You could say the Pioneer Valley is the Berkshires on a budget — but don’t. While a trip here might save you time and money compared to what you might spend farther west, the Valley — home to the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges — has a vibe all its own.
About a two-hour drive from Boston, the Valley’s biggest draws are bustling Amherst and artsy Northampton. Head straight to Northampton, where there are plenty of breakfast options. Grab a bagel and schmear at Lichter & Levin Delicatessen (1 Market Street, 413-203-6252), a new Jewish deli opened by two longtime music managers, or stop by Hungry Ghost Bread (62 State Street, 413-582-9009) for the can’t-miss bread and pastries.
Downtown, peruse the shops of Thornes Marketplace (150 Main Street, 413-584-5582). Main Street is lined with shopping opportunities, including Raven Used Books (4 Old South Street, 413-584-9868), where you can get your literary fix.
It’s a short walk to the oasis that is the Botanic Garden of Smith College (16 College Lane, 413-585-2742), but if you’re starting to feel peckish, drive to Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton (82 Park Hill Road, 413-303-0335) for some apple picking and cider slushies and doughnuts.
Dinner options abound, from cheap eats to upscale, but make sure to get back to Northampton for ice cream at Herrell’s (8 Old South Street, 413-586-9700) and try the chocolate pudding flavor (trust me). Don’t forget to check listings for live music, including at the stately Academy of Music (274 Main Street, 413-584-9032).
The next day, head to Shelburne Falls for the Bridge of Flowers (22 Water Street), a footbridge with stunning views of an array of plants as well as the surrounding area. Then head to the Montague Bookmill in Montague (440 Greenfield Road, 413-367-9206), nestled by a rushing waterfall, where you can browse “books you don’t need in a place you can’t find,” as its motto goes.
Wrap up your trip with a stroll through Amherst, where you can check out the Emily Dickinson Museum (280 Main Street, 413-542-8161) and grab a slice at the legendary Antonio’s Pizza (31 North Pleasant Street, 413-253-0808). Or lean all the way into the student vibe with an all-you-can-eat buffet at the UMass’ Worcester Commons (667 North Pleasant Street, 413-545-0302) — one of the best-kept secrets in the Valley. You’ll head back satiated and feeling youthful. – Brooke Hauser
2. Experience Shaker Life in New Hampshire
The Shakers of Enfield, New Hampshire, called their farmland between Shaker Mountain and Mascoma Lake the “Chosen Vale.” Today, the area is home to the Enfield Shaker Museum, where the celibate and pacifist sect’s barns, laundries, dairies, and workshops remain (447 NH Route 4A, 603-632-4346; rooms from $140). Modern travelers can step back into a bygone era — and even spend the night in a Shaker dwelling.
Those overnights are on the third and fourth floors of the Great Stone Dwelling, built in 1841 from granite quarried by the Shakers. The bedrooms are elegantly spare and contain reproduction Shaker furniture. Explore the grounds: A half-mile uphill walk from the Stone Machine Shop leads to the Feast Ground on Mount Assurance, where Enfield faithful held ecstatic worship services.
Other pleasures of the land abound nearby, including apple-picking and a corn maze at Patch Orchards in Lebanon starting in September (40 Patch Road, 603-448-4130). The museum doesn’t serve meals, but a good dinner option is Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille in New London (40 Andover Road, 603-526-6899).
In 1923, the few remaining Enfield Shakers decamped to Canterbury Shaker Village, 50 miles away in Canterbury (288 Shaker Road, 603-783-9511). After a peaceful night’s sleep, follow suit. Stop at Canterbury Country Store (3 Center Road, 603-783-9933, canterburycountrystore.com) for provisions for a picnic on the museum grounds. As you explore the village, you might see demonstrations of such crafts as flat-broom or oval-box construction.
A 90-minute tour gives a taste of Shaker life from farm chores to schoolroom tutelage to the water-powered wood and machine shops. Look for dams built by Shakers (and beavers) on the roughly 1-mile Turning Mill Pond loop trail. Views back to the village capture the Shaker aesthetic of unadorned, stately buildings, now framed in golden autumn leaves. — Patricia Harris and David Lyon
3. Provincetown, Unplugged
Summer in Provincetown is fun, but the crowds can be overwhelming. Come back in the fall, however, and find a quieter haven of glorious beaches, art, and culture.
Take the scenic route from Boston to the Cape: The Provincetown Fast Ferry runs until December 7 (200 Seaport Boulevard, 617-748-1428) and gets you there in under two hours. If you’re a cyclist, bring your bike or rent one at Provincetown Bike Rentals (136 Bradford Street, 774-447-4539) to get around.
Few can resist the custard-y, cinnamon-y deliciousness that awaits at the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery (299 Commercial Street, 508-487-1803). For a scratch-made lunch with seafood-shack vibes, try the Canteen (225 Commercial Street). Then, find the perfect beach read at Provincetown Bookshop (229 Commercial Street, 508-487-0964) before making your way to Herring Cove Beach, the only Cape Cod National Seashore beach located on the bay side of the Cape (Province Lands Road, 508-255-3421).
If you have a bike, take a ride along the Province Lands Bike Trail, a 5.45-mile loop. Or head to the Boatslip, the iconic gay bar that hosts daily tea dances — deck parties from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (161 Commercial Street, 508-487-1669; tea parties through November 9). Then savor dinner and the view at the Mews Restaurant (429 Commercial Street, 508-487-1500). There’s plenty of nightlife, including dancing at the Underground (293 Commercial Street, 508-413-9648) and drag shows at the Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial Street, 508-487-1430).
In the morning, head to Liz’s Café, Anybody’s Bar (31 Bradford Street, 508-413-9131) for a lobster Benedict and a Bloody Mary before immersing yourself in art at Provincetown Art Association and Museum (460 Commercial Street, 508-487-1750), followed by some gallery-hopping. On Center and Alden are among the galleries open in fall (provincetownartgalleryassociation.org). Since love for ice cream knows no season, stop for a cone at Lewis Brothers Homemade Ice Cream (310 Commercial Street, 508-487-0977), a sweet end to your trip. – Diane Bair and Pamela Wright
4. Little Compton: New England’s Cutest Coastal Town?
Charming New England clapboard, pastures plunging to the ocean, fishing boats … Little Compton, Rhode Island, is maximum quaint. A 90-minute drive from Boston, a weekend trip here is good for your body and your spirit.
Start with coffee and paintings at Art Cafe, a homey gallery/ coffee shop with stained glass inside and a verdant yard with outdoor seating (7 South of Commons Road, 508-558-5497). Then take a walk at Goosewing Beach Preserve, where you can see everything from otters to osprey (140 South Shore Road, 401-331-7110). Later, head to the stunning Sakonnet Vineyard for a wine tasting, dinner, and, on select dates, live music (162 West Main Road, 401-635-8486).
In the morning, cyclists can rent a bicycle at Little Compton Adventures (29 East View Drive, 401-662-9494). Regardless of how you get there, visit Young Family Farm for some fresh produce, and, in the fall, apple and flower picking (260 West Main Road, 401-635-0110). If you’re driving home, stop and explore Westport, another cute coastal town across the Massachusetts border, to cap it all off. – Bart Tocci
5. Portland: City and Sea
Portland, Maine, is just a two-hour drive from Boston and by September, the summer crowds have started to thin. With its thriving food scene and water views, it offers the best of land and sea, especially in autumn.
Leave Boston early and head straight to Washington Avenue in the East End to fuel up with a wood-fired bagel at Forage Market (123 Washington Avenue, 207-274-6800). Next door, grab a coffee or tea at Onggi, a market and café specializing in fermented treats (131 Washington Avenue, 207-352-3528). The hojicha, a roasted green tea, with black sesame cold foam is a standout. From there, the 78-acre Eastern Promenade Park is a pleasant 10 minute walk up Munjoy Hill and offers sweeping views, multi-use trails, and regular food trucks that include Mr. Tuna (207- 536-0509).
Sporty types can rent a paddleboard or kayak or book a tour with Portland Paddle (1 Cutter Street, 207-370-9734) while the bold may brave a brisk swim at East End Beach. Families might opt for a scenic narrated ride along the waterfront on the Maine Narrow Gauge’s historic trains (65 Thames Street, 207-828-0814) or explore the shops of the Old Port, with a pit stop at all-day cocktail bar Cuties (46 Market Street).
For dinner, dive deeper into the culinary scene. The neighborhood Wayside Tavern serves excellent Italian-inspired plates with friendly service in a historic space (747 Congress Street, 207-613-9568), while nearby Boda delivers distinct and “very Thai” dishes alongside fun drinks (671 Congress Street, 207-347-7557). Or hit the Old Port for time-honored splurge night favorites including small-plates hot spot Central Provisions (414 Fore Street, 207-805-1085) and waterfront heavyweight Scales (68 Commercial Street, 207-805-0444).
Catherine Dzilenski
In the morning, make your way to Tandem Coffee and Bakery in the West End, which has earned social-media fame with its photogenic former-gas-station façade and sticky buns (742 Congress Street, 207-760-4440). Or head to the Deering Center neighborhood to try Norimoto Bakery, a 2024 James Beard winner (469 Stevens Avenue).
Then head to the waterfront and Casco Bay Lines Ferry to hop the nearby Casco Bay Islands (56 Commercial Street, 207-774-7871). Peaks Island has the most to do, with golf cart tours and beaches to roam. On Great Diamond Island, grab cocktails and an afternoon snack on the porch at Crown Jewel, a tropics-inspired restaurant that’s open for the season through September 14 (255 Diamond Avenue, 207-464-2829).
Back ashore, craft beer fans should head to the recently-expanded Oxbow Blending and Bottling to sample offerings from Oxbow Brewing Company (49 Washington Avenue, 207-350-0025). Also on premises: a shack-sized outpost of the popular restaurant Duckfat (43 Washington Avenue, 207-200-2505) serving up its famous hand-cut fries. On your way out of town, stop at the Clam Bar (199 West Commercial Street, 207-805-1763) for some steamers and a few rounds of cornhole, the perfect end to an autumn weekend. – Alyssa Giacobbe
6. Dorset: Picture‑Perfect Vermont
The first hint that you’re not in another typically quaint Vermont town may be the white marble sidewalks that line the manicured lawns of the lovely and unapologetically upscale Dorset Green neighborhood. That’s just the start of the unique experience that is Dorset, a serene getaway in the shadow of the Green Mountains.
From the Green, head to nearby Manchester for Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home (1005 Hildene Road, 800-578-1788). The stately mansion that was home to Robert Lincoln— the son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln— and his wife, Mary, is a fascinating dose of history in a vibrant living museum. Lincoln was president of railroad-car manufacturer Pullman Company, and Hildene’s restored Pullman car is a sight to behold. Then explore buzzy Manchester, with its retail therapy at dozens of outlet boutiques, or take a dip at Emerald Lake State Park (65 Emerald Lake Lane, 802-362-1655).
Back at the Green, the Dorset Inn is a cozy place to stay and a destination itself (8 Church Street, 802-867-5500; from $250). Built in 1796, the hotel is casually elegant and boasts a roaring fire and warm cookies in colder months. For dinner, the inn offers both a country-elegant restaurant and casual tavern.
Revitalized by a deep country sleep, explore the Owl’s Head Town Forest before heading to the Southern Vermont Arts Center for exhibitions of local, national, and international artists (860 Southern Vermont Arts Center Drive, 802-362-1405). Stop at the Dorset Farmers Market (2732 VT-30), held on Sundays, before making your way back home feeling refreshed. — Chris Davis
7. Small City, Global Flavors
Despite its small size, Providence punches above its weight when it comes to food. Thanks to a history of immigration, the city is a tapestry of global flavors. So leave the passport at home and get ready to eat while taking in some sights.
Providence is just an hour’s drive or train ride from Boston, so weekenders can arrive in time for coffee in the historic neighborhood of Federal Hill. At Venda Ravioli, sip on espresso and listen to conversations in Italian around you (265 Atwells Avenue, 401-421-9105). Pastiche Fine Desserts makes all sorts of fresh scones daily — from banana chocolate to cranberry (92 Spruce Street, 401-861-5190).
The city’s vibrant art scene has earned it the moniker “the Creative Capital.” Download the app from The Avenue Concept, an organization focused on public art, and take a free, self-guided tour of the city’s colorful murals. Then head to the Track 15 food hall downtown (1 Union Station, 401-443-9215) and find Tolia, which features the cuisine of Anatolia, the peninsula that makes up much of Turkey today. The shish kebabs cooked over charcoal and zucchini fritters with labneh and feta are not to be missed.
In the evening, head downtown to Westminster Street and peruse boutiques and bookstores before snagging a counter seat at Gift Horse (272 Westminster Street, 401-383-3813) where James Beard Award-winning chef Sky Haneul Kim is taking classic New England seafood and turning it on its head with Korean flavors. Order the local oysters with kimchi mignonette for the table. Not far away, chef Diego Alcantar at Cielito Mexican Kitchen (186 Union Street, 401-563-7026) highlights Rhode Island seafood using the flavors of Michoacán, the Mexican state he grew up in.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff/File
For a nightcap, head back to Federal Hill for LOMA, a Latin-inspired bar where you’ll get an education on small spirit producers from around the world (112 Spruce Street). Nearby, Courtland Club (51 Courtland Street, 401-227-9300) serves balanced cocktails with snacks from NIMKI, a pop-up by chef Nikhil Naiker inspired by his family’s roots in Fiji.
Start your second day with brunch at Frank & Laurie’s in the Mount Hope neighborhood, where you can dive into a plate of fluffy pancakes (110 Doyle Avenue, 401-414-7650). For a hint of France, try the croque madame with roasted pork shoulder, soufflé egg, and gruyere. Then explore the RISD Museum, where admission is free on Sundays (20 North Main Street, 401-454-6500).
After working up an appetite, take a walk through historic College Hill to the Hope neighborhood for Not Just Snacks (833 Hope Street, 401-831-1150) for Indian fare such as malai kofta and palak gosht. Or head to Lotus Pepper (752 Hope Street, 401-744-0996), where Young Nguyen is serving the Vietnamese dishes she grew up with. Then go shopping for locally-made teas, sauces, and spice blends at the nearby Stock Culinary Goods (756 Hope Street 401-521-0101).
For dinner, try the popular Aguardente (12 Governor Street, 401-414-7324) in the Fox Point neighborhood — known for its fusion of Portuguese, Guatemalan, and Mexican cuisine. Or go to Jahunger (333 Wickenden Street, 401-454-6866) — which now has a second location in Cambridge — for a taste of Uyghur cuisine such as the stand-out hand-pulled noodles and lamb skewers. Either way, you won’t return to Boston hungry. – Alexa Gagosz
Cling to the last vestiges of the warmth by road-tripping to New Hampshire’s Squam Lake for a camping expedition amid panoramic White Mountain views. In Holderness, the Squam Lakes Association rents a dozen lakeside campsites nightly, spread across two islands and a peninsula, all reachable by kayak or canoe (534 US Route 3, 603-968-7336; from $55/night per site and $40/kayak).
Pack for a night of remote camping and cooking (my suggestion: instant ramen with a jammy soft-boiled egg and tinned smoked trout). Fall brings brisk temperatures at night, so bring warm gear, cozy up to a campfire (a bundle of wood is included with the rental), boil some hot cocoa, and fall asleep to the sound of lapping waters.
For a different vantage of the changing leaves, adventurous types can break camp early and explore the SLA’s network of trails, which range from easy to strenuous. Others can meander their way back to the city, stopping by some of New Hampshire’s quirky local gems. Time travel at Fun Spot in Laconia, home to a sprawling collection of vintage arcade games (579 Endicott Street North, 603-366-4377). Stay upstairs where nostalgia abounds and the crowds are sparse.
Next, venture to the cozy tasting room of Canterbury Aleworks, an intimate nanobrewery in Canterbury owned and operated by former woodworker Steve Allman (305 Baptist Hill Road). Let Allman choose the homebrew and sip it slowly, letting the weekend linger. – Hanna Krueger
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz. Brooke Hauser can be reached at brooke.hauser@globe.com. Follow her @brookehauser. Hanna Krueger can be reached at hanna.krueger@globe.com or via the encrypted messaging app Signal at hsk.13.
