Things to do in Western Mass

[Finn]

I am going to be in the Amherst/Hadley/Sunderland area for about a week in early August to visit my brother. I have been there twice in the past, but this is the first time I expect to have any real free time to explore the area with my wife and three kids (ages 6, 4, and <1). I have been to Off the Wall Games in the past, back when Kevin was the owner. I am definitely bringing some cards for that. But I have no idea what else is in the area to take my family to. Can any of you local residents or students there help me out?

I have been to some web sites, but I am wondering if any of you have any suggestions of your own.

[from Cairo]

The Worcester Art Museum is pretty good if you're into that sort of thing. They have some pretty cool Ancient Art - Indian / Asian / Egyptian - that sort of stuff is always cool as a kid, the stuff from tombs and what have you. I've heard the EcoTarium in Worcester is also quite good - it's like a zoo / science learning center mix. Worcester's more central MA, but ~1hr travel.

Springfield has some museums too I think, but I haven't really explored any of them.

There's also a Six Flags in Springfield, the younger kids might be too young to really do/enjoy that that though, I don't know.

[The Wolf]

There are a lot of good parks and conservation areas if you enjoy the out doors. Mill River in Amherst is a pretty nice one that has a covered picnic area, playground and a nice path through the woods. Also, go eat at Antonio's pizza in downtown Amherst. You won't regret it

[Finn]

@The Wolf: I have been to Antonio's once. We were in a hurry though, and could not properly enjoy the food or the place. But they sure do a brisk business.

On second thought, I may be confusing the place with another one in Northampton.

[Dilettante]

India House in Northampton for Indian food. Hiking Mt. Greylock, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the MassMoCA, the Bridge of Flowers are all valid options at this time of year.

[the Thin White Duke]

Speaking of food, if you want a good hunk of meat check out Caminito in Noho. Awesome Argentinean steak. If you're outdoorsy there are a lot of hikes. I'd second the Rockwell museum; in fact I'd recommend Stockbridge in general 'cause it's a cool town and it's close to Bash Bish Falls which is a cool trip also.

[Finn]

Hey Duke, can you tell me which hikes in particular are kid friendly?

[the Thin White Duke]

Mount Greylock was mentioned, there's Northfield Mountain as well. If you want to drive a bit to Harvard Forest (I forget what town that's in) that's a low impact trail around a reservoir. There's also the "Arches" in Otis or Middlefield. That's a kind of ill-defined hike that goes past old railroad bridges and such. It's a nice hike but hidden away in the hills. Some of this stuff may also be outside your travel radius, so I may just be flapping my gums here...

[baghdadbob]

I drive a taxi in Amherst i'll let you know what the deal is. This is almost every conceivable place you would want to go in the Amherst area.

-Emily Dickinson Museum -Amherst
-Eric Carle Museum -Amherst *Great place to bring kids*
-Miss Saigon (Vietnamese) *Get the pho* -Amherst
-Bare Mountain Trail -Granby/South Hadley Line *Great place to bring kids*
-Montague Book Mill -Montague
-Gohyhang Resturant (Korean) -Hadley
-Great Wall (Chinese) -Florence
-Amherst Brewing Company
-Northampton Brewing Company
-Fresh Side (American) -Amherst
-Judies (American) -Amherst
-Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory -South Deerfield
-East Side Grill (American) -Northampton *I give this my absolute highest recommendation*
-Captain Candy -Amherst *Great place to bring kids*
-Umass Library -Amherst *Sit out on the green near the pond*
-Puffers Pond *Might be a lot of locals there but none the less a very nice place to swim with the kids*
-Goten (Hibachi) -Sunderland
-Lake Wyola -Shutesbury *State park you can swim with the kids*
-Quabbin Reservoir -Belchertown
- La Fiorentina -Northampton

Your welcome!

P.S. DON'T GO TO ANTONIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.P.S. GO TO THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN SPRINGFIELD BEFORE IT CLOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.P.P.S. DON'T GO TO SPAGHETTI FREDDIE'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tanarin]

I think baghdadbob has it about right. Though he did forget Yankee Candle also in South Deerfield. Too bad you were not coming in late September, That is when the Big E happens. You also miss out on the airshow at Barnes in Westfield. Anyway if you can get down to the Springfield/Westfield Area, there is Stanley Park (http://www.stanleypark.org/), Forest Park and the Zoo (http://www.forestparkzoo.org/), The museums in Springfield (http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/), Basketball HoF, Six Flags NE, and the Mohawk Trail (http://www.mohawktrail.com/). I definitely recommend the Mohawk trail if you can spare a day to drive it.