We have family-friendly rooms at the Deerfield Inn, and a kid’s menu for the under 11 – “healthy (groan) but good” as Abby said. Sometimes you want to leave the children with mom and get away for some time for yourselves, and we can do that too, but there are some delightful children activities in our neighborhood, even in the winter.
Consider Magic Wings just down the road from us – a warm and inviting ecosphere of flowers and flutterbies that will charm you all. You might spot a bright parrot or two, and watch out for hitchhikers when you leave! Those butterflies seem to choose the brightest clothes to settle on…
Just beyond is the self-named ‘Scenter of the Universe’, the huge and spectacular headquarters of the famous Yankee Candle. Check out all the wacky and wonderful candles like the Boyfriend – hmm, what does that one smell like – jealousy and despair or chocolates and flowers? Or Wet Lab? Marketing Manager Jack Dog likes that one. Children enjoy the Bavarian Village where a train and carriages rush around, the Nutcracker King has his castle, and it is always winter.
And drive on a bit more and you come to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. You don’t even have to have a child in your life to know The Very Hungry Caterpillar with its beautiful design for small hands and sweet message, The Mixed-Up Chameleon to learn about color, or The Very Quiet Cricket with its laugh out loud surprise at the end.
Eric Carle is a local author and illustrator. His dream was to create a center for picture book art to promote and encourage literacy. There are thousands of picture books from all over the world, reading time, plays, recitals, author visits, performances, hands-on learning activities, ever-changing galleries and exhibitions. In fact this part of northwestern Massachusetts is awash in talented illustrators and children’s book authors. Natasha Lowe lives right here in Deerfield! You can buy autographed copies of her books in the gift shop!
The calendar of events at the Eric Carle Museum for 2016 is full of incredibly fun things to see and do throughout the year.
Come and stay, with or without children to share these pleasures with! You might just want to bring out the kid in you and enjoy these magical places by yourselves!