The Places You’ll Go: Visiting the Dr. Seuss & Eric Carle Museums

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Like many families, my children’s bookshelves include books by both Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. Did you know that we have two museums dedicated to these authors/illustrators within driving distance of Fairfield County? Whether you’d prefer a day-trip or a night-away, we highly recommend visiting them both!

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss at the Springfield Museums

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum is located at the Springfield Museums in Springfield, Mass. The Springfield Museums include five art, science, and history museums, all for just one admission fee; however, note that entrance into the Dr. Seuss Museum requires a timed ticket.

The first and last place you should visit in the Seuss Museum is “The Cat’s Corner” on the lower level. Make it a quick first stop to pick up a scavenger hunt, then head back upstairs to get started. The first floor of the museum is filled with interactive exhibits and play stations featuring everyone’s favorite Dr. Seuss stories and characters, and a little bit of Seuss in Springfield history. The second floor of the museum is much more informational, and worth walking through during your first visit. When you’re done exploring, head back to the lower level to turn in your scavenger hunt and get to work on the themed activity of the day. 

On your way to or from the museum, be sure to save some time for a walk around the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA
John Phelan [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is located a little further north in Amherst, Mass. Don’t be deceived by it’s plain white exterior, there’s a lot of colorful and creative fun to be had inside. Eric Carle’s artwork is on display, as well as ever-changing exhibits. Scavenger hunts are available and are an easy way for children to engage with the exhibits.

Storytime is held on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The days that we’ve visited, we’ve been lucky to attend “Special Storytimes,” when books are read-aloud by their author and/or illustrator. You can also spend time in the Library reading the books of your choice. Films are shown daily in the Auditorium. The Art Studio is our favorite place to end our visit, making mini masterpieces.

Hungry in Amherst?

Black Sheep Deli offers a variety of sandwiches and salads; you’re likely to find something for everyone. We also think the coffee at Share is delicious, and so are the donuts at Glazed Doughnut Shop.

Looking for more family fun ideas?

The Zoo in Forest Park (Springfield) is home to 150+ rescued, native, and exotic animals. Springfield is also home to the Basketball Hall of Fame, with more than 40,000 sq. ft. of basketball history. The Children’s Museum at Holyoke looks like lots of hands-on fun, especially for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Older children might prefer a trip to the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College.

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