Amherst

Amherst is a city in the county of Hampshire with an approximate population of 34,874 from a 2009 survey. It is the base for Amherst College. Amherst is just 46 miles northwest of Boston yet it still retains its small town feeling.

The city is the home town for the University of Massachusetts (UMASS), as well as Amherst College and Hampshire College.

Things to do in Amherst include: Phoenix Row/Cook's Block (a shopping district), students and residents can take in a day at Puffers Pond, where they are able to go fishing, swimming or hiking. Atkins Farm, a locally owned apple orchard and vibrant farmer's market, and the Emily Dickinson Museum. Amherst is the birthplace of famous poet Emily Dickinson.