May Mass trip - road trip to Springfield
 

We are staying in Boston for a weekend in May and then taking a road trip down memory lane for my husband who grew up near Belchertown(?). We'll be traveling on a Sunday and plan to see the area and then basically turnaround and head back. Any neat towns to stop in along the way? Suggestions for overnite stays as we'll be spending our Sunday nite somewhere outside of Boston before flying out on a Monday.

Belchertown! That's right next door!

You can visit the Quabbin Reservoir -- very scenic, and they have an interesting exhibit about the flooded towns in the visitor's center. Take a picnic lunch. There might be blueberries to pick in late May, not sure.

Amherst is a pretty little town with a green common and lots of bookshops.

Northampton is a destination town for good restuarants and music clubs (for example the Iron Horse).

Drive to Skinner State park for an awesome view of the valley -- that view of the Oxbow is hanging in the MFA in NYC.

The drive from Boston along Rt2 is more scenic than the Mass Pike.

There are B&Bs in Amherst and Northampton and South Hadley, and inexpensive chain hotels in Hadley.

If you have some more specific interests(museums? food?) I can help you out.

I agree with the recommendation of the Northampton/Amherst area. Those towns, like Belchertown, are north of the Turnpike whereas Springfield is south of it, and isn't on anybody's tourist-destinations list.

(Reading your post more carefully). You can take the Logan Express bus from Framingham straight to the airport on Monday -- they are inexpensive, reliable, and efficient.

Stay as near to Framingham as you need to, depending on flight time.

Thanks for your speedy reply...maybe a recommendation on a good museum...art? somewhere along the way? Cute town to peruse...lunch recommentations for Sunday afternoon and dinner on Sunday nite...Framingham sounds like a likely choice

Northampton and Amherst are both "cute towns to peruse," classic New England college towns with classic churches, Victorian architecture, leafy campuses, bookstores, boutiques, etc. Northampton has a growing reputation as an avant-garde arts community.

Framingham is an ordinary bedroom suburb with a couple of big shopping malls, big-box type stores, and every chain restaurant you can think of.

Not sure where you're coming from, but we're not talking about huge distances here -- Boston to Belchertown is about 90 minutes, Belchertown to Amherst 15 minutes.

well, Springfield is on tourists list, if aforementioned tourists are sports fans. It is the home of the Basketball Hall of Fame. okay, maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but some would consider it a destination.

Framingham does have some decent, non-chain restaurants. so if you do decide to stay there, I'd be happy to list them for you.

OK, I apologize to sports fans and the fair city of Springfield! ;-)

You could park the car in the center of Amherst (smaller) or Northampton (bigger) and poke around, lots of shops and restuarants and everything in walking distance.


Museums:
Amherst College has the Mead Art museum.
There is the Eric Carle Museum of Picture book art at Hampshire College, and also the National Yiddish Book center, which as a lovely display center.
The Emily Dickenson home is open by appointment; she is buried in the town cemetary.
Smith College has a very nice arboretum.
There are some really great art museums in Williamstown/North Adams, but this may be too far out of your way.

Restuarants (but geez, there are lots of choices)
Amherst (all in town center):
Panda East (chinese and japanese)
The Monkey Bar (upscale fusion/cajun)
Fatsos (hamburgers, shakes, hot dogs, fries that will make you moan out loud)
Pasta e Basta, Antonios for a slice, Black Sheep Deli, ...

Northampton has dozens of great restuarants. I don't know where to start ...

another vote for Amherst and Northampton! both gorgeous towns.