The Beneski Museum of Natural History is on the Amherst College campus and is one of those smaller…read moremuseums that consistently surprises visitors who arrive without strong expectations. We walked into a building that is modern and elegantly designed, spotlessly maintained, and organized in a way that made navigation intuitive across the three floors. The collection spans three floors and covers fossils, dinosaur skeletons, mineral and gemstone specimens, and an extensive dinosaur track collection with particular connections to the Connecticut River Valley, which produced some of the most significant dinosaur trackways in North America. The dinosaur material is the centerpiece. Two full mammoth skeletons, a T. rex skull, and a range of other fossil specimens give the collection a visual impact that larger natural history museums with more resources and more famous specimens would be proud to have. The dinosaur tracks are a specific strength and the connection to local geology adds a regional dimension that makes the collection feel distinct rather than generic. Staff and professors associated with the collection were present and willing to answer questions in depth, which gave our visit a more engaged quality than a self guided tour at a larger institution typically offers. The museum is free and open to the public, which makes it an easy addition to any visit to the Amherst area without any planning required. For a small college museum that delivers a world class fossil collection in a beautiful modern space, the Beneski Museum of Natural History is a hidden gem in western Massachusetts and well worth a stop. It is the kind of place where you go in for a quick look and end up spending an hour without realizing it.

This place is about as awesome as it gets. I took my 8 year old son and my 70 year old mother, and…read morewe all had a great time walking around the three levels. The staff was very friendly, and my son was super happy to chat them up about the different things on display, and share what he knew with them. We spent about two hours, and we could easily head back again.

If you are in the Hatfield area and you're interested in local history this is the place to go!…read more The museum , which is located on the second floor of the town library, has a wonderfully curated collection of local historical items. In particular they have a very nice collection of civil war items, nineteen and early twentieth century housewares, and medical tools from the early twentieth century. And if you're in the area in the summer be sure to also visit the Hatfield Farm Museum which is located behind the building.

From the owner: For news, features, program info and digital exhibits, check out the Hatfield Historical Museum on…read moreFacebook and the Hatfield Historical Society and Museums YouTube page. You may reach the museum via the Contact Us page on the website listed above or by emailing hatfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. NOTE: Seasonally, unless otherwise noted on Facebook or the website, the museum will be closed during December and January. The Hatfield Historical Museum offers an eclectic collection in a small, rural community in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley. Our collection tells the story of Hatfield from its beginnings in 1670 through the 20th century.

As someone who has loved and cherished Emily Dickinson's poetry my entire life, I hate to leave…read moresuch a bad review, but it was my honest experience. So, they strongly recommend you order your tickets online to make sure there is enough availability, so I did. However, when we got to the museum, they said something along the lines of our tickets being invalid for some reason. We were a party of elderly and disabled people so if something went wrong on their online system or the ticket order wasn't processed correctly we should not be punished. They refused to let us in, but at least we could walk around the grounds for free, and they were truly very lovely; unfortunately, the people who run the museum are not.

I want to kick this review off with a fact nugget- I knew NOTHING about Emily Dickinson (except…read morethat she was a poet) before I planned my trip the prior week to visiting the museum. This was a learning experience. It was Mother's Day weekend and also the museums 41st annual poetry walk to celebrate the anniversary of Emily's death. This is really what caught my eye- I love special events. So here are two review in one: Poetry walk Review: You report to the home, pick up a pamphlet that identifies the poem that will be read at each stop along the way along with a map of the stops and your daisies (her favorite flower.) Note: you are asked to pre-register online for the event (I mean they need to know how many pamphlets and daisies!) Off you go! We knew we were going to make it for maybe one stop and the cometary (last stop) due to an early morning tee ball game I wasn't going to miss. So that's what happened, we were able to stop at one poetry stop right outside the cemetery where they read two poems aloud and people were able to ask questions. The final stop is visiting Emily at her family plot in the West Cemetery (take a look at that mural on your left as you start waling into the cemetery with Emily in the center.) As we neared her tombstone, they were passing out cups of lemonade for a noon toast to Emily. They told some facts about the cemetery, a song was song that was inspired by Emily's writing and then one of her poems was read. We then raised our glasses and cheers to the woman herself. After the toast, everyone took their daisies and gently placed them on or around her headstone or the gate to the family's plot. It was nice to walk back through town as we grabbed lunch and then scooted back to the house for our 2pm pre-purchased entry into the house. Very nice event. The House Review: First off- no parking on site. Based on my experience- I would suggest not visiting the house during the week when college is in session! Around the house most parking spots are permit parking only for the college. With the event happening as well, it was hard to find parking. The Dickinson house has bene restored to Emily's writing hay day. As much as we did not have a guided tour (those happen in the morning) there were people stationed in each room who were a wealth of information. I had a lot of questions and they were not stumped and answered beautifully. I learnt a lot from all these fine folks who were just so interested in her, the family and the historical aspects. Thank you! (I really asked a lot of questions.) Austin's house, The Evergreen House, next door is preserved. Very different from Emily's. One has frozen in time and one has been reinvigorated to present the time. Walking through Austin's home was quite interesting as well. Their art is very interesting. I do enjoy how the museum opted to treat each house differently. I have mixed feelings after my trip about Emily and her poems especially the heavy editing but none the less very impressed with the museum and the people working there- vast amounts of knowledge that they were easily willing to share.

A Saturday well spent…read more Hubby found this botanical garden in Massachusetts while looking for activities. It was a four hour (non highway) drive for us and while we had to fill up our gas (expensive, no doubt) on our way home, the bulb show itself was free of charge. They gave a suggested donation of $5. The campus is beautiful. They do such amazing job with their plants. Would love to explore Northampton again in the warmer months.

We've been members of the Botanic Garden of Smith College for ten years. Last year, I called to…read moreverify I could take pictures in the greenhouse on a weekday. But when I got there, not even 5 minutes pass when a woman comes in saying I'm aren't allowed to take pictures. I said I did get permission, besides that there were other people taking pictures at the same time as me. There were very few people there on a weekday morning. She argued that it was disruptive for others. I apologized and was almost ready to go, when she said nevermind, go ahead, and left me alone. I thought that was very odd, but then this year, while enjoying the spring bulb show, a class of possibly 20 five-year-old school children came through screaming, crying, ripping/pulling on the plants, with chaperones shouting to be heard. It was complete pandemonium and ruined the experience for us. This group was not asked to leave for 'disrupting.' I also don't appreciate the unilateral decision that was made (that is, no consultation of Botanic Garden members who contribute annual membership fees) to shut down the annual chrysanthemum show in the fall. They just sent a letter saying "they decided" to do other exhibits instead. I don't know what the fall botanical exhibit was that they did instead, and can't find anything online about what it was. The chrysanthemum show was an extraordinary event that was held annually since the early 1900s. If it had to be discontinued, it would be nice if the botanical exhibit that replaces it would meet or exceed that experience. Instead, nothing at all. Contributing members should be able to contribute their input when these decisions are made. We are a part of the campus community.

Amazing museum that's free! There's a wide variety of art from around the world and from different…read moretime periods. There are many priceless works in the collection like art from Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keefe, Auguste Rodin, and more. There are 4 floors to explore, and don't forget to use the lower level bathrooms! Both bathrooms are full of art and absolutely beautiful. I'd recommend checking out BOTH bathrooms since the art is different in each. The museum gift shop also has a variety of beautiful, high-quality, and unique gifts. During my most recent visit, I bought Smith College tea as well as a kimono fabric hair clip.

I've enjoyed this museum on several occasions over the years. It's peaceful and educationally…read moreenjoyable.

The university's art museum is free, though they did ask me for a zip code for some reason as I was…read moreobviously not local. It was bigger than it looked from the outside; not what you'd find in a major city by any means but there were several rooms and there was enough content there to spend the better part of an hour on in brief. Some people were having academic conversations that may well have lasted longer. Their principal exhibition was a variety of Native American (and Australian) works which provided a robust overview of a wide variety of cultures. Some of the other exhibitions were kind of screechy and political and didn't really offer much as art, but they rotate exhibits and some variation in quality is expected. The parts where they let art speak for itself were worth visiting.

Hello!! A James Baldwin exhibit!!! Say no more. I'm not a huge fan of fossils and antiquity, it's…read moreimportant but bores me. But photographs and art and letters from someone like my boyfriend Baldwin!!! I'm all in. Amhurst is small and there's not a ton to do. This gives you an excuse to walk around campus and save some brain cells.

We always love supporting the local independent cinema. Clean, great selection of films, nice…read morestaff.

This movie theatre is one of the best places on the planet. They show niche movies, they show…read morecurrent movies, and their cult classic nights always ensure a full house. I know they partner with Amherst College's film club as well. They host special screenings with talks beforehand. The theaters range from small to super small and intimate, offering a unique viewing experience that no other place in the area can provide. This cinema is ensuring the film doesn't die and that no one is left behind. They were particularly influential in my film journey because of all the international films that they show. I've seen Norwegian, Brazilian, French, and Japanese movies to name a few. Thank you for such a great experience and I hope to return sometime soon. Please visit and become a member if you can!

This is a lovely venue. I can't believe I've lived here over 20 years and never been. This year the…read moreFab Faux performed there instead of where we usually see them. I purchased first row mezzanine which is where we prefer to sit in most venues. I don't care for orchestra where I can not see over the person in front of me. So I was very surprised when we found our seats to see just how far back the mezzanine is, and that the orchestra seats are graduated upward so there is no one directly in front of you. The show that we saw is not big on visual, but the acoustics are phenomenal. The Fine Arts Center allowed this music to soar. For future shows though I would sit closer in the orchestra. Prior to the show there was a party on the plaza with desserts, live music, and a cash party. A fun way to start the evening, thank you.

A very nice theater in the middle of campus where they usually host UMass cultural shows and…read morenon-alcoholic parties here. Had some fun moments here while I attended Zoomass.

Being a devoted fan of children's picture books, visiting the Eric Carle Museum was truly amazing…read more Unlike New York, there isn't a similar museum there. The space was spacious with high ceiling. I stumbled upon interesting books with unfamiliar authors. The staff were friendly, and they offer engaging activities for kids. I can see the value in this place. No cafe is available but there is a snack vending machine and indoor and outdoor seating. There is a water bottle refill machine. I would advise to grab some food first at Atkins Farms as it is a just a few minutes' drive away. It offers a convenient option. Overall, I had a positive experience and I recommend others to come visit this unique place.

I found the Eric Carle Museum a bit underwhelming for the price. I also wasn't really sure who the…read moretarget audience was. The museum has two galleries, a paint room, a library, and an auditorium. Personally, I could spend a decent amount of time reading through the gallery exhibits, but younger kids can't really see or reach a lot of them, so I think they'd get bored pretty quickly. There are a few interactive activities like creating your own recipe or using the peg boards but they felt a little gimmicky rather than being a core part of the experience. The paint room was probably the highlight for kids since there were lots of supplies and things to create, but I didn't see anything my son couldn't already do at home. With that said, kids could probably spend an hour or more here so it should definitely keep them busy. That's kind of where the museum confuses me. I thought this was aimed at younger kids but many of the exhibits are better appreciated by adults. At the same time, older kids will probably find the children's activities too basic. It ends up feeling like it's trying to appeal to everyone without fully committing to one audience. Admission should be much cheaper or donation based. If you're visiting the area, check with your local library first because many libraries offer free passes, and that's definitely the way I'd recommend going. Ironically, I think I'd enjoy coming back by myself more than with my kids. I'd take my time going through the galleries and learning about Eric Carle's work. With young kids though, I found myself feeling rushed because they weren't really engaged. I could also see it being a worthwhile visit for aspiring writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children's literature.

Many of coming for the Baseball Hall of Fame weekend. Very organized company. We arrived at the…read moreAlbany airport on Friday before the event. They found out the hotel shuttle would not accommodate many of us so they had a bus waiting. Marriott Albany had many issues which will be under a review of that hotel. Hotel dated, repairs not good and, things not working, cleanliness issues, sometimes not enough staff at the front desk or they would answer and hang up. Banquet and banquet staff excellent. Sports Travel and Tours had shirts on who identified who they were with name badges. Very organized and was prepared for changes and proactive. It was hot weather wise and changed often. They were ready at the induction ceremony with bottled water and sunscreen for those of us who needed it and who ran out. That was most appreciated. Very good, organized, and professional company who helps put together a good program with good planning so participants can enjoy an event more at ease. Not sure about the other hotels they booked but I went on a one-week trip and all other hotels I stayed at in other cities were much better. From the name Marriott, one expects more.

I took trips with my Dad(80+Years old) for enough years to see all 30 stadiums and were both were…read moreadmitted to the Stadium Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2017. Their attention to detail was impeccable and treated us like the most important people on the trips. I have not taken any since my Dad passed. My wife & I are recently retired, and I wanted to take her on one of these excursions. She enjoys baseball, but is not an avid fan like my Dad. I chose the Lakes Plus Baseball Road Trip. The "Plus" is why I chose this package. In addition to 5 baseball games & stadiums, we visited the CN Tower, The Henry Ford Museum, The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Pro Football Hall of Fame, The Roberto Clemente Hall of Fame, and The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. All of this in a span of 8 days. Our Tour Host Mindy, was most attentive, and very well organized. While we were on our flight home, she asked "When are we going again?". Well, she will be looking forward to when Sports Travel and Tours sends out the schedule of trips for 2026. Whether your interest is Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey, or any other sport, This company has your tickets.