SmarterTravel.com: Northampton one of "Five perfect college towns"

SmarterTravel.com recently praised Northampton as a tolerant town that’s fun to walk around in…

The downtown area is filled with ma-and-pa-owned boutiques, coffee houses, hip restaurants, and theaters housed in historical buildings. Home to Smith College, the nation’s largest liberal arts college for women, this funky little town is well-known for its art–many galleries feature local artists’ work–and for its thriving gay and lesbian counter-culture scene…

Finding things to do outside of the classroom is a breeze, as many outdoor activities throughout the year offer a break from the books, including rafting on the Connecticut River, biking along Smith campus, hiking in the mountains, and window-shopping along Main Street. What sets this town apart from others is its energy. It may be a small town, but it’s big on all things creative.