I get to live here.

I get to live here.

Myke | Hampden County

I get to live here.

Photo courtesy of Kate Hunter Photography | Franklin County

I get to live here.

Jess & Alessandra | Hampshire County

I get to live here.

Yamilca Nogue I The Children’s Study Home I Hampden County

I get to live here.

Photo courtesy of Yves Salmon-Fernández | Franklin County

I get to live here.

Paul Silva I Hampshire County

I get to live here.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Herman | Hampden County

I get to live here.

Photo courtesy of Nunia Mafi Silver | Hampshire County

I get to live here.

Photo of Karen Fisk | Hampden County

I get to live here.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Herman | Hampshire County

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

Community Map by County of Western Mass Color coded list of Counties of Western Mass, Franklin (blue), Hampshire (red), Hampden (teal)

our gems

Wistariahurst

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Wistariahurst is a cultural and educational center owned and operated by the City of Holyoke and supported by The Wistariahurst Foundation.

White Lion Brewing

Seeing a growth in the craft beer industry and recognizing the absence of local beer in Springfield, MA, Raymond Berry Jr. founded The White Lion Brewing Company with community in mind in 2014. After 6 years of hard work, statewide self distribution and loyal customers we are proud to call 1500 Main Street as of summer 2021.

Bear & Bramble Brewing

Please keep your eyes open for Bear and Bramble beers and ask for them at your favorite bars, bottle shops, and restaurants.

The Alvah Stone

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.

Batch Ice Cream

Batch Ice Cream was created in 2009 by its founders Susie Parish and Veronica Janssens. Their commitment to using fresh, local and Fair Trade ingredients resulted in an amazing ice cream! Batch soon became a regional favorite and award-winning product.

Off The Wall Games

The largest full-service game store in the Pioneer Valley with everything you need for board, role playing, miniature, and collectible card games.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the newest museum on the Quadrangle, is devoted to Springfield native Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss! The fully bilingual first floor features family friendly, interactive exhibits exploring Dr. Seuss’s Springfield roots and providing opportunities to experiment with new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, and invent stories.

Mike's Maze

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.

Massachusetts Renaissance Faire

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.

Eric Carle Museum

The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books.

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens

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.

Great Horse

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.

West County Cider

West County Cider was started by the Maloney family in 1984 with a commitment to making small-batch ciders with impeccable apples from local orchards. We use fine-winemaking techniques and focus on freshness of flavor and total respect for each individual apple variety.

Bright Nights at Forest Park

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