welcome
Live Western Mass is a site built by and for the region. Hear from people who live, work, and thrive in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Add your favorite places to our three-county map. Invite your friends, co-workers, and neighbors to visit.
room to grow
With almost 2,000 square miles of land, Western Mass provides plenty of room for the region's nearly 700,000 residents.
Joseph from Hampden County
keep it real
There is something in the soil of this region. Some of the older generations, artists and activists, who carry a strong commitment to democratic principles. Open discourse still holds this place together.
Clare from Hampshire County

our gems
Mike’s Maze is more than a corn maze…it’s a thematic immersive experience for all ages! Visitors will encounter activities, games, and amusements to entertain the entire family. Located on a working farm at the foot of Mount Sugarloaf, visitors enjoy gorgeous views of the New England foliage.
Vintage train car transformed into a cozy American eatery, serving ample plates of steak, chops & seafood.
Please keep your eyes open for Bear and Bramble beers and ask for them at your favorite bars, bottle shops, and restaurants.
The largest full-service game store in the Pioneer Valley with everything you need for board, role playing, miniature, and collectible card games.
A restaurant housed in the national historic landmark Montague Mill (ca. 1834) that offers authentic American food and drink in an atmosphere that is rustic, casual, and creative.
Once a year, the veil between worlds parts and the fairies invite us to join in their festivities. Come see knights clash on the battlefield, minstrels sing tunes both bawdy and sweet and shop our magical market.
Located in Holyoke Heritage State Park – managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, this carousel is comprised of 48 magnificent horses hand carved by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
The Lepidoptera source in Western Massachusetts, featuring an 8,000-square foot indoor conservatory home to nearly 4,000 exotic and domestic butterflies in a tropical environment, Magic Wings focuses on butterfly-related education, recreation, entertainment and gardening needs.
Located in the rolling hills of Hampden, MA GreatHorse is a secluded haven offering majestic views of the entire Connecticut River Valley. As the seasons change, so too do the breathtaking vistas, the diversity of sports activities, and the locally inspired cuisine. We are relaxed refinement immersed in a quintessential dream landscape.
Since 1995, Bright Nights has been a unique public/private collaboration between the City of Springfield’s Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management and the Spirit of Springfield, a private non-profit organization. Together they have welcomed more than 6 million visitors. It has been calculated that if every bus that had visited were lined bumper to bumper, they would go from Springfield to Cape Cod. The cars would go as far as California.
you choose
Western Mass has abundant rural, small town and suburban options. All have plenty of available housing and are all comparatively affordable.
Ann from Hampden County