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Things to Do in Western Massachusetts With Kids
Thank you to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for hosting our family’s visits and to the Inn on Boltwood for providing a media rate. All opinions are my own.

My aunt and uncle live near Amherst, Massachusetts, and I’ve visited them many times over the years since my early childhood. I love the rural beauty of Western Massachusetts and particularly their farm, which abuts Bull Hill in Leverett. While I made solo trips in 2017 and 2018 to visit them, the kids have not been to Western Massachusetts since 2016 when we took a fall getaway trip to New England. With a few days off around the Fourth of July holiday, we decided to plan a trip to Amherst. Unfortunately, my husband was not able to join us due to work conflicts. Because our kids are now 11, 9 and 4, I felt more comfortable taking on the long car journey as a solo parent. In addition to visiting my aunt and uncle, there are many amazing things to do in Western Massachusetts with kids that made the long drive well worth it.

Where to Stay in Western Massachusetts

Inn on Boltwood

We stayed at Inn on Boltwood, a historic hotel located on the Amherst Common immediately adjacent to Amherst College. Read our full review of the Inn on Boltwood.

Things to Do in Springfield, Massachusetts

Visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

A year ago, I flew into Hartford to visit my aunt and uncle and on my drive between Hartford and Leverett, I passed through the center of Springfield, Massachusetts where a building with a large spherical dome caught my attention. I later discovered that the nine-story dome was the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. I couldn’t fit in a visit during that quick one-night trip, but I knew that my two sons would absolutely love to visit the next time we came to Western Massachusetts as a family. When I started planning our 2019 trip to Amherst, the Basketball Hall of Fame was at the top of our must-see list.

Basketball Hall of Fame Dome, currently under renovation

We had started the 575 mile drive the previous day, explored Rochester and stopped for the night near Oneida, New York. We woke up on the Fourth of July and had a three-hour drive to Springfield. Luckily, the Basketball Hall of Fame does not close for Independence Day, and we arrived at about 11 a.m. ready to stretch our legs and check out sports memorabilia. The main lobby had one of our favorite exhibits with players’ favorite quotes and plaques depicting shoe sizes. Shaquille O’Neal, who wore a size 22, had the biggest feet. Here’s the comparison from my daughter’s youth size 11.

Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes compared to my daughter’s

At the information desk, we collected our tickets and learned that the Basketball Hall of Fame was hosting a free throw contest at 2:00 p.m. on Center Court to commemorate the Fourth of July holiday. My two boys immediately looked at me and asked if they could participate. I sent a message to my uncle to let him know we would leave after the contest as we entered the Basketball Hall of Fame theater to watch a 12-minute introductory film that provided an overview of basketball history and highlights, including our favorite basketball memory, the Cavaliers’ 2016 national championship win.

Basketball Hall of Fame theater

As we boarded the elevator, the guide told the kids to look for two gold medals and a golden sneaker. While my boys were most excited to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame, read the mini biographies of the Basketball Hall of Fame inductees and check out basketball memorabilia, my daughter was a bit bored with the Honors Ring, despite the scavenger hunt assignment. She was more interested in what was happening on the court below.

Bob Lainer’s golden sneaker

In the Players’ Gallery on the second level, the boys continued spending time reading and exploring the exhibits, particularly those embedded in a locker room display. They learned a great deal of basketball history.

Checking out the Michael Jordan exhibit

But, all three kids really enjoyed all the interactive exhibits on the second floor. They tested how high they could jump, grab a rebound and tried out a pop-a-shot not unlike the one in our basement.

Pop-a-shot at the Basketball Hall of Fame is so much better than in our basement

My younger son loved the virtual hoops game and took eighth place on the leader board. My older son was wearing a royal blue shirt that was almost the identical color to the game’s green screen. As a result, much of his body was invisible on the television screen. He wasn’t able to dribble or shoot and gave up on the game before his turn was over. Our lesson was not to wear royal blue clothes to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Virtual Hoops leader board

The Media Center was also a big hit. The kids were able to record a live sports news cast and watch it back and also check out the view of Center Court from a sky box. Those are definitely the best seats in the house.

View from the half court sky box at the Basketball Hall of Fame

We finished our tour on Center Court where the kids all shot hoops, tried dunks and checked out the historic hoops, including a peach basket. We decided to eat lunch before the free throw contest. We returned to Center Court about 10 minutes before the contest began. The largest crowd we had seen on Center Court gathered for the contest, and there was a lot of excitement from the participants. The boys took a few warm up shots and lined up.

As the contest began, I turned to the woman next to me and said, “Every one of them thinks they might win.” In round one, each of the 30-40 contestants took a single regulation free throw. Only five made it on to the second round, including my older son. Round two included another single free throw attempt, and my son was one of two contestants who made it to the third and final round. The other finalist was an adult who seemed about twice my son’s height and definitely had basketball experience and skills. It was clear that my son was the underdog but exciting that he made it this far. The host announced that each finalist would take three shots in the final round. The other finalist went first and made one of his three shots. My son missed his first and swished the next two, winning the contest. Check out the video clip of his winning shot below.

His prizes included the basketball used in the contest and a drawstring backpack filled with Basketball Hall of Fame swag, including a t-shirt, hat, basketball cards, net and a miniature basketball. He was elated, and I have to admit that I was both surprised and excited for him. All those hours shooting hoops in the driveway really paid off.

On the way back to our car, we stopped at the Coaches’ Circle Monument, which was sculpted by Brian Hanson and unveiled during the 2015 Hall of Fame Enshrinement. My son was especially excited to be leaving the Hoop Hall with souvenirs.

The Coaches’ Circle Monument at the Basketball Hall of Fame

The Basketball Hall of Fame was all we hoped for and more. Even though the Hall of Fame is currently undergoing a major $22 million renovation that is expected to be completed next year, our visit was truly unforgettable. The boys want to come back every time we visit Western Mass. We definitely recommend a visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts for any basketball enthusiast.
- Basketball Hall of Fame Hours: The hours for the Basketball Hall of Fame vary by season, but it is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
- Basketball Hall of Fame Tickets: As of July 2019, Basketball Hall of Fame admission costs $25 for adults age 16 to 65, $20 for seniors age 65+ and $16 for children age 5 to 15. Children age four and under are free.
- Basketball Hall of Fame Parking: Free parking is available in a lot adjacent to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Eat at the Basketball Hall of Fame Restaurants

After we explored the exhibits and did a bit of hoop shooting, we worked up an appetite for lunch. Luckily, the Basketball Hall of Fame includes six restaurants on site that are each open to the public as well as visitors to the Hall of Fame. We headed to the entrance and chose to eat at Max’s Tavern for lunch.

Max’s Tavern served typical American fare and offered a kids’ meal that included several vegetables and reminded me of the food pyramid advocated by Michelle Obama.

My oldest ordered the cheeseburger off of the regular menu, and the burger was at least six inches tall. He has a pretty incredible appetite and polished off the entire burger with no problem. He was completely fueled and ready to compete in the free throw contest. We loved the atmosphere, sports memorabilia and classic tavern decor.

Things to Do in the Amherst Area

We headed from Springfield to the Amherst, Massachusetts area. Amherst is a quintessential Colonial town known as Emily Dickinson’s hometown and the home of Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to visiting my aunt and uncle, we checked out a few of the area’s best attractions as well.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has been on my list of attractions to visit in Amherst for several years. Eric Carle is an award winning author and illustrator of picture books who is best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is one of our family’s favorite picture books and has been rated the #2 best picture book ever by the School Library Journal.

Four large murals painted by Eric Carle for this Museum dominate the entry way. These murals reminded us of Monet’s large scale paintings but with bolder colors and more abstract style. The paintings were my oldest son’s favorite part of the entire collection.

Eric Carle’s wall murals

Eric Carle lived nearby in Northampton, Massachusetts for over 30 years and founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with his wife in 2002 to celebrate picture book art. Carle is now 90 years old and resides in Key West, Florida, but continues to collaborate on projects and visits The Carle several times each year. We learned about Eric Carle’s life and his bold, graphic artistic style that unexpectedly led him to picture books.

The Carle’s West, Central and East Galleries all house rotating exhibits that include works both from the Museum’s permanent collection and some that are on loan. The West Gallery currently holds Eric Carle Makes a Book, which explores Carle’s story inspirations. The kids explored this exhibit by completing a scavenger hunt and then working on their own mini-books.

The Central Gallery housed an exhibition honoring the 50th anniversary of William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. My two youngest set to work preparing the most delicious picnic lunch. We weren’t as familiar with William Steig’s books but have already reserved a few from our library.

The East Gallery featured the works of Peter Sis, an author and illustrator who we were also not particularly familiar with but now plan to read his collection. I read Fire Truck to my daughter in the gallery, and the kids used rubbing plates to make labyrinths and also did some maze drawing.

Our favorite part of The Carle was probably the Art Studio. Like many moms, I’m ecstatic when my kids have the opportunity to create art in a bright studio with all the materials already prepared and ready to go. We worked on animal collages. As we worked on our projects, five or six other families came into the studio, and there was plenty of room for everyone.

The Carle’s art studio

For younger kids not yet ready to do cutting and gluing, there were magnets, bright blocks and a host of switches and knobs to explore while other family members worked on their projects.

We are so glad we finally made it to The Carle. With so much of its actual collection rotating and many interactive art projects, we would definitely enjoy returning on our next trip to Western Massachusetts.
- The Eric Carle Museum Hours: The Carle is generally open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Carle is also open on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in July and August.
- The Carle Tickets: As of July 2019, admission to The Carle costs $9 for adults and $6 for youth ages 1-18, students, teachers and seniors. Families can take advantage of a special for admission for two adults and two youth for $22.50.
- The Carle Parking: Free parking is available in a lot adjacent to The Carle.
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens

Magic Wings in South Deerfield, Massachusetts is a truly magical place for families to visit and an ideal way to follow up a visit to The Carle. Magic Wings includes an 8,000 square foot, climate-controlled, glass conservatory filled with about 5,000 absolutely beautiful butterflies. In addition to the conservatory, there are a number of educational exhibits and a cafeteria.

While we often visit butterfly exhibits in botanical gardens and zoos, Magic Wings stands out as exemplary. It is both larger than the average butterfly exhibit and there are so many more butterflies. Visitors are asked not to touch butterflies or hold leaves or twigs as butterfly landing grounds, but those who are patient and stand still are likely to have one of the butterflies land on them at some point.

We purchased a $1 guide to the butterflies in Magic Wings before we left and wish we would have had it with us to help identify the different butterfly species during our visit. We ate lunch at the on site food court and air conditioned eating area. We ordered sandwiches and hot dogs and got soft serve ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect break to butterfly observing, and we were ready to head back into the conservatory for a second visit after our meal.
- Magic Wings Hours: Magic Wings is generally open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Magic Wings Tickets: As of July 2019, admission to Magic Wings costs $16 for adults, $14 for seniors age 62 and over and $10 for youth age 3-17 and through 22 with a valid student identification. Children under age three are free.
- Magic Wings Parking: Free parking is available adjacent to Magic Wings.
- Time Spent at Magic Wings: We spent about two and a half hours at Magic Wings, including lunch.
Yankee Candle Village

Yankee Candle is a scented candle manufacturer and retailer that started in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The flagship store opened in 1982 in South Deerfield, and Yankee Candle Village developed around that store to offer New England crafts, toys, a Bavarian Christmas Village and other gifts and collectibles in addition to scented candles.

We last visited the Yankee Candle Village in 2008 and noticed my oldest’s first tooth while he was laughing at the enormous stuffed animals. It’s no surprise that we spent all of our time in the Yankee Candle Village during this visit in the toy shop and viewing the Christmas display. The kids wanted everything but settled for gumballs from the coolest gumball machine we had ever seen.
- Yankee Candle Village Hours: Yankee Candle Village is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but hours may vary during holidays.
- Yankee Candle Village Parking: Free parking is available adjacent to Yankee Candle Village.
- Time Spent at Yankee Candle Village: We spent about 20 minutes in the toy, candy and Christmas sections of the Village.
Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation

I always enjoy going to the highest point in a city or region and getting a birds-eye view of the area. Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield is the perfect location for viewing the Connecticut River. Because it is possible to drive to the summit, it is easily accessible for families with young children. Our trip there in 2008 had added excitement as Mel Gibson just finished filming Edge of Darkness at the summit of Mount Sugarloaf. The observation tower had been temporarily renovated and had not yet been returned to its pre-filming state, and the Fall colors were brilliant.

The view from summit is stunning, and the vantage from the top of the observation tower is even better.
- Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Hours: The Reservation is open from 9 a.m. to sunset. Summit Road is open from mid-May through mid-October.
- Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Admission: There is no admission fee to visit Mount Sugarloaf.
- Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Parking: Parking permits can be purchased at the entrance to Mount Sugarloaf. The parking fee is $5 for cars with Massachusetts license plates and $10 for cars with all other license plates.
- Time Spent at Mount Sugarloaf: We spent about a half hour at Mount Sugarloaf Reservation.
Hiking in Western Massachusetts

There are also many opportunities for hiking in Western Massachusetts. On our last trip in 2016, my aunt and uncle suggested a family hike at Rattlesnake Gutter, which was a perfect location for us to hike with the kids. It was mostly flat with a clear path and beautiful wooded scenery. We found some of the best Fall colors there and collected a few leaves to iron flat to preserve. My daughter enjoyed the hike from the comfort of her carrier and even took a nap.

Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking.

Experience Farm Life

There are many working farms in the Amherst area, and my kids were delighted that my aunt and uncle live on one of them. We took a hike around their pond, through their barn and circling their fields and got up close and personal with the Belted Galloway cows living on their land. We affectionately call these “oreo cows” because of the white belt at their middle flanked by black sides.

While my aunt and uncle don’t often have young visitors, they diligently pointed out bull frogs in the pond, explained the hay baling process and many other special features on the farm. My kids loved exploring the farm.

We visited as hay harvesting was being finished up on my uncle’s farm. On the first day of our visit, the hay was neatly arranged into rows. When the work was completed, my kids were offered short ATV rides, which they very willingly accepted.

On the second day, the hay was baled and harvested. I found the harvesting process fascinating. The hay baler was connected to a tractor and created compressed bales that were catapulted into the flatbed trailer for easy transportation. There was something artistic about watching the hay bales gracefully fly through the air.

My aunt and uncle’s farm is not open to the public, and every day is definitely not a harvest day. However, there are many farms to visit in the Amherst area.

Places to Eat in the Amherst Area

Atkins Farms

Nancy went to college in Amherst and suggested that we stop at Atkins Farms. It turned out to be the perfect breakfast stop before our visit to The Carle, which is just down the street. The bakery offers so many options of delicious donuts. We each chose our favorites and then ate at a table in the cafe. My daughter enjoyed her chocolate covered donut so much that much of it ended up on her face. We picked up some staples for our long car ride home before heading to The Carle.

BridgeSide Grille

We eat at the BridgeSide Grille almost every visit. It’s a lovely family restaurant with locally sourced meals. I love the homey atmosphere and tasty meals.
- BridgeSide Grille Hours: BridgeSide Grille is generally open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sundays.
- BridgeSide Grille Parking: Free parking is available in an adjacent parking lot.
Sugarloaf Frostie

On Independence Day, many area restaurants were closed; however, Sugarloaf Frostie was open. It was the perfect night for outdoor dining, and the sandwiches were surprisingly good. Of course, we followed up our meal with ice cream for dessert.

Western Massachusetts Itinerary

We packed many activities into our two days in Western Massachusetts and still had plenty of time left for exploring my aunt and uncle’s farm.

Day 1:
- Basketball Hall of Fame
- Fun on my aunt and uncle’s farm
- Dinner at the Sugarloaf Frostie
- Check in at the Inn on Boltwood
Day 2:
- Breakfast at Atkins Farm
- The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
- Watching hay baling
- Magic Wings
- Mount Sugarloaf
- Yankee Candle Village
- Dinner at BridgeSide Grille
There are so many fun things to do in Western Massachusetts that we recommend this area as an ideal weekend destination. Even though it’s a long drive for us, we’ll most certainly be back sooner rather than later. Planning a trip to Western Massachusetts? Check out our entire series of posts relating to New England.
July 18, 2019
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts

Thank you to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for hosting my family’s visit. All opinions are my own.

Guest Author: Our kid blogger, Messi Jr. is an eleven year old sixth grader who loves travel, soccer and basketball.

My family and I recently took a fun and exciting road trip from Cleveland, Ohio to Amherst, Massachusetts. Although the focus of the trip was to see our uncle and aunt, we went to many cool places and learned many amazing things as well. My favorite attraction was the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. I faithfully watched the Cavs during their four post-season national championships and played basketball in my church league for at least five years and was ecstatic when my mom told me she would take us to the Hoop Hall. At the Basketball Hall of Fame, we learned about the greatest basketball players and the history of the game and got to shoot around on Center Court trying out old and new hoops. We also competed in a free throw contest.

First, when we entered the Basketball Hall of Fame building, we saw exhibits for 15 of the all-time best basketball players in glass cases. Inside each case, there was the player’s jersey, shoes and a little screen detailing some of their personal highlights and achievements. We also got to compare our shoe sizes to the pros. Shaquille O’Neal wore a size 22!

My sister’s shoe compared to Shaquille O’Neal’s

Once we were done checking in, we watched a 12 minute video about the evolution of basketball and learned that basketball was invented by James Naismith in Springfield in 1891. The video was the perfect introduction to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

With some background knowledge, we headed to the third floor Honors Ring. As we circled around level three, we read a paragraph about each Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

We next went down to the Players’ Gallery on the second floor where we looked at lockers filled with players’ memorabilia and played some interactive games that compared us to average NBA basketball players. The interactive exhibits measured how high we could jump to catch a rebound or dunk and also included a virtual reality basketball game and pop-a-shot.

After the Player’s Gallery, we went down to Center Court on the first floor where there was a regulation basketball court with two pro-sized hoops and also different hoops lining the walls from a peach barrel to the newest hoop. There was also a dunk zone where almost everyone can find the perfect sized hoop to dunk on.

Finding the perfect hoop to practice my dunks

In the Basketball Hall of Fame complex, there are several restaurants. We had lunch at Max’s Tavern where I ate a huge burger. After we were done, we raced back to Center Court for the free throw competition. All the participants lined up and took a regulation free throw. Those who made the shot stayed on the court while those who missed watched from the sidelines. The sudden death rounds continue until there are two finalists. In the final round, the two finalists then take three free throws each, and the whoever makes more becomes the winner. Out of about 40 participants of all ages, I won! My mom thinks I was lucky, but really, it came down to pure skill. This video shows my winning shot at the Basketball Hall of Fame Free Throw competition.

For winning the Free Throw competition, I received the competition ball, a drawstring backpack, a Basketball Hall of Fame hat and t-shirt, basketball cards, a miniature basketball and a net.

The Basketball Hall of Fame was a very fun place to visit, and I learned about basketball history and have a new appreciation for the sport. I recommend the Basketball Hall of Fame to anyone visiting Springfield, Massachusetts, especially basketball fans.

July 15, 2019
Fall Getaway: A Fall Tour of Burlington, Vermont With Kids!

Guest Blogger: David, his wife, and their five year old son, B, have lived all around the United States, but are currently stationed in Okinawa where David enjoys producing movies and eating pancakes in his spare time. You can find David’s videos of their Okinawa adventures on YouTube.

New England weather is tricky, and it can get cold very quickly, but fall leaf peeping is truly something to see. I took my wife and then four-year-old to Burlington, Vermont to experience something other than Florida’s seasons, which range from hot to hotter, to extremely hot. We flew into Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, which is a small and relatively inexpensive airport to fly through and, as an added bonus, it is only a short three hour drive up Interstate-91 North to Burlington. The plan was to journey along the back country roads and enjoy the fall leaves, while snaking our way back down to Connecticut for our flight home.

Enjoying fall foliage in Burlington

Where to Stay:

Hotel Vermont Lobby

If you’re coming from a place like New York City where open spaces and grass is a luxury, Vermont will blow you away. We chose to stay at the Hotel Vermont, located smack down in the middle of Burlington and offering a small boutique hotel experience for not a lot of money. The rooms are spacious with views of the lake and they also support the local economy, using only locally made blankets, coffees, food, and soaps. It’s a really comfy modern hotel with a throwback to the luxurious lodges of yesteryear. The hotel also supplied a few toys for kids and really seemed to celebrate our choice to bring our family to stay with them. I can think of no other boutique hotel I have stayed at that offered this much luxury for such little money.

Where to Eat:

Everywhere! If there is a chain restaurant in Burlington, I didn’t find it. In fact, there was a really great culinary scene, all of which take into consideration the smaller guests in town. Vermont is a real “farm-to-table” state, with most restaurants serving local fare and ingredients that are seemingly sourced from the nearest farm. A few notable places we dined at:

Penny Cluse Cafe – The Hotel Vermont has a great restaurant, but we decided to venture out one morning for a more “local breakfast,” and we scored big time! We had to wait a few minutes to be seated at this amazing place, but the Penny Cluse Cafe was definitely a hidden gem among the other eateries located in Burlington’s main drag. Once we were seated, I glanced over the menu, looked at my four year old and said, “buddy, we are lucky to be here.” Gingerbread pancakes were staring me in the face and daring me to order them and boy, they were amazing! My son and I wasted little time scarfing them down. My wife enjoyed the sourdough french toast with strawberry jam, again all made fresh with ingredients from local farms. Although the cafe was a little bit noisy, it had a great busy New England vibe and we enjoyed our experience.

The Farmhouse Tap & Grill – The long wait for a table at Farmhouse Tap & Grill and the dropping temperatures were a bit harsh for our Florida blood, making us wonder whether it was worth the wait. But the aroma that was coming out of this restaurant was like a siren song for us! It smelled delicious! A server saw that we were there, waiting with our young son, and pointed to a slightly hidden side entrance that I had spotted, but just assumed was a shortcut to the restroom or a side alley selling black market moose antlers. It was not! We walked over to the side entrance and ended up in the back of the restaurant, which had an enclosed “Beer & Wine Garden.” Complete with old school games, wooden tables and chairs, sofas, and heat lamps, this was the perfect cozy space for my family to hang out while we waited for a table. My wife and I enjoyed a few local beers, and my son was given farm fresh apple juice. After about 20 minutes, we were seated in a gorgeous dining room where I shared the meatloaf with my son. The food was amazing, and I also enjoyed a local root beer. For dessert, we had pumpkin cheesecake. We walked the two blocks back to the hotel that night, fat and happy.

Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery – Our drive back to Bradley airport had us cutting through small new England towns. Along the way, we stopped at the Whetsone, which borders Vermont and New Hampshire. I’m not kidding: the border goes right through the restaurant.

We sat on the Vermont side!

What to Do With Kids:

Admittedly, leaf peeping is probably not the best thing for keeping a toddler entertained, and it was a four hour long drive from Burlington back to the airport in Connecticut, albeit with amazing scenery. Along the way, my wife and I decided to stop at Shelburne Farms, which I like to think of as Disney in Vermont except that instead of rides, you have animals. The brochure describes Shelburne Farms as:

a nonprofit education center for sustainability, 1,400 acres working farm, and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont.

My personal description is:

Sherburne Farms is the most beautiful farm I have seen, it goes on for-e-ver! My son did not want to leave, and I don’t blame him. They had animals; all kinds that you could pet, play with, feed etc. They had food, and they showed you how that food was made, on their farm! (Except the steaks, c’mon there are kids here).

The Children’s Farmyard is the place to be and you get there from the main entrance via tractor, of course! Just some of the wonderful things to see and do: goat milking, sheep brushing, horse grooming, milking a cow, feeding various animals, and there is even a chicken parade. A. Chicken. Parade. Forget the four year old, I want to see a chicken parade! Admittedly, Shelburne Falls is only really worth visiting between May and mid-October. Once old man winter hits, the animals are tucked away inside weatherproof barns. If you happen to be in the area, definitely take advantage of this farm and visit with your children. I still gaze at the pictures and am amazed at the memories that come flooding back…especially the chicken parade. Note: There is an Inn at Shelburne Falls, so you can stay on property too.

You can’t go wrong visiting Vermont in the fall, just be sure to plan ahead as the Hotel Vermont gets booked up quickly. Also, plan on stopping to take pictures as I did. You never know what you’re going to find, like a gorilla holding a Volkswagen!

A New England native, David feels strongly about leaf peeping and has written previously about fall getaway activities in Connecticut. If you enjoy reading this post, please be sure to check out David’s other posts on WGWK! Fall also happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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January 19, 2018
Fall Getaway: Long Weekend in Connecticut With Kids!

Guest Blogger: David, his wife, and their five year old son, B, have lived all around the United States, but are currently stationed in Okinawa where David enjoys producing movies and eating pancakes in his spare time. You can find David’s videos of their Okinawa adventures on YouTube.

Some say that the best thing to see in Connecticut is either New York City or Boston. Having grown up in Hartford, Connecticut, I can tell you they are wrong – sort of. As a child, fall in New England meant raking up leaves and slipping on those said leaves – not fun. Although the foliage was always bright and colorful, I just never paid much attention to it, taking it for granted as just part of regular life. After eight years living in Tampa, however, I started getting homesick. Palm trees are nice and all, but it’s just way too green all the time. Green and hot.

A few years ago, after having lived in Florida for many years, I decided to take my Miami born and raised son “leaf peeping” and join the annual pilgrimage of thousands of people who visit New England every year for a glimpse of its magnificent fall foliage. I booked my family on a flight to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, which is centrally located to everything in New England and also, conveniently, close to my family.

Having fun at the New England Air Museum

Where to Stay:

I will get some grief for this, but the Hartford area is full of outdated hotels, or absurdly expensive hotels. There is no need to sacrifice your wallet for a lame place to hang your hat. I always choose the Hyatt House in Windsor, which is only a short drive from the airport, recently built, and quiet. The location is great for exploring the state with your family, the rooms are big and clean, and they offer free breakfast in their cafeteria style eating area. Windsor is Connecticut’s first town, with many small shops and a fountain on the town green.

Where to Eat:

There are two places near the Hyatt that are great options for a quick bite to eat. For breakfast or lunch, Dom’s Broad Street Eatery, located in the heart of Windsor, has wonderful food, huge portions, and is where the locals like to eat. Wilson Pizza Palace, is another place I would recommend and is located at the north end of the town of Windsor. The state of Connecticut has wonderful pizza and while New Haven gets the southern Connecticut glory, I think Greek owned Wilson Pizza Palace holds its own in representing the northern part of the state. Grab a meatball grinder or a large Wilson Special Pizza to go! The Hyatt House has a kitchen, dinnerware, and flatware in every room, so you can lounge in the comfort of your pajamas while eating the most memorable pizza of your life. Wilson is cash only and resides in an old McDonald’s. When you visit, tell them the Cuban sent you – it will make them smile and give you Wilson Pizza Palace street cred.

Note the upside M’s – Yankee ingenuity!

source

Aside from Dom’s and Wilson Pizza Palace, I recommend checking out the local culinary scene near whatever activity you have planned.

What to Do:

Connecticut Trolley Museum:

source

The Connecticut Trolley Museum is just a 15 minute drive from the Hyatt (see Connecticut IS small) and is the oldest incorporated museum dedicated to electric railroading in the United States, founded in 1940. My five year old loves trains and riding on trains, so this was a must visit for us. In the fall, the Museum has offers a pumpkin patch and also an after dark spooky ride called “Rails to the Dark Side,” which is rated PG-13 and not recommended for young children. Just be sure to bundle up as it does get cold and have your cameras ready as the rides offer nice scenery and foliage views.

New England Air Museum:

The New England Air Museum has over 100 aircrafts located in a huge heated warehouse. There are numerous cool exhibits, including opportunities for your kids to sit in the cockpit of an actual fighter jet or an old helicopter. There is plenty of room for the kids to run around and explore, while learning a little bit of history and science. My son loved getting in and out of helicopters and jets and also exploring the toys in the gift shop. Volunteers are friendly and helpful and this is just an all out wonderful destination especially on a rainy day.

Mystic Seaport:

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In a town made famous in the 1980s by Julia Robert’s performance in the movie Mystic Pizza (yes, Mystic Pizza really does exist although the pizza is meh), Mystic Seaport or the Museum of America and The Sea is one of the nation’s oldest maritime museums and has a lot to offer. Per the website,

The Museum’s grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated New England coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. The Museum is home to more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels, most notably the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence.

Full disclosure: I hate this place. Growing up in Connecticut meant dozens of field trips here to learn about how the early settlers churned butter – just what a teenager with raging hormones want to spend the day seeing. Although I am jaded, I can now appreciate what Mystic Seaport has to offer. In addition to the old New England exhibits, recent more modern exhibits have also been added. And, Mystic Aquarium is also just down the street. You can pre-purchase tickets to both the Seaport and the Aquarium online and save yourself the hassle of waiting in line.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss:

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The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is a 30 minute drive from the Hyatt. Although technically located in Massachusetts, this museum is not to be missed if you grew up reading Dr. Seuss books or if your kids adore them. The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is a small park outside with sculptures of his most famous characters and is a must visit, no matter what the weather is. The museum has been recently renovated so make sure to check the website for hours and tickets, which can also be purchased online.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:

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While in Springfield visiting the Dr. Seuss museum, pop over to the Basketball Hall of Fame, where children under four are free. Basketball fans will enjoy the interactive exhibits and enjoy the court for shooting hoops. The museum is conveniently located in an area that houses some amazing restaurants, including Plan B Burger Bar and Max’s Tavern.

Brown’s Harvest:

Brown’s Harvest in Windsor is a special place for me, as this is where my parents took me as a child for our pumpkins and Christmas trees. Back then, it was just a stand, but Brown’s Harvest has evolved and now boasts a corn maze, haunted hay ride, and a small shop where you can buy cider and apple doughnuts. Apple doughnuts! If you have not tried them, book your trip now! Brown’s Harvest is only a 10 minute drive from the Hyatt and is located on the northern end of Windsor, headed towards the airport. I was thrilled to share the experience with my son, who had a blast running around the pumpkin patch and washing down apple doughnuts with hot apple cider.

Drive!:

One of the best things about Connecticut is that it is a small state. A drive through the lower Connecticut River Valley has a lot to offer. I always recommend that people consider taking the Ultimate Foliage Tour of Central Connecticut. I’ve done it and it was amazing. The foliage is constantly changing and varies depending on where you are. Make sure to consult the foliage tracker and remember to explore and drive as much as you can. There are numerous small towns off the beaten path, some great history to be experienced, and pumpkin patches galore!

Final Thoughts:

As you can see, there’s plenty to do in Connecticut! If you absolutely must, New York City and Boston are easy day trips and are each only about a two hour drive in opposite directions from Windsor.

We hope you enjoyed David’s thorough review of things to do in and around Hartford, Connecticut!If you find yourself inspired to visit New England, be sure to visit Catherine’s Fall Getaway: New England for more ideas. Fall also happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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January 4, 2018
Fall Getaway: Visiting New England With Kids

New England is a quintessential fall getaway destination and a great place to take kids. The fall colors are brilliant and set against quaint towns. Even though fall color can be pretty spectacular in Ohio, we made New England trips in October 2008 and October 2016 to enjoy New England fall. My husband experienced fall for the first time when he lived in Connecticut for five years before we met and has so many fond memories of fall in New England that he wanted to share with our kids. We love visiting New England – our favorite New England destinations are Amherst, Massachusetts, where my aunt and uncle live, and New Haven, Connecticut, where my husband attended Yale’s School of Management.

The inherent planning problem with a fall foliage trip is that the timing and vibrance of fall colors varies from year to year and cannot be predicted in advance even if you consult a fall foliage map. Our 2008 trip coincided with my husband’s business school reunion at the height of an especially vibrant fall color that year. Our 2016 trip overlapped a school holiday and was a bit early for that season, which was never as vibrant as 2008.

The trek to New England by car for us is at least eight hours and the longest car journey we have attempted as a family. However, logistically, it is much easier to drive than fly, especially when we decided to add on stops in Princeton, New York City and Chautauqua in 2016. To make it easier on everyone, we try to leave in the late afternoon so that the kids are sleeping for the last few hours. That has worked for us with varying degrees of success.

Amherst Area

I have made a number of trips to the Amherst area over the years visiting my aunt and uncle who live nearby in Leverett. Because our oldest was only eight months old during our 2008 trip to New England, we were excited to have the chance to take our two, six and eight year old kids to explore the their farm and the nearby area. There are not a plethora of hotel options in the area, so we booked a room at the Howard Johnson’s, which was conveniently located as the closest hotel to their home. We booked through Priceline for $90. Although our stay was brief, we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel, which included a hot buffet breakfast that we were not aware of at the time we made the booking. There are a number of fun activities for families in the Amherst-area to enjoy at any time of the year.

Mount Sugarloaf

I always enjoy going to the highest point in a city or region and getting a birds-eye view of the area. Mount Sugarloaf in nearby South Deerfield is the perfect location for viewing the Connecticut River and fall foliage. Because it is possible to drive to the summit, it is easily accessible for families even with young children. Our trip there in 2008 had added excitement as we were there just a few days after the Mel Gibson movie Edge of Darkness had completed filming on site. The observation tower had been temporarily renovated and had not yet been returned to its pre-filming state.

View of the Connecticut River from Mount Sugarloaf

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory

The Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens is a great place to take kids. Magic Wings includes a glass conservatory filled with absolutely beautiful butterflies. If you keep still, one may even land on your hand. In addition to the conservatory, there are a number of educational exhibits and an outdoor butterfly garden.

Hiking

There are also many opportunities for hiking. My aunt and uncle suggested a family hike at Rattlesnake Gutter, which was a perfect location for us to hike with the kids. It was mostly flat with a clear path and beautiful wooded scenery. We found some of the best colors there and collected a few leaves to iron flat to preserve. My daughter enjoyed the hike from the comfort of her carrier and even took a nap.

Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking and exploring my aunt and uncle’s farm. The pond had dried up after a dry summer, but we toured the barn and saw the cows that are kept on the property and just ran around and had fun.

The Amherst area is a great place for families to visit. Next time I go back, I want to check out the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I think that my younger son, who is a big fan of Eric Carle and art in general, would particularly enjoy.

New Haven

Because my husband graduated from the Yale School of Management, a stop in New Haven is always on our agenda when we are in New England. New Haven is conveniently located between Amherst and New York City, so we booked a night at the Omni New Haven Hotel through Priceline at a nightly rate of $164. Although we arrived late and left early, we really enjoyed the Omni and the amazing view out of our window. It was centrally-located and well-appointed. The lobby is like a grand living room, and my boys played chess while waiting for us to check in.

My husband really wanted to enjoy a white clam pizza at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana. Unfortunately, they were out of clams when we called. We also wanted to go back to his favorite Thai restaurant where we ate lunch twice in 2008, but we were both bummed to find it closed. So, we were 0/2 on food nostalgia in New Haven. Luckily, the highlight of New Haven is really the Yale campus. I absolutely love the Collegiate Gothic architectural style. We were able to tour the gym, which has many aspects common in Gothic Revival architecture includes all the conveniences needed for a modern gym.

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library was another fun stop on our campus visit. The stunning building has outer walls made of translucent marble that prevents the collection from being exposed to direct sunlight. This is one of the world’s largest libraries dedicated to rare books, and a complete copy of the Gutenberg Bible is on permanent display.

We also peeked inside the Sterling Memorial Library, which was also built in a Gothic Revival style and is reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral. It was so beautiful, I wanted to study inside.

No trip to Yale University is complete without a trip to the Yale University Official Bookstore for some Yale swag. Our boys have been wearing Yale baseball caps since their toddler days, and my husband hoped they would fall in love with the campus as he had. Of course, the campus is so breathtaking that it’s hard for anyone to not want to return to Yale, and we have two boys who both plan to attend college there.

Our fall journey to New England in 2016 was an amazing adventure, even if the colors were not as brilliant as we had hoped. You may not be able to predict when and if peak color will occur, but it’s a great trip to take regardless.

October 23, 2017