by As the weather warms up, it’s time to get back on the road and discover more of New England’s hidden gems. There are several wonderful free museums on the campuses of some of the region’s most historic colleges in Western Massachusetts. Just a 90-minute drive away from the Merrimack Valley, it’s an easy day trip to fit in several experiences.
The Mead Art Museum at Amherst College in Amherst is home to more than 5,000 years of art from across the world. Native American, European, and contemporary art mingle together, and galleries encourage visitors to engage deeply with social and political issues.
Current exhibits include Alicia Grullón’s “Like a Slow Walk with Trees,” focusing on labor activism, and “Trópico es Político: Caribbean Art Under the Visitor Economy Regime,” which challenges notions of “paradise” for different groups of people.
Of special note is the Rotherwas Room, a paneled room dating back to the 1600s. Originally installed at the estate of an English knight, the panels came to Amherst in the 1940s; Robert Frost delivered regular public readings of his works in the room.
The room’s historic carvings, stained glass windows, and magnificent oak chimneypiece evoke centuries-old nobility and a strong history of craftsmanship preserved for future generations.
Make your way further west to Northampton, home of Smith College, one of the last women’s colleges in the country. The Smith College Museum of Art is an impressive four-story building, divided by era and continent of origin. The museum’s wide open galleries make it easy to roam and discover art from around the world.
Masters such as Monet, Rivera, van Gogh, Warhol, Rodin, Seurat, Spencer and Morisot are well represented alongside contemporary artists exploring modern sociopolitical movements.
Exhibits ask visitors to consider complicated issues facing the art world today, such as art ownership and acquisition. Make sure to stop by the two fully themed bathrooms in the basement — artists have decorated every inch of the spaces, down to the toilet bowls.
Just a short walk across campus, the Botanic Garden of Smith College is a great way to connect with nature at the end of your day. In the good weather, acres of outdoor gardens are fun to explore, but don’t let a little rain deter you: the Lyman Conservatory is an expansive glass greenhouse containing a range of plants from around the world.
Succulents, ferns, and palms each have their own houses, as do warm and cool temperate plants. Banana trees and cacao plants grow high into the air. The camellia corridor puts beautiful tropical flowers on display alongside citrus plants.
Where else can you find oranges growing in New England in the dead of winter?
An ongoing exhibition studies the interconnectedness of plants and people through botanical practices and the life of Sylvia Plath, one of Smith’s famous alumnae. As a student, Plath studied botany at the Lyman Conservatory, working with the bell jars that would become a central metaphor in her eponymous novel.
The exhibit explains that bell jars were the first step in developing modern greenhouses, enabling cultivation of plants as never before. Visitors can try their hand at the botany sketching exercises Plath completed in the 1950s and discover panels of Plath’s poetry while exploring exotic flora.
Of course, no trip to Western Mass is complete without enjoying some of the region’s best food. Try Cushman Market in Amherst for breakfast and coffee, Florence Pie Bar in Northampton for some midday dessert (and more coffee), and Daily Operation in Easthampton for a flavorful, hip dinner spot in a converted mill building with lots of vegan and vegetarian options.
Northampton is also a hot spot for vintage clothing stores — thrifters take note.
Don’t miss the opportunity to explore a different part of the state and enjoy some culture (and good food) along the way.
