College Towns

While I'm currently under a tornado watch, with the rain and wind of Isaias beginning, you'll see from the photos that the past three weeks have been anything but inclement weather. Following a very long 9-hour trek from Western Maryland, I arrived in North Adams, MA to a bright, cozy 374 square foot apartment in the heart of town. Weekends bring summer travelers, but without students at Mass College of Liberal Arts or nearby Williams College, it's low-key and really pleasant here in the mountains. 

For a few centuries, North Adams was a mill town, and today the former Arnold Print Works is home to MassMoCA, the largest contemporary art museum in the U.S. Just 5 miles west, Williamstown was primarily agricultural in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the College is the primary employer today. In North Adams, you wear tie-dye; in Williamstown, khakis. 

I've been enjoying both towns by bike and foot, and while I can't get myself indoors to enjoy the broad array of art, I'm not feeling deprived with the outdoor artistry at my disposal. And, with just 10 days to departure, my list of hiking possibilities seems challenging!