Williamstown

From left: The Clark Art Institute, snowshoeing.

corner, Williamstown is one of America’s first college towns; the town and the college both date to 1791. Williams College, consistently ranking at or near the top of America’s liberal arts institutions, is the town’s largest employer. You don’t have to have a connection to Williams, though, to enjoy what the town— and the College—have to offer.

You could begin on Spring Street, the commercial center, where you’ll find galleries, stylish clothing stores, coffee shops with fast Internet connections, and restaurants that cater to the tastes of college students, locals, and visitors alike. Nonprofit ABC Clothing Pop-up Shop sells second-hand clothing to support programs for youth and families at risk. New to the street is Bux Vintage for vintage clothing, accessories, and small gifts. Nature’s Closet has Patagonia and a wide selection of outdoor footwear and is also home to the popular Smoothie Spot. Check out the Greylock Gallery next door, which specializes in contemporary American landscapes by emerging and established artists. Pick up a book at the light-filled Williams Bookstore or at Chapter Two Books, a used bookstore that benefits the town’s library. Dive into Spoon next door for a refreshing frozen yogurt, gelato, or sorbet, or an ice cream cone at Lickety Split. Coffee, tea, and baked goods can be found at Tunnel City Coffee across the street. Unlimited Nutrition specializes in protein shakes and flavored teas, and, at the foot of the street the newly built and well-appointed Williams Inn offers dining in its Barn Kitchen & Bar. If you have recreational cannabis needs, Silver Therapeutics is ready to serve you seven days a week from its little mellow shop a mile east of downtown.

Williamstown Theatre Festival is closed until next summer, but Images Cinema on Spring Street, one of the few remaining independent movie theaters, is going strong, presenting a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films. Images is open for in-person audiences with strict COVID procedures. You can support this nonprofit community theater by becoming a member.

The galleries of the Williams College Museum of Art are open and admission is free to the public. The Clark Art Institute is also open, with advanced, timed-visit tickets required. Come enjoy its extraordinary permanent collection, groundbreaking special exhibitions, and striking architecture by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. The Clark campus boasts 140 acres of lawns, meadows and walking trails.

There’s a lot of wild country around Williamstown, with wellmaintained trails to get you out into it. The Williams Outing Club publishes an excellent guide to North Berkshire recreation; the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation trail kiosk at Sheep Hill on Cold Spring Road south of town offers complete information on all local trails, including those in the Hopkins Forest, the nearby Mount Greylock Reservation in Adams, and Field Farm. For rural family fun, especially with younger children, Ioka Valley Farm, on route 43 south of town in Hancock, has approachable farm animals and farm-related activities.

Williamstown eats well. Fine restaurants like Mezze, south of town on Route 7, and Gramercy Bistro, in its new home on Water Street, source local foods. Coyote Flaco, also on Route 7, serves a Mexican menu. There’s Indian cuisine at Spice Root on Spring Street, and Thai and Japanese at Blue Mango next door. If you’re just looking for lunch, the Spring Street Market & Café and Pappa Charlie’s Deli are standbys for dining and takeout. The Neapolitan-style pizza at Hot Tomatoes on Water Street is exceptional, and you can enjoy it under the trees beside the Green River at picnic tables behind the restaurant. Just north of town, Chef’s Hat, an old time, diner-style, very homey restaurant, serves breakfast and lunch. Looking for a watering hole? The Water Street Grill serves many craft beers on tap, good food, and a warm ambience. For Chinese fare, Chopsticks is just east of town on Route 2. Right next door is Korean Garden, which recently relocated from North Adams. (Pro tip: get the hot stone bi bim bab.) If you’re cooking for yourself, stock up at Wild Oats on the same stretch of road.

Holiday farmers markets, normally held in the Williams College Fieldhouse (still closed to the public due to COVID) have been moved this year to Greylock WORKS, right over the Williamstown border in North Adams. They’ll take place November 21 and December 19. For a fresh, fragrant Christmas tree, head down Route 43 south of town to Ioka Valley Farm, which grows four varieties. Take a hayride to the field where you can choose (and cut!) your own tree (freshly cut trees also available). They’ll put a stand on it for you, too, and wrap your tree for ease of travel.