West End Creamery, Sutton, MA

Just down the road from Purgatory Chasm, a visit to this creamery/entertainment center was a nice ending to our day.

We ate ice cream on the deck overlooking a beautiful lazy river, varied fields, a mini golf course that looked really nice from a distance.

I didn't see the "Farmyard" or the mini golf because I didn't want to open that can of worms when we were worn out from hiking. We steered clear. The barn houses various farm animals. According to another patron there it's not exactly a petting zoo, but you can visit with cows, horses, sheep, etc.

Before becoming an entertainment center/ice cream shop, this establishment was the milk purveyor for the area. My father grew up nearby, and remembers the half pint bottles of West End Creamery milk that he drank during snack time at school. Somehow it lent our ice cream an "authentic" taste - we learned that authenticity is creamy and delicious, and sometimes comes in a cute little mini cone.

West End Creamery

Purgatory Chasm

Purgatory Chasm (my post)

3 County Fair, Northampton, MA

It will cost you a pretty penny, but you'll have an awesome time, too. Last year we paid for bracelets for the kids and it was so worth it. On the inflatable slide alone, which my middle son slid down about 700 times, we made our money back. There were tons of rides that both kids were tall enough to go on.

The food was good, the soda was cold. One child watched a puppet show with Grandma while I followed the other around. There were plenty of animals to look at, and in a special barn a children's paradise - from a toy tractor driving area, corn kernel sandbox, giant pig and horse, and goats, etc., a lasso game, a magnet board.... it was a really well done feature.

We found side street parking quite close - we were lucky that day. I believe you'll have to pay to park, but if you are willing to walk a bit, you can park free.

The dates for 2009 are August 28-30.

Three County Fair

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

Stone Soup Farm, Belchertown, MA

On Jackson St. in Belchertown, across from the DPW, lies the Stone Soup Farm and the Belchertown Community Gardens. Inside the barn are the fresh vegetables picked that day, which you can purchase for great prices. Last summer our kids discovered how refreshing it can be to bite into a juicy cucumber and eat it whole, when you are walking miles and miles through hot summer evenings, in a fruitless effort to jiggle a sibling out of your mother.
There are some chickens running around, and plenty of cattle to view from afar, but there weren't any other animals there at that time. We enjoyed walking along the edge of the community gardens, looking at what individual farmers had done with their plots.

CISA

Austin Brothers Valley Farm, Belchertown, MA

Austin Farm is a working farm, so it is not open to the public on a regular basis. However, this fall they plan to have a pumpkin patch, so you can get your pumpkin right here in Belchertown, if that happens to be where you live! They also had an Easter Egg Hunt this year - you can see pictures on the farm blog.

The Farm has been in the Austin Family for generations, and they are truly a farming family. On the day of my visit I watched Mama Farmer corral and feed the ponies, pushing Baby Farmer in her stroller; with a lead or a bucket in her other hand. Girl Farmer explained to my sons that her chore was to clean the fresh eggs and put them in containers. Girl and my boys happily romped all over the mulch pile, scenic road, playground equipment, chicken coops, and open fields.

All of the animals here were well cared for. A working farm is not particularly scenic up close, but having visited a few, it is clear to see when the land is loved. This land is loved.

Austin Farm has a shop that is open year round where you can purchase grass fed meats, including beef and pork. You can also find their booth at the Belchertown Farmer's Market (Thursdays from 2PM-7PM on the Belchertown Common).

Austin Brothers Valley Farm

Outlook Farm, Westhampton, MA

Outlook Farm was holding a special event on the day of our visit. Activities included a water balloon toss, free ice cream, face painting, tissue paper flowers. The shop is a deli/convenience/small grocer and a restaurant. Westhampton is quite rural, so this is a store-of -all-trades. Quite charming!

I was able to pick up a few plants for my garden at GREAT prices. This is not a regular spot I would take my kids, but I will definitely visit again anytime they are holding a family event like the one I attended yesterday.

Outlook Farm

Cold Springs Orchard, Belchertown, MA

The views are pastoral and relaxing, the apples are crisp and fresh, the prices are reasonable. Pick your own or buy them at the orchard store. I like to purchase the large bags of seconds in the autumn for pies and crisps. Squash is also available in autumn - gourds, pumpkins and other eating squashes.

The store is open seasonally.

Further down Sabin St. you might see sheep, llamas, and cows. In the evening hours look for bobcats and coyotes.

Cold Spring Orchard

Flayvors of Cook Farm, Hadley, MA

This is a long-operating family farm. They offer lunches, ice cream, and other dairy products for sale in a little store/restaurant. Across the parking lot you can walk up to a pen of cows and say hi. There are usually a few chickens clucking around as well as a cat or so.

Inside, a large restroom is exceptionally clean. The staff here have been so friendly each time I've gone in. I have often stopped just to let the kids see the cows, but have made purchases on occasion as well and I've always been pleased with the quality of the items.

This is not a petting zoo. There is an electric fence adjacent to the viewing area - it is well marked but obviously your children will not care. It is muddy and smelly - it's a farm!

Flayvors of Cook Farm

Magic Wings Butterfly Museum, South Deerfield, MA

This is a truly magical experience. This large facility has a greenhouse filled with flowering plants, birds, lizards, and THOUSANDS of amazing butterflies.

Parking is free, the lot is large. You enter into an atrium filled with butterfly art and information. Off to the right is a cafeteria. The food prices are ok, not great. You are not supposed to bring outside food, but I have done so in the past without a problem. The last time I visited my middle son requested a dish of fresh pineapple, which I bought for him even though it was $2.50 - it was a pretty good deal as the pineapple was fresh (not canned) and fresh (cut that day) and the portion was fairly generous. There are two entrances to the butterfly area proper. One is through a gift shop - it looks lovely but is filled with countless butterfly decorations made of glass and other non-child friendly materials. I have steered as clear as possible. The other entrance leads through a bug zoo. Many glass cases contain insects of note, and the displays are really great. You will get a lecture on the rules of the butterfly sanctuary but, in short, don't run, don't kill, and don't touch.

Each tour gives you about an hour in the butterfly area, which is a good amount of time. Aides handle the lizards and bugs and allow kids plenty of opportunity to touch them and learn about them. In addition to butterflies, many lizards and birds are housed here.

Look out - it is HOT in here - about 85 degrees year round. Dress yourself and kids in light clothing. There is a coat closet in the main room that you enter into.

Restrooms were not memorable, so, fine.

Magic Wings

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

Randall's Farm, Ludlow MA

This market is a grocery, a greenhouse, and ice cream stop (Elsie's Creamery). In the greenhouse section kids can watch koi in a pond as well as a friendly frog who likes to hang out there.

If you are shopping the nursery, you may use a little red wagon to drag around either purchases or your kids.
Randall's is best right around Halloween. Not only can you get a pumpkin of every shape,size and color, there are numerous other attractions. A large corn maze (a bit expensive), a smaller hay bale maze (free), wagon rides, and lots of other kid activities including animals to pet. Inside you can get a great cup of coffee, delicious baked goods, or if you are in the mood to buy a lunch, an awesome sandwich.

We have always been impressed with the quality of the plants, the food, and the displays in the greenhouse. It is clear that the management and staff here care about the jobs they do.

There is plenty of parking here, except during the very busiest weekend of pumpkin season, where overflow parking is relegated to fields in the back.
There is one, clean and spacious, restroom.

Randall's Farm

Garlic Festival, Orange MA

Fall in New England is a particularly wonderful time. Orange is a hilly and wooded town north of the Quabbin. This festival offers music on a large stage with seating on a hill, a smaller stage near the food area, vendors with wares from honey to hula hoops, foods (which do not come cheap, and lines can be long), and other entertainments. There is plenty of free space for children to run. The festival ground is a field which gets mowed for the event, so the "grass" is a prickly and uneven specimen.

It will cost you more than a few bucks to get in, and surely you'll purchase food, drink or garlic while you are there. Not free.

Parking is free and out on a field identical to the fairground. Watch yourself if muddy.

Restrooms are porta potties. Couldn't tell you how they were as I do not go in those.



Garlic Festival

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