Evergreene Golf, Belchertown, MA

Located on Rt. 9 in Belchertown, Evergreene Golf offers regular and mini golf. The grooming of the course is great. This is a family business, so it is managed with care. The air conditioned building has restrooms, the rental counter, souvenirs and ice cream!! This is always an idea for slightly older kids on summmer evenings.
One caveat : there is no shade (really, none). My first visit there with an infant in a stroller had me fearing heatstroke. We have visited several times and find this is a nice option.

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

Strawberry Picking

Here's a short list:

J.M. Pasiecnik Farms, 207 River Road, Whately

Koran's Farm and Gift Stand, 160 East Hill Road, Monson

Lakeside Strawberries, River Road at Warner Road, Hadley

Nourse Farms, 41 River Road, Whately

Sapowski Farms, 436 East State St. (Route 202), Granby

Teddy Smiarowski Farm, 487 Main St., Hatfield

Val's Berry Farm, 81 Parker St., East Longmeadow

Meadowbrook Farm, 185 Meadowbrook Road, East Longmeadow

Dickinson Farms, Rt. 202, Granby

Recent Article

Summer Concert Series

Agawam, Wednesdays at 7 on Veteran's Green

Barre, Sundays at 7, Harding Allen Bandstand

Belchertown, Thursdays in July, 7 PM, on the Common

Brimfield, Tuesdays 6:30-8:30

Charlemont, Mohawk Trail Concerts

Easthampton, Fridays at 6:30, Pulaski Park

East Longmeadow, Wednesdays at 7, High School Athletic Field

Florence, Sundays at 6, Look Park

Holyoke, Summit View Banquet House , Fridays 6:30 -8

Orange, Brown Bag Concert Series (this link 2008 info only)

South Hadley, Thursdays 6-7:30

Springfield, Thursdays at 7:30, Stearns Square

Springfield, Fridays from Noon-1:30pm, Tower Square Park

Ware, July 12, 26, August 9, on the lawn of the Meeting House at 6:30 PM.

For more info: 508 - 867 - 7461

West Brookfield, June 24, July 3, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5

West Springfield, Thursdays at 7PM

Wilbraham, Orchard Valley Senior Community, June 24, July 15, August 12, 6:30 PM