Blog / Family Fun
22 New Things to Check Out in Western Massachusetts
Hitchcock Center for the Environment | Photo by Jessica Schultz
With the return of the school year and the changing of seasons among us, we’re heading into one of the best times of the year in Western Massachusetts. As you plan your fall visits to Hampshire County, be sure to consider adding some of these new places to eat, learn, shop and explore as well as events to your itinerary!
Share Your Best of Western MA
This summer on your Instagram, share awesome pictures of the the places you've been (or want to go!) in Western Massachusetts. Tag your photos #gowestMA for a chance to be featured on the @VisitMA Instagram and massvacation.com blog. Additionally if you're sharing any pictures of destinations and places in Hampshire County, tag #othersidema and you'll be entered into a contest for a $100 Downtown Northampton giftcard!
Win Tickets to Beers & Spears at Hadley Asparagus Fest
Western Massachusetts knows its libations, and some of the region's most creative brewers will be on hand to pour their best pints from inside the Beers & Spears tent at WGBY’s Asparagus Festival on the Hadley Town Common Saturday, June 4. Enter to win a pair of tasting tickets (valued at $20/each), which will give you up to 25 tastes and special VIP view of the Festival's live musical guests The Ballroom Thieves, Cabinet, and The Salvation Alley String Band.
8 Great Date Ideas in Western Massachusetts this February
Amherst Cinema | Photo by Lynne Graves
Valentine’s Day is just one day of the month (of the entire year!) and this February, there’s way too much going on that’s supremely date-worthy. Check out some of our top picks for things to do in western Massachusetts this month, whether it be with your sweetheart or your friends. Check out our picks here.
9 Ways to Cope with the Darkness in Western Massachusetts
Vortex Dance Fitness Studio, Easthampton | Photo by Paul Preston
Daylight savings has officially ended, it’s true. We know it can be hard to adjust and we could all used a little help making the best of the new long, dark nights. Here's a few ways you can cope with the darkness this time of year in western Massachusetts, from dance classes at Vortex Dance Fitness Studio in Easthampton to the Internet Cat Video Festival at Amherst Cinema.
Fall Recipes from Western Massachusetts Restaurants
Chicken & Dumplings | Photo Courtesy of Bistro Les Gras, Northampton
Our chefs in western Massachusetts really know how to take full advantage of our region's seasonal bounty. A leader in the farm-to-table movement for decades and home to New England's most productive farmland, you could easily spend days eating and drinking your way through our region. However, if you can't make it here this fall, check out these recipes to try at home from Bistro Les Gras in Northampton and the Northampton Brewery: chicken & dumplings featuring butternut squash gnocchi and a butternut squash cheesecake, a complete fall meal.
3 Reasons to Celebrate Pride in Western Massachusetts
Northampton Pride Parade | Photo by Lynne Graves
It's that time of year again when Northampton lights up with Pride and celebrates the diversity our region in western Massachusetts is known for. This year the 34th Annual Noho Pride Day is Saturday, May 2 beginning with the iconic and colorful parade at noon that marches through Downtown Northampton. The parade consists of many diverse organizations, school groups, musicians, local businesses and many other participants. The parade route ends at the historic Three County Fair Grounds where the celebration and entertainment continue til 5 p.m. and over 20,000 people gather for dancing, eating, shopping learning, socializing and enjoying the freedom to celebrate who they are.
6 Early Signs of Spring in Western Massachusetts
Nashawannuck Pond, Easthamtpon | by Patrick Brough
While most of Massachusetts is still covered in snow as we begin the month of March, spring really is just around the corner—Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8 and the Spring Equinox is March 20. Despite all the snow and current cold temperatures, there’s a handful of good things happening in western Massachusetts this month that remind us spring is near, like the reopening of the Emily Dickinson Museum and the spring flower shows at Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges.
Explore prehistoric culture in Western Massachusetts
The Hitchcock Ichnology Collection at the Beneski | Photo by Lynne Graves
Did you know some of the earliest dinosaur tracks found in North America were discovered right here in Western Massachusetts? This spring, explore our prehistoric past at museums, in the great outdoors, or even on stage!
Family Fun in February
Beneski Museum of Natural History | Amherst
Looking for things to do with the family during February School Vacation week? Check out some of the events happening around Hampshire County.