Family Activities
Trolley Museum
Visit our operating museum, located near the Historic Bridge of Flowers and the “glacial” potholes in the village of Shelburne Falls. You can take a ride on Trolley No. 10 and our old fashioned pump car (not suitable for small children). In our Visitors Center you can play with wooden and electric trains (suitable for children of all ages), browse historical photos from the time of trolleys and purchase trolley and railroad related items in our Trolley Shop gift shop. Outside you can climb into our big red Caboose, and afterwards stroll among the artisan shops, galleries and restaurants in Shelburne Falls.
30 min South
The Garden Cinemas
The Garden Theater Block is a historic commercial block and theater at 353-367 Main Street in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Colonial Revival block was completed in 1929, and is home to the city’s largest theatrical performance venue.
35 min south
Stratton Mountain
Vermont ski & summer destination with 99 trails, glades, fast lifts, lodging options, golf, mountain biking, music and more.
60 min North
Stratton Escape Room
An escape room is a cooperative game in which players must work together to uncover clues and solve a series of puzzles, riddles, and problems in order to crack the code of a “locked” room. This is a timed event, often lasting sixty minutes. All rooms have a unique theme and many layers of challenges. The ultimate goal varies. Sometimes it is to solve a problem, other times the goal is to escape.
52 min south
Southern Vermont Natural History Museum
Here at the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum we are proud to display one of New England’s largest collections of native species along with live animal exhibits, ecology, geology, and natural history exhibits. The Museum experience also includes a variety of educational programs and public events. Additionally, nearby access to over 600 protected acres of hiking trails allows for family fun and adventure to continue outside all year long!
12 min East
Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley
Come enjoy the fun and challenging sport of candlepin bowling. Candlepin bowling is fun for everyone! Beginners, seasoned players and those of us who have played on and off over many years can immediately enjoy the game. Challenge your friends and family — age does not matter in this sport! Continue the tradition of bowling on these lanes since 1906.
28 min south
North Star Bowling Alley
Bowling, Food, arcade and year round covered mini golf! Fun for the whole family!
12 min North
Mount Snow
Mount Snow is a mountain resort and ski area in southern Vermont located in the Green Mountains. It is Vermont’s closest big mountain to many Northeast metropolitan areas. In September of 2019 Mount Snow joined Vail Resorts’ portfolio of 37 resorts and its Epic Pass.
20 min North
Mind Lock Escape Room
Mind Lock Escape room is a family owned and operated business. It was born with the idea to provide indoor entertainment to people who live in and visit Southern Vermont.
20 min West
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, opened in October of 2000, consists of an 18,400-square foot facility that includes a 8,000-sq. ft. glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths and tropical vegetation. The sun shines through the glass walls and heats up the conservatory to an 80-degree tropical-like environment all year round. The sound of the waterfall, peaceful music and hundreds of butterflies fluttering freely through the air creates a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Visits anytime throughout the year are delightful. It’s truly amazing inside, for no matter how many people are enjoying the conservatory, it’s still a peaceful sanctuary for all.
39 min south
Lake Rapanda
Today, the shoreline is dotted with homes and cottages, many with their own private dock and swimming beach. A small beach and picnic area owned by the Town of Wilmington is reserved for town residents and local taxpayers. A public boat launch at the north end of the lake provides access for fishermen but holds no accommodations for swimming or larger boats. Lake Raponda thus remains quiet and serene – far quieter than when bands played the pavilion. The heavily-wooded lakefront hides the many homes and cottages along the shore. No personal watercraft are permitted, but the occasional resident water skier circles the lake. Most boating activity is limited to sailing, wakeboarding, pontooning, rowing, canoeing and kayaking. The 121-acre spring-fed lake is particularly quiet during the week, as many cottage owners are absent except for week-ends.
13 min North
Hoosac Valley Train Ride
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum’s new Hoosac Valley Service offers fun and educational train rides between Adams and North Adams in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. We have designed this service to provide an attractive tourist link between downtown Adams and North Adams, connecting with the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Adams. Our train ride is a living history exhibit that explores the rich railroad history of the region and complements the already popular cultural attractions located in the Northern Berkshire area.
47 min south
Harriman Reservoir & Dam
Eight miles long with 28 miles of shoreline. This undeveloped jewel is home to bald eagles, loons, and a variety of wildlife. The lake is open for swimming, kayaking, powerboats, sailboats and paddleboards. Explore the Dam for an incredible hike and glorious views.
13 min West
Greenfield Splash Pad
In 2015, Greenfield Recreation built the Splash Pad at Hillside Park. Funded through the City of Greenfield and grant money from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Our Common Backyard’s Grant Program. It is located right next to playground and is open from Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day weekend. During these months the Splash Pad will be opened from 10 am – 7 pm.
35 min South
Gaines Family Farm
Each autumn The Gaines Farm cranks out a-Maize-ing family fun with the annual Corn Maize. Join us for games, good food, good folks and 7 acres of ten-foot corn stalk, Maize madness. It’s an agricultural feat that will mystify, and entertain!
39 min East
Franklin County Fair
The Franklin County Fair saw the first light of day in November of 1848 as a “cattle show’’ on the Greenfield Town Common, and has been held every year since, through world wars, dust bowl droughts, even stock market collapses. The Franklin County Fair bills itself as the oldest continuously operating county fair in America. For the past 160 years, the Fair has never failed, year after year, to bring together the entire community in a shared, positive, educational experience. But though it began as a “cattle show’’ on the Greenfield Town Common it quickly grew well beyond its initial limited focus, and also quickly outgrew the small space it occupied. Now the fair has its own grounds with events throughout the year.
35 min South
Bridge of Flowers
The bridge with its graceful arches was constructed in 1908 for trolleys to convey raw materials from the railroad yard in Buckland across the Deerfield River to the factories in nearby hill towns. As a concrete structure, it could bear heavy loads better than the iron bridge that it parallels. With the advent of motorized vehicles, however, by 1927 the trolley bridge became obsolete and the trolley company went out of business. Tearing down the bridge would have been prohibitively expensive. What’s more, it carried the pipe that furnishes water to the town of Buckland.
27 min South
Berkshire East
Berkshire East Mountain Resort is Southern New England’s Fall Outdoor Destination. Year-round mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ziplining, & more.
27 min South
Bennington Splash Pad
Open Seasonally! Grow Bennington Initiative is a joint effort of area businesses and individuals with the goal of enhancing the downtown. It also has worked on initiatives and projects with the town and BBC on projects including streetscape improvements and lighting displays.
39 min south
Bennington Monument
The Monument was built to commemorate the Battle of Bennington which occurred on August 16, 1777, and is considered to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War. It is owned by the State of Vermont, and is supported by The Friends of the Monument, a non-profit volunteer group. A number of events are scheduled at the Monument each year, and the public is welcome.
42 min West
Bennington Cinema
Popular first run films at prices everyone can afford and the best popcorn in the state of Vermont topped with real butter from Cabot Dairy. Bringing the best of Hollywood movies to a friendly, locally owned business with the LOWEST prices around, located in scenic Bennington, VT.
40 min West