When You're Downtown
Most of us roll into downtown Northampton in a car, so tend to stick close to Main Street. But if you roll in on two wheels instead of four, you gain a very different view that can turn up a few gems you might well miss if you stay on the front side of those downtown buildings.
A lot of bikers come in from the north – the usual route for those who’ve crossed the Connecticut River coming from Hadley and Amherst via the Norwottuck Rail Trail. Though you might never guess from the proximity of busy King Street and Damon Road, that trail winds through a sizeable, shade-strewn stretch of forest before veering toward downtown parallel to King.
The King Street stretch hits downtown above the spot where plenty of trucks hit the bridge. It’s a lovely spot for a view up Main, all the way to the parapets of City Hall. There’s a near-endless variety of shopping and dining in downtown, of course, but the trail takes you past the Main Street stretch, straight to the old Union Station, currently a set of venues that most notably includes The Deck restaurant, where you’ll find outdoor dining, and in the summer, regular live entertainment. Quite literally underneath the bike path, you’ll find The Tunnel Bar, a unique and well-outfitted spot for a cocktail. Rumor has it that, in certain chairs in the tunnel, the weird acoustics mean you can overhear distant conversations.
The trailside just down the hill from Union Station brings you to one of Northampton’s newer breweries, Progression. In addition to pub fare, the brewery offers its own concoctions in a large, stylish indoor space and at outdoor tables. That’s on Pleasant Street, which also, it’s worth noting for the bicycle-bound, is home to Northampton Bicycle, which can fix you up if your two wheels fail.
From Pleasant, a leafy, raised section takes you to an interesting hub of activity that’s sort of on the back side of Main Street. The trail bisects a large parking lot surrounded by worthwhile destinations. A popular summer landing, Northampton Brewery hosts crowds atop its building. It’s got a nicely varied menu, and a solid lineup of in-house beverages, from the near-ubiquitous craft IPAs to lesser-travelled styles like an ESB (that’s an Extra Special Bitter – a distinctive, English-style ale).
In the complex that contains Northampton’s bus station, there’s also the wildly popular Bombay Royale Indian restaurant. And if you’re more in the mood to cook up your own, just across the road is Provisions, a store with boutique food and drink to make your home-cooking sing. Also worth noting: a little off the path, just on the far side of the parking garage, you might get lucky enough to find the Tuesday Market in full swing. Drop in to score local fare from farmers, food trucks, florists, and more!
