries devoted to the following: art, theatre and sciences.
Brand-Spankin' New Campus Center
They didn’t have a campus center in my day! No really, they didn’t. Our post office was separate from our bookstore was separate from anything remotely resembling a “campus center.” Now all of the above are brought under one roof. The cafe is something out of the future, there are several computer areas and meeting rooms, and man oh man, am I jealous!
Smith College Museum of Art
22 Elm St, Northampton, MA 01060
Admission Details
Features
*Campus Events*
There is always something to do on campus! From sports to theatre to film to lectures, you’ll never run out of things to do should homework get finished early.
Five College Events
Smith is within miles of 4 other colleges: UMass at Amherst, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Amherst. A free bus gets you to all of the above, which means you can take advantage of FIVE event calendars. You can even take classes at each of the these colleges.
Museum of Art Events
The Smith College Museum of Art is the real deal! This is not thrown-together gallery, but a world-renown museum facility complete with rotating exhibits, events and a cafe.
Nearby Attractions
Western Massachusetts somehow combines quintessential New England feel with worldly cosmopolitan flavor. You can go hike a mountain, see an underground jazz band, hear a New York Times bestseller speak and watch college football (well, at UMass) all within the same 10-mile radius.
Yankee Candle Co the
5 North St, South Deerfield, MA 01373
THE Yankee Candle Headquarters, i.e., giant store! It’s intense, the sheer size of the store and all the smells.
THE Yankee Candle Headquarters, i.e., giant store! It’s intense, the sheer size of the store and all the smells.
Outlook Farm Country Store
136 Main Rd, Westhampton, MA 01027
You can visit the country store for sausage, apple cider donuts and jellies, or go apple picking in the fall.
You can visit the country store for sausage, apple cider donuts and jellies, or go apple picking in the fall.
Dining Out in Northampton
Northampton, or Noho as the locals call it, is well-known for its above-par dining scene. In the tiny downtown area is a diverse array of restaurants, hitting most cuisines: Mexican, Tex-Med, Chinese, vegetarian, vegan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Indian, diner, cafe-style, brewery, steakhouse, sandwich shops, and seafood.
Jakes Restrnt
17 King St, Northampton, MA 01060
Maybe Jakes is all about the “no frills dining,” but that doesn’t mean you won’t get some mouth-watering grub. Famous for its breakfast food, including gigantic pieces of French Toast, waffles and pancakes, it may be worth the walk downtown for a weekend meal.
Maybe Jakes is all about the “no frills dining,” but that doesn’t mean you won’t get some mouth-watering grub. Famous for its breakfast food, including gigantic pieces of French Toast, waffles and pancakes, it may be worth the walk downtown for a weekend meal.
Fitzwilly's
23 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
A huge old-school American fare restaurant and bar, Fitzwilly’s is one of those neighborhood joints you never want to leave. Everyone is friendly, there’s rarely a wait and you’ll understand how fantastic New England small towns really are. Eat up!
A huge old-school American fare restaurant and bar, Fitzwilly’s is one of those neighborhood joints you never want to leave. Everyone is friendly, there’s rarely a wait and you’ll understand how fantastic New England small towns really are. Eat up!
Teapot Restaurant
116 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
It’s inevitable that if you’re a college student, you will get Chinese food cravings. Luckily, Teapot is actually GOOD, and not the greasy take-out you may be used to. Additionally, there is a full Japanese menu with sushi and sashimi.
It’s inevitable that if you’re a college student, you will get Chinese food cravings. Luckily, Teapot is actually GOOD, and not the greasy take-out you may be used to. Additionally, there is a full Japanese menu with sushi and sashimi.
Fresh Pasta Company
249 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
I had my first dinner out in Northampton at Fresh Pasta (well, I think I did…it was over 9 years ago!) and it was a great introduction to the area: fresh, warm, homemade pasta dishes in a nicely-lit and cozy atmosphere.
I had my first dinner out in Northampton at Fresh Pasta (well, I think I did…it was over 9 years ago!) and it was a great introduction to the area: fresh, warm, homemade pasta dishes in a nicely-lit and cozy atmosphere.
Sylvester's Restaurant
111 Pleasant St Ste 1, Northampton, MA 01060
Housed on the land that where Sylvester Graham’s home once stood, Sylvester’s is a restaurant, cafe and bakery. You know that sweet little crunchy thing called the graham cracker? That was Sylvester’s doing!
Housed on the land that where Sylvester Graham’s home once stood, Sylvester’s is a restaurant, cafe and bakery. You know that sweet little crunchy thing called the graham cracker? That was Sylvester’s doing!
Coffee Run!
Northampton Coffee
269 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA 01060
Northampton Coffee is only a few years old and resembles a minimalist but trendy New York coffee shop, with less pretension. Oh, and the coffee is AMAZING. And I’m not just saying that because they make pretty designs on top. Pick up some grounds on the way out!
Northampton Coffee is only a few years old and resembles a minimalist but trendy New York coffee shop, with less pretension. Oh, and the coffee is AMAZING. And I’m not just saying that because they make pretty designs on top. Pick up some grounds on the way out!
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters
124 King St, Northampton, MA 01060
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters has this small outpost in Noho and is perfect for some straight-up java to-go. (The big one is IN Shelburne Falls, a town about an hour north).
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters has this small outpost in Noho and is perfect for some straight-up java to-go. (The big one is IN Shelburne Falls, a town about an hour north).
Woodstar Cafe
60 Masonic St, Northampton, MA 01060
Woodstar is much more than a coffee shop, so if you’re in need of a little more sustenance than a shot of caffeine, grab some lunch and baked goods while you’re at it. A cool interior and outdoor seating when weather permits to boot!
Woodstar is much more than a coffee shop, so if you’re in need of a little more sustenance than a shot of caffeine, grab some lunch and baked goods while you’re at it. A cool interior and outdoor seating when weather permits to boot!
Shopping
Shopping takes on a whole new meaning when going away to college: it’s bookstore time, dorm room-furnishing time, and all those other necessities for home away from home.
About 20-25 minutes highway driving from Smith, Holyoke is a typical huge indoor mall with many adjacent businesses like Barnes & Noble, Macy’s, A.C. Moore and Target. Need to kill time while your daughter is hitting the books? Or need a place to escape the cold? To the mall you shall go.
About 20-25 minutes highway driving from Smith, Holyoke is a typical huge indoor mall with many adjacent businesses like Barnes & Noble, Macy’s, A.C. Moore and Target. Need to kill time while your daughter is hitting the books? Or need a place to escape the cold? To the mall you shall go.
Faces
175 Main St Ste 2, Northampton, MA 01060
Faces is THE main retail temptation facing all Smith students. It’s filled with cushy chairs, fancy plates, clothing, quirky gifts, cards, books, jewelry and lots of other pretty things you didn’t know you needed! When those work-study checks come in, one must fight the urge to head straight to Faces.
Faces is THE main retail temptation facing all Smith students. It’s filled with cushy chairs, fancy plates, clothing, quirky gifts, cards, books, jewelry and lots of other pretty things you didn’t know you needed! When those work-study checks come in, one must fight the urge to head straight to Faces.
Hampshire Mall
367 Russell Street Hadley, MA 01035
Along route 9 about halfway between Smith College and Amherst College lies Hampshire Mall, which has seen some revitalization since my days hopping on the bus there. There’s a cinema, Target, Best Buy, and a Linen n’ Things, plus a smattering of chain restaurants, hotels and businesses all along Route 9.
Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Thornes is an indoor downtown marketplace with pleasantly creaking stairs and floors and a whole lot of charm.
Thornes is an indoor downtown marketplace with pleasantly creaking stairs and floors and a whole lot of charm.
Food + Drink + Shopping
Miscellaneous Linkage
Important Links for PARENTS
This links directly the the “For Parents” page on Smith’s website. You can find the school calendar, what life at Smith is like, health and emergency services, academic information, public safety info and much more about the college!
Relevant Boston Guides
If you have the time to go east 90 miles to Boston, use the following guides for ideas!
Guides We Think You'll Like
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