| kids age 17 and under stay without charge with an adult. freebies include parking, and continental breakfast served in a low-key dining area. this unassuming budget hotel is 3 miles from the university of massachusetts amherst fine arts center and 4 miles from eric carle museum of picture book art. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. there's also a business center, a fitness room, an outdoor pool and a guest laundry. pets are welcome (fee). the casual rooms have free wi-fi, flat-screens, and tea and coffeemakers. upgraded rooms and suites offer microwaves, minifridges and pull-out sofas
Bradley International Airport 50 min
Mead Art Museum (7 min)
Amherst College's wide-ranging art collection, with free entry to all exhibitions & events. Look Memorial Park (26 min)
Attractions include a steam train, playgrounds, pedal boats, mini-golf, a water park & a small zoo. Mount Tom State Reservation (23 min)
State park with scenic views boasts premier spot for hawk-watching, plus skiing, fishing & skating. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (10 min)
Vast picture book collection & visiting exhibits at museum founded by famed illustrator Eric Carle. Smith College Museum of Art (16 min)
Distinguished permanent collection & special exhibitions over 4 floors of galleries, plus a cafe. The Botanic Garden of Smith College (18 min)
On-campus oasis with native New England trees, shrubs & herbs, plus a conservatory & greenhouses. Mount Holyoke (20 min)
Mountain peak with various hiking trails, panoramic views & a landmark 19th-century summit house. Emily Dickinson Museum (6 min)
Birthplace & home of the famous poet & recluse, now offering exhibits, guided tours & a bookshop. Mount Tom (35 min)
Mountain & recreation venue with hiking trails & a road for cycling, cross-country skiing & more. Mount Holyoke Range State Park (13 min)
3,000-acre lava rock range with thickets of forest, 30 miles of hiking trails & winter sports. Skinner State Park (20 min)
Home to the Summit House, a historic hotel, this park offers hiking trails with scenic river views. Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation (13 min)
Hiking trails & an auto road ascend the summit, where a picnic pavilion affords mountaintop views. University Museum of Contemporary Art (7 min) Beneski Museum of Natural History (6 min)
Museum with over 1,700 species tracing the history of life on earth, from bacteria to giant mammals. | 
