Getting There

Springfield is located near the juncture of the east-west Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and north-south I-91.

Bradley International (tel. 203/627-3000), in Windsor Locks, CT, is the nearest major airport, about 20 miles to the south. Rent a car here from any of the major companies or catch a bus, cab, or limo into Springfield. Major airlines serving Bradley include American (tel. 800/433-7300), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), United (tel. 800/241-6522), and US Airways (tel. 800/247-8786).

Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) trains stop daily both ways in Springfield on routes between Boston and Chicago; Boston and Washington, DC; and New York and St. Albans, VT (where there are connecting buses from Montreal), with intermediate stops in Philadelphia, New York, and Hartford, among others.

Visitor Information

The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. 413/787-1548) has two visitor information centers, at 1441 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103 (tel. 413/787-1548) and at 1200 West Columbus Ave., Springfield, MA 01105 (tel. 413/750-2980), near the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Special Events

During the last 2 weeks in September the Eastern States Exposition (tel. 413/737-2443), a huge old-fashioned agricultural fair with games, rides, a midway, and entertainment is held on a fairground on the opposite side of the Connecticut River in West Springfield. Also on the grounds is Old Storrowtown Village, a collection of restored Colonial buildings, accessible by guided tour Monday through Saturday from June to Labor Day, and by appointment the rest of the year. A newcomer is the Six Flags New England theme park.