Springfield, Northampton considered some of the most ‘underrated’ travel destinations by CNN — but gets classified as Central Massachusetts
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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the New England Trail helped land two Western Massachusetts cities on CNN’s list of the most underrated travel destinations in the United States. However, Pioneer Valley locals may take issue with the news network’s decision to classify the Western Massachusetts cities as “Central Massachusetts.”
Springfield and Northampton both ranked among CNN’s “22 of the USA’s most underrated destinations” list. CNN reporters said the two cities have a lot to offer tourists and typically “fly beneath the travel radar.”
“Western Massachusetts boasts the Berkshires while the state’s eastern end is anchored by Boston and Cape Cod,” CNN wrote. “So what’s in the middle? Plenty.”
Springfield and Northampton, according to CNN’s list, are Central Massachusetts.
Those local to Massachusetts know, Springfield and Northampton are actually part of Western Massachusetts. Western Massachusetts includes Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire counties.
Regardless, Springfield and Northampton offer a lot to Massachusetts tourists.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield was said to be a must-see “underrated” attraction for tourists.
The main LED screen at the center court inside of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame shows visitors a linear look back from the sport’s 1891 inception as a rainy-day YMCA indoor activity to the modern-day phenomenon that’s spawned multiple basketball leagues around the globe. Player and NBA memorabilia, foot size comparisons and a full-court gym are just a few attractions at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
CNN also highlighted Springfield’s Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum & Sculpture Garden as a great often overlooked location families can visit. The city is celebrating Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel’s life with a year-long “Seuss-iversary” tribute to the fabled Springfield children’s author and illustrator.
FILE — A mural that features Theodor Seuss Geisel, left, also known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, covers part of a wall near an entrance at The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, May 4, 2017, in Springfield, Mass. Sketches of fantastic creatures by Dr. Seuss that have never before been published will see the light of day in new books being written and illustrated by an inclusive group of up-and-coming authors and artists, the company that owns the intellectual property rights to Dr. Seuss’ works announced Wednesday, March 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)AP
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum features interactive exhibits exploring Dr. Seuss’ Springfield roots and provides opportunities to experiment with new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, and invent stories–all in line with Geisel’s revolutionary role in changing how we learn to read.
Northampton’s prosperous LGBTQ community, local resturants and “mom-and-pop” shops assisted in landing the Western Massachusetts city on CNN’s list. The network said the city’s proximity to the New England Trail makes it a great travel location for tourists.
Northampton also boasts the most dispensaries in the state and has been heralded as the “weed capital of New England.” Here’s MassLive’s prior coverage on the 12 dispensaries that occupy a city of nearly 29,000 people.
Of course, Central Massachusetts also has a lot to offer — including, the Worcester Art Museum, a Canal District Wagon Tour and the Hanover Theatre.
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