Springfield
With Victorian homes, small businesses and hardworking residents, Springfield has all the features of the essential New England small city. In addition, it has many sights worth international attention, including museums and concert halls. Enjoy its urban beauty a short drive from natural wonders including Watershops Pond and Chicopee Memorial State Park.
The “City of Firsts,” Springfield has many first achievements. It is the birthplace of one of the world’s most popular sports, basketball. Learn about the importance and history of this game at the Basketball Hall of Fame, where a pristine hardwood court and educational exhibits sit under a basketball statue towering over the entrance.
Springfield is also the birthplace of the prolific children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Appreciate his place in the hearts of generations of readers at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, which represents his many characters as bronze statues.
The sculpture garden is located on the Quadrangle in Metro Center. Start your museum tour of Springfield here. Stop at the Springfield Science Museum for stargazing at one of America’s oldest operating planetariums. Tour some of the city’s many firsts at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Appreciate the colorful details of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum’s extensive Chinese cloisonné collection, one of the largest of its kind.
Fly into Springfield’s nearby Bradley International Airport, 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Metro Center. Travel by rail or bus from New York City, Boston or Montreal. Once you’re here, the Springfield Mass Transit District runs many routes throughout the city. Take a bus wherever you need to go.
Springfield’s ethnic diversity provides a diverse range of cuisines. From Italian to Cajun to Vietnamese and Southern barbecue, a delicious plate awaits any mood. Follow dinner with a concert at Symphony Hall for a full night of culture that you won’t forget. Springfield has plenty of activities to warrant a stay for a weekend or longer.