According to CNN, you should absolutely include a trip to a college town in western Massachusetts on your itinerary this year.
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Northampton, Massachusetts, came in at number eight on CNN’s list of the top ten American places to visit in 2025.
CNN claims that Northampton’s vibrant downtown, multiculturalism, regional cuisine, and sense of independence are the reasons it made the list.
According to CNN, Northampton is a town of only 30,000 residents with just five different neighborhoods. However, statistics like that mask the fact that Northampton has long been a cultural powerhouse. It is a regional venue for concerts, food, and shopping. It’s a coffee-drinking, bike-riding haven that blends large city culture with the charm of a village.
Smith College, created by Frederick Law Olmsted and dubbed one of New England’s most beautiful college campuses by CNN, is located in the town. CNN reports that the Smith College Museum of Art and a beautiful botanic garden are both free for the general public to view on campus.
See CNN’s suggestions for Northampton dining options, lodging options, and things to do here.
Asheville, North Carolina; Annapolis, Maryland; and Petaluma, California, are among the other towns on CNN’s list. Ithaca, New York, is the town ranked first on the list.
View CNN’s ranking of the top ten American towns to visit in 2025.
Kristi Palma writes about New England tourism as a culture reporter for Boston.com. She writes about hotels, airlines, and activities in Boston and New England. She is the writer of the weekly travel newsletter Scenic Six.
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