Five fantastic destinations to discover on the Valley Flyer this fall

Best known as the home of Yale University, New Haven is also one of New England’s most renowned culinary cities. With over 100 restaurants within a two block radius of picturesque New Haven Green, the city’s gastronomical presence is one of the most dynamic, diverse and concentrated in the region. Not only is the city famous for its apizza– a localized thin-crusted, coal-fired version of pizza first served at Pepe’s Pizzeria—New Haven’s legendary Louis’ Lunch is credited with the invention of the hamburger.

Known as the “City of Firsts,” Springfield, Massachusetts storied history includes the first dictionary and gas-powered car, the first use of interchangeable parts and assembly line construction, and earliest output by local luminaries Dr. Seuss and Milton Bradley. The city’s most famous invention however, was the game of Basketball with the first game played in 1891. Today the basketball Hall of Fame leads off Springfield’s impressive list of museums which includes the Museum of Fine Art, The Dr. Seuss Museum, the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, the Museum of Springfield History, the Titanic Museum and the United States' first planetarium. Just outside the city, you’ll find two of the area’s most popular outdoor attractions, Six Flags amusement park and the Eastern States Exposition (aka The Big E), a collective fair for all of New England which happens every fall.

Basketball wasn’t the only sport invented in the Pioneer Valley. Volleyball was first played in Holyoke way back in 1895 and today the quaint city is home to the Volleyball Hall of Fame. With a prime and picturesque location between the Connecticut River and Mt. Tom, Holyoke offers the best of both city and country with the combination of historic milltown charm and host of hiking trails and nature walks on the outskirts perfect for peeping fall foliage.

Considered by many to be the cultural hub of Western Massachusetts, Northampton is the area’s premier destination for shopping and nightlife. Multiple music venues, hip bars and quirky boutiques continue to entertain the student populations of nearby Amherst, UMass, Smith and Hampshire colleges. There's more to Northampton than shops and bops though, including some great walks around Fitzgerald Lake and Roberts Hill conservation areas, and Look Memorial Park. 

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Fans of Native American history may already know that Greenfield is where Pocumtuck Indians first settled, with artifacts being found in the area that date as far back as 7,000 and 9,000 years BCE. If you didn't know that already then, you're welcome! In more recent times, the city has been a big industrial hub, and there's a great museum dedicated to it. Among other things, the city was a prosperous mill town (it's a city, but mill city would sound weird). It's also the most populated area in Franklin County, making for a thriving community.