Beachgrounds Park, South Hadley, MA

I first heard about this new park because they had a big opening day festival. I was later reminded of it by an acquaintance, Julie Ross of Belchertown, who took her two children to Beachgrounds in July and was pleased with the park, though not the restrooms.

On Sunday morning we finally made it over there, and the whole family was quite impressed. It seems a feat of urban planning - the small park is eco-friendly in many ways (recycle bins, rubber tire "mulch," recycled plastic "lumber" used for benches and tables), surrounded by a variety of housing types (apartments and a neighborhood of single family homes), aesthetically pleasing, designed with varied age-groups in mind (for instance, baby swings near the toddler play area and regular swings off to the side). The playground structure itself was an unusual one, which is great. All too often I find myself trekking to a new park only to encounter pretty much the same equipment as they have in the park by my house. My 5 year old described it as an obstacle course and "completed" the play structure a number of times. Both older boys loved the spray park, in which the water is activated by a sensor which my middle son enjoyed figuring out and then using. The spray park is laid out in an organic way which seemed to encourage the kids to move & to use the entire spray pad area. The pad includes a sprayer that the kids can move around, and which is cleverly designed to shut off when sprayed toward the outside of the water pad. The water feature is significantly smaller than the one found at Look Park, but there was plenty of room on the day of our visit.

The park also offers the opportunity to head down to the riverbank by the Holyoke Dam. This was an adventure that our family undertook - it is not advertised as part of the park. The trail down to the water was steep and the rocks on the edge interspersed with broken glass and the occasional piece of trash. However, it was nice enough to teach my oldest to skip a stone.

From several articles (here's one) I've seen on this project, it seems that the funding and creating of this space was a triumph of the political process, as used by community/local organization. This sweetens the experience of watching the kids play there.

Cindy's Drive In, Granby, MA

The kids had free soft serve at Cindy's last week, via the Granby Public Library and the Massachusetts Summer Reading Program.

Cindy's is on 202 in Granby, conveniently close to Dufresne Park and the library. The young woman who waited on us was SO sweet, and patient with the kids. She even made me a tiny tiny mini cone for the baby.

The outdoor seating area wasn't particularly scenic, situated on the pavement contiguous with the parking lot and next to a fence. However, the tables and seats were clean. The ground was virtually free of junk, the trash can was wiped down. I really liked all of that. There is indoor seating also, a few stools at a tall counter. The decor is very cute. And of course they are supporting reading and libraries, which is a great practice.

Caveat: NO RESTROOMS. We had to leave for that reason, though the kids were thoroughly enjoying the play area (pictured above).

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, MA

Since we discovered this beach, we haven't been to a different one. From our home in the Pioneer Valley it takes about 2 hrs, 15 min. to get there. Many of the beaches on the refuge are closed early in the season, as this land is primarily dedicated to wildlife, not recreation. Later in the summer, once the nesting season is over, all the beaches open. On your drive down to the beach of your choice, you will almost certainly see some gorgeous birds feeding and flying in the saltwater marshes that make up the island.

For $5, you can park at any one of 7 beaches that are part of the Reserve. For FREE you can drive down past beach 7 and park at Sandy Point Beach.

Beaches 6, 7, and Sandy Point are our favorites. The water deepens so gradually that even when your child has become a speck against the horizon, he is only up to his knees. The sand is light and fine.

The nearby (as in, 5 minutes down the road) Newburyport is a great little town for pedestrian sightseeing. A large waterfront walkway lets you see boats of all kinds, and the people who hang out on them! Fisherman are happy to have an audience. Street musicians are happened upon. The downtown is filled with expensive shops and art galleries - we've mainly avoided those! It is also home to a little playground in the middle of a pedestrian mall, adjacent to an ice cream shop (even the small was $3.70 but you get as many mix-ins as you want for free). On more than one occasion, including last Sunday, there was a festival going on downtown with music and street vending. We've always been able to find free parking in town, and have enjoyed the bookstore and toystore (and restrooms!!) in the Tannery building.

Both the Parker River Refuge and Joppa Sanctuary have visitor centers, though we haven't been yet.
Parker River Refuge

Sandy Point Beach

Groff Park, Amherst MA

Located just off Rt. 116 in Amherst, Groff Park is a great destination in good weather. A large parking lot is mostly sunny, but if you don't mind crossing the lot, there are shady spots near the baseball field. The park boasts many tall beautiful trees, picnic areas with seating, including a pavillion. At the top of the hill, a decent playground and nice set of swings are near the restrooms, newly constructed a couple of years ago. They are not disgusting, though I've rarely seen toilet paper there. A wading pool with fountain is fenced in. The pool is open for a short season - essentially July and August. The pool might be closed on any given day due to lightening, bacteria levels in the water, lack of lackadaisical teenage lifeguard, or some such. You should not psych your kids up for it unless you call to confirm that it's open. A sandbox and small climbing area at the bottom of the hill are very inviting. A shallow river (Fort River) flows by the park and is followed by a sandy path, so a nature walk is included along with the rest of the features here.

Amherst Wading Pool Schedule
A Review of the Trail at Groff Park

Ecotarium, Worcester, MA (Update)

Our recent visit (June 2009) was a lot of fun. I found that exhibits had been changed/renewed since our last visit, sometime in the midwinter of 2008-2009.

We got to see the polar bear. The tree canopy was still not open. The person I spoke with said that there are pretty strict weight and height limits so my kids might not be eligible to do that yet anyways. We'll be back there soon - after several visits I am even more convinced of it's lasting interest. The boys played on the pirate ship in the toddler area for a good 45 minutes, a feature that had barely caught their eyes previously. There are plenty of corners to discover here.

Original Post:
We are very happy to have discovered the Ecotarium. Our admission is free with our membership pass to the Springfield Museums. After gaining admission at the front gate, the parking is free.

The museum itself is an interesting building with an eclectic array of exhibits. You'll enter at the top level, right by the gift shop. The shop is nice and they do have some smaller items. When we get our kids a treat we tend to want to spend $1 or so.

Walk down a curved staircase to the second level. More animal stuff, some dino stuff, a presentation area - on our first visit we saw an excellent owl presentation.

On the ground floor, there are live animals in the aquarium/terrarium area, lots of fun weather related exhibits. My husband's favorite feature is a tidal pool camera; by turning a dial you can watch hours of sea activity in mere moments. It is really cool to see the starfish and sea urchins moving in time lapse.

From the ground floor you exit to the grounds. This is the reason that the compound is such a wonderful destination. There are more animals in small, self contained buildings and environments throughout the grounds. We haven't seen the polar bear (!) but it has been fun to explore the trails.

The playground is fine - the rope ladder is an interesting feature & the sandbox is large.

There is a train - tickets are several dollars. We haven't gone yet.

The snack bar that is open only a few hours a day, so bring your food.

Ecotarium

Westview Farms and Creamery, Monson, MA

This was a nice spot to take the kids for a morning. It had a few things going for it and the biggest one for me was the incredible view. For my children, it was the goats. There were so many goats and kids in the enclosure, of all different colorations, all ages. They were some of the healthiest, best smelling, and beautiful goats I have ever seen. For only 25 cents each I bought my older boys wafer cones filled with animal feed (the goats can eat the cone, too).

We used the restroom inside the restaurant (totally clean, totally well stocked), but there was a porta potty provided outside, with - get this- a porta sink, which I have only really seen before at Phish shows. It's an awesome convenience, too bad there isn't a porta sink for every porta potty. The large lawn held picnic tables and various benches lined the sides of the lawn. The playground was clean, though as you can see from the photos, not the modern type.

We packed a lunch, but observed the protocol of "no picnic baskets" on the lawn. We just ate in the car. I was pretty disappointed about that, to be honest. But as the sign indicates, it is a full service restaurant and they do want to make money from their business and grounds.

Next time we'll sample the homemade ice cream, and eat it at the picnic tables. On a visit that does not happen, as I pointed out repeatedly to my eldest, before 11 AM. (Ice cream for breakfast? Check out Flayvors of Cook Farm, who hold ice cream breakfasts monthly in the summer).

During conversation with a couple who live nearby, I found out that the rolling fields in the background of the photos above are pumpkin patches. The large parking area and copious seating are all filled to capacity, I'm told, during the autumn season. I look forward to it.

Westview Farms

Quaboag Hills Region

Northfield Drive In, Hinsdale, NH

This is a great place to take the kids at least once per summer. A green and beautiful drive takes you up to Northfield (actually Hinsdale), where you can enjoy the parking lot atmosphere and have something to eat while you wait for dark. A large playground is provided (though it's pretty old equipment). Concessions are available but why not bring a spread of your own with everything that you like? If your kids start to cry during the movie, just roll up your windows and turn the movie's volume up on your radio. Eventually they will fall asleep and you can watch the rest of the double feature.

We are really looking forward to visiting again this year.

Northfield Drive In

Lupa Zoo, Ludlow, MA

Update:

My recent visit here was excellent. The zoo has put a lot of work into improving the landscaping, the insides and outsides of the enclosures, the seating areas. Even the signage directing you around looked fresh and was helpful. The playground had been reinvigorated, too. In all, the facility looked so well cared for, and the attention to detail was remarkable. I was so impressed, especially with my memory of a previous visit around 2006.
I highly recommend visiting here.

Original Post:

There is plenty of parking here, right when you pull in. Pay at the gate and buy food if you care to.
Once you're in, wander where you will. They have a very wide variety of animals.
This is not the most wonderful zoo in the world. Some cages are so thick with bars and mesh that the animals can't be seen. Some areas are not cared for or are stinky. However, compared to the higher profile Southwick Zoo, Lupa compared favorably in these areas. All zoos are smelly, and all except for a prize few have too many bars on the cages.

A small train ride is adjacent to the giraffes, who have their own viewing area up a staircase.

You can leave Lupa Zoo feeling nickle and dimed, as there are separate charges to enter, for animal food, for seeing the giraffe, for the giraffe food, for the train ride.... catch the drift? On the other hand, the admission price is really reasonable, compared to similar attractions.

Bring a lunch.

Restrooms are located in the main zoo building. As far as I know this is the only restroom location, so use it the first time you pass or you may be backtracking quite a bit.

Lupa Zoo

Southwick Zoo, Mendon, MA

My visit here was two summers ago, on a hot hot day. The zoo was less impressive than I remembered it, having gone there as a child. However, the large visitor/science center was great, volunteers were holding millipedes and snakes; there were a lot of activities. If I return to this zoo I'll spend more time here. There were some charming features like a wooded area with a stream. My kids enjoyed the fox that they glimpsed through the trees.

There was a dinosaur section with large dinos you could ride, as well as an excavation area. Adjacent to this was an amphitheater; on the day of our visit a really awesome bird show was taking place but they were too young to go in at that point - specifically because a sign by the entry said that loud noises scare the birds.

The sea otters put on a wonderful show for us. A seating/vending/ride area had a train and a couple of other things that ranged from coins to a couple of bucks for the train. Waters were $2.

Parking was free, but the lot was pretty packed. Lots of buses, too.

Southwick Zoo

Lupa Zoo

Lupa Zoo (my post)

Belchertown Family Center, Belchertown, MA

This is a beautiful family center. At one time this building was a school, so the center is equipped with three large rooms for various activities, a snack area, bathrooms, and a fenced in yard. The playground equipment here is more appropriate for toddlers than older children, but the older ones can find plenty to do with the cars (there is a long grassy hill), the sandbox, or swings. The family center hours are limited, but it's really a wonderful place, especially if your kid is gearing up for school and wants peers to play with.

Lynn Paul is the director of the center; she does a great job with programming, but also with being a warm host and making introductions. There are many parents who give their time and skills to improve the Center.

Snacks are provided, or donated by patrons. There is a $4 donation, but it really is a donation.

The family center has a yahoo! group that you can join to receive updates: belchertownfamilycenter@yahoogroups.com

Belchertown Family Center

Chestnut Hill Community Playground, Belchertown, MA

This is an old playground, and that is the "charm." It was put up when wooden playgrounds were all the rage. The kids love crawling through the tunnels and going into the towers. There are no swings, they broke a couple of years ago. If you are extremely safety minded you'll want to know that splinters are a possibility here. On hot summer mornings there is a huge block of shady grass that you can sit on, and on warm spring days there is a sunny bench that you can sit on. Simple Pleasures.
The school also uses this playground. They can't officially kick you off because it's a community playground, but they may drop hints at you. The fifth and sixth graders rush the playground in a wave of heedless energy. My older son runs out and stretches his arms out wide, SO excited. My middle one finds me ASAP and hides behind my leg. Most of the kids are very nice and enjoy playing with the little ones.

Julius Lester Trail, Amherst, MA

This walk begins in the wooden area adjacent to Mill River's baseball fields. The trail leads you over charming wooden bridges and along the edge of the river. We paused our walk at Puffer's Pond for lunch, then returned the way we had come. There is a path that leads around the pond, but our guys didn't have the stamina.


You do have to cross a road on this walk - it is pretty clear up ahead but it's something to be aware of. Upon reaching the road, cross the bridge, then cross the road, then continue up a paved path to pick up the trail to the pond. The blazes are yellow diamonds.

Holyoke Children's Museum, Holyoke, MA

Overall a fun place to go. The climbing tower and tunnels are cool, as are the grocery store and restaurant areas. A small toddler area with privacy for nursing and toys is gated off. You can blow giant bubbles (though you probably won't be able to and either will your kids and they may cry over it, if they are prone to that kind of thing). Kids can pretend to drive a construction vehicle and/or an ambulance.
There is a seating area upstairs, but no food for sale.
This museum loses points for grunginess. It's a shame that it is so run down. However the staff are hard working and innovative. The museum seems to be improving every time I visit.
The climbing structure is right next to the water table area. You might want spare socks.
Restrooms are not gross.
The parking is across a park (Holyoke's Heritage State Park) from the museum. The Holyoke Carousel is the first thing you see. Outside the museum is a very small playground with benches around it. You are right by the canal so you can also look at the water. It's clean.
A very small gift shop area sits inconspicuously behind the check in area. They have toys from 25 cents or so, which is nice.
Passes for this museum are available at most local libraries.

Children's Museum at Holyoke

Erving Elementary School, Erving, MA

On our way home from another activity, we spotted a great playground and decided to let the kids loose for a while. It was quite early in the season, a warm February or March day; the park was not busy, though our oldest found a friend to play with. The play equipment was very new. A separate toddler area, including a sandbox, is fenced in. The open play space is surfaced with a rubbery, impact-reducing substance. They had a nice swingset, and a tire swing.

Free Parking.

No Restrooms.

Erving Elementary School

Erving State Forest

Hyland Orchard, Sturbridge, MA

Hyland Orchard has something for everyone. Pioneer Brewing company owns this orchard; you can purchase a delicious beer for a reasonable price. Caveat: only one or two beers are on tap outside, but you can purchase different varieties inside. Wagon and hayrides are available during various seasons to U-Pick areas of the property.
The playground is fenced in and is an amalgam of those large plastic play structures that are usually purchased for home use. The petting zoo has some of the cleanest and happiest animals (if not the most exotic) at any petting zoo I've been to. Animal food is available in $1 bags, or in 25 cent handfuls from a dispenser. Human food is available also, but the selection is rather thin - hot dogs and popcorn is the general idea. We have brought snacks with us most times.
A very large pavillion contains the vending areas, picnic table seating, and a stage for musical acts. The music is free. Parking is free. Restrooms are clean enough but there are only two real bathrooms, and they are located inside. There are a couple of porta potties on the grounds, but I have no idea how they are because I don't go in those.
A large lawn forms the center of the outdoor activity, with animals on one side and the pavillion on the other. There are several shade trees. The grass is very nice, too - we have always had a really fun time here. There is so much room for the kids to play and run around.

Hyland Orchards
Pioneer Brewery
Old Sturbridge Village

North Hadley Sugar Shack, Hadley MA

During Maple Sugar Season this is a worthwhile place to visit. The restaurant provided an OK meal the only time I ate there. I was pregnant and starving, so that may have helped.

A door leads directly from the dining room to the sugar shack. Free samples of fresh syrup are available. The staff are friendly. Watch your kids near that fire - there is no barrier of any kind and the opening is large. A second door in the boiling room leads outside, to the rest of the activities.

Outside, a double gate leads into a petting zoo area. In the early spring I've found the ground muddy and littered with droppings everywhere - wear boots. However, the animals have very nice dispositions, they are well-cared for; that is the most important criterion for quality. Adjacent to the animal enclosure is a playground area. The equipment is old, but it's tidy.

Seasonally, wagon rides are available, pulled by the most majestic horses - very tall, with those bell-bottomed hooves and thick manes. The route is rather blah, however, and costs a couple of dollars.

The parking is free and the restrooms are fine. There is a cute store there which I'm looking forward to browsing more thouroughly someday.


North Hadley Sugar Shack

Massachusetts Maple Producers Association

Medieval Faire, Putney, VT

A grammar school in Putney has an anuual fundraiser with a medieval theme. "Rides," including ziplines, a big swing, a haunted house, maze, climbing wall, pony rides - cost you a couple of tickets. Free activities, such as play equipment, a sandbox, storytelling, and music, also abounded. Many of the attendees, of all ages, were dressed in period garb, which enhanced the atmosphere, as did the dozens of handmade decorations. If you have to spend money, this is a nice way to spend it - at a fundraiser for a beautiful school in a nice community.
The autumn drive was lovely with foliage, the sun was warm. Our kids played on the playground took some "rides." We ate some food from home but also made purchases. A wide variety of really delicious items were for sale.
I confess I don't remember the restrooms. They did exist, though. I DO remember nursing my newborn (about a month old), in the shade of a cherry tree, on the grass, on a hill overlooking a scene filled with families. A group of teens clowned around at the picnic table behind me. The sun and sky made me grateful. The band was playing just in front of me. It's a truly lovely memory and I can't wait to return.
Parking was copious, in a large field across the road from the event. I can't recall whether it was free or not! As I said, I had a newborn.



Grammar School



Town of Putney