Hello guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Today we will be discussing traveling to and from Amherst College. I’ve been so incredibly lucky this past year to have gone on many trips around the New England area, and I’ve learned quite a bit from that experience. I’ve also added six whole states this past school year to my 50-state bucket list (I’m currently at 17 out of 50).
First, let’s talk about airports. Coming from a big city, what surprised me was that Amherst, Massachusetts, does not have its own airport (I had made the mistake of assuming that everywhere had an airport). The closest airport is Bradley International Airport, located in Hartford, Connecticut, about a one-hour drive from the college. Bradley airport is a charming and easily navigable airport with a bunch of adorable shops and restaurants. They even sell New England maple syrup and other goodies! I once got to the airport 12 hours early to save money on transportation. I very much do not recommend doing this, but if you do choose to follow in my footsteps, there are a lot of great ways to keep yourself entertained in the airport, such as reading a book, exploring the little shops, and binge-watching one of your favorite Netflix shows. Now, you might be wondering, how do I get from the airport to Amherst?
This question brings me to my next point of discussion: buses and trains. Amherst College provides free shuttles for students to get to Bradley International Airport, Boston Logan Airport, and JFK Airport in New York City during both Thanksgiving and Spring break. However, for other breaks and vacations, transportation isn’t provided. There are a lot of ways to get to the airport, however. One of the most cost-effective ways is to take the Peter Pan bus from Amherst Center directly to Hartford. From there, you can then take an Uber or Lyft to the airport. There’s also an Amtrak train going directly from Northampton to Hartford that only takes about an hour and a half. You can get to the Northampton Amtrak station for free by taking the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses. Train tickets can be as cheap as $15 for a one-way ticket.
What I love about having all of these options is that traveling around New England can be really affordable! During my first semester at Amherst, when fall break came around, I took a trip to Portland, Maine, to visit my best friend! Portland is a lovely city with many great restaurants and things to do! I also went to New York City with my friends over Spring Break this year and had a fantastic time exploring the city! I also love to take trips to Northampton and explore there on the weekends when I have time. More recently, I took the Amtrak train to Montpelier to visit my girlfriend and had a wonderful time. Vermont is gorgeous this time of year, and I loved getting to go for walks and experience an entirely new place!
In conclusion, although when I first came to Amherst, I was nervous about making travel plans and feeling stuck in Amherst, I slowly realized that this wasn’t something I really needed to worry about. I ended up befriending people who were able to help me figure out how to get around, and I’ve had so many fantastic adventures because of them! If I could give you all any travel advice, it would be to ask your friends and family what they think about any travel plans you make and to try your best to learn about all your options. Also, make sure to research before booking any tickets, and always buy your tickets early!