2 Best Sights in South Hadley, Sturbridge and The Pioneer Valley

Founded in 1837, Mount Holyoke was the first women's college in the United States. Among its alumnae are poet Emily Dickinson and playwright Wendy Wasserstein. The handsome wooded campus, encompassing two lakes and lovely walking or riding trails, was landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the co-designer of Manhattan's Central Park.

The 24,000 works in the college's collection include Asian, European, and American paintings, as well as sculpture and contemporary art from around the world. The coins and numismatics exhibit is definitely worth a look. On summer Wednesdays and Sundays, the Skinner Museum, a church packed full of the eclectic collection of a wealthy mill owner, is open.