Museums
Family FavoriteThe Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Under $25First US museum dedicated to picture book art, founded by Eric Carle.
City guide · Massachusetts, USA
Things to do in Western Massachusetts
College-town culture, river-valley farms, and Berkshire hills
- Museums
- Stay
- Sightseeing
- Shopping
- Nearest airport: BDL, about 27 miles
Start here
Three to see first in Western Massachusetts
Everything we cover
Everything in Western Massachusetts, on the map
Filter by the kind of day you want. Tap a card to open the place, or a dot on the map to find it in the list.
Museums
Family FavoriteThe Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Under $25First US museum dedicated to picture book art, founded by Eric Carle.
Stay
Quirky FunTrainmaster's Inn
$50+Train-themed boutique hotel in downtown Palmer, Massachusetts.
Sightseeing
Local GemMonadnock Region
FreeSouthwestern New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock, small towns, and covered bridges.
Shopping
Local GemVermont Bowl Company
FreeA wood products factory store making bowls and cutting boards for over 55 years.
Eat & Drink
Local GemVermont Distillers
Under $25A small batch Vermont distillery known for its Metcalfe's liqueurs and Catamount spirits.
Shopping
Local GemCanna Provisions
FreeA Western Massachusetts recreational cannabis dispensary chain with a craft, farm-to-shelf focus.
Sightseeing
Local GemHampshire County, Massachusetts
FreeA Western Massachusetts county anchored by Northampton and Amherst, mixing college-town arts culture with farm-to-table dining and outdoor recreation.
Sightseeing
Local GemCentral Connecticut
FreeConnecticut's official tourism district for the central river valley and Greater Hartford region, spanning 60-plus towns.
Museums
History BuffEmily Dickinson Museum
$25–$50Tour the poet Emily Dickinson's Amherst home and see original manuscripts and family artifacts.
Shopping
Local GemVermont Maple Museum
FreeA destination gift shop on the Molly Stark Trail selling Vermont maple syrup, candy, cheese and local products.
Sightseeing
Local GemPublic Art CT
FreeA free guide to public art installations, sculptures, and historic architecture around Greater Hartford.
Shopping
Local GemHoward's Leather Store
FreeThird-generation family leather store on Route 9 in Spofford, NH, selling leather goods, western wear, motorcycle apparel, jewelry and gifts since 1952.
Sightseeing
Local GemFranklin County Visitors Information Center
FreeThe chamber of commerce and official visitor information center for Franklin County in western Massachusetts.
Shopping
Family FavoriteHolyoke Mall
FreeA large enclosed shopping mall in western Massachusetts with nearly 150 stores, a food court and family entertainment.
Sport & Outdoor
Family FavoriteSki Butternut
$50+Family-friendly Berkshires ski area with 22 trails, tubing and terrain parks.
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About
About Western Massachusetts
West of Boston the state slows down into the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires: five college towns' worth of museums, bookstores, and cafes, farm stands along the Connecticut River, and summer festivals tucked into the hills. Spend a morning with picture-book art in Amherst, an afternoon on a mountain drive, and an evening at a show. Fall turns the whole region gold.