Location: Springfield
Top Things to do in Springfield
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The 10 Best Free Things to do in Springfield, Massachusetts (MA)
Springfield is perhaps best known as the birthplace of basketball and home of the Basketball Hall of Fame. (The story goes that local physical education teacher James Naismith invented the sport to fill the gaps between football and baseball seasons.) But this historic town on the shores of the Connecticut River is famous for a few other reasons and definitely worth a quick jaunt or weekend away. Springfield was the birthplace and home of beloved children's author and illustrator, Theodore Geisel, Dr. Seuss. In fact, the Zoo in Forest Park, a sure hit with the kids, is said to be the inspiration for many of his wild and wacky tales. Wander through the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, at the Quadrangle, for a look at the Cat in the Hat and Yertle the Turtle cast in bronze. The city served as a major arsenal during the Revolutionary War, a role that is commemorated at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, which displays an enormous collection of small pistols. History buffs will also enjoy the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, a tribute to the ordinary people of the region who, during various periods in time, did extraordinary things.
Restaurants in Springfield
1. Springfield Union Station
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
The story of the rebirth of Springfield’s Union Station was a 40-year saga that began with a promise to save a landmark that was teetering on the brink of extinction. On December 19, 1926, an estimated 30,000 people toured Opening Day of Union Station. The new facility with its gleaming terrazzo floors, had a restaurant, lunch counter, barbershop, shoeshine parlor and small shops to service hundreds of daily passengers who boarded up to 130 trains every 24 hours. The reconstruction of Union Station lasted four years and one month finishing in 2016. The great hall was gutted to the bare walls and rebuilt. The historic clock that hung at the entrance to the tunnel since the building opened, to a wooden train schedule board and 90-year-old baggage carts the original Terrazzo floors were all preserved. In addition to the train station there is an intermodal transportation center with local and long-distance buses, a new parking garage, office, retail and restaurant space.
Reviewed By NohoSteve51
I visited the Union Station in Springfield MA again recently, for the first time since the COVID-19 crisis began. I wanted to update my thoughts and impressions of the place and see how they were handling things. I'm happy to report that the station continues to be convenient and welcoming for all travelers by train, city bus and long-distance bus lines. They are taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of disease, including requiring masks and allowing only ticketed passengers into the main concourse. They also are blocking off seats so you will not be too close to the other people. Benches are off-limits for now. Dunkin remains open as well as the convenience store where you can get all kinds of snack items. You can also purchase tickets from either ticket counters or machines located on the property. You can now also buy tickets through apps from Amtrak, CTrail and now even PVTA (local bus service) as well as Peter Pan and Greyhound. I recommend this place to all travelers. Clean and safe and taking proper precautions in this time of pandemic.
2. Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 297 reviews
The Armory, which manufactured and tested firearms for the U.S. military from 1794 to 1968, houses the country's largest collection of US military small weapons. The displays include rare weapons and the largest collection of confederate weapons anywhere. When it started, the Armory was the first high tech manufacturing to occur in the country, and the advancements in mass production and the ability to create interchangeable parts that started at the Armory, initiated the development of the countries first high tech manufacturing corridor.
Reviewed By oldbonesgenealogy - Chicopee, United States
Incredible collection and history of the Armory which was an integral part of the War for Independence
3. Springfield College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By GarciaEmelie - Springfield, United States
Visited the college with teenagers to cheak out a basketball game..its beautiful campus located in the main area of the city..lots of parking areas lots of security..huge gym..also has a huge state of the art fitness center..the food court had lots to choose from..looks there is new housing buildings just remodeled.over its a nice inner city college.
4. North Riverfront Park
5. Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 464 reviews
Bring the kids to this outdoor sculpture garden where the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and other beloved Dr. Seuss characters are immortalized in bronze, life-size statues all designed by Geisel's step-daughter, sculptor Lark Grey Dimond-Cates.
Reviewed By RogueTrippers - Guelph, Canada
The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden has been a must-stop destination on every single one of our Roadtrips through Massachusetts for years. We never miss an opportunity to visit, and take photos with some of our favourite characters from the beloved books of Dr Seuss. This a beautiful place to spend some time. the sculptures are perfectly created in the exact likeness you would expect. You will find Thing 1 & 2, Horton, Thidwick the big-hearted moose, Sam I Am, The grinch & his dog max, The Cat in the hat, and Maizy la bird. You can pose for photos with your favourite characters, but be warned - on a hot day, the sculptures get hot as well, and can burn bear skin. We learned this the hard way. The Museum has taken to cordoning off the sculptures with warnings about this. Since June 2017, there is even more of a reason to visit the sculpture garden, as now there is the Amazing World of Dr Seuss museum - which is an absolute must for everyone to see. If you are on a road trip through MA, make sure you stop in the Springfield and visit the Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, and Dr Seuss Museum.
6. Forest Park Historic District
7. The Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
Beautiful Park in Downtown Springfield. Awesome for biking leads you to the North End River Front Park and from there you can cross the bridge into West Springfield. The Basketball Hall of Fame is in he front of the pakrk.
8. Van Horn Park
9. William Pynchon Statue
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 11 reviews
The Founder of Springfield and Roxbury, Massachusetts. Wrote books and was a very wealthy men.
Reviewed By oldbonesgenealogy - Chicopee, United States
Again, this is NOT William Pynchon who was expelled from the Springfield settlement for heresy after publishing "The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption" a book that was banned and burned in Boston. This statue represents Deacon Samuel Chapin one of the key residents of Springfield. If you could see the bottom of the pedestal, his name is clearly legible. The statue was commissioned by one of his descendants, wealthy Springfield businessman, Chester Chapin. The statue was sculpted by Augusten Saint-Gaudens. I have lived in Springfield and neighboring towns all 68 years of my life, I am a professional genealogist and historian. Deacon Chapin happens to be my 8th great grandfather.
10. Blunt Park
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 22 reviews
