Northampton: Lesbianville, USA
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Another great diversion is wandering around Smith's campus, perhaps admiring the Lyman Plant House and the glorious botanic gardens, or rocking back and forth on the rope swing featured in the film adaptation of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - it was shot on campus in 1966 (much of The Cider House Rules was also filmed around town). Definitely check out the magnificent Smith College Museum of Art, a striking contemporary facility that was completely redesigned in 2003. This is a first-rate museum with a permanent collection that includes works by Picasso, Cezanne, Copley, Cassatt, and many other notables.

Most of the great restaurants and shops fall within the walkable downtown - be sure to stop by Pride & Joy, which offers a full range of Pride items, books, gifts, and the like. And also browse the many funky shops inside Thorne's Marketplace, a multistory former department store that now houses about two dozen offbeat boutiques and shops. In the building's basement level, Herrell's has received countless praise and awards for its gooey, rich homemade ice cream that's offered in all kinds of unusual flavors, from malted vanilla to cinnamon-nutmeg to "Elvis's Favorite" (banana ice cream with peanut-butter swirl).

Virtually every restaurant in town is queer-friendly to some degree, and there are more standouts than can be named here. At the high end, consider Del Ray Bar and Grill, a snazzy bistro with delicious contemporary American food - try the cumin-and-coriander-dusted ahi tuna or goat-cheese topped portobello-mushroom "steak," and note the impressive wine list. The same owners run the successful Italian eatery, Spoleto, as well as a fantastic pizza joint called Pizzeria Paradiso, where you can sample pies with such tasty toppings as fennel sausage, calamari, and artichoke hearts. The Green Street Cafe specializes in cutting-edge contemporary fare served in a warm, romantic atmosphere - it's steps from Smith's campus and serves a fine Sunday brunch, too.

For excellent regional southwestern and Mexican food that's far superior to what you'll often find in the Northeast, check out La Cazuela. Try Paul and Elizabeth's if you're seeking gourmet veggie and seafood cuisine, and for hearty comfort food and tasty microbrews, head to the Northampton Brewery, which is also a lively place to drink and people-watch. As with any cool college town, Northampton has a few excellent coffeehouses, with the Haymarket Cafe among the best. Here you can nosh on chocolate-cream-cheese cupcakes, butterscotch creme brulee, and goat cheese and black olive tapenade sandwiches, and sip lattes or tea while pecking away on your laptop or reading a good book.
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