Why People Come—and Stay
Many Lathrop residents come to live near family, while others wish to take advantage of being close to five famed local colleges with a plethora of stimulating intellectual and cultural offerings. Residents can pursue their passions for art, music, gardening and healthy living while nurturing deep friendships and being of service to others.
Residents are free to be their true selves—no matter who they are or who they love, and to share their voices, talents, knowledge and passions with caring neighbors and the larger community.
The Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges and set beside the banks of the Connecticut River, has it all.
- Unspoiled, natural spaces for walking, hiking and biking
- The lively college towns of Northampton, Amherst and South Hadley
- Live music, stimulating art and an abundance of cultural offerings
- Distinctive locally owned shops
- Farm-to-table cafes and elegant restaurants
- State-of-the-art health care
- An atmosphere of welcome and affirmation for all, no matter your color, creed or whom you love.
Blending this rich cultural atmosphere with convenient access to Boston, the Berkshires (Tanglewood!), Vermont, New Hampshire and New York City, the area regularly tops rankings for its livability and value.
Things to See and Do in The Pioneer Valley
A list of local attractions would stretch for pages. A few ideas will start you down the road—or, better yet, come see for yourself!
Things to Do
- Smith College Museum of Art — Enjoy the exhibits and special programs at one of the leading academic museums in the nation. www.Smith.edu/artmuseum
- Mead Art Museum Art — Housing the art collection of Amherst College, spanning 5,000 years and encompassing the creative achievements of many cultures. www.Amherst.edu/museums/mead
- UMASS Fine Arts Center — A cultural library and regional resource center for the citizens, the FAC includes a concert hall, contemporary art gallery and studio art space. www.FAC.umass.edu
- Academy of Music Theater — The first municipally owned theater in the nation dating to 1891, the Academy of Music in Northampton is a venue for live theater, dance, film, music, and arts education, and home to numerous local performing arts companies. www.AoMTheatre.com
- Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art — Celebrate the renowned illustrator of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. www.CarleMuseum.org
- Emily Dickinson Museum — The home of the renowned Belle of Amherst is a short ride away. Prepare to be inspired. www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org
- Easthampton Art Walk — The second Saturday of the month, stroll downtown for exhibits, performances, and seasonal specialties. www.EasthamptonCityArts.com/programs/art-walk
- Look Park — May Pride Parade, July 4 Fireworks, Look Park Halloween Festival and more events year-long.
www.LookPark.org/special-events
- Historic Deerfield — Historic Deerfield’s museum houses range in date from the 1730s to the 1840s. Explore the lifestyle of early New England in a working village of endless beauty. www.Historic-Deerfield.org
- Northampton Arts Night Out — This event hosted by Northampton art spaces promotes creative works and community. www.ArtsNightOut.org
- BSO / Tanglewood — Tanglewood has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937. www.BSO.org
- Jacob’s Pillow — “The Pillow” is a treasured 220-acre National Historic Landmark, a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival. www.JacobsPillow.org
- The Springfield Museums – Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss. www.SpringfieldMuseums.org
- Hartford Stage – Renowned for producing innovative revivals of classics, as well as provocative new plays and musicals, Hartford Stage has earned many of the nation’s most prestigious awards, including the 1989 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. www.HartfordStage.org
- Bushnell Auditorium – As a dynamic 21st Century performing arts center, The Bushnell presents, creates, inspires and shares the best in the performing arts. www.Bushnell.org
- Amherst Cinema — is an independent, nonprofit arts & education center brimming with world-class programs. The comfortable, fully accessible theater offers state-of-the-art projection and sound and is a welcoming crossroads for all. It presents over 275 programs a year on four screens in more than 20 languages. https://amherstcinema.org/
Places to Eat
- Jake’s (downtown Northampton) — A downtown go-to place for local cooking. www.JakesNorthampton
- Amanouz Café (downtown Northampton) — Vegetarian-friendly Middle Eastern cuisine. www.AmanouzCafe.com
- Galaxy Bar — Small plates, creative cocktails in downtown Easthampton. www.Galaxy413.com
- Fitzwilly’s (downtown Northampton) — The Fitzwilly’s story began in 1974 as an exercise in comfort, quality food, great service and moderate prices. www.FitzWillys.com
- Paul & Elizabeth’s (downtown Northampton) — Meals created from the freshest ingredients and prepared in a way that honors the food as well as the diners. www.PaulandElizabeths.com
- East Side Grille (downtown Northampton) — The Eastside Grill has served robustly flavored, seasonal American cuisine in a relaxed casual setting since 1985. www.EastSideGrill.com
- La Veracruzana (Northampton, Easthampton, Amherst) — La Veracruzana has served wholesome and healthy Mexican food since the early ’90s. www.LaVeracruzana.com
- Small Oven (Easthampton) — Freshly baked pastry, bread, cakes, sweet and savory treats line the baker’s racks. www.SmallOvenBakes.com
Shopping
- Thornes Marketplace — 21st-century boutiques in a restored 19th-century dry goods store. www.ThornesMarketPlace.com
- Broadside Bookshop — Independent book store dedicated to good books, personal service and community involvement. www.BroadsideBooks.com
- Holyoke Mall — Pioneer Valley’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment destination! www.HolyokeMall.com
- Premium Outlets, Lee MA — Lee Premium Outlets®, a shopping destination in the beautiful Berkshires, is designed to mirror an outdoor, quaint New England village. www.PremiumOutlets.com/outlet/lee
Gallery & Videos
Glance through and discover Lathrop
Lifelong Learning
The Lathrop Community has easy access to the “Five Colleges”