Discover Western Mass
A wonderful place to live
Discover Western Mass Living
Baystate Health is based in Springfield, the largest city in western Massachusetts—third largest in Massachusetts. With a metropolitan area of more than half a million people, we have all the amenities of a big city, but with the ambiance of a small town.
Western Mass spans the entire state from Connecticut to Vermont, and from the Berkshires in the west to Worcester in the east. This relatively small area encompasses revitalizing small cities, hard-working rural hamlets, and quirky college towns.
You'll Never Run Out of Things to Do
Enjoy the quiet and the quaint
...fantastic farm-to-table restaurants, intimate theaters and concert halls, art galleries and artisan studios, historic homes, museums, and craft breweries.
Explore something new
...dinosaur footprints, apple picking, Six Flags New England, Dr. Seuss museum, Basketball Hall of Fame, and the MGM resort casino.
Take it outside
...hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, skiing, zip-lining, golfing, whitewater rafting, and kayaking are all available due to our diverse topography—we have the state's highest point at Mt. Greylock and New England's largest river, the Connecticut.
Western Mass is a wonderful place to work, play—and live.
Thinking of relocating?
Many grads stay for the quality of life
We've got scenic beauty, good schools, and innovative technology alongside living history museums. You can enjoy 4-season outdoor recreation, and a lively art and performance scene.
Housing is affordable, diverse, and abundant
We have beautiful homes in your choice of neighborhoods from downtown to hill town. We've got cities and suburbs, country roads, and college towns.
And, few traffic hassles!
Practical guide for newcomers
Information for new residents—getting a driver’s license, registering a motor vehicle, how and where to vote, tax information, and other state topics.
Massachusetts students are #1 in the country. Search for nearby public, private, and charter schools, and read school district report cards.
Western Mass-specific information on real estate, business clusters, utilities and infrastructure, places of worship, and more.
From cutting-edge industry to cottage industries—renewable energy, life science and biotechnology, financial services, and the creative economy are just some of our prominent business clusters.
Location, location, location
Things to do in Western Mass
But there are so many ways to enjoy western Massachusetts in the heart of winter. Check out some of our favorite ways to have winter fun!
Bright nights at Forest Park
The Northeast’s premier holiday lighting extravaganza—is a must-see!
From November to January you can drive through nearly three miles of lighting displays from quaint country village scenes to Santa's North Pole to the Dr. Seuss-inspired "Seuss Land."
(Springfield)
First night New Year's Ever Party
Who needs Times Square when you can ring in the new year locally?
Since 1985, Northampton has hosted this 12-hour, family-friendly festival of the arts, culminating in a traditional ball-drop from the roof of the Hotel Northampton. 20 downtown venues features an astounding array of entertainment presented by hundreds of talented performers.
(Northampton)
Skiing
Western Mass is the basecamp for incredible skiing—whether downhill or cross country.
At Berkshire East Mountain Resort (the only ski area in the world to produce 100% of its energy from onsite renewable energy) you'll find terrific alpine skiing and a snow tubing park. Nearby is Stump Sprouts Ski Touring if you prefer cross-country skiing or snowshoeing through the woods. There's more alpine skiing at Jiminy Peak, Butternut, and Wachusett, and nordic skiing at Northfield Mountain. A little further north in Vermont there are Stowe, Stratton, Killington, Okemo, and Sugar Bush.
Ice Castles
The ice castles are constructed of hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. gorgeous LED-lit sculptures, ice tunnels and slides, fountains, and more. Perfect for exploring with kids, or indulging your inner-child!
(Lincoln, NH)
Need to thaw out?
Get Tropical
De-ice in the tropical heat at Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and forget all about the freezing temperatures.
Stroll around the lush greenery amidst thousands of exotic and domestic butterflies. If you wear vivid colors, you might be mistaken for a flower and find butterflies alighting on your finger. (Deerfield)
And then, there's always this...
If hygge is more your style, seek out warm and cozy contentment in our many coffeehouses and performance spaces.
The Big E
This 17-day autumn extravaganza of entertainment, exhibits and agriculture features New England traditions such as pulling contests, cow milking, and livestock judging. The Magic Midway—the world’s largest traveling midway—features the 115 foot high Giant Wheel and the Drop of Fear, and there are kiddie rides, carnival games, a circus, concerts, and the Grande Parade.(West Springfield)
Green River Festival
A weekend-long celebration of world class music, great local food, beer and wine, craft fair, and lots of family games and activities. We top it off with four hot air balloon launches and a spectacular Saturday night "balloon glow."(Greenfield)
Paradise City Arts Festival
Each Spring and Fall this award-winning show features contemporary crafts for home decorating, personal adornment, and one-of-a-kind gifts. Discover original works of fine art in furniture, jewelry, art glass, sculpture, ceramics, fashion design, painting and more.(Northampton)
Basketball Hall of Fame
40,000 square feet of basketball history, hundreds of interactive exhibits, skills challenges, and shooting contests. Come for Enshrinement Weekend, when new Hall of Fame inductees join b-ball's legends.
(Springfield)
MGM Resort
This luxury resort covering 3 city blocks offers a 125,000-square-foot gaming floor, 250-room boutique hotel, spa services, dining by award-winning Chef Michael Mina. There's plenty to do with an 8-screen movie theater complex, 10-lane bowling center, huge rooftop pool, seasonal skating rink, and first-rate live entertainment.
(Springfield)
Six Flags New England
Experience pulse-pounding thrill rides like the new Harley Quinn's Spinsanity and the Skyscreamer—the tallest swing ride on the planet—or slow down and enjoy old-fashioned favorites like Thunderbolt, a classic wooden coaster, and the 1909 Grand Carousel. Cool off at Hurricane Harbor or take in one of our entertaining shows.
(Agawam)
Mass MOCA
Vast contemporary art galleries and performing arts venues located within the 16-acre grounds of a 19th-century mill complex. Exhibitions include all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, and theater.
(North Adams)
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum
2022 is Seuss-iversary—a yearlong celebration of the museum's 20th anniversary featuring special exhibits and events, like Grinchmas. Explore the imagination of Dr. Seuss (aka Springfield native Theodor Geisel) through fully bilingual (Spanish and English) family friendly, interactive exhibits like Whoville and the Giant Marble Maze. A single admission also gets you into the other four world-class Springfield Museums housing collections on art, history and science.
(Springfield)
Tanglewood
The summer home of the Boston POPS also hosts performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and jazz and popular artists. Bring a picnic and sit on the lawn, or enjoy front-of-house seating in the Shed and Ozawa Hall.
(Lenox)
Berkshire East Mountain Resort
Year-round outdoor adventures include Thunderbolt mountain coaster, zip line canopy tours, mountain biking, whitewater rafting and float trips, skiing and snow tubing. Challenge yourself in the Aerial Adventure Park—a suspended challenge course featuring Indiana Jones bridges, Tarzan swings, rolling zip-lines, and TrueBlue free falls. There's a Tree House Trail for kids.
(Charlemont)
Quabbin Reservoir
56,000 acres of protected watershed provide many opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing—deer, wild turkeys, foxes, bobcats, bears, and an occasional moose or bald eagle can be spotted. It was created in the early 20th century when the Swift River Valley was flooded. A visit to Quabbin Park Cemetery reveals the history of the valley’s 4 lost towns.
(Belchertown)
Acadia Wildlife Sanctuary
The santuary's forest, meadows, grasslands, marsh, and wetlands are home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife and wildflowers. Experience nature via the rope-guided universally accessible Sensory Trail, and view sensitive wetlands habitat from the boardwalk and observation tower. Kids can build fairy homes, sit in a tepee made of branches, or master the stump jump in the Nature Play Area.
(Easthampton)
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