Northampton is a lively, walkable college city in the Connecticut River Valley with a thriving arts and music scene, eclectic restaurants and breweries, plenty of coffee shops and weekly farmers’ markets, and easy access to riverfront trails and hiking—ideal for multi‑week stays that feel varied and social rather than isolating.
About 20 miles to the south Springfield provides bigger‑city amenities (museums, Amtrak, pro sports) and roughly 45 miles away Hartford adds more cultural institutions and regional connections, so you’ll have weekend options beyond town.