Western Massachusetts, including The Berkshires and Springfield, offer a wealth of activities. From hiking to outdoor theater, ski resorts with downhill skiing and summer adventures, leaf peeping and craft breweries, there are plenty of things to do year round.
You can also spend a weekend or more exploring all the museums in the area, while incorporating some of the other things to do along the way.
Museums and More Museums
Downtown Springfield has enough culture to keep you occupied for days. The Springfield Museums, a group of five museums within walking distance of each other, charge one fee for admission to all.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, celebrating local resident Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) appeals to kids, of course, and adults who grew up with these books, or read them to their children. The interactive first floor is for children, with a replica of his childhood home, and a bakery and brewery, businesses run by Geisel’s family. Upstairs, adults can learn about his life and children.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History
Another museum for kids and adults, The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History has cars, bicycles and motorcycles, all made in Springfield. Milton Bradley lived in Springfield, too, and an exhibit on toys shows what he produced locally.
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum
The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum has fabulous Tiffany stained glass windows and collections of Chinese cloisonné, 19th-century paintings, armor and statues. Head to the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts for more paintings, including Impressionist art.
What’s really nice here is that if you are with a family or group, you can split up and head to the museum that suits your interest. The small Springfield Science Museum is for children, with dinosaurs, mineral specimens, a planetarium and a tiny aquarium.
In the middle of all this, the free Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden has sculptures of Horton, the Lorax and Yertle. IFYKYK
Basketball Hall of Fame
Springfield is also the birthplace of basketball, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates professional (men’s AND women’s) and college basketball. You can learn about the game, its players, and even shoot some baskets. No one can resist measuring themselves against the titans of the game: the height, the wingspan, the giant sneakers and jerseys.
I learned that the original hoop was a peach basket (hence the name) and practiced my shot into a few baskets. The baskets turned out to be not such a great idea- the balls had to be retrieved each time, significantly slowing down the game.
Outdoor Art
You can take a walking or driving Mural Tour of Downtown Springfield. The Springfield Cultural Partnership worked with artists and community members to create these murals throughout the city. Download the app and see a different side of Springfield.
Step Back in History
A short drive from Springfield are two museums that should not be missed.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Probably the best known area museum, The Norman Rockwell Museum has almost 1000 paintings and drawings by Stockbridge native Norman Rockwell, including 332 Saturday Evening Post covers . You can also see the studio where he worked; the studio is open seasonally, spring through early fall. The museum’s grounds should not be missed; walk trails to the Housatonic River, and pick an apple (free!) from the orchard on site. In warm weather, you can picnic outdoors.
Historic Deerfield Flynt Center
The Flynt Center of Early New England Life
In winter, see The Flynt Center of Early New England Life, in Deerfield, for free. The museum displays furniture, textiles, needlework, costumes and paintings.
The center also includes a dozen historic homes, open by guided tour. The houses are closed late fall through early spring, but you can arrange private group tours year round. There are also special events like learning how to bake bread and pies in a hearth, year round.
Just for Fun: Yankee Candle Village
Yankee Candle Village, a sprawling store that started with candles, has expanded to include an indoor, year round Bavarian Christmas Village where it actually snows, a Harry Potter shop, Kitchen goods and homemade candy, a place where you can make personalized candles, and several food kiosks. Kids will love the model train running through part of the store, and the actual tugboat they can climb on.
SheBuysTravel tip: the personalized candles make great gifts: get pictures of your kids on the glass holder, or of your dog, or of your kids with your dog. Adorbs.
The Food Scene
Culinary delights abound in the Berkshires and beyond. A particularly nice feature is that many inns have great food, so you can eat (and drink) very well, and then stay right there.
The grande dame of inn dining is found at the Red Lion Inn, in Stockbridge. This historic inn has been providing food and lodging since 1773.
You can get traditional food, like a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce and stuffing, or a more more lunch like a vegan, gluten free bowl with roasted squash and miso. The beautiful linens, china and crystal transport you back in time; the cauliflower steak at dinner keeps it current.
The Deerfield Inn, a newcomer from 1774, also fills its rooms with antique furniture. I was here for lunch, which had homemade soup, salads using local greens, pizza and sandwiches. The vegetarian dal and chickpea burger was delicious and homemade; I appreciated that they didn’t rely on faux meat products made elsewhere.
The elegant Delaney House. I had a delicious zucchini cake instead of the lobster crab cake. Photo credit: Judy Antell
Truly modern is The Delaney House, attached to the D. Hotel Suites & Spa, where I spent two nights. The Delaney House has fish, steaks and at least very appealing vegetarian options (two were actually vegan). You can get small pours of wine so you can sample the deep wine list, and mocktails if you are driving.
I spent another night at the charming Inn at Stockbridge. This cozy bed & breakfast makes a morning meal to order. No green eggs & ham (thank goodness) – a filling hot breakfast to fuel you through all you want to see in Western Mass.
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