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Main Street in downtown Northampton

(Laura Newberry)

NORTHAMPTON -- Locals know the glory of climbing Mount Tom at autumn's peak and peering out onto the hills of the Pioneer Valley. National Geographic thinks the vista is worth the trip for out-of-towners, too.

The magazine built a state-by-state guide to the top 100 outdoor hubs across the country, and the Northampton area was the only Massachusetts locale to make the cut.

"Undergrads hang mainly in Amherst, while neighboring Northampton provides an escape from the dorms, with a social scene shaped by local outdoor enthusiasts coming in for a good meal, concert at the Calvin, indie flick at the Pleasant Street Theatre, or new music at the Iron Horse," the article reads.

The guide recommends visitors spend time at Mount Tom State Reservation for skiing and ice skating in the winter, and wander its 20 miles of hiking and walking trails and fish in Lake Bray during the temperate seasons. It also gives mention to canoeing down the Connecticut and whitewater rafting on the Deerfield.

And any good adventure involves good food and drink, right? National Geographic says to stop by The Dirty Truth on Main Street to sample its "million beers on tap" (a loving exaggeration), The Green Bean for breakfast and lunch and Woodstar Cafe for coffee and baked goods. Picnickers should pick up snacks and sandwiches from Serio's Market on State Street, the guide suggests.

Adventurers can rest their weary heads at the iconic Hotel Northampton or The Autumn Inn by Smith College.

Other New England towns featured include Newport, Rhode Island, Burlington, Vermont, Plymouth, New Hampshire and Mystic, Connecticut.

Note: The Pleasant Street Theatre closed in 2012.