This MA Town Was Just Named A Must-Visit — Here’s Why

NORTHAMPTON, MA — One Massachusetts town is among the 10 best to visit in the country, according to CNN Travel.

The news network put Northampton at No. 8 in its rankings. CNN called it a "tangibly different" college town, saying that its "social justice spirit" dates back hundreds of years.

"The coffee that can be found in the town’s many cafés is not only strong but delicious and the women mentioned in the slogan include students — and alumnae — of Smith College, whose campus at the edge of downtown is one of the most beautiful in all of New England," CNN wrote.

Smith is referred to as "one of America’s finest women’s colleges." And its "particular ethos can be felt in the myriad first-rate local bookstores and the warm, artsy community," according to CNN.

Northampton, a town of 30,000, gets points for its combination of "rural beauty and cosmopolitan sensibility."

CNN also noted its dining and shopping options, breweries, and cultural events. The Mass Central Rail Trail, a 10-mile bike and pedestrian path that goes through downtown, is another attraction.

Northampton was the only New England town to make the list.

Another college town — Ithaca, New York, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College — topped the list.

Here's the full top 10:

1. Ithaca, New York
2. Missoula, Montana
3. Asheville, North Carolina
4. Bend, Oregon
5. Annapolis, Maryland
6. Petaluma, California
7. Las Cruces, New Mexico
8. Northampton, Massachusetts
9. Clarkdale, Mississippi
10. Rapid City, South Dakota

Check out the full list of must-visit towns at CNN Travel.

Check out CNN's full article on Northampton.

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