Springfield's Museum of Fine Arts includes collections of fine works by some of the world's greatest painters and sculptors. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Monet, Gauguin, Degas, Pissarro, and Renoir, 19th-and 20th-century Japanese prints, and modern artworks by O'Keefe. The Fine Arts Museum also boasts the only permanent collection of Currier & Ives lithographs.
The Springfield Science Museum and Seymour Planetarium is dedicated to the natural sciences and artifacts found throughout New England. Children can explore and learn about the habitats of the Amazon rainforest, African savanna, a coral reef or the New England coastal areas. If a trip through time is more their thing, the Dinosaur Hall has replicas of Tyrannosaurus Rex as well as some dinosaurs native to the Connecticut River Valley. Tickets to the Seymour Planetarium (the nation's oldest) can be purchased separately, so sit back and check out over 7000 stars from our solar system.
Symphony Hall, located on the Court Street, is a dynamic performing arts venue for a wide range of cultural extravaganzas. There is not a bad seat in the house and equipped with excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art facilities, every event held here is a success. Home to a gamut of events; from Broadway productions to theater for children, Symphony Hall will have a performance that everyone will love.
Located in the birthplace of volleyball, Holyoke, the Volleyball Hall of Fame stands as a "living memorial" to the sport of volleyball and the players, coaches and other people who have truly excelled at the highest level in the sport. Since 1987 the hall of fame has inducted over 110 members from over 20 countries and enjoys sponsorships from such organizations and companies as USA Volleyball, Spalding, and the YMCA.
Founded in 1959, the present facility of the Basketball Hall of Fame was opened in 2002 in a gorgeously modern building shaped like a basketball. Located on three floors, the museum houses a large collection of sports memorabilia, exhibits, and more dedicated to athletes and teams from around the world, as well as other innovators, coaches, commentators and referees. At the end of your self-guided tour, shoot some baskets on the regulation-size court at a variety of hoops, ranging from the wooden headboards of the 1890s to the fiberglass models of the 21st Century.
Six Flags New England is a prominent attraction of Massachusetts and a haven for adventure seekers of all ages. Housed within this sprawling wonderland are several white-knuckle rides that are sure to raise your adrenaline. The park is also home to the Hurricane Harbor Water Park, which is an enticing destination for aquaphiles. If you happen to visit around Halloween, you will enjoy the opportunity of being in one of New England's scariest spots, as Six Flags puts on its annual Fright Fest.
In 2009, the Playhouse Theatre Group decided to open the doors and present some of the best classic plays and other performance pieces on stage. From comedy and children's shows to Othello and modern, interpretive dance, there is something for all tastes. Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the organization constantly provides outreach programs to foment a love for the arts in the greater Hartford region.
This theater in downtown Hartford is where you come and see freestyle performances that take the word improv to a new level. From spoken-word sessions with the audience to choreographed miming and situational comedy, the Sea Tea group always provides a laugh or two. Many of their members have learned from the best at renowned comedy institutions such as Second City, Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Springfield's Museum of Fine Arts includes collections of fine works by some of the world's greatest painters and sculptors. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Monet, Gauguin, Degas, Pissarro, and Renoir, 19th-and 20th-century Japanese prints, and modern artworks by O'Keefe. The Fine Arts Museum also boasts the only permanent collection of Currier & Ives lithographs.