Where Fun Comes to Play during April Break!
Spring has officially sprung in Western Mass www.explorewesternmass.com bringing days filled with sunshine and chirping birds and also those necessary rain showers. No matter what the weather throws at us in April, Western Mass is bringing the fun this spring break! Here are a few of our best ideas:
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame www.hoophall.com has unveiled newly reimagined and highly interactive new displays. Visitors can anchor a virtual sportscast alongside some of the best to ever do it and then download it. On center court, where visitors can shoot baskets on hoops from different eras, the Hall has added a second replica of Naismith’s peach basket. A 14-by-24-foot LED screen plays buzzer beaters and other memorable moments on a 15-minute loop. Elsewhere, items like an original pair of Air Jordans share space with Dennis Rodman’s boa and Lou Carnesecca’s sweater. An exhibit on basketball moves features the crossover dribble, the skyhook and now the Eurostep. Beginning on April 11th, the Hall will be open daily but closed Easter Sunday.
Springfield Museums www.springfieldmuseums.org has great options for the month of April including The Festival of Flowers: Reflection from April 7-10. Thoughtful interpretations will bring new perspectives to the objects and exhibits of the art, history, and science museums. The popular “Under the Arctic: Digging into Permafrost” exhibit is at the Springfield Science Museum through May 1st. This interactive exhibit weaves together real narratives from people whose lives have been impacted by the changing global climate, highlighting the resiliency and ingenuity of everyday communities. Incorporating the sights and smells of the Western Hemisphere’s only permafrost research tunnel, and Ice Age fossils, Under the Arctic is an immersive exhibit experience for all ages.
The Eric Carle Museum www.carlemuseum.org has a variety of exhibits in April including “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley”. This exhibition explores the author/illustrator’s innovative techniques such as see-through paper, stickers, stencils, die cuts, optical illusions, clip art, and flip books. Emberley easily shifts artistic styles from technically precise engineer drawings to playful thumbprints he transforms with line drawings into witches, cats, owls, and flowers. Throughout his books, he sprinkles humor and wordplay.
Bounce Trampoline Sports www.bouncespringfield.com is open daily with 6,000 square feet of different trampoline-based activities. This includes a large main court, 3 basketball dunk lanes, an over-sized foam pit, 2 Dodgeball courts, 2 complete junior areas, and 2 BOUNCE! Xtreme areas that will challenge all. In addition, Bounce offers laser tag, virtual reality and an arcade!
Yankee Candle Village www.yankeecandle.com/south-deerfield-village is a candle-lovers dream with over 90,000 square feet filled with every scent and style you can imagine. Kids will love Wax Works where they can make their own candles and wax hands. Each weekend through April 16th features an Easter Bunny Meet & Greet, too.
Western Mass has plenty of outdoor adventures for the whole family that start with spring and keep going. Check out rafting trips with Crabapple Whitewater www.crabapplewhitewater.com/massachusetts-whitewater-rafting or Zoar Outdoor www.zoaroutdoor.com. Take a family hike guided by Adventure East www.adventureeast.com or visit our furry friends at the Zoo at Forest Park www.forestparkzoo.org and Lupa Zoo www.lupazoo.org.
This spring, Explore Western Mass www.explorewesternmass.com! Our attractions www. explorewesternmass.com/things-to-do, hotels www.explorewesternmass.com/lodging and restaurants www. explorewesternmass.com/food-drink are ready to welcome your whole family!
