Springfield is the second biggest metropolis in Massachusetts after Boston, and there are some real benefits to coming in second place when it comes to population centers. Small towns don’t offer much to do, but big cities make it too easy to lose track of people, so a place like Springfield combines the best features of both.
Speaking of things to do, here are a few ideas which both locals and visitors might like to try.
1. The Basketball Hall of Fame
Every major sport in America has its own Hall of Fame, a place to honor the history of the sport and its greatest athletes and coaches, and for basketball the Hall happens to be in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame sits just off I-91 along the Connecticut River, just south of Memorial Bridge. The site includes the Hall of Fame itself, hundreds of interactive exhibits, several restaurants where you can get a bite to eat, a gift shop, and an auditorium where a new class of inductees joins the Hall every year.
2. The Springfield Museums and Sculpture Garden
It’s amazing that the one-stop-shop idea never caught on with regard to museums. The Smithsonian down in Washington certainly does well by it, and over the course of almost 100 years Springfield has gathered two art museums, one science museum, and one history museum in one place. You can even visit them all with just one ticket.
And because all of that clearly isn’t enough to fill one afternoon, you can also find the Springfield City Library nearby and the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden, a quirky yet beautiful site the city constructed to honor one of Springfield’s most famous sons.
3. Symphony Hall
Just north of the Hall of Fame are CityStage and Symphony Hall, a venue which happens to be on the Off-Broadway circuit. Aside from plays, Symphony Hall also plays host to dozens of concerts (both classical and otherwise), speakers, and children’s entertainment. The Hall was renovated as recently as 2004, so it’s still in great shape.
Symphony Hall also happens to sit right across from Springfield City Hall, and the two buildings were constructed as a set, with a tall clock tower between them. Even if you don’t stop by for an event, it’s a place worth visiting for a lunch break.
4. Forest Park
“Forest Park” may sound like an uninspired name, but it’s surprisingly accurate: it is indeed both a forest and a park. Roughly two miles across, Forest Park offers a lovely view for hikers and bikers who simply want to wander around Fountain Lake and Porter Lake. It also hosts the Forest Park Zoo, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, football and soccer fields, and a playground. Lastly, if you stop by in December, you can see the Bright Lights, the Northeast’s premier holiday lighting event.
Springfield isn’t the biggest city around, but that’s a good thing. It still has plenty of unique places to visit, and residents are always in easy driving distance of some real Northeastern wilderness.
Image via Flickr by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism under use of CC BY-ND 2.0
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