Kid-Friendly Museums in the Valley
On rainy days, cold days, and days when you just need a break, parents of the younger set may need to check out some of the Valley destinations that provide welcome respite. There’s plenty of entertainment of a more active variety around, but our region boasts some solid picks in the more-contemplative category, including, but certainly not limited to, some fantastic museums.
Chief among the kid-friendly destinations is the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, beside Hampshire College in Amherst. The late author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a longtime resident of Northampton, and he and his wife founded the museum in 2002. You can peruse art from picture books (in the galleries as well as a library), and there’s also regular programming -- plus an area where kids, inspired by the examples all around, can make their own art. Outside, there’s a century-old apple orchard to explore, all within sight of the lovely Holyoke Range.
Just up the road, Amherst College boasts the Beneski Museum of Natural History, a place that tickles the fancy of dinosaur lovers of every age. It’s got skeletons of giants of long ago, a massive collection of fossils, and some lovely dinosaur footprints. You can also learn about the ancient geological history of Western Massachusetts and see some mineral specimens plus actual meteorites. Fair warning: it’s so much dinosaur coolness in one place it can be a little overwhelming.
And if it is, you can always head to the nearby Hitchcock Center for the Environment (also adjoining the Hampshire College campus). That name honors Edward Hitchcock and his wife, Orra White Hitchcock. Edward was a scholar of geology who’s responsible for many of the holdings in the Beneski Museum. Orra was a talented illustrator who often provided visual aids for classroom use. The Center is all about education, and has trails, exhibits, and a robust roster of programs for kids of all ages and adults.
On the other side of the river, very near downtown Northampton, you’ll find the Smith College Art Museum. It’s not kid-centric, but it’s got loads of artwork and is decidedly kid-friendly. The museum hosts Free Second Friday, which includes art-making for all ages centered on the works the museum is currently displaying, and Free Community Day.
In Franklin County, the “museum” is really more a whole village – Historic Deerfield offers some great kid-friendly activities, in addition to its many historic houses to tour and a short walk just off the main drag where young visitors can often see pigs and sheep up-close. The big draw for kids is the Apprentice’s Workshop, offering hands-on demonstrations so they can learn about the woodworking, textiles, and ceramics of the 18th and 19th centuries.
