Located right off the Mass Pike (I-90), the Amelia Park Children’s Museum (often called the Westfield Children’s Museum) is perfect for families looking for a place to let little ones run wild for an hour or two. The museum is made up of one long room with smaller stations along the edges, such as a pretend bank and grocery store, a collection of Little People toys, and a stage with costumes, a disco ball, and a microphone for the more theatrically inclined. Adjacent to this room is a large play area with Nurf air guns, a rocket ship, and a twisty slide. The layout of this museum is great, especially for those of us with the toddler/baby set, because it’s so easy to keep track of two kids (from a central vantage point, you can see just about the whole museum).
If you’re staying in the area for a while, especially in winter when the weather can get in the way of outdoor activities, it might be worth buying a year membership. The price of admission on your first day is subtracted from the membership fee, meaning that for another $20 or so, you can come and go as you please for the rest of your visit.
Date last visited: July 29, 2011
Distance from the interstate: One mile from I-90.
Hours of operation: Monday: 10-4, Tuesday/Wednesday: closed, Thursday: 10-4, Friday: 10-4,
Saturday: 10-7, Sunday 10-4
Admission prices: $7 for anyone over 1 year (free for anyone under a year). They also have discounts for students, teachers, and senior citizens.
Food services: Technically, you aren’t allowed to bring food into museum, and there’s nowhere to buy food when you’re there. However, we’ve certainly had a few snacks inside and haven’t been hassled by staff.
Website and phone: http://www.ameliaparkmuseum.org/ (413) 572-4014
Directions:: The museum is located at 29 South Broad St., Westfield, MA. The Amelia Park complex includes an ice arena and a Boys and Girls Club. Drive through the complex and the museum is located at the back.
