Family friendly park
Look Park
300 N. Main St., Florence
(413) 584-5457 www.lookpark.org
Best known for outdoor family fun and affordability, Look Park has bumper boats, paddle boats, and a streamer train to keep Valley families occupied. “Look Park is a staple and we look forward to being there a lot longer,” says operations director Dan Taylor.
2nd: Nonotuck Park
1 Daley Field Rd., Easthampton
(413) 529-1440 www.easthampton.org
3rd: Forest Park
200 Tafton Rd., Springfield
(413) 787-6440 www3.springfield-ma.gov/park
Tourist spot in the Valley
Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation
300 Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield
(413) 665-2928 www.mass.gov
With a breathtaking view of the Connecticut River Valley, Mt. Sugarloaf with its picnicking areas and hiking trails is an excellent day trip for families and nature-lovers. It’s also a fine example of the Valley’s geological history and the summit is accessible by car.
2nd: Yankee Candle Flagship
25 Greenfield Rd. (Rtes. 5 & 10) South Deerfield
(887) 803-6890 www.yankeecandle.com
3rd: Summit House at Skinner State Park
10 Skinner State Park Rd., Hadley
(413) 586-0350 www.mass.gov
Tourist spot in the Berkshires
Tanglewood
279 West St., Lenox
(413) 637-1600 www.tanglewood.org
Nestled in the beautiful Berkshire Hills, Tanglewood — the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra — is marked by acres of well-groomed grounds and great music. The space is dotted with stages and music halls big and small, which draw audiences who huddle around picnic baskets on Tanglewood’s rolling green lawns.
2nd: MassMoca
1040 Mass Moca Way, North Adams
(413) 662-2111 www.massmoca.org
3rd: The Clark
225 South St., Williamstown
(413) 458-2303 www.clarkart.edu
Tourist spot in the southern Vermont
Downtown Brattleboro
www.brattleboro.com
A center for arts and entertainment, Brattleboro’s downtown bustles with life thanks to growing crowds flocking to some of the city’s amazing venues and festivals, including the 1930s Art Deco Latchis Theatre, the Hooker-Dunham Theater, Brattleboro Music Center, the Vermont Jazz Center, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Yellow Barn Music Festival, the Strolling of the Heifers, plus monthly gallery art walks.
2nd: Mt. Snow
39 Mount Snow Rd., West Dover
(800) 245-7669 www.mountsnow.com
3rd: Vermont Country Store
658 Main St., Weston, VT (802) 824-3184 1292 Rockingham Rd., Rockingham, VT (802) 463-2224 www.vermontcountrystore.com
Sugarhouse
North Hadley Sugar Shack
181 River Dr. (Rte. 47), Hadley
(413) 585-8820 www.northhadleysugarshack.com
This place is so much more than a sugar shack. It’s also a mini golf course, petting zoo, ice cream stand, and a big local edibles market. The North Hadley Sugar Shack recently started staying open all year instead of closing in the winter. “Maple is still a huge part of what we do. It’s why we started, it’s why we’re here,” says Shelly Boisvert, who co-owns the shack with her husband Joe.
2nd: Gould’s Maple Sugarhouse
Mohawk Trail, Shelburne
(413) 625-6170 www.goulds-sugarhouse.com
3rd: Davenport Maple Farm Restaurant
111 Tower Rd., Shelburne Falls
(413) 6252866 www.davenportmaple.com
Local children’s toy store
A2Z Science and Learning Store
57 King St., Northampton
(413) 586-1611 www.a-two-z.com
A2Z has been around for 29 years and it was purchased by new owners last year. Co-owner Devon Boulay says if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, which means he and his wife, Andre, don’t have any immediate big plans for change. Boulay praised the store noting its longtime commitment to the community and to bringing children exciting, interesting toys that help grow their minds. “The employees are huge to the store’s success. It’s a really good group and they love what they do,” Boulay says.
2nd: The Toy Box
201 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
(413) 256-8697 www.amhersttoybox.com
3rd: Kiddly Winks
801 Williams St., Longmeadow
(413) 567-0688 www.kiddlywinks.com
Local children’s clothing store
Once Upon a Child
1458 Riverdale St., West Springfield
(413) 315-5520 www.onceuponachild.com
This store gets major accolades for having excellent used children’s clothes, bedding, and toys for cheap. As young children often grow out of their clothes before they even have time to break them in, Once Upon a Child’s business model of buying “gently used” items from parents and selling them at a garage-sale rate has the place busy every day of the week.
2nd: A Child’s Garden
204 Main St., Northampton
(413) 584-2242 www.achildsgardennoho.com
3rd: Wilson’s Department Store
258 Main St., Greenfield
(413) 774-4326 wilsonsdepartmentstore.com
