Discover Springfield

Springfield combines expansive park offerings with cultural attractions that tell different stories of the city. Forest Park features walking trails, Porter Lake, and a drive-through course; elsewhere, a sculpture garden and places devoted to basketball history offer more to discover. There are also trails along the Springfield Riverfront and concerts by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. This gives you a range of different highlights to choose from as you plan your trip, rather than a single must-do itinerary.

Park trails, a lake, and lights at Forest Park

Forest Park covers 735 acres and offers miles of walking trails. Visitors can enjoy a scenic paddleboat ride on Porter Lake. The park therefore offers different ways to spend time outdoors: you can focus on a walk or plan a trip out on the water. For families, this makes it possible to consider during trip planning which of these activities they would like to shape their stay. The size of the park and its two activities described here offer concrete points of reference.

Bright Nights at Forest Park adds a different kind of experience: the three-mile course is designed for driving through and passes festive illuminated scenes, iconic figures, and gardens. This experience is quite different from a walk or a paddleboat ride. If you want to explore Springfield through its park, you can consider these options separately and decide whether walking the trails, riding on the lake, or driving through the festive scenes best suits your interests.

Cultural attractions and stories from Springfield

The Quadrangle is considered Springfield’s cultural center and is surrounded by historic buildings. It is also home to The Puritan, a bronze statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens that commemorates Deacon Samuel Chapin. The ensemble of buildings and the monument offer two different perspectives: the historic buildings shape the character of the Quadrangle, while the statue focuses on a specific person. If you are interested in culture and history, you can consider both aspects when choosing experiences in Springfield.

The Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden is an outdoor experience honoring Theodor Seuss Geisel, who was born in Springfield. This connection to the city makes the garden a special part of Springfield’s story. Together with the Quadrangle, it offers a cultural focus that includes both the city’s history and a personality connected with Springfield. For a trip with children, it can be an opportunity to talk together about Theodor Seuss Geisel and his connection to the city.

Basketball also has a specific connection to Springfield: the 1891 Gallery traces the origins of the game back to Springfield, Massachusetts. James Naismith introduced basketball there on December 21, 1891. The exact date and year make the historical connection tangible, so it is more than just a general interest in sports. If you choose cultural attractions by theme, this offers a distinct focus alongside the historic buildings and the sculpture garden.

Getting around the Springfield Riverfront

The Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway stretches 3.7 miles along the Springfield Riverfront. There are opportunities for cycling, running, walking, and roller skating. The range of activities makes the trail appealing for different ways of being active; its length also gives you a concrete measure to use in your planning. If active time outdoors is important to your trip, you can consider this route as a separate highlight alongside the walking trails in Forest Park.

For music lovers, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is also one of the city’s cultural offerings. The orchestra holds its regular-season concerts at Springfield Symphony Hall. This provides a concert option in a hall alongside attractions you can experience outdoors. When choosing a vacation rental, you can first consider which themes you want to shape your stay: parks and outdoor activities, cultural history, basketball, or attending a concert.

Discover more destinations

You can also include these places in your further travel plans: Ludlow, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, Wilbraham, Wales, Holyoke and Agawam.

For the broader travel overview: Hampden.